The BEST Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich [crispy + melty]
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If you want to make the best sourdough grilled cheese sandwich, then you're in the right place! This great grilled cheese sandwich is made with hearty sourdough bread, mozzarella and extra sharp cheddar to create a melty delight with a crispy, crunchy, golden brown outside! It's the ultimate comfort food!
Whether you serve it next to a bowl of tomato soup or as a tasty snack on tangy sourdough bread, this perfect sourdough grilled cheese is going to be your go-to!
If you love sourdough comfort food, then make sure you check out this sourdough macaroni cheese, sourdough chocolate chip cookies or sourdough dumplings.
Why You'll Love This Recipe!
Use Simple Ingredients To Create Something Special - Sourdough grilled cheese sandwiches might just be the simplest way to create something really special. The trick is to use good quality ingredients and lots of love!
Use Up Leftover or Stale Sourdough Bread - While fresh sourdough bread is perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches, there's nothing wrong with using leftover or stale sourdough bread either. In fact, sometimes stale sourdough crisps up ever better than fresh!
The Perfect Comfort Food - There is something so comforting about a grilled cheese sandwich, it works in so many different situations! Whether you love eating it on it's own or with a bowl of tomato soup, there's just something so homely about the perfect sourdough grilled cheese sandwich (and just for the record, my favorite way to eat this sourdough grilled cheese sandwich is alongside a big bowl of homemade pizza sauce to dip it in!).
What Bread Works Best for Grilled Cheese Sandwiches?
You want hearty, strong bread slices for a great grilled cheese. Sourdough fits the bill here because of its sturdy texture (and let's face it, it's the best bread, right).
For the best grilled cheese sandwich, you want a good sourdough bread with a slightly open crumb (you don't want it too open, or the cheese will melt through). Basically, use your favorite sourdough bread!
Most sourdough breads will work for this easy recipe, but if you asked me which sourdough breads work best for grilled cheese (or hot sandwiches in general) then I would recommend:
Best Cheese For Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
The cheese you choose to make your sourdough grilled cheese sandwich is so important. You want the perfect blend of flavor and cheese pull. You don't want it to be too oily or too overpowering. Getting the flavor right can be a delicate balance. Aged cheeses are a really good choice to bring depth of flavor to your grilled cheese.
I've chosen to use mozzarella for cheese pull and strong, sharp cheddar for flavor in my version of this sourdough grilled cheese sandwich. They are the perfect match. Some of the other cheeses you might like to consider are:
- Aged White Cheddar
- Monterey Jack
- Pepper Jack
- Parmesan Cheese
- Blue Cheese
How To Make The Best Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich
The first thing to do is gather all your ingredients. Having everything ready to go makes this process even easier.
Pop a frying pan on a medium heat with a little olive oil in it. I've used a well seasoned cast-iron skillet, but you can use any frying pan you like.
Take your 2 slices of sourdough bread, butter one side of each and sprinkle with salt and garlic granules (optional).
Top one slice of sourdough with the mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese and then place the other slice on top (ensuring the butter is on the outside of the sandwich).
Place the sandwich into the frying pan. While the sandwich is browning on one side, drizzle a little olive oil onto top of the sandwich.
Lightly squish the sandwich down with a spatula to ensure the outside of the sourdough bread get really brown and crispy. You want to leave the sourdough grilled cheese in the pan for around 2-3 minutes per side.
Once you're happy with the level of crispiness on the outside of your grilled cheese sandwich, check the cheese on the inside is melted and then remove from the pan.
Allow the sandwich to sit for a few minutes before cutting and enjoying!
Tips for Making The Perfect Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Don't use pre-shredded cheese - Pre-shredded cheese contains some anti caking agents which won't give you perfect, melty cheese strings. We want that cheese pull!!
- Room Temperature Cheese - Make sure your cheese is left to come to room temperature before you add it to your sourdough grilled cheese sandwich.
- Use a frying pan or cast iron skillet - to cook your sourdough grilled cheese sandwich rather than a sandwich press. A well-seasoned cast iron skillet give you the best golden exterior of your grilled cheese sandwich. Also avoid the toaster oven - this won't give you that golden, crispy exterior you're looking for.
- Use high quality cheeses - While a grilled cheese might seem like a great way to save money, for the ultimate grilled cheese, you need quality ingredients. Simple recipes like this give you no where to hide and thus quality ingredients really do speak for themselves.
- Use Real Butter - Butter is the key to achieving that golden, crispy exterior. Spread a generous layer of real butter on the outside of each slice of bread for a rich flavor and beautiful browning.
- Low to Medium Heat - Cook your grilled cheese over low to medium heat. This allows the bread to crisp up gradually, giving the cheese enough time to melt without burning the exterior.
- Cover While Cooking - For an extra gooey interior, cover the pan with a lid or foil while cooking. This traps heat and helps melt the cheese thoroughly.
- Press Gently - If you prefer a flatter sandwich, gently press it down with a spatula while cooking. This can create a more even melt and crunch.
- Watch Closely - Grilled cheese can go from perfectly golden to burnt quickly. Keep a close eye on the heat, adjusting as needed, and flip the sandwich when one side is golden brown.
- Let It Rest - Allow the grilled cheese to rest for a minute before slicing. This helps the cheese set slightly, making it easier to cut and reducing the risk of burning your mouth when you take that first delicious bite.
What Else Can You Add To A Grilled Cheese Sandwich
While this is the perfect grilled cheese sandwich just as it is, there are so many other delicious ingredients you could add to your sourdough bread to take your grilled cheese to the next level! Gourmet grilled cheese sandwich anyone?
- White Pizza Sauce
- Caramelized Onions
- Green Onion
- Dijon Mustard
- Fresh Herbs
- Deli Meats (think leg ham or pastrami)
- Leftover Brisket or Pulled Pork
- Crispy Bacon
Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Equipment
- Frying Pan (cast iron is best)
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 2 Slices Sourdough Bread
- 40 g Mozzarella Cheese
- 40 g Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- 20 g Butter
- 20 Olive Oil
- Salt (just a sprinkle)
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Granules (optional)
Instructions
- Pop a frying pan on a medium heat with a little olive oil in it.
- Take your 2 slices of sourdough bread, butter one side of each and sprinkle with salt and garlic granules (optional).
- Top one slice of sourdough with the mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese and then place the other slice on top (ensuring the butter is on the outside of the sandwich).
- Place the sandwich into the frying pan. While the sandwich is browning on one side, drizzle a little olive oil onto top of the sandwich.
- Lightly squish the sandwich down with a spatula to ensure the outside of the sourdough bread gets really brown and crispy.
- Once you're happy with the level of crispiness on the outside of your grilled cheese sandwich, check the cheese on the inside is melted and then remove from the pan.
- Allow the sandwich to sit for a few minutes before cutting and enjoying!
Notes
- Aged White Cheddar
- Monterey Jack
- Pepper Jack
- Parmesan Cheese
- Blue Cheese
Nutrition
