This is the BEST Grilled Cheese zandwich, complete with crispy bread and a combination of three cheeses. We're spilling all our secrets to take your grilled cheese experience to the next level without adding any extra effort.
SOFTENBUTTER: Set out butter to soften at room temperature for at least an hour before making. Or see note 2 to quickly soften cold butter.
ASSEMBLY: Brush 1 side of each slice of Texas Toast to the very edges with 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter. Flip both pieces to the other side and spread 1/2 teaspoon mayo on each of the other sides. Divide a tiny sprinkle of garlic powder on top of the mayo on each piece -- about 1/8 teaspoon total. On one piece of bread layer the 3 slices of cheese right on top of each other. Finally sprinkle salt, (about 1/8 teaspoon) right on top of the last slice. Keep the two pieces of bread separate for cooking in a skillet or, if air frying, press the two pieces together into a sandwich.
SKILLET: Set a skillet over medium-low heat (do not heat the skillet before adding in the bread) OR an electric griddle to 275 degrees F and place the two prepared slices of bread in the skillet with the buttered side down. Cover skillet with a lid and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the underside of the bread is golden. Then sandwich the pieces together and continue to cook until the sandwich is deeply golden and crispy and the cheese is melted, flipping only once more during the cooking process, about another 3-4 minutes. The cooking takes about 5-8 minutes total; keep the heat at medium-low and be patient so the bread doesn't burn before the cheese is melted. Once the cheese is nicely melted and bread has developed a beautiful golden crust, remove to a plate. (If bread is browning before the cheese is melted, decrease the heat a bit.)
AIR FRY: Place the sandwich in the air fryer basket. (See Note 3) Don't overcrowd the basket-- only air fry 1 or 2 sandwiches -- whatever fits with plenty of room. Air fry at 360 degrees F for 4-6 minutes. Flip and air fry for another 3-4 minutes or until deeply golden brown and cheese is melted. In my specific model, I cook for 5 minutes, flip and cook for 3 more minutes. Remove to a plate.
SERVE: Cut sandwich in half and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Note 1: Texas Toast: The bread makes all the difference in a Grilled Cheese! We want to use a thick-sliced bread like Texas Toast or a similar type of bread, at least 1-inch thick. This type of bread is sliced thicker than regular sandwich bread, and we're relying on that for perfect results. If the bread is too thick, the cheese won't melt properly and too thin, and the sandwich will be flimsy. If you are using a different type of bread (thinner or thicker), you'll need to slightly adjust the cooking times.Note 2: Soften butter quickly: Unwrap the butter and place it on a small plate. Fill up a wide liquid measuring cup with 1 cup of water. Microwave the water for 2 minutes or until really hot; then pour out the water and quickly dry the cup. Invert the hot measuring cup on top of the butter and let stand for about 5-10 minutes.Note 3: Air Frying: If using a different bread than Texas Toast, you may need to press 2 toothpicks in the two corners of the sandwich to ensure the bread holds together firmly and doesn't shift apart as it cooks.