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    Home » Sandwiches

    Published: Apr 20, 2022 · Modified: May 3, 2022 by Donna Poirier · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Easy Grilled Cheese with a Twist

    Jump to Recipe
    A grilled cheese sandwich cut into triangles, stacked on top of each other. A bowl and pot of tomato soup is featured in the background.

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

    Grilled cheese sandwich in the foreground with a bowl of creamy tomato soup and pot of tomato soup in the background. this recipe
    Grilled cheese and tomato soup, a match made in heaven!

    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 🙂

    Jump to:
    • Gather the Ingredients for the Grilled Cheese
    • How to make Grilled Cheese
    • Secrets for Success
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storage Instructions
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Gather the Ingredients for the Grilled Cheese

    Overhead shot of the ingredients for the grilled cheese sandwich which includes bread, butter, cheese, fresh basil.  The ingredients are on a wooden cutting board and there is a knife and butter dish in the photo.
    • 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.

    Overhead shot of two slices of buttered bread on a wooden cutting board.
    Butter both slices of bread on what will be the outside of the sandwich.

    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.

    A photo showing how to assemble the sandwich.  Adding the cheese and basil on top of a slice of bread with the second slice of bread off to the side ready to go on top the cheese and other slice of bread to complete the sandwich.
    "Sandwich" the basil between both slices of cheese.

    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.

    Frying the first side of a grilled cheese sandwich in the pan.
    Frying the second side of the grilled cheese sandwich in the pan until golden brown.
    Fry until golden brown.

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

    A close up photo of the grilled cheese sandwich with a twist, showing the strings of melted cheese and specks of fresh basil.
    The perfect sandwich for dunking in a creamy bowl of tomato soup.

    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

    Can I use mayonnaise instead of butter?

    I have tried substituting mayonnaise for butter when making grilled cheese. If I am honest, it's just not my thing. I enjoy the buttery goodness that only butter can offer. If you think using butter is too rich, then maybe you'd like mayonnaise instead.

    What could I use instead of butter?

    Olive oil could be substituted for butter. The bread will get crispy and golden on the outside and the overall flavour will be neutral.

    Is a grilled cheese sandwich healthy?

    I suppose this is a relative question depending on your eating habits and dietary requirements. Although grilled cheese does have high amounts of saturated fat, it also has many other nutrients. If saturated fat is a concern to you, then substituting with olive oil will lower the amount of saturated fat and you will benefit from the monounsaturated fats from the olive oil. Also, use unsalted butter if you want to reduce the sodium in this recipe.

    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

    Grilled cheese sandwich cut into pieces stacked on top of each other on a wooden board.

    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
     

    • 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
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @ladypeartree or hashtag it #ladypeartree

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Vicky says

      April 23, 2022 at 8:57 am

      5 stars
      Hi! We tried this for dinner last night and it was delish! The basil added an amazing taste 🙂

      Reply
      • Donna Poirier says

        April 25, 2022 at 12:35 pm

        Thanks Vicky, this makes me so happy 🙂

        Reply
    2. Ron P. says

      February 05, 2023 at 7:45 pm

      5 stars
      The basil made all the difference.

      Reply
      • Donna Poirier says

        February 06, 2023 at 1:48 pm

        Thanks, Ron, glad you liked it.

        Reply

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