This Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich is so easy and the best recipe! The Sourdough bread toasts in the butter until golden brown and the cheese melts to perfection. Ready in just 10 minutes and only 4 ingredients.
When it comes to grilled cheese, I keep it pretty simple. It's all about the melted gooey cheese and golden brown exterior, and lots of butter in the pan. My kids beg for "grilled cheese on the good bread" and this is the real deal.
One of my favorite meals is this grilled cheese paired with a bowl of soup. It simply doesn't get any better on a cold Winter day. A few of my favorites are Tomato Tortellini Soup, Panera Turkey Chili Recipe, Mini Meatball Soup, and Pastina Soup.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- Minimal Ingredients Required. Only 4 ingredients for this delicious grilled cheese.
- Full of Flavor. Expect buttery, crispy toasted sourdough with melted gooey cheese.
- Great for on a Budget. Feed the family with a loaf of bread & cheese, which is the perfect sandwich for on a budget.
- Kids Love it. I haven't met a kid yet that doesn't love a good grilled cheese.
- It's Quick & Easy. Ready to eat in 10 minutes and so easy to make.
- Pairs with Soup, Salad & More. Make lunch or dinner complete by serving this sandwich with a bowl of soup, like this Dutch Oven Chili or this easy Arugula and Spinach Salad.
For more side items to serve with Grilled Cheese on Sourdough, try this Chickpea Pasta Salad, TikTok Viral Grinder Salad, and Hawaiian Macaroni Salad.
Ingredients:
Sourdough Bread: One of the best breads and known for it's slightly sour taste. Sourdough is also higher in nutrients than traditional white bread. It is recommended for grilled cheese because the texture holds the butter really well and it gets crusty and golden.
White American Cheese: Melts perfectly in between the bread. I know it is a highly debated subject because it's processed, but it makes the best grilled cheese. There are some substitutions below as well.
Cheddar Cheese: A sharp tasting cheese that brings in another element of flavor to the sandwich. I prefer to use white cheddar with white American, but you can certainly use yellow as well.
Butter: Salted butter is a must for the optimal grilled cheese and if available, use a grass fed butter. It's richer because it's higher fat and will give you a slightly better flavor.
*Full recipe ingredients and quantities can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations:
If you don't like American Cheese, substitute it with Havarti or Gouda slices. It doesn't melt quite as well, but these are still really delicious options.
Want to add more cheesy flavor? Sprinkle in some finely grated Gruyere or Parmesan cheese.
Add in crispy bacon, ham or turkey or a slice of tomato or grilled onions for some extra protein or veggies.
Try spreading some peach jam or red pepper jelly on your cheese sandwich for extra sweetness.
How to Make a Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich:
Step 1: Add 1.5 slices of American cheese and sprinkle on ¼ cup of cheddar to the inside of each sandwich.
Step 2: Place a large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and allow it to melt. If they will fit, add two sandwiches to the pan. Cook for 2-4 minutes until golden brown. Flip.
Step 3: Use a flat lid to press down on the top of the sandwich to flatten it just a bit.
Step 4: Add in a tablespoon of butter when flipping over to the next side. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until toasty. Drop the heat to low and cover for the last 1-2 minutes to ensure the cheese is fully melted. Remove from the pan, wipe out the excess butter with a paper towel, then repeat the instructions with next batch.
Step 5: Slice the Sourdough Grilled Cheese in half. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips:
- Butter burns quickly. Wipe out the pan in between batches and add more butter to avoid any bitter taste on the outside of the bread.
- The pan loves to continue to get hotter as you work. Watch the second batch closely, as it will cook faster than the first. You might need to drop the heat to medium low.
- Shred the cheddar cheese from a block and do NOT use bagged cheese. Bagged cheese doesn't melt well from the anti-caking agent added.
Big on sandwich recipes? Try this Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, Blackstone Philly Cheesesteaks and Buttermilk Chicken Burgers.
Recipe FAQs:
Consider adding a few different cheese options instead of just one, like a combo of American cheese and cheddar. Crispy bacon, or deli meats, like ham and turkey are also delicious to add. Grilled onions or sliced tomato are fun veggies for grilled cheeses. Try a spread on the inside, like dijonnaise, peach jam or red pepper jelly.
There are so many side dishes to pair with grilled cheese. Soups immediately come to mind, like this Turkey Lentil Soup, which is perfect for dunking a grilled cheese into. Traditional salads with lettuce, like this Roasted Pear Salad are always yummy, or try a pasta or rice salad. This Ancient Grain Salad is amazing with sandwiches and can be prepped ahead.
I suggest buying sourdough from a local bakery or from the freshly baked bread section in your grocery store. You won't get the same quality or texture from a bread isle sourdough, that was baked and bagged days before. Plus, they have a lot of preservatives. Also, make sure it is sliced in sandwich slices for the easiest grilled cheese prep.
More Easy Lunch Recipes You Will Love:
If you tried this Sourdough Grilled Cheese Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
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Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches 1x
Description
This Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich is so easy and the best recipe! The Sourdough bread toasts in the butter until golden brown and the cheese is melted to perfection. Ready in just 10 minutes and only 4 ingredients.
Ingredients
- 8 sandwich slices of Sourdough bread
- 6 deli slices of white American Cheese
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces), grated from the block
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, preferably grass-fed
Instructions
- Add 1.5 slices of American cheese and about ¼ cup of cheddar to the inside of each sandwich.
- Place a large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and allow it to melt. If they both fit, add two sandwiches to the pan. Cook for 2-4 minutes until golden brown. Flip.
- Use a flat lid to press down on the top of the sandwich to flatten it just a bit.
- Add in a tablespoon of butter when flipping over to the next side. Cook for another 2-4 minutes until toasty. Drop the heat to low and cover for the last 1-2 minutes to ensure the cheese is fully melted. Remove from the pan, wipe out the excess butter with a paper towel and repeat instructions with the next batch.
- Slice the Sourdough Grilled Cheese in half. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Butter burns quickly. Wipe out the pan in between batches and add more butter to avoid any bitter taste on the outside of the bread.
- The pan loves to continue to get hotter as you work. Watch the second batch closely, as it will cook faster than the first. You might need to drop the heat to medium low.
- Shred the cheddar cheese from a block and do NOT use bagged cheese. Bagged cheese doesn't melt well from the anti-caking agent added.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: sandwiches
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Holly
This was so buttery and cheesy! Loved it and I like the American cheese too.
Tara Smithson
Yay! Thank you for the review. I love a buttery grilled cheese:)