Everyone needs to know how to make a classic grilled cheese sandwich. Whether you're a beginner cook or an old pro, you'll come back to this top-rated grilled cheese recipe again and again.

How to Make Grilled Cheese

You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

Grilled Cheese Ingredients

This classic grilled cheese sandwich recipe calls for just white bread, sliced cheese, and butter. It's easy to switch up the bread and cheese to suit your taste preferences and, if you like, you can substitute mayonnaise for butter.

Best Cheese for Grilled Cheese

This recipe calls for sliced Cheddar, which is a wonderfully crowd-pleasing cheese. You can use sharp Cheddar, mild Cheddar, or a blend of both. Another classic choice is plain ol' sliced American cheese – it tastes nostalgic and gives you a gorgeous cheese pull.

Other delicious options are Gruyere, Brie, Fontina, Gouda, Pepper Jack, and havarti.

Get more ideas: The Best Cheeses for Your Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Best Bread for Grilled Cheese

This recipe calls for plain white sandwich bread. You could also use sourdough, brioche, or even ciabatta. You can really make grilled cheese with any type of bread you like, but you should make sure the loaf is sturdy enough to handle the heat. Thinly sliced, delicate breads will quickly fall apart.

How to Make the Best Grilled Cheese

Here's a very brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade lasagna:

1. Butter the bread on one side and place the bread butter-side down on a hot skillet.
2. Top with cheese, then place another slice of bread on top (butter-side up).
3. Cook until the bottom slice is lightly browned, then flip.
4. Continue cooking until the cheese is melted.

Grilled Cheese Sides

Grilled cheese sandwiches are delicious with all sorts of sides and entrees, but they pair particularly well with tomato-based soups and stews. Try one of these top-rated recipes:

· Fresh Tomato Soup
· Easy Homemade Chili
· Italian Sausage Soup with Tortellini

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"My first grilled cheese and it was delicious," raves Chinwe Ogolo. "I enjoyed the simplicity. Thank you for the recipe."

"I learned in a restaurant that if you use a larger pan and leave the sandwich open in the pan on low heat to fry...the cheese will be melted perfectly and the outsides will be perfectly golden," according to Chandra Davidson.

"To make a GREAT sandwich awesome, just sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on the buttered bread before putting it into the skillet," says Sheri Cooper. "WOW, what an upgrade in flavor."

• 4 slices white bread

• 3 tablespoons butter, divided

• 2 slices Cheddar cheese

  Directions

  1. Preheat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Generously butter one side of a slice of bread. Place bread butter-side down in the hot skillet; add 1 slice of cheese. Butter a second slice of bread on one side and place butter-side up on top of cheese.

  2. Cook until lightly browned on one side; flip over and continue cooking until cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining 2 slices of bread, butter, and slice of cheese.

  Tips

  Pair this sandwich with homemade tomato soup.