Ooey Gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This classic lunch dish is beloved by both children and adults! They are super easy to make! Why not create one today?

A grilled cheese sandwich is made up of sliced bread and sliced or grated cheese and is typically fried in butter. The ingredients of the American style of grilled cheese were made possible when Otto Frederick Rohwedder invented a bread slicer that made sliced bread distribution easy and affordable during the 1920s. And in 1914 when the J.L. Kraft & Bros. Company (the precursor for Kraft Foods) opened it’s first plant in Illinois and created factory processed cheese.

During World War II, cooks in the Navy made many “American cheese filling sandwiches”, a recipe from government issued cookbooks. During the 1940s and 1950s these delicacies were served open-faced style with one slice of bread covered with melted grated cheese. By 1965, Kraft Foods had individually wrapped slices of processed cheese called Kraft Singles stocked in supermarkets. It was during this time, people started topping the famous open-faced cheese sandwiches with a second piece of bread and the modern concept of the grilled cheese sandwich was created.

I did not grow up eating grilled cheese sandwiches. I saw them in movies, on television, and on commercials; the gooey sandwich usually dipped into tomato soup and devoured by an eager child, but they were not a childhood staple in my home. I was an interesting child, I asked for a panini press as a pre-teen and made artisan pressed sandwiches with deli meats, beautiful cheeses, and fancy breads. The concept of a sandwich made of simple sliced bread and sliced cheese never crossed my mind during those early years. I actually did not eat grilled cheese sandwiches until I was an adult.

The main reason I started to cook them was because of my husband. His childhood was filled with grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and little goldfish crackers. Whenever he had a craving, his eyes would light up with childhood glee. He is not much of a cook, so I had learn how to make them, but I wanted to do my own artisan twist on them. I have experimented with making grilled cheese sandwiches and found that using a blend of different cheeses can create a nice balance of flavors. I also feel that using butter is the best way to make the bread golden brown. I hope you enjoy this recipe!

Ooey Gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Yields 2 sandwiches

Vegetarian

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 to 10 minutes

Ingredients

4 slices whole grain or white bread

1 ounce cheddar cheese, grated

1 ounce pepper jack cheese, grated

1 ounce Swiss cheese, grated

Butter

Directions

Heat a nonstick skillet to medium heat.

Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.

Divide the grated cheeses evenly among two slices of bread on the non-buttered side.

Top both slices with the remaining bread, butter side out.

Place sandwiches on skillet.

Cover and adjust heat to medium low.

When the cheese is halfway melted, flip the sandwich to the other side.

The sandwich is finished when the cheese is fully melted and the bread is golden brown.

Serve warm!

This sandwich will pair well with tomato soup or a light refreshing salad.

Try to use cheese that was produced locally. You can usually find lovely selections of locally produced cheese at your neighborhood farmers market or deli. Supporting local farmers and businesses is better for your community!

Add on suggestions: Slices of fresh tomatoes or basil leaves can elevate grilled cheese sandwiches.

Grated cheese is better than sliced cheese for grilled cheese sandwiches because of the way it melts.

Grilled cheese has so many variations. Feel free to change up the style of bread or cheese you use. The possibilities are endless!

DID YOU MAKE THIS DISH?

Tag @culinary_cupcake when you upload your photo on Instagram and hashtag #culinary_cupcake