A Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich

For the Platonic ideal grilled cheese sandwich recipe, you don’t need much. The supplies are simple, the prep time is minimal, and the technique is straightforward. This version—crispy on the outside, gooey in the middle, and deeply comforting, especially when served alongside a steaming bowl of tomato soup—doesn’t try to reinvent the comfort-food classic; it simply guides you toward the ultimate expression of it.

By Bonappetit

Original recipe source

Cook time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 8 slices white sandwich bread
• 8 slices yellow American cheese
• 8 slices mild cheddar cheese
• 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

1. Prepare your ingredients by slicing the white sandwich bread to about ½ inch thick if not already sliced.
2. Select your cheese. For the gooiest grilled cheese sandwich, opt for yellow American cheese. If you prefer a sharper flavor, choose mild cheddar cheese. You can also use a combination of both.
3. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the outside of each slice of bread. This will help the bread brown evenly.
4. Heat a small skillet, about 8 inches in size, over medium heat. Add a small amount of butter to the skillet and allow it to melt.
5. Place one slice of bread, mayo side down, into the skillet. Add the cheese slices on top of the bread in the skillet.
6. Top the cheese with another slice of bread, mayo side up. Press down gently with a spatula.
7. Cook the sandwich until the bread is golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes. Carefully flip the sandwich using a spatula.
8. Continue cooking on the other side until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, another 3-4 minutes.
9. Remove the sandwich from the skillet and let it rest for a minute or two to allow the cheese to set slightly.
10. Cut the grilled cheese sandwich in half diagonally for the best presentation and serve immediately, possibly with a bowl of tomato soup.