Livin' On Cheesy Street

Many a house stands divided over what constitutes the best grilled cheese: Traditionalists can't consider anything besides sliced American, cheese purists scoff at the bacon lovers and then there's that whole slicing-versus-grating debate.

Prove why yours is the very best by entering the 2015 Grilled Cheese Recipe Showdown for a chance to win $15,000.

Not sure where to start? Master the basics with a carefully calculated blueprint for a classically perfect grilled cheese. Then, since rules are made to be broken, start riffing on the standard. Why not meld it with another beloved cuisine, like dim sum? Or swap crusty bread for sweet French toast? The world is your grilled cheese.

Once you've perfected your creation, submit the recipe (and a photo) between April 1 and May 12. Each melty masterpiece will be judged on taste and creativity, and the champion wins $15,000, plus second place gets $5,000, third gets $3,000 and three Judges' Choice Award winners score $1,500.

Ready, set, melt.