Skillet Grilled Cheese
Mayonnaise on the outside instead of butter, two cheeses for flavour and melt, and eight minutes over patient medium-low heat. It is the small details that make this version different.
Photograph credit: Broccoli cheddar soup and grilled cheese sandwich by Photos of Japan · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photograph credit: Grilled cheese sandwiches by Jon Sullivan · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Method
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Mix the two cheeses together with the pepper. Using two cheeses gives you both flavour and a proper stretch.
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Spread mayonnaise thinly and evenly over one side of each slice, right to the crusts.
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Spread the Dijon on the unmayonnaised side of two slices.
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Pile the cheese onto the mustard side and close the sandwiches, mayonnaise facing out.
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Melt the butter in a heavy pan over medium-low heat — the butter is for flavour in the pan, the mayonnaise for the crust.
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Cook the sandwiches for 4 minutes on the first side, pressing gently with a spatula, until deep golden.
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Flip and cook 3 to 4 minutes more. If the bread is browning before the cheese melts, lower the heat and cover the pan for a minute.
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Rest for 60 seconds, sprinkle with flaky salt, then cut on the diagonal — it genuinely tastes better that way.
Chef’s Tips
- Grate the cheese rather than slicing it. Grated cheese melts in a third of the time.
- Medium-low heat and patience. A rushed grilled cheese is brown outside and solid inside.
- Add thin apple slices, caramelised onion or a smear of chutney, but never so much that the cheese cannot bind it.
Pairing Suggestions
- Creamy tomato soup, obviously
- A cold lager or a glass of milk
- Follow with something green
Storage & Reheating
Eat immediately. Nothing about a grilled cheese survives storage.
Common questions
How long does Skillet Grilled Cheese take to make?
About 13 minutes in total — 5 minutes of preparation and 8 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 2.
What are the key tips for making Skillet Grilled Cheese?
Grate the cheese rather than slicing it. Grated cheese melts in a third of the time. Medium-low heat and patience. A rushed grilled cheese is brown outside and solid inside. Add thin apple slices, caramelised onion or a smear of chutney, but never so much that the cheese cannot bind it.
What should I serve with Skillet Grilled Cheese?
Creamy tomato soup, obviously; A cold lager or a glass of milk; Follow with something green.
Is Skillet Grilled Cheese suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Skillet Grilled Cheese?
About 586 kcal per serving, with 24 g protein, 38 g carbohydrate and 38 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.