Easy Grilled Cheese with a Twist

Crisp and buttery on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside are what a perfectly executed grilled cheese sandwich is all about.

this recipe

The secret twist to this easy grilled cheese sandwich is the addition of fresh basil. The combination of fresh basil and tomato is a match made in heaven. If you agree, you might also like my recipe for the Best Creamy Homemade Tomato Soup or my Italian Lentil and Barley Soup with Vegetables recipe. The best part is that you don't have to be a kid to enjoy dunking your grilled cheese in a steaming bowl of soup 🙂

Gather the Ingredients for the Grilled Cheese

• bread-I used a sprouted grain bread for this recipe
• salted butter
• mild, old or extra old cheddar
• fresh basil

See the recipe below for specific quantities and details.

How to make Grilled Cheese

Prepare the bread. On your work surface, lay both slices of bread. Spread half the butter on what will be the outside of your sandwich and do the same with the other slice of bread.

Add the rest of the ingredients. Next, lay one slice of cheese onto the unbuttered side of the bread, add the fresh basil, lay the second piece of cheese on top of the basil and finally add the second slice of bread (buttered side facing out) on top of the cheese to form your sandwich.

Preheat the frying pan. Over medium-low heat, preheat the frying pan for two minutes. Once the pan is preheated, carefully add the sandwich and cook for 3-5 minutes on the first side until golden brown. Next, flip the sandwich and cook the other side for approximately 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the pan.

Serve. Once removed from the pan let the grilled cheese sit before diving in, as it will be very hot! Enjoy 🙂

Secrets for Success

• Slow and easy wins the race! Make sure you don't overheat the frying pan, as this will result in a charred sandwich instead of one that is golden brown.
• Cut the basil into ribbons; see the note in the recipe card.

Substitutions & Variations

• Many different types of cheese will work in this recipe. I like sharp cheese because it is very flavourful, but you may want to consider mozzarella and Monterey Jack if you prefer milder cheese.
• If you have sourdough bread on hand, then go for it! Sourdough has a great tang that will complement the cheese.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storage Instructions

• Grilled cheese does not store well and will become soft and soggy if refrigerated. Go ahead and eat this right away to best appreciate the crispy golden exterior of this sandwich 🙂

Recipe

Easy Grilled Cheese with a Twist

Donna Poirier

Crisp and buttery on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside are what a perfectly executed grilled cheese sandwich is all about.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 9 mins

Total Time 14 mins

Course Main Course, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine Canadian, American

Servings 1 serving

Calories 393 kcal

Equipment

• nonstick frying pan
• spatula
• measuring spoons
• chef's knife
• butter knife

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 slices bread, I highly recommend sour dough
• ▢ 1 tablespoon salted butter, at room temperature
• ▢ 2 slices cheddar cheese, mild, old or extra old
• ▢ 5 fresh basil leaves, cut into little ribbons (see note below)

Instructions

• Prepare the bread.  On your work surface, lay both slices of bread.  Spread half the butter on what will be the outside of your sandwich and do the same with the other slice of bread.
  2 slices bread, 1 tablespoon salted butter
• Add the rest of the ingredients.  Next, lay one slice of cheese onto the unbuttered side of the bread, add the fresh basil, lay the second piece of cheese on top of the basil and finally add the second slice of bread (buttered side facing out) on top of the cheese to form your sandwich.
  2 slices cheddar cheese, 5 fresh basil leaves
• Preheat the frying pan.  Over medium-low heat, preheat the frying pan for two minutes.  Once the pan is preheated, carefully add the sandwich and cook for approximately 3-5 minutes on the first side until golden brown.  Next, flip the sandwich and cook the other side for approximately 2 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from the pan.
• Serve.  Once removed from the pan, let the grilled cheese sit before cutting into it, as it will be very hot!  Enjoy.

Notes

To cut the basil into ribbons or chiffonade the basil (a chopping technique), take the leaves and stack each leaf on top of the other leaf.  Next, roll the basil tightly on the long end into a log shape.  Then slice through this log, cutting as finely as you can.  The benefit of this type of cutting technique is that you preserve the basil's taste without unnecessarily bruising it.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Amount per Serving

Calories

393

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

25

g

38

%

Saturated Fat

 

14

g

88

%

Trans Fat

 

0.5

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

2

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

6

g

Cholesterol

 

64

mg

21

%

Sodium

 

577

mg

25

%

Potassium

 

114

mg

3

%

Carbohydrates

 

27

g

9

%

Fiber

 

2

g

8

%

Sugar

 

3

g

3

%

Protein

 

14

g

28

%

Vitamin A

 

797

IU

16

%

Vitamin C

 

0.5

mg

1

%

Calcium

 

317

mg

32

%

Iron

 

2

mg

11

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is approximated using an online nutrition calculator. It is included as a courtesy and should not be substituted for the advice of a professional nutritionist.

Keyword grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup and grilled cheese, cheese toastie

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