No Pans, Just Foil: A Better Way To Make Perfectly Gooey Grilled Cheese

An ooey, gooey grilled cheese sandwich is more than a childhood staple — it's a delicacy. On their own, bread and cheese are amazing, but when melted together for a cheesy, crispy snack, they become heaven on a plate. Growing up, you probably watched your parents break out the frying pan and slather loads of butter on it to make grilled cheese on the stove. But what if, instead, you make your grilled cheese official and throw it on the grill this summer?

That's right: Instead of pan-frying your grilled cheese, wrap it in tin foil and cook it on the grill. All you have to do is assemble it, wrap it, and place it on the hot grates for three to four minutes, allowing the moisture trapped in the foil to soften the sandwich. Then, remove the foil, add more butter to each side, and cook it directly on the grates until you've achieved those perfectly golden brown grill marks. It's a fairly easy way to make outstanding grilled cheese, which pairs nicely with the barbecue ribs or hot dogs you're making beside it.

There are some pros and cons to this method. For one, the foil helps the cheese melt more evenly, and if you use firm bread, it won't get soggy or fall apart. On the other hand, the cheese can get stuck to the foil when you unwrap it, creating a potential messy transfer to the grill. But the type of cheese you use may change that.

Before you get to grilling, make sure your bread is evenly coated with a layer of butter or mayonnaise to create the crispy bite. You could even spread coconut oil on each side, the secret ingredient for a crispier grilled cheese. Chefs also recommend using stale or hard bread, like sourdough, to help the sandwich maintain its shape. Also, make sure your foil is thick and high-quality. The last thing you want is to dig tiny pieces of metal out of your finished product.

While you can use any cheese your heart desires — everyone has a grilled cheese preference! — we highly recommend mixing a variety of cheeses together for a more complex flavor. Havarti, colby jack, and cheddar can provide the gooey texture, while hints of parmesan or pepper jack can add a rich nuttiness or kick of heat. Adding other ingredients is equally encouraged. Stuffing ham, sausage, bacon, or cooked eggs in the sandwich before wrapping it up makes for a delicious twist.

No time to fire up the grill? No problem. You could easily make grilled cheese of the same caliber on a small countertop grill or a panini press. Just double-check that you can use foil with these appliances first. Or break out the air fryer, aka the easiest way to get perfectly melted grilled cheese — no pan needed.