The Perfect Grilled Cheese: Oven-Baked In Under 15 Minutes

Grilled cheese is a classic comfort food, but making it for a crowd can be a pain. Luckily, there's an easy way to make grilled cheese in the oven that cuts down on time and effort. This method is perfect for when you're serving soup and grilled cheese to a large group, or just want to make several sandwiches at once without having to babysit a skillet.

Preheat the oven to 450°F

Once you've preheated your oven, it's time to prepare your sandwiches. Start by lightly buttering one side of each slice of bread. Place the slices butter-side down on a baking sheet or cookie sheet. You can use any type of bread you like, but a thicker slice will take a little longer to toast.

Now it's time to add the cheese. You can use any type of cheese you like, but shredded cheese or thinner slices will melt more easily and give you that perfect, gooey texture. Place your cheese on the bread, and then top it with another slice, butter-side up.

Place your sandwiches in the oven and bake for about 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them, as you don't want them to burn! After 5 minutes, flip each sandwich over and bake for an additional 3 to 6 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your grilled cheese.

And that's it! You now have perfectly toasted, golden brown grilled cheese sandwiches with melted cheese. Enjoy!

Butter the bread

Butter is an essential ingredient in any grilled cheese sandwich. It adds flavour and helps the bread achieve that desirable golden-brown crispiness.

When making grilled cheese, it's important to butter the bread and not the pan. This is because buttering each slice of bread will give you better browning and extra flavour. It also decreases the chances of burning.

You can use salted or unsalted butter, depending on your preference. Softened butter is easier to spread, so you may want to take your butter out of the fridge ahead of time to let it soften. You can also lightly butter the pan in addition to the bread if you want to be extra careful about your sandwiches sticking.

If you're making a grilled cheese in the oven, you can build your sandwiches directly on the baking sheet. Simply spread the outsides of two pieces of bread with softened butter, layer with cheese, and place them on the baking sheet.

For a classic grilled cheese sandwich on the stovetop, butter one side of a slice of bread and place it butter-side down in a hot skillet. Add your cheese, then place another slice of bread on top (butter-side up).

You can also get creative with your grilled cheese by adding toppings like Parmesan cheese, bacon, ham, or roasted beef.

Now that we've covered the importance of buttering the bread, let's move on to the next step in the grilled cheese-making process.

Assemble the sandwiches

To assemble the sandwiches, you'll need bread, butter, and cheese. For the bread, you can use any type you like, such as wheat, white, or sourdough. For the butter, salted butter will add extra flavour. As for the cheese, a combination of mozzarella and a flavoured cheese like vintage cheddar or gruyere is ideal. You can also use American cheese, mild cheddar, or light mozzarella.

Here's a step-by-step guide to assembling the sandwiches:

• Preheat your oven to 450°F.
• Lightly butter one side of each slice of bread. You can use softened or spreadable butter to make this step easier.
• Place the slices of bread, buttered-side down, on a baking sheet or cookie sheet.
• Layer the desired amount of cheese slices on each slice of bread. For a classic grilled cheese, use one or two slices. For a cheesier sandwich, feel free to add more!
• Place the remaining slices of bread on top, with the buttered-side facing up.
• If desired, you can add some extras between the bread and cheese layers, such as sliced tomatoes, thin onion slices, or cooked bacon.
• Once your sandwiches are assembled, they're ready to be baked in the oven!

Feel free to adjust the amount of butter and cheese to your preference. You can also experiment with different types of bread and cheese to find your perfect grilled cheese combination!

Bake for 5 minutes

Once you've prepared your sandwiches and preheated your oven to 350 degrees, it's time to bake your grilled cheese! Place your sandwiches on a baking sheet and put them in the oven. Set a timer for 5 minutes, and let the magic happen.

As your sandwiches bake, the buttered sides of the bread will start to turn a golden brown, and the cheese will gradually melt into a gooey, delicious mess. Keep an eye on your sandwiches, as you don't want them to burn. The exact baking time may vary depending on your oven and the type of bread you're using, so it's important to monitor them closely.

If you're making a large batch of grilled cheese sandwiches, you might need to bake them in batches to ensure even cooking. Alternatively, you can try arranging the sandwiches on multiple baking sheets and rotating them halfway through the baking process. This way, you can cook more sandwiches at once without overcrowding your oven.

After 5 minutes, your sandwiches should be nicely toasted, and the cheese should be partially melted. It's now time to move on to the next step: flipping your sandwiches. Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and use a spatula to flip each sandwich over. This ensures that both sides of the bread get toasted and that the cheese melts evenly.

Once you've flipped your sandwiches, it's back into the oven they go for the final stretch. Set your timer for another 5 minutes and let the sandwiches bake until they reach the perfect level of golden brown goodness. Keep an eye on them, as you don't want the bread to burn.

When the timer goes off, take the sandwiches out of the oven and let them cool slightly before serving. The cheese will be hot and melty, so be careful not to burn your mouth! Enjoy your delicious, oven-baked grilled cheese sandwiches!

Flip and bake for another 3-6 minutes

Once you've flipped your sandwiches, it's time to bake them for another 3-6 minutes. This second bake will give your grilled cheese sandwiches a golden brown finish. The exact baking time will depend on your oven and the type of bread you're using, so keep an eye on your sandwiches to make sure they don't burn.

If you're making a basic grilled cheese sandwich, this second bake should be enough time to melt your cheese and give your bread a nice, crispy texture. However, if your cheese still hasn't melted or your bread isn't crispy enough, you can try baking your sandwiches for an additional minute or two. Just be careful not to overdo it, as you don't want your sandwiches to burn.

If you're looking to get creative with your grilled cheese, this second bake provides the perfect opportunity. Try adding some extra ingredients, like sliced tomatoes, avocado, or even a slice of brie. You can also experiment with different types of bread and cheese to find your perfect combination.

By baking your grilled cheese sandwiches in the oven, you can easily make enough for a crowd without having to stand over a skillet. So, feel free to invite some friends over, whip up a batch of tomato soup, and enjoy your perfectly baked grilled cheese sandwiches!

Frequently asked questions