18 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Prove Perfection Does Exist

These grilled cheese recipes are perfect. And you deserve them.
Photo by Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott1/18Best-Ever Grilled Cheese
After rigorous scientific testing for this best-ever grilled cheese, we’ve determined that sandwiches sliced in half on a diagonal actually taste better.
Alex Lau2/18Salami and Pickle Grilled Cheese
Pull out this sandwich recipe for lunch, a snack, or a late-night craving. Eat it with potato chips and lemonade; it's also great with a simple green salad for dinner.
Gentyl & Hyers3/18Grilled Cheese with Peak Tomatoes
Progression of a tomato sandwich: On buttered bread with salt; on bread with mayo and cheddar; seasoned and grilled with cheddar and mayo. They’re all pretty perfect, but we’ll take the advanced version, thanks.
Peter Frank Edwards4/18Fancy Grilled Cheese with a Fried Egg
A knife-and-fork situation, with plenty of crunch and gooey, melty textures going on.
Alex Lau5/18Grilled Pimiento Cheese Sandwiches with Apple–Cherry Chutney
You can serve this addictive chutney alongside roasted meat (rotisserie chicken); it’s also good on a sandwich with deli cold cuts.
Alex Lau6/18Egg-in-a-Hole Grilled Cheese with Bacon
The ultimate brunch showstopper. Make room for a nap afterwards.
Alex Lau7/18Apple and Fontina Grilled Cheese
We used fancy tarragon Dijon for this recipe, but if you can find it, blend some chopped fresh tarragon into your favorite Dijon mustard.
Christina Holmes8/18Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
The secret to making grilled cheese for a crowd? Turn on the oven, assemble on a baking sheet, and let the (melted cheese) magic happen.
9/18Gruyere Grilled Cheese with Apple Salad
Spicy arugula is a good match for the gooey, melty cheese.
Alex Lau10/18Tomato Grilled-Cheese Soup
Try pouring the soup directly over the sliced sandwich for an irresistible cheesy bread soup.
Elizabeth Cecil11/18Croque-Madame With Cranberry-Mustard Relish
You know how the cheese sometimes oozes out of a grilled cheese while it’s cooking and gets all brown and crunchy when it hits the skillet? Well, this open-face sandwich recipe is dedicated to making that happen on purpose.
12/18Grilled Ham And Gouda Sandwiches With Frisee And Caramelized Onions
Take it low and slow with the caramelized onions—if you rush it, they'll burn rather than turn all sweet and melty.
13/18Grilled Turkey, Bacon, Radicchio, and Blue Cheese Sandwiches
One thousand gold stars for this recipe.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Graylen Gatewood14/18Grilled Pimiento Cheese and Fried Green Tomato Sandwich (GPC)
Who says you can't grill pimiento cheese? Certainly not us.

16/18Melted Cheese and Chorizo with Grilled Bread
Think of this as a build-your-own grilled cheese. *Not for your lazy friends.
Zach DeSart17/18Cuban Sandwich with Zucchini Pickles
Does this count as a grilled cheese? It probably counts.
