Anna’s Ultimate Grilled Cheese

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Makes:

1 sandwich

Prep Time:

Under 10 minutes

Cook Time:

15 minutes

Category:

Lunch | Sandwiches

Pair with: Simply Delicious Tomato Soup

Introduction

About this Recipe

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Excerpted from Anna Cooks: 125+ Delicious & Achievable Recipes for Every Meal of the Day, by Anna Olson. Copyright © 2025 Olson Food Concepts Inc. Photography by Janis Nicolay. Published by Appetite by Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited.

This recipe is not a dare. Appreciating that we all have varied thoughts and even emotions behind what qualifies as the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich, this recipe is about exploring what that means to you. To help you on your grilled cheese journey,I’ll explain why the version below is my own “ultimate” grilled cheese.

First, I like the texture of seeds and grains in the multigrain bread and the nutty taste the bread gets when toasted in the pan. Next, I like to use butter for flavour and mayonnaise for the even coverage and thin and crispy exterior it gives to the grilled cheese. For the cheese, I like a blend of Gouda and Monterey Jack for buttery colour, a silky-smooth melted cheese consistency that isn’t greasy, and a flavour that is neither too strong nor too bland. And if I’m going to indulge in a grilled cheese, I remain a purist and do not add “inclusions” like ham or even mustard—though I do love a good kosher dill pickle on the side.

Ingredients

2 (about ¾-inch/2 cm thick) slices multigrain bread
1 Tbsp (15 g) butter, at room temperature
2 Tbsp (30 mL) mayonnaise
½ cup (55 g) grated young Gouda
½ cup (55 g) grated Monterey Jack cheese

I invite you to explore and find fulfillment in your own ultimate grilled cheese experience! Here are some grilled cheese options for you to consider on your quest to find your ultimate (should my ultimate not meet your standards): 

Bread choices: Italian or French; White sandwich (or whole wheat); Multigrain; Rye; Sourdough; Egg bread or brioche

Cheese options: Cheddar (mild, medium or old, orange or white); Swiss (generic) ; Gruyere or Emmenthal; Monterey Jack ; Gouda; Brie; Processed cheese slices; Havarti; Favoured cream cheese or Boursin, in addition to a choice above

Extras: Grainy mustard; Dijon mustard; Yellow mustard; Ham; Bacon; Pickles (dill, bread and butter, cornichons); Kimchi; Hot peppers

On the side: Ketchup; Sriracha; Pickles

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Brush one side of each slice of multigrain bread with butter, then spread the mayonnaise on the same side.

Step 2

In a bowl, combine the grated Gouda and Monterey Jack cheeses.

Step 3

Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat and place one slice of bread in the pan, dressed side down. Pile the grated cheese on top of the bread and place the second slice of bread on top of the cheese, dressed side up. Cook the grilled cheese for about 8 minutes, checking the bottom of the bread to ensure it is not toasting too quickly, in which case you can reduce the heat to medium-low. Flip the sandwich over and cook until the second slice of bread is equally toasted and the cheese has melted and just begins to ooze from the sides of the sandwich. 