Grilled cheese is a classic American sandwich that is usually prepared with one or more cheese varieties that are placed between two slices of bread. The slices are buttered from the outside, and the sandwich is then shortly heated, typically in a pan or on a griddle, until the bread is golden and the cheese melts.
Although cheese and bread were a common pairing since the early 1900s, and the French have their own, similar Croque Monsieur sandwich, grilled cheese sandwich first appeared in the United States in the 1920s, when it was prepared open-faced, as a slice of bread topped with shredded cheese.
Today, the sandwich has evolved into various creations, as innovators started serving it on bagels, adding different kinds of cheese, meat, and vegetables such as bacon, tomatoes, and avocado into it. Grilled cheese still remains a staple of comfort food and the children's favorite, although it is often consumed by many adults, and it is even served in some high-end restaurants.
This is the recipe for the traditional, stripped-down version of grilled cheese sandwich. You can tailor the sandwich to your liking by adding more ingredients. Serve it as a stand-alone meal or with tomato soup.