Grilled cheese
Melted cheese between bread, cooked until golden and crisp
Grilled cheese is a hot sandwich with cheese between slices of bread, cooked until the bread is browned and the cheese is soft and melted. It is enjoyed in the United States and the United Kingdom, often with butter or mayonnaise on the outside. Cheddar and American cheese are common, but other cheeses and fillings may be used.
- Cheddar and American cheese are the most common fillings
- Butter or mayonnaise is spread on the bread for crispness
- Often served hot and cut in half
- Open-faced versions are called cheese dream
- Popular in both the United States and United Kingdom
What is Grilled cheese?
A grilled cheese is a sandwich made by placing cheese between two slices of bread and cooking it until the bread is crisp and the cheese inside is melted. The outside of the bread is often spread with butter or mayonnaise before cooking, which helps create a golden, crunchy surface. Cheddar and American cheese are the most common choices, but other cheeses like provolone or gouda may be used. Some versions include extras like tomato, onion, or peppers. The sandwich is usually cut in half and served hot, revealing a gooey cheese center.
Where does Grilled cheese come from?
The idea of combining bread and cheese in a hot sandwich has roots in 19th-century England, where recipes called for cheese and bread toasted together in the oven. In the United States, an open-faced version called the cheese dream became popular during the Great Depression. By World War II, American cooks were making closed cheese sandwiches for the military. The dish is now common in both the United Kingdom and the United States, with local names and variations.
How is Grilled cheese made?
To prepare a grilled cheese, slices of bread are filled with cheese—often cheddar or American—then the outside is spread with butter or mayonnaise. The sandwich is placed in a heated pan or a special press until the bread turns golden and crisp, and the cheese inside melts. Some people use a pie iron, especially in the United Kingdom, to cook the sandwich. Additional ingredients like tomato or onion can be added for extra flavor.
How and when is Grilled cheese eaten?
Grilled cheese is usually eaten hot, often for lunch, dinner, or as a snack. In the United States, it is commonly paired with tomato soup. The sandwich is easy to eat by hand and is popular in homes, diners, and even food trucks. It is enjoyed as an everyday meal and is sometimes found in ready-to-eat or frozen form in supermarkets.
Kinds of Grilled cheese
There are many ways to change up a grilled cheese. Different cheeses such as provolone or gouda can be used instead of cheddar or American. Some versions add vegetables like tomato, onion, or peppers. In Australia, the sandwich is called a cheese jaffle and may be cooked in a special iron. Open-faced versions, like the cheese dream, are also known. Some modern takes include colored cheese for a rainbow effect.
What Grilled cheese means
Grilled cheese holds a place as a comfort food in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It is a familiar dish in homes and is also sold by restaurants and food trucks, sometimes with gourmet twists. In the UK, microwavable versions are sold in supermarkets. The sandwich is not tied to any particular holiday or religious tradition, but it is a staple of everyday meals.
Questions people ask about Grilled cheese
What is a grilled cheese made of?
A grilled cheese is made by putting cheese between two slices of bread, then cooking it with butter or mayonnaise until the bread is browned and the cheese is melted.
Where did grilled cheese originate?
Hot cheese sandwiches have roots in 19th-century England, and the dish became popular in the United States during the 20th century.
What kind of cheese is used in grilled cheese?
Cheddar and American cheese are most common, but other cheeses like provolone or gouda can also be used.
How is a grilled cheese cooked?
The sandwich is cooked in a pan, on a griddle, or in a pie iron until the bread is crisp and the cheese melts.
Is grilled cheese vegetarian?
Yes, grilled cheese is vegetarian as it contains bread, cheese, and sometimes butter or mayonnaise, but no meat.
Good reading and sources
- Grilled cheese on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Grilled cheese", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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