Grilled Cheese - Wikipedia

Type of hot melted cheese sandwichNot to be confused with Melt sandwich.For other uses, see Grilled cheese (disambiguation).Grilled cheese

Cross section of a grilled cheese sandwich
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Main ingredients	Cheese, bread
Ingredients generally used	Butter, margarine, mayonnaise
Variations	Cheese dream
Other information	Traditionally served with tomato soup
Media: Grilled cheese

A grilled cheese, toasted cheese sandwich, cheese toastie (UK) or cheese jaffle (AU) is a hot cheese sandwich typically prepared by placing cheese between slices of bread and cooking with butter or mayonnaise on a frying pan, griddle, or sandwich toaster, until the bread browns and the cheese melts. Despite its name, it is rarely prepared through grilling.

History

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The 1861 English recipe book Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management includes a recipe for placing sandwiches of brown bread and butter with 1⁄2-inch (13 mm) slices of "a nice fat Cheshire or any good rich cheese" into an oven, and serving when the bread becomes toasted.[1]

The cheese dream, an open-faced grilled cheese sandwich, became popular in the United States during the Great Depression.[2] Cookbooks produced by the U.S. federal government describe U.S. Navy cooks broiling "American cheese filling sandwiches" during World War II.[3]

Preparation

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A grilled cheese sandwich is made by placing a cheese filling, often cheddar or American cheese, between two slices of bread, which is then put on a pan to heat until the bread browns and the cheese melts. A layer of butter or mayonnaise is usually added to the outside of the bread for additional flavor and texture. Alternatives may include additional ingredients such as peppers, tomatoes, or onions.[4] Although cheddar and American cheese are used most widely, other variations of cheese like provolone or gouda are also used depending on the region and the local influences.[5]

A grilled cheese may also be made in a sandwich toaster, particularly in the United Kingdom where the dish is normally called a toasted cheese sandwich or cheese toastie.[6]

Retail

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Some restaurants, food carts, and food trucks in the United States specialize in the grilled cheese sandwich. The Grilled Cheese Grill restaurants were a combination of reclaimed vehicle and food cart restaurants that focused on gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches in Portland, Oregon, US.[7] The Grilled Cheese Truck was an American food truck company serving gourmet "chef driven" grilled cheese sandwiches.[8] Variations include a rainbow grilled cheese, using colored cheese.[9]

Microwavable frozen toasted sandwiches are available in supermarkets in a variety of locations. One example is the McCain Micro Toastie, which was launched in supermarkets in the UK in 2002.[10]

See also

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• Cheese sandwich
• Bruschetta
• Carrozza (sandwich)
• Cheese dream
• Cheese melt
• Cheese on toast
• Comfort food
• Croque-monsieur
• Fried cheese
• Khachapuri
• List of sandwiches
• Monte Cristo sandwich
• Panini
• Patty melt
• Pie iron
• Quesadilla
• Reuben sandwich
• Welsh rarebit

References

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1. ^ Beeton, Isabella Mary (1861). The Book of Household Management. London : S.O. Beeton. p. 817. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
2. ^ Marty Meitus (January 3, 1999). "Old faithful grilled cheese, a depression-era standby, has returned". Rocky Mountain News. During the Depression, when Sunday Night Suppers became a popular way to entertain, the cheese dream began to appear on dining tables from coast to coast.
3. ^ Olver, Lynne. "Food Timeline — history notes: sandwiches". The Food Timeline. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
4. ^ "50 Grilled Cheese". Food Network. Archived from the original on April 30, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
5. ^ "Grilled Cheese". Tasting Table. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
6. ^ Naylor, Tony (March 13, 2014). "Break out the Breville: it's time for a toastie". The Guardian. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
7. ^ Edge, J.T. (2012). The Truck Food Cookbook: 150 Recipes and Ramblings from America's Best Restaurants on Wheels. Workman Publishing Company. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-7611-7118-8.
8. ^ Elliott, F. (2015). Los Angeles Street Food: A History from Tamaleros to Taco Trucks. American Palate. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-62585-516-9.
9. ^ Hershberg, Erin (2025-08-27). "The latest inductees to the CNE Food Hall of Fame, ranked". Toronto Life. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
10. ^ "McCain poised to launch first microwaveable toastie". Marketing Week. September 26, 2002. Retrieved June 27, 2022.

v t e Cheese dishes
Dishes	Aligot Alivenci Almogrote Älplermagronen Arancini Arizona cheese crisp Baked potato Bagel and cream cheese Barfi Beer cheese Bryndzové halušky Cacio e pepe Caprese salad Calzone Cauliflower cheese Cervelle de canut Cheese and crackers Cheese ball Cheese fries Cheese on toast Cheese pudding Cheese puffs Cheese roll Cheese slaw Cheese spread Cheesecake Chèvre chaud Chhena gaja Chhena jalebi Chhena kheeri Chhena poda Chile con queso Curd snack Empanada Fondue Frico Fried cheese Frito pie Gougère Gratin Gujia Gulab jamun Hauskyjza Jalapeño popper Kaasstengels Kasseropita Khachapuri Khira sagara Lasagna Lazy varenyky Liptauer Macaroni and cheese Macaroni schotel Machas a la parmesana Malakoff Matar paneer Meatloaf Moretum Mornay sauce Mozzarella sticks Mote de queso Nachos Obatzda Olive ascolane Ostkaka Papanași Parmigiana Pască Paskha Pastel (Brazilian version) Pastizz Peda Pepperoni roll Pierogi Pimento cheese Pizza Plăcintă Polpettone Poulet au fromage Poutine Provoleta Quarkkäulchen Quesadilla Quesito Queso flameado Queso ice cream Raclette Ras malai Rasabali Rasgulla Saganaki Sandesh Shahi paneer Smažený sýr Spanakopita Stromboli Stuffed peppers Supplì Syrniki Tirokafteri Tiropita Túró Rudi Túrós csusza Urnebes Vatrushka Welsh rarebit
Sandwiches	Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich Breakfast sandwich Carrozza Cheese dog Cheese dream Cheese sandwich Cheese and pickle sandwich Cheeseburger Cheesesteak Croissan'Wich Croque monsieur Cuban sandwich Dagwood sandwich Grilled cheese Ham and cheese sandwich Jucy/Juicy Lucy McMuffin Monte Cristo sandwich Patty melt Reuben sandwich Roti bakar Sándwich de miga Sub sandwich

v t e Sandwiches
List of sandwiches
Fish and seafood	Bake and shark Balık ekmek Fischbrötchen Fish finger Lobster roll Pan bagnat Prawn roll Salmon burger Sol over Gudhjem Tuna fish
Meat	Bánh mì Barbecue Bauru Bologna Bun kebab Chacarero Chicken Chicken fillet roll Chivito Choripán Club Cudighi Dagwood Doner kebab Donkey burger Francesinha Francesinha poveira Fried-brain Gua bao Gyro Hamdog Jibarito Kati roll Katsu-sando Kottenbutter Maine Italian sandwich Meatball Medianoche Nutritious sandwich New Jersey sloppy joe Num pang Panini Panuozzo Pepito Po' boy Redonkadonk Roti (wrap) Roujiamo Sabich Sailor Shawarma Shooter's Slider Smørrebrød Spiedie St. Paul Strammer Max Submarine Torta Torta ahogada Wurstbrot Beef Barros Luco Beef on weck Cheesesteak Chopped cheese Corned beef Denver French dip Hamburger List of hamburgers Italian beef Montreal-style smoked meat Pastrami on rye Patty melt Reuben Roast beef Sándwich de milanesa Sloppy joe Steak burger Steak Tavern Tongue Ham andpork Ham sandwich Bacon Barros Jarpa BLT Croque monsieur Cuban Flæskesteg Fool's Gold Loaf Ham and egg bun Ham salad Jambon-beurre Jesuita Monte Cristo Porchetta Pork chop bun Pork tenderloin Sincronizada Toast Hawaii Sausage Braunschweiger Breakfast roll Liverwurst Maxwell Street Polish Morning roll Mortadella Polish Boy Porilainen Small sausage in large sausage
Vegetarian	Bagel toast Baked bean Cucumber Dabeli Doubles Egg Lettuce Peanut butter and jelly Tea Tomato Vada pav Vegetable Cheese Carrozza Cheese dream Cheese on toast Grilled cheese Melt Pebete
Open	Avocado toast Butterbrot Canapé Crudo alemán Dyrlægens natmad Gerber Horseshoe Mollete Muisjes Obložené chlebíčky Smørrebrød Zapiekanka
Other	Afghani burger Bocadillo Breakfast Bacon, egg and cheese Cemita Chimichurri burger Chip butty Chow mein Crisp Doughnut sandwich Gatsby Guajolota Ice cream Jam Mitraillette Mother-in-law Pambazo Peanut butter Peanut butter and jelly Peanut butter, banana and bacon Pistolette Pocket Roti bakar Sandwiches de miga Spaghetti Spatlo Toast sandwich Tramezzino Trancapecho Wrap X-caboquinho
Related	Sandwich bread Sandwich loaf Soup and sandwich
Category: Sandwiches