Extra Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Making an Extra Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwich involves putting cheese inside the sandwich, but also on the outside of the bread too.
I will admit, I feel a little silly about posting a recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich. I mean, who needs a recipe for such a simple thing? It’s one of the first things most people in North America probably learn how to cook, right?
All you need is bread and cheese right? True…technically. But there are a couple of ways you can make a great grilled cheese sandwich, and they involve using the right cooking method and using great ingredients. My favorite is this Extra Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
How to make an Extra Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwich:
Yes, different people have different ideas of what a “perfect” grilled cheese is. This is mine. It uses good bread, flavorful cheese (not too much or too little of it), and has a crispy crust. A VERY crispy crust.
I prefer a good sourdough, homemade or bakery-bought, but a good whole grain will do too. As for the cheese, I use three different kinds. This is Wisconsin after all. I use a stronger cheese, like a sharp cheddar for flavor, a milder cheese like Muenster for stretch, and Parmesan for the crust (and more flavor).
Once you have the ingredients, you need the right cooking method to get your grilled cheese to turn out perfectly. That means you need to use the right skillet (non-stick so your Parmesan crust doesn’t stick), and have it at the right temperature.
I heat mine over medium heat while I’m getting the ingredients ready, then adjust down to medium-low if the bread is browning too quickly. And finally, my secret to the perfect grilled cheese is to use a lid.
When I first told Mr. Dreamboat about my trick, he said “Won’t it get soggy?” Nope. It helps keep the heat in so that the cheese melts all the way through. Dipping your Extra Crispy Grilled Cheese in tomato soup is optional, but I like mine plain.
Extra Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwich Ingredients:
- High-quality bread: If you like to make homemade bread, use that. If not, buy freshly baked bread from your favorite bakery. Use your favorite gluten-free bread if you need your sandwich to be gluten-free
- Butter
- Shredded Parmesan cheese
- Shredded or thinly sliced sharp cheddar cheese
- Shredded or thinly sliced Muenster or Monterey Jack cheese
Want more cheesy recipes?
Extra Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwich Nutrition Notes:
I’m pretty sure most people don’t consider a grilled cheese sandwich to be health food. It’s high in calories, salt, and fat; the majority being the unhealthy saturated kind thanks to the cheese and butter. The trans fat is the naturally occurring kind, which has not been shown to be as harmful as the kind from hydrogenated oils.
There really is no way to improve the nutrition content of this sandwich, as I have already used what I believe is the minimal amount of cheese that would make a grilled cheese sandwich (it’s gotta stick together, after all!) Just watch your portion sizes, and don’t eat one too often!
The Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients
Instructions
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Spread 1 teaspoon of butter on one side of each of the slices of bread. Press half of the Parmesan onto one of the buttered sides of the bread, repeat with the second slice of bread and remaining Parmesan. Spread the cheddar and Muenster over the non-buttered side of one of the slices of bread. Top with the second slice of bread, with the butter and Parmesan coated side up.
- Place the sandwich in the pre-heated skillet. Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook until the bottom of the sandwich is golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low if sandwich is browning too quickly. Flip sandwich and continue to cook with the lid off until the second side is browned and the cheese is melted, 3-5 more minutes.