You Should Make Your Grilled Cheese with Mayo—Not Butter
Updated: Oct. 01, 2020
The secret ingredient for a best-ever grilled cheese is... mayo!
We can all agree that everyone loves new ways to improve on old favorites. Do you know how to make a perfectly round egg for a breakfast sandwich? Or how to make pie in a Mason jar lid? Now you do!
One of the latest and greatest kitchen hacks involves upgrading your grilled cheese with one simple secret ingredient: mayonnaise.
How Do You Make a Grilled Cheese with Mayo?
The best part of many recipe tweaks is that they’re often easy and incorporate ingredients most people already have in the house. That’s definitely the case with this. You switch out the usual butter on a grilled cheese sandwich and using mayo instead, a trick we learned on Reddit.
It’s so easy! All you have to do is coat the outside of your sandwich bread with mayonnaise before you pan-fry it, creating a crispy flavorful crust almost reminiscent of garlic bread.
secret to the best grilled cheese ever: spread mayo instead of butter on the outside of the sandwich from r/foodhacks
Sometimes food hacks seem so simple, we ask ourselves “Why didn’t we think of that?”
Of course, you can kick things up a notch by using flavored mayonnaise. Maybe garlic or basil? You could even dredge the bread in grated cheese like Parmesan or Cotija to recreate the flavor of grilled street corn.
Why Is Mayo Better for Grilled Cheese?
It might seem strange to use mayo to make a grilled cheese (or even to bake chocolate cake). But it makes perfect sense when you think about the ingredients used to make mayonnaise—that creamy texture comes from whipping egg yolks and oil. Using mayo instead of butter to make grilled cheese results in a rich, golden brown exterior, and some say the taste is even better than butter!
The Most Gooey Grilled Cheese Recipes Ever
Spreading a mixture of mayo and butter on the bread creates a delightfully crispy crust with the well-loved, wonderful flavor of butter one expects on a grilled cheese sandwich.—Josh Rink, Taste of Home Food Stylist
Grilled Cheese and Avocado SandwichWho doesn’t love a grilled cheese sandwich? This version kicks it up a notch with avocado, tons of cheese and extra-crispy bread. —Josh Rink, Taste of Home Food Stylist
Grilled Cheese and Pickled Onion SandwichIf you’re looking to add a little bite to your classic grilled cheese recipe, look no further than pickled onions. We love sandwiching a few inside this sandwich for a touch of acidity and some foodie flair. —Josh Rink, Taste of Home Food Stylist
Grilled Cheese and Mushroom SandwichGive your favorite grilled cheese sandwich a boost with the addition of earthy portobello mushrooms. This savory recipe takes this portobello mushroom sandwich into gourmet territory. —Josh Rink, Taste of Home Food Stylist
Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Date-Bacon JamThis sandwich doubles up on melty cheese, but the star of the show is the sweet and salty date-bacon jam. It makes for a truly grown-up version of grilled cheese. —Kathy Cooper, Tucson, Arizona
Basil-Tomato Grilled CheeseThe tastes of summer abound in this easy Italian-style grilled cheese sandwich. Not only is it delicious, it's super-fast, so you can get back to those summer outdoor activities. —Sylvia Schmitt, Sun City, Arizona
Green Chile Grilled Cheese MeltMy daughter created a masterpiece with her ultimate grilled cheese and chiles sandwich. Want more heat? Use a 4-ounce can of diced jalapenos instead of the mild green chiles. —Julia Huntington, Cheyenne, Wyoming
The Ultimate Grilled CheeseThese gooey grilled cheese sandwiches taste great for lunch with sliced apples. And they're really fast to whip up, too. Here's how to make grilled cheese the right way. —Kathy Norris, Streator, Illinois
Green Chile Grilled Cheese MeltMy daughter created a masterpiece with her ultimate grilled cheese and chiles sandwich. Want more heat? Use a 4-ounce can of diced jalapenos instead of the mild green chiles. —Julia Huntington, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Bacon & Cheese SandwichesThis bacon sandwich with Dijon mustard and two kinds of cheese is the perfect combo of creamy-melty filling and crispy, buttery bread. —Sharon Delaney-Chronis, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Grilled Goat Cheese & Arugula SandwichesTo create a more “grown-up” grilled cheese sandwich, I threw in tangy goat cheese and peppery arugula. I enjoy a similar combination on pizza, and it worked here, too! —Jess Apfe, Berkeley, California
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup BakeThis casserole brings together two classic comfort foods: grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. There’s no need for your hands to get messy dipping bread into a bowl of hot soup! Best of all, my picky-eater husband devours every bite. —Megan Kuns, Perrysburg, Ohio
Portobello-Gouda Grilled SandwichesTake a simple grilled cheese sandwich to the next level with the earthy, rustic flavors of portobello mushrooms and gouda cheese. —Sheryl Bergman, Shady Side, Maryland
Sourdough Turkey MeltsWhen days feel rushed, these sandwiches with turkey and green chiles are one of my favorite standbys. They stack up in about 10 minutes, honestly. —Leah Carter, San Pedro, California
Mushroom & Onion Grilled Cheese SandwichesWe took grilled cheese up a notch with baby portobello mushrooms, bacon and cheddar. For weeknight comfort food, it’s good to the last crumb. Readers of my blog, theseasonedmom.com, love these! —Blair Lonergan, Rochelle, Virginia
Originally Published: October 01, 2020
