Build Your Own Grilled Cheese Recipe

Select components

Choose one bread type (white, wheat, or rye) and one cheese type. Decide which optional toppings and side (if any) you want to add.

If using bacon, cook until crisp in a skillet over medium heat (about 6–8 minutes), drain on paper towels and set aside. If using grilled chicken, ensure it is cooked through and thinly sliced. If adding a fried egg, cook it last so it's hot when assembled.

If using grilled mushrooms or grilled onions: heat a medium skillet over medium-high, add 1 tsp olive oil, add sliced mushrooms and/or sliced onion, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and sauté until golden and soft, about 5–7 minutes. Remove from pan and keep warm.

If using tomato, slice thinly and pat dry so the sandwich doesn't get soggy. If using avocado, slice thinly and set aside with a squeeze of lemon or a pinch of salt to slow browning. If using pickled onions or jalapeños, drain excess liquid.

Butter one side of each bread slice evenly with softened butter (about 1 teaspoon per side). The buttered sides will be the exterior that contact the skillet.

Place one bread slice butter-side down on a clean work surface. Layer the chosen cheese slice(s) on the bread so they will melt evenly. Add chosen fillings (example order for balanced heating: grilled onions/mushrooms, sliced grilled chicken or ham, bacon, tomato, pickled onions, jalapeños, avocado). If adding a fried egg, reserve to place on top of fillings after flipping or at the end so the yolk stays runny if desired.

Top with the second bread slice, butter-side up. Press gently to compress the sandwich slightly.

Heat a nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium-low to medium heat. Place the sandwich in the skillet and cook until the bottom is golden brown, 3–4 minutes. Turn the heat down a little if the bread browns too quickly before the cheese melts.

Carefully flip the sandwich with a spatula. If you reserved a fried egg, place it on the cheese side now (on top of fillings) before closing and finishing cooking. Cook the second side until golden and the cheese is fully melted, another 3–4 minutes. If the cheese is slow to melt, cover the skillet with a lid for 1–2 minutes to trap heat and help melting.

Remove the sandwich to a cutting board and let it rest 1 minute, then cut in half diagonally. Serve immediately with your chosen side (fries, fruit, or onion rings).

If serving fries or onion rings from frozen, bake or fry according to package instructions while you cook the sandwich so they finish around the same time (typically 15–20 minutes in oven or 3–5 minutes deep fry). For fresh fruit, plate while sandwich cooks.

Optional finishing: sprinkle a tiny pinch of salt on tomato or avocado, and serve pickled onions or extra jalapeños on the side for added brightness.