10+ Grilled Cheese Recipes to Satisfy Every Cheesy Craving

Grilled cheese recipes are such a cozy way to whip up a meal. Anyone can make one, honestly.

Whether you want your sandwich crispy or all gooey inside, it’s easy to switch up the ingredients for your own flavor.

The key to a great grilled cheese sandwich? That balance between crispy bread and melted cheese. You only need a few basic ingredients and a couple of steps to get a delicious snack or meal in minutes.

Ingredients

• Bread (white, whole wheat, or whatever you like)
• Cheese (cheddar, American, mozzarella, or a mix)
• Butter or mayonnaise

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat a pan over medium to medium-low, around 350°F (175°C).
2. Spread butter or mayo on one side of each bread slice.
3. Place one slice, buttered side down, on the pan.
4. Add cheese on top.
5. Top with the second slice, buttered side up.
6. Cook until the bread is golden brown and the cheese melts—about 3–4 minutes per side.
7. Flip carefully and toast the other side until golden and the cheese is fully melted.
8. Remove, slice, and enjoy.

1) Classic American Grilled Cheese with Kraft Singles

Making a classic American grilled cheese is easy and honestly hits the spot. Kraft Singles melt down into that creamy cheese everyone secretly loves.

Go for soft white bread to get that perfect golden crust. Spread butter on the outside for extra crispiness.

Cook your sandwich on medium heat so the cheese melts slow and the bread doesn’t burn. You’ll get a warm, gooey sandwich that’s ready in no time.

Ingredients

• 2 slices white bread
• 2 Kraft Singles cheese slices
• 1 tablespoon butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat a skillet on medium (about 300°F / 150°C).
2. Butter one side of each bread slice.
3. Place one slice butter-side down in the skillet.
4. Add both cheese slices on top.
5. Cover with the second bread slice, buttered side up.
6. Cook 3 minutes per side until golden brown and cheese melts.

2) Sourdough with Sharp Cheddar and Caramelized Onions

Sourdough bread gives this grilled cheese a crunchy texture. Sharp cheddar brings a bold, tangy punch that melts beautifully.

Caramelized onions bring in sweetness and a little depth. Cook them slowly until golden brown and your sandwich will taste richer.

Butter the outside for a crispy, golden crust. If you want to get fancy, drizzle a bit of honey on the cheddar before closing the sandwich.

Cook in a skillet over medium heat until the cheese melts and the bread is toasted just right.

Ingredients

• Sourdough bread slices
• Sharp cheddar cheese, sliced
• Onions, thinly sliced
• Butter
• Honey (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook onions in a pan over medium-low until caramelized, about 20-25 minutes.
2. Butter one side of each bread slice.
3. Layer cheese and caramelized onions between the unbuttered sides.
4. Cook in skillet on medium until bread is golden and cheese melts, about 3-4 minutes per side.
5. Drizzle honey on cheese before closing the sandwich, if you want.

3) Mozzarella and Tomato with Basil Pesto

Mozzarella and tomato with basil pesto just feels fresh and bright. The pesto’s herby kick pairs so well with creamy mozzarella.

Sourdough bread gets golden and crispy, which is always a win. Layer in slices of fresh tomato and mozzarella.

Spread basil pesto on one side before closing it up. Cook it slow on medium so the cheese melts without burning the bread.

If you’re in the mood, a little drizzle of balsamic glaze adds tang and sweetness.

Ingredients

• 4 slices sourdough bread
• 4 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
• 2 medium tomatoes, sliced
• 2 tablespoons basil pesto
• 1 tablespoon butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Spread pesto on one side of each bread slice.
2. Layer mozzarella and tomato on two slices.
3. Top with the other slices, pesto side in.
4. Heat a pan over medium (about 350°F / 175°C).
5. Butter the outside.
6. Cook until golden and cheese melts, about 3-4 minutes per side.

4) Spicy Jalapeño and Pepper Jack Melt

Craving some heat? Add spicy jalapeños and creamy pepper jack to your grilled cheese. The jalapeños bring the kick, and the cheese melts down all smooth and flavorful.

Fresh or pickled jalapeños—totally up to you, depending on your spice level. Toast the bread until golden brown for a crispy outside and gooey inside.

Butter the outside before frying. It’s a simple sandwich, but wow, it packs flavor.

Ingredients:

• Bread slices
• Pepper jack cheese
• Fresh or pickled jalapeños
• Butter

Cooking Instructions:

1. Butter one side of each bread slice.
2. Layer pepper jack and jalapeños on the unbuttered side.
3. Close with the other slice, butter side out.
4. Cook in a skillet over medium until golden, about 3-4 minutes per side.
5. Serve warm and enjoy the spicy melt.

More tips? Check out The Stay At Home Chef.

5) Gruyère and Caramelized Mushroom Sandwich

Gruyère cheese and caramelized mushrooms make this sandwich rich and cozy. The nutty cheese melts perfectly with those sweet, golden mushrooms.

Caramelizing mushrooms takes a little patience, but the flavor payoff is real. I like using dark bread for contrast.

If you want, toss in a few fresh herbs for extra flavor. This one feels a bit fancier but still super simple.

Ingredients:

• 2 slices dark bread
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup Gruyère cheese, sliced
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a pan over medium (about 350°F / 175°C).
2. Add onions and cook until golden, about 10 minutes.
3. Toss in mushrooms and cook until browned and soft, another 8 minutes or so. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Heat another pan over medium.
5. Place one bread slice in the pan, layer with cheese and mushroom mix. Top with the second slice.
6. Cook until bread is golden and cheese melts, about 3-4 minutes per side.
7. Slice and eat while it’s warm.

6) Triple Cheese Blend: Cheddar, Swiss, and Havarti

If you’re all about cheese, try this blend. Cheddar brings the sharpness, Swiss adds a mellow nutty note, and Havarti melts so creamy.

Together, they make a rich, balanced sandwich that’s still super quick to whip up. Use good bread to hold all that melty goodness.

Butter the outside for that golden, crispy finish.

Ingredients

• 2 slices of bread
• 1/3 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/3 cup shredded Swiss
• 1/3 cup sliced or shredded Havarti
• 1 tablespoon butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Butter one side of each bread slice.
2. Layer cheddar, Swiss, and Havarti on the unbuttered side of one slice.
3. Top with the other slice, butter side out.
4. Heat a skillet over medium (about 325°F / 160°C).
5. Cook 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cheese melts.
6. Remove, slice, and dig in.

For more cheesy inspiration, see this grilled cheese recipe.

7) Grilled Cheese with Crispy Bacon and Cheddar

You really can’t go wrong with crispy bacon and sharp cheddar in your grilled cheese. The bacon brings a salty crunch, and the cheddar melts into pure gooeyness.

Cook the bacon until it’s nice and crisp. Layer it up with cheddar between two slices of bread.

For a crisp, golden outside, spread a little butter or mayo on the bread before grilling. Cook on medium until the bread browns and the cheese melts.

Ingredients

• 4 slices of bacon
• 2 slices of bread (sourdough is great)
• 2-3 slices of sharp cheddar cheese
• Butter or mayo for spreading

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook bacon until crispy, then set aside.
2. Spread butter or mayo on one side of each bread slice.
3. Place one slice, butter side down, on the pan.
4. Add cheese and bacon on top.
5. Top with the other slice, butter side up.
6. Cook on medium for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cheese is melted.

8) Mayo on the Bread for Extra Crispiness

Try mayo on the outside of your bread instead of butter for a crazy good crust. Mayo browns evenly and gives you a golden, crunchy finish that’s hard to beat.

Spread a thin layer of mayo on the outside before you hit the skillet. The bread toasts up beautifully.

If you want a richer taste, you can butter the inside or add mayo there too. Lots of people swear by mayo for the texture and flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 slices of bread
• Mayonnaise (enough to spread on bread)
• 2–3 slices of cheese (American, cheddar, or whatever you love)

Cooking Instructions

1. Spread mayo on one side of both bread slices.
2. Heat a skillet over medium (about 325°F / 163°C).
3. Place one slice mayo-side down in the skillet.
4. Add cheese on top.
5. Put the second slice mayo-side up on top.
6. Cook until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side.
7. Flip and cook the other side until crispy.

9) French Toast Style Grilled Cheese with Egg Batter

Here’s a quirky one: you dip your whole grilled cheese sandwich in an egg mixture, just like you would with French toast. The outside gets this rich, golden layer, and the cheese inside turns gooey and perfect.

Honestly, it’s a fun riff on the classic. Don’t forget to grease your pan well, or you’ll be scraping off stuck bits later.

Keep the heat at medium—if you rush it, the outside burns before the cheese even thinks about melting. I always use day-old bread for this; fresh bread just soaks up too much and falls apart.

Toss in whatever cheese you love, or sneak in some ham if you’re feeling wild.

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 4 slices white bread
• 4 slices cheese (like American or Swiss)
• Butter or oil for cooking

Cooking Instructions

1. Whisk the eggs and milk in a bowl.
2. Stack the cheese between two slices of bread.
3. Dunk both sides of the sandwich in the egg mixture.
4. Heat butter or oil in a pan over medium (325°F/163°C).
5. Cook the sandwich until golden, about 3–4 minutes per side.
6. Flip gently and let the cheese melt all the way through.

10) Italian Grandma’s Grilled Cheese with Parmesan

Here’s an Italian spin on grilled cheese that’s honestly hard to resist. You dip the bread in eggs, milk, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a generous heap of Parmesan.

That crust gets so crispy and packed with flavor, it almost steals the show. Inside, it’s all gooey American cheese—simple and nostalgic.

You just throw it together in a skillet. Wait for it to go golden and the cheese to melt.

The Parmesan layer adds a crunch that’s honestly pretty addictive. Those Italian herbs and garlic? They make it taste like you tried way harder than you did.

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 6 slices American cheese
• Bread of your choice

Cooking Instructions

1. Whisk eggs, milk, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan until smooth.
2. Dip each bread slice into the egg mixture.
3. Layer American cheese between two bread slices.
4. Heat a skillet over medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
5. Cook the sandwich in the skillet, turning once, until golden and cheese melts, about 3-4 minutes per side.