Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Better Than Starbucks!)

This is a super flavorful sourdough grilled cheese sandwich with cheddar, mozzarella, and buttery parmesan crusted bread! Ready in just 20 minutes, this is the best grilled cheese sandwich that is easy to make and extra satisfying.

While loaded grilled cheeses and sandwiches with unique ingredients can definitely be fun, sometimes a basic recipe like this one truly hits the spot. It's a classic grilled cheese, but we really think it's perfect thanks to the best bread, combination of cheeses, and a little extra flavor from some dijon mustard and a garlic parmesan butter. It's the ultimate comfort food that is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner or a satisfying weekend sandwich. If you love the Starbucks grilled cheese, this homemade version uses many of the same ingredients but is even more delicious!

We think tangy sourdough bread is definitely the best option for a grilled cheese as it has a sturdy texture while also adding extra flavor. Parmesan cheese is mixed into softened butter to add some extra saltiness and flavor, and the inside of the grilled cheese is packed with shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese slices, ensuring that this sandwich will give you all the cheese goodness and the best cheese pull. We think these cheeses give the best results, but we also offer some substitution ideas in the ingredients notes below!

If you're looking for another grilled cheese recipe we have got you covered! For a fun and unique grilled cheese, you will love our Pickle Grilled Cheese. If you're in the mood for a sandwich perfect for the upcoming warmer months, be sure to try out our Havarti Grilled Cheese with Peaches.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love this Grilled Cheese
• Ingredients for this Recipe
• Step by Step Instructions
• Tips for Making these Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
• FAQs
• Storing and Freezing
• 📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love this Grilled Cheese

• It's a super easy classic comfort food! If you're craving something delicious but don't have much time, this very easy recipe makes for the best option.
• It's got great depth of flavor. Even though it's simple, this grilled cheese is creamy, salty and sharp, and also has a great combination of textures.
• There are so many options for what to pair with this sandwich. We love this sandwich on its own, but it also goes so well with a bowl of tomato soup or a side salad.

Ingredients for this Recipe

This recipe has a short ingredients list so we definitely recommend purchasing high quality ingredients.

• Butter - Most of the butter is combined with grated parmesan and garlic powder which is then spread on to the outside of each of the four slices of bread. Make sure to use softened butter as this makes it much easier to combine with the parmesan. You can also pop the butter into the microwave in a small bowl for about 10-15 seconds prior to adding in the parmesan and garlic powder. I also like to melt about 1 tablespoon of butter in the skillet prior to adding the grilled cheeses as this ensures they will be evenly golden and not stick to the pan.
• Parmesan - Make sure to freshly grate your parmesan, and I like to use a microplane to do this so that it is super fine as this will help it incorporate well into the softened butter and not stick to the pan.
• Garlic powder - Adds a nice flavor but if you don't like garlic I would recommend using just a sprinkle or omitting it.
• Sourdough bread - Make sure to use your favorite sourdough bread, and you can either use pre-sliced or slice up your favorite sourdough loaf. I personally like to buy a loaf and slice it so that the slices are slightly thicker, but if you do this just make sure they are not too thick as the bread might not crisp up enough. You can also definitely use a homemade sourdough loaf if that's your thing! When you coat the slices with the parmesan butter, make sure to spread the butter all over the outside of the bread, including the edges.
• Dijon mustard - Adds some sharpness which pairs so well with the cheeses. Since dijon can be overpowering I recommend just spreading on thin dashes of it instead of fully coating the bottom two pieces of bread.
• Mozzarella cheese - A great melting cheese! Make sure to buy the regular mozzarella (not fresh mozzarella) and to freshly shred it yourself. Pre-shredded mozzarella in a bag will not melt as well as freshly shredded. For substitutes, fontina or plain havarti would work in place of the mozzarella.
• Cheddar cheese - I like to use slices of extra sharp cheddar, and I prefer white cheddar! If you can't find slices then a block of either white or orange cheddar also works, just make sure to shred it yourself. If you prefer a milder grilled cheese then gouda cheese, colby jack, monterey jack, or slices of american cheese would also work, or for a more flavorful grilled cheese you could use pepper jack.

See recipe card below for quantities.

Step by Step Instructions

This is an easy recipe that only takes about 20 minutes start to finish!

Step 1: Make the parmesan butter. In a small bowl combine softened butter, grated parmesan, and garlic powder (if using), until smooth and combined.

Step 2: Coat the slices of bread. Spread the butter mixture on to the outside of each of the four slices of bread, making sure to fully coat each slice including the edges.

Step 3: Add the dijon. Flip all four slices over, then spread a few dashes of dijon mustard on to two of the slices of bread. You can add as much as you like, but I personally find dijon can be overpowering so I don't recommend coating the slices completely.

Step 4: Assemble the sandwiches. Divide the shredded mozzarella between the two slices with dijon, then top each with 2-3 slices of cheddar depending on the size of your pieces of sourdough (we did the opposite in the photos below, but either order works). Sprinkle with black pepper then top each sandwich with the other piece of sourdough, making sure that the buttered side is facing out.

Step 5: Cook the grilled cheeses. In a large skillet, melt remaining tablespoon butter (or enough to just coat the bottom of the skillet, you don't want to add too much) over medium heat. Add grilled cheeses, pressing down lightly, and cook for 3-5 minutes until golden. Flip and continue cooking until cheese is melted and bottom pieces are golden. Remove from skillet, sprinkle with flaky salt, and serve immediately.

Tips for Making these Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

• Make sure to use softened butter otherwise it will be difficult to mix it with the grated parmesan. When coating the bread with the parmesan butter, make sure to spread the butter all the way to the edges and not just in the center of the bread as this will ensure it is evenly golden.
• When you first add the grilled cheeses you want to make sure the pan is warmed up over medium heat to ensure the bread crisps up and the butter doesn't just soak into the bread, leading to a soggy grilled cheese. Once the grilled cheese is flipped and the second side is golden brown, if the cheese isn't quite melted yet you can reduce it to medium-low heat so that the cheese can melt without the bread burning.
• In addition to using a hot pan, to ensure a crispy grilled cheese once they are cooked and removed from the skillet you can place them on a wire rack so that the steam has room to escape without making the bread soggy. If you want a super crispy grilled cheese you can also toast the insides of each slice of bread before proceeding with the other steps.

FAQs

Storing and Freezing

This recipe is best served right away, but can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and then reheated in the toaster oven or oven until the bread is crisp and the inside is warmed through and melted.

I don't recommend freezing this grilled cheese.

Did you try this recipe? If so please leave a ⭐️ rating and/or comment below! Also, make sure to tag us on Instagram @doublethespoonfuls so we can see what you create.

📖 Recipe