Making a Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich elevates your toasted sandwich experience. The chewy texture of Sourdough, paired with the gooey cheese, spread with mayo creating a crispy golden crust. With Griddle Pan or Air Fryer instructions, and lots of recipe tips and flavor ideas, something for everyone!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Crispier Crust - the secret to a golden crust is using Mayo, fully coating the bread with guaranteed crispiness!
- Easier to Spread - the Mayo spread so easy ensuring every outer part of the bread, without waiting for butter to soften
- Texture - Sourdough has chewy texture with air pockets, creating a sturdy sandwich, easy to hold and eat
- Versatile - with so many ways to enjoy, with added proteins, cheese varieties, sauces or spices - this recipe is a winner
Ingredients
- Sourdough Bread
- Cheese - Sliced or Grated
- Mayonnaise
Equipment
- Cast Iron Griddle Pan, Skillet or Frying Pan
- Flipper
How to Make Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Prepare Bread - lay Bread on a flat surface and spread a thin layer of Mayonnaise on one side of Bread (this will be the outer layer of bread that grills).
- Add Cheese - place Cheese on the inside of the sandwich (the inside without spread Mayo).
- Preheat - heat Griddle Pan over medium low heat until hot.
- Cook - place sandwich Mayo-side down in the pan. Top with second slice of bread, Mayo side facing out. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden before flipping. Press gently with flipper to ensure even cooking.
- Serve - remove sandwich from Grill to slightly cool allowing Cheese to set. Slice in half, serve and enjoy!
Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich Variations
- Spicy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches - add Jalapeños, Chili Peppers or drizzle some Tabasco Sauce for some heat
- Gourmet Brie Grilled Cheese - make it fancy by using Brie or Camembert Cheese slices with Apricot Jam or with Pear Slices
- Mixed Cheese Sandwich - add more than one of your favorite cheeses like Cheddar, Gruyere, Mozzarella, Havarti, Gouda or Edam Cheese
- Fresh Herbs or Spices - add fresh or dried herbs like Basil, Oregano or Dill
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- Day Old Bread - stale bread is perfect for grilling, is easy to spread and holds shape better
- Low and Slow - take your time and cook on low heat. Too hot and the bread burns and the cheese won't melt. Cooking on low ensures the right temperature balance to grill and melt
- Bring Cheese to Room Temperature - this ensures even melting
- Preheat Skillet - don't skip this step! Placing bread on cold skillet will make your sandwich soggy as it heats and melts. A hot skillet will make it nice and crispy
- Change Bread - substitute with regular Bread, Rye Bread, Multi-grain, Texas Toast or Flavored Sourdough (Jalapeño or Olive Bread)
Mayonnaise Alternatives for Grilled Cheese
- Butter - bring to room temperature before spreading
- Olive Oil - brush outside of bread with pastry brush
- Margarine - or any spreadable butter alternative
- Coconut Oil - adds a light Coconut flavor
- Garlic Butter - for a flavor hit or Garlic
- Japanese Mayo - has more umami flavor
Grilled Cheese Flavor Ideas
- Pesto - or using Pesto Mayo adds strong Basil flavor
- Onion Jam - Sweet and Savory, perfect with mild Cheeses like Harvarti or Edam
- Protein - add Bacon Slices, Smoked Chicken, Leftover Ham or Turkey slices
- Harissa Paste - a Tunisian spicy paste that melts great with Cheese
- Tapenade - Olive spread for Mediterranean flavors
- Ajvar - a Balkan Pepper and Eggplant spread that tastes great in sandwiches
- Truffle Grilled Cheese Sandwich - make it super fancy and gourmet
Can I Use an Air Fryer to Make Grilled Cheese?
Yes. Not only perfect for reheating, but you can also make Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwiches in the Air Fryer. Thicker slices of bread work better as it won't dry out.
- Preheat Air Fryer to 350°F (180°C).
- Place sandwich in basket, Mayo side facing out.
- Cook for about 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Serve and enjoy.
Serving Suggestions
- Roasted Tomato Soup
- Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup
- Bread Bowl Clam Chowder
- Pan Fried Potatoes
- Coleslaw
- Homemade Dill Pickles
- Chicken Cobb Salad
Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich is an easy snack or a quick lunch. It's really a fast and easy comfort food, perfect for kids or for big kids (Dads, I'm looking at you 🤣). Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
Equipment
- Cast Iron Griddle Pan, Skillet or Frying Pan
- Flipper
Ingredients
- 4 Sourdough Bread Slices
- 4 slices Cheddar Cheese
- Mayonnaise
Instructions
Griddle Pan Instructions
- Prepare Bread - lay Bread on a flat surface and spread a thin layer of Mayonnaise on one side of Bread (this will be the outer layer of bread that grills).
- Add Cheese - place Cheese on the inside of the sandwich (the inside without spread Mayo).
- Preheat - heat Griddle Pan over medium low heat until hot.
- Cook - place sandwich Mayo-side down in the pan. Top with second slice of bread, Mayo side facing out. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden before flipping. Press gently with flipper to ensure even cooking.
- Serve - remove sandwich from Grill to slightly cool allowing Cheese to set. Slice in half, serve and enjoy!
Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer to 350°F (180°C).
- Place sandwich in basket, Mayo side facing out.
- Cook for about 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Serve and enjoy.
Tried this recipe?Mention @petersfoodadventures or tag #petersfoodadventures!
©PetersFoodAdventures.com *originally published September 2015, updated December 2024
tedstrutz
Get a copy of her book, Garlic and Sapphires. When she was the food critic for the NY Times. Fun read.
tedstrutz
Nice style of writing... neat and crisp, like your grilled cheese, I suspect.
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks for the complement, and for stopping by and checking me out! 🙂 and I don't have a good comeback for the crisp grilled cheese. well played.
tedstrutz
p.s. have you seen Ruth Reichl's Diva of Grilled Cheese, using scallions, leeks and shallots? I made it... yum.
PetersFoodAdventures
Wow, sounds delicious. I just googled her, and she is everywhere. I must have been living under a rock! Never heard of her before this, but will keep reading about her. Scallions, leeks, shallots, cheese, mayo, I'm drooling on my keyboard! lol
lisasasha
Mmm this looks sooo good! I have been craving a good sandwich for a while now!
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks - and so easy to spread the mayo instead of butter. Win!
ohiocook
Reblogged this on My Meals are on Wheels.
marycallanyoga
These look so amazing!
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks! Sooooo tasty! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and checking it out!
Tracey
Peter...it is sometimes the easy ideas we overlook!! I had read this somewhere (I think it was a trivia question) that mayo is an old diner trick. Thank you for reminding us to think outside the box.
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks for stopping by! An old diner trick, that makes sense, especially if they are in a hurry. I'm usually in a hurry to eat too! haha 🙂