Did you know you can make grilled cheese in the oven? In this super simple recipe all you need are 3 ingredients and a sheet pan to make the most delicious oven grilled cheese sandwiches!
Most of us are pretty used to making grilled cheese on the stove. It’s a classic recipe that almost every human does or should know how to make. But did you know you can actually make grilled cheese sandwiches in the oven? This is the ultimate recipe hack that will save you time and dishes!
I love prepping a batch of these sandwiches in advance and freezing them for a quick lunch for my daughter who LOVES “mommy’s grilled cheese”. In spite of the fact that I may be a food blogger who has quite a bit of practice with cooking, nothing quite beats my grilled cheese. I can’t wait to blow my toddler’s mind when she exits her picky toddler phase and realizes what I’m actually capable of cooking!
Why Make This Recipe
Kid-Friendly – Do you even live with a toddler if you aren’t eating grilled cheese sandwiches multiple times a week? My daughter loves this recipe!
Feeds a Crowd – Have a bunch of kids coming over or looking to feed your whole family? Try making grilled cheese in the oven to cut down on cooking time and feed a crowd!
Time Saver – This sheet pan grilled cheese is the best time hack for making a lot of grilled cheese at once. Not only that, but it also saves time with minimal dish clean-up!
Ingredients in Oven Grilled Cheese
What’s great about this grilled cheese in oven is that it is easily customizable. You’ll need 3 basic ingredients but you can mix and max to your preference.
- Bread – I prefer a classic wheat or white bread, challah, brioche or sourdough. Wheat bread or a seeded bread like rye bread will also work. Ideally you have it pre-sliced so the slices of bread all bake evenly.
- Butter – To make it easier you can use melted butter to brush onto the pieces of bread.
- Cheese – You want to use sliced cheese. My preference is for a mild cheddar but you can also use sharp cheddar or whatever flavor of cheese you prefer.
How to Make Grilled Cheese in the Oven
STEP 1: PREHEAT OVEN
Preheat oven to 450 degrees and place baking sheet into oven to pre-warm.
STEP 2: BUTTER BREAD
Butter one side of each bread slice. You can melt the butter in the microwave to make it easily spreadable.
STEP 3: ASSEMBLE + BAKE
Remove baking sheet from oven and place one slice of bread on sheet (buttered side down) in a single layer. Immediately top with two slices of sliced cheese and remaining slice of bread (buttered side up). Bake for 5 minutes. Flip and bake for 4-5 minutes on other side or until golden brown. Watch closely to ensure it doesn’t burn.
Easy Swaps & Substitutions
Swap the cheese – not a fan of cheddar cheese? You can always swap out the slices of cheese for something different like swiss, provolone, pepper jack or whatever type of cheese you prefer
Change the bread – while I prefer to use white bread you can use any type of bread you want. Gluten-free bread works great too.
Make it fancy – add a little pesto, include slices of tomato, some protein like turkey or bacon or even sneak in some cooked and strained spinach for a fancy grilled cheese!
FAQs
Cheddar, provolone, American or swiss cheese all tend to melt fairly well and evenly. You could also use Pepper Jack for a little kick.
Most bread will work for oven grilled cheese but you’ll want them to all be evenly sliced. I’d avoid any breakfast breads like Cinnamon-Raisin or Blueberry since those may affect the desired flavor.
Yes! You can use vegan butter and cheese slices if desired. I’ll be honest, it doesn’t melt quite as well but if you’re vegan or dairy-free it’s a solid substitute.
Yes, no problem. You can substitute your slices of bread for gluten-free bread.
Yes. I’ve included storage instructions below but this grilled cheese makes a great meal-prep recipe that can be easily stored in the freezer for future meals.
Storage Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in oven. You can reheat in microwave but bread may get a little soft.
Freezer: This oven grilled cheese can easily be frozen for future meals! Simply wrap each sandwich in tinfoil and then place in a ziplock bag or airtight container. Remove individual sandwiches several hours before consuming or allow to thaw overnight in fridge. Reheat in oven or microwave but again, bread may get a little soft in the microwave.
More Sheet Pan Recipes:
Sheet Pan Grilled Cheese
Did you know you can make grilled cheese in the oven? In this super simple recipe all you need are 3 ingredients and a sheet pan to make the most delicious oven grilled cheese sandwiches!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
- 12 slices of sandwich bread (I like wheat, white or sourdough but see options above)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 12 slices of white cheddar cheese (or see cheese options above)
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and place baking sheet into oven to pre-warm.
- Butter one side of each bread slice.
- Remove baking sheet from oven and place one slice of bread on sheet (buttered side down) in a single layer.
- Immediately top with two slices of sliced cheese and remaining slice of bread (buttered side up).
- Bake for 5 minutes. Flip and bake for 4-5 minutes on other side or until golden brown. Watch closely to ensure it doesn’t burn.
- See storage instructions above.
