The secret ingredient for a best-ever grilled cheese is... mayo!
You Should Make Your Grilled Cheese with Mayo—Not Butter
Updated on Jul. 17, 2024
We can all agree that everyone loves new ways to improve on old favorites. Do you know how to make a perfectly round egg for a breakfast sandwich? Or how to make pie in a Mason jar lid? Now you do!
One of the latest and greatest kitchen hacks involves upgrading your grilled cheese with one simple secret ingredient: mayonnaise.
How Do You Make a Grilled Cheese with Mayo?
The best part of many recipe tweaks is that they’re often easy and incorporate ingredients most people already have in the house. That’s definitely the case with this. You switch out the usual butter on a grilled cheese sandwich and using mayo instead, a trick we learned on Reddit.
It’s so easy! All you have to do is coat the outside of your sandwich bread with mayonnaise before you pan-fry it, creating a crispy flavorful crust almost reminiscent of garlic bread.
secret to the best grilled cheese ever: spread mayo instead of butter on the outside of the sandwich from r/foodhacks
Sometimes food hacks seem so simple, we ask ourselves “Why didn’t we think of that?”
Of course, you can kick things up a notch by using flavored mayonnaise. Maybe garlic or basil? You could even dredge the bread in grated cheese like Parmesan or Cotija to recreate the flavor of grilled street corn.
Why Is Mayo Better for Grilled Cheese?
It might seem strange to use mayo to make a grilled cheese (or even to bake chocolate cake). But it makes perfect sense when you think about the ingredients used to make mayonnaise—that creamy texture comes from whipping egg yolks and oil. Using mayo instead of butter to make grilled cheese results in a rich, golden brown exterior, and some say the taste is even better than butter!
The Most Gooey Grilled Cheese Recipes Ever
The Best Ever Grilled Cheese SandwichSpreading a mixture of mayo and butter on the bread creates a delightfully crispy crust with the well-loved, wonderful flavor of butter one expects on a grilled cheese sandwich.—Josh Rink, Taste Recipes Food Stylist
Air-Fryer Grilled CheeseOur air-fryer grilled cheese has a perfectly crisped outside and a melty, gooey inside thanks to the air fryer’s efficient air circulation.
Grilled Cheese, Ham and Apple SandwichIn this stepped-up version of a ham and cheese sandwich, melty cheeses, crispy apples and smoky ham are the ultimate combination. —Josh Rink, Taste Recipes Food Stylist
Cuban SandwichThis Cuban sandwich isn't your typical sub sandwich. With two kinds of pork, melted Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard pressed between two toasty pieces of bread, the picture-perfect Cubano will have you wanting more.
Fig, Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese PaniniA taste of this sandwich whisks you to the Italian countryside. It combines sweet honey, dried figs, tangy goat cheese, nutty Asiago and salty prosciutto. We often pack it in our picnic basket for summer or fall outings. —Maria Brennan, Middlebury, Connecticut
Grilled Cheese, Bacon and Oven-Dried Tomato SandwichTake your grilled cheese sandwich to a place it's never been before with crispy bacon and tangy tomatoes and five—yes, five!—types of cheese. —Josh Rink, Taste Recipes Food Stylist
Grilled Cheese and Mushroom SandwichGive your favorite grilled cheese sandwich a boost with the addition of earthy portobello mushrooms. This savory recipe takes this portobello mushroom sandwich into gourmet territory. —Josh Rink, Taste Recipes Food Stylist
Grilled Cheese and Pickled Onion SandwichIf you’re looking to add a little bite to your classic grilled cheese recipe, look no further than pickled onions. We love sandwiching a few inside this sandwich for a touch of acidity and some foodie flair. —Josh Rink, Taste Recipes Food Stylist
Bacon Grilled Cheese SandwichBacon lovers, this one’s for you! Overflowing with cheese and crispy bacon, this grilled cheese recipe is so hearty, you won’t even need a side of tomato soup. —Josh Rink, Taste Recipes Food Stylist
Avocado Grilled CheeseWho doesn't love a crunchy, gooey grilled cheese sandwich? This avocado grilled cheese version kicks it up several notches with avocado, five different cheeses and a secret for extra-crispy bread.
Sun-Dried Tomato Grilled Cheese SandwichGrilled cheese is a classic quick and easy meal. I love experimenting with different combinations. This is one of my favorites. —jessie Apfe, Berkeley, California
Green Chile Grilled Cheese MeltMy daughter created a masterpiece with her ultimate grilled cheese and chiles sandwich. Want more heat? Use a 4-ounce can of diced jalapenos instead of the mild green chiles. —Julia Huntington, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Pesto Grilled CheeseI made up this recipe for students in the foods and nutrition class I teach. The kids like it so much, they often go home and fix it for their families. —Beth Hiott, York, South Carolina
Bacon Grilled CheeseLevel up your grilled cheese with this bacon grilled cheese sandwich. Featuring mustard, mayo, tomato, onion and two cheeses, this sandwich is anything but boring. Serve it with tomato soup and salad for a complete meal.
Bistro Apple PaniniMy family loves panini press recipes. The bacon, apple and tarragon in this recipe go together so well. If you don’t have a panini maker or an indoor grill, you can easily pan-fry or broil these excellent sandwiches.—Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Athenian Chicken Grilled Cheese SandwichesMozzarella and feta cheese make one delicious duo in this upscale grilled cheese that also features tender Athenian chicken and fresh herb flavor. —Michael Cohen, Los Angeles, California
Chicken PaniniThis melty, decadent and easy-to-make chicken panini is perfect for a quick lunch or a casual weekend treat.
Basil-Tomato Grilled CheeseThe tastes of summer abound in this easy Italian-style grilled cheese sandwich. Not only is it delicious, it's super-fast, so you can get back to those summer outdoor activities. —Sylvia Schmitt, Sun City, Arizona
Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Date-Bacon JamThis sandwich doubles up on melty cheese, but the star of the show is the sweet and salty date-bacon jam. It makes for a truly grown-up version of grilled cheese. —Kathy Cooper, Tucson, Arizona
Pulled Pork Grilled CheeseMy family combined two of our favorite things: pulled pork and grilled cheese sandwiches. This recipe is super fast and easy when you use store-bought pulled pork. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
Apple-White Cheddar Grilled CheeseOn rainy days when we need comfort food in a hurry, I toast sandwiches of cinnamon-raisin bread with white cheddar, apple and red onion. They also are totally tasty made with vegan cheese and olive oil instead of butter! —Kathy Patalsky, New York, New York
Grilled Cheese Bun BurgersMy husband loves both my grilled cheese and my iron-skillet burgers, so I decided to combine them in this grilled cheese bun burger. He said it was the best meal he ever ate. —Lisa Allen, Joppa, Alabama
Grilled Cheese Ideas FAQ
What is the secret to a good grilled cheese sandwich?
In my opinion, the secret to a good grilled cheese sandwich is crisp, toasty bread. I butter one side of two slices of bread, assemble my sandwich, and then griddle over medium-low heat until golden. The flip is tricky to execute, but a good spatula works wonders. Some people swear by using mayo to make grilled cheese instead of butter for a richer flavor.
How do I upgrade my classic grilled cheese?
For a quick upgrade to American cheese on white bread, add in a slice or two of ripe tomato. For a more ambitious upgrade, test out sandwiches with unexpected types of cheeses.
What is grilled cheese best paired with?
To complete the meal, I like to pair grilled cheese with tomato soup or a simple side salad. There's nothing better for a simple night in.
