Homemade Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I cannot think of a better first recipe than talking about good, old fashioned homemade grilled cheese sandwich.  Does grilled cheese need a recipe?  Probably not…but then again, once you start to play and experiment with recipes most dishes can be fixed without a set recipe.  As a bonus, there are so many wonderful options for grilled cheese, that it’s fun to explore them.

And hey, everyone has to eat.

Plus a good grilled cheese is cheap, fast, and serves as comfort food after a long day, so we’re checking off all of the big boxes in one meal.  Throw tomatoes and lettuce on there, and now you’re a fancy gourmet cook!

Let’s be wild!  Have you ever tried mayonnaise on a grilled cheese sandwich?  Don’t leave yet!  We have two critical options here.  Mayo on an uncooked inside with the cheese adds a wonderful flavor and a touch of midwest cooking.

Or really make it interesting and toast the side with the mayonnaise. I know, it sounds odd, but mayonnaise is basically eggs and oil…two of of the most common frying ingredients!

Instead of an actual recipe, here are some ideas for homemade grilled cheese:

• Fresh bread will be softer, and may come out soggy.  Multigrain and ‘heavier’ breads may not toast as well.  Thick cut homemade bread is my favorite, but you’ll have a difficult time getting that cheese-to-bread ratio that you want.
• Try toasting in the sides first, then add cheese and toast the outsides like a normal grilled cheese.  See the video if that seems unclear.
• Experiment with mayonnaise!  Try mayo on both toasted sides, or just the inside and toasted, or just the outside and toasted, or just the inside but NOT toasted. 
• Add bacon or ham, or even roast turkey.  Be creative here, and if you’re cooking on a budget, check for leftovers in the fridge. Just be sure to cook the meat first.
• Add lettuce or tomato after the cheese has melted to keep from wilting the lettuce
• Consider shredded cheese over slices of cheese.  Slices work just fine – and arguably, the Kraft single is an American tradition (that you should end, but that’s another soapbox).  I’ve found that shredded cheese melts easier, and you can mix and match your favorite cheeses…or use the budget cheese mix from the grocery store!

If you really need a recipe, try this:

• Two slices of the bread of your choice
• Butter both sides while a skillet heats on medium
• Toast once side of each slice until lighting brown
• Flip the first slide, pile on shredded cheese, and then flip the other side. The toasted sides should be “inside” the grilled cheese sandwich
• Flip after a few minutes, and lightly toast the outside on both sides
• Don’t be afraid to flip more than once! Or twice…or three times…

Want to play more? Here’s some advice on types of cheese. That plus your custom choice of bread, and you can really make this sandwich your own!

Enjoy!