For the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Make It Like the British Do

With crispy, golden toasted bread on the outside and gooey, melting cheese in the middle, what’s not to love about a classic toastie? It’s a recipe that stands the test of time and satisfies everyone regardless of their age or background. I have fed kids this recipe as well as my parents and everyone in between.

What Is a British Toastie?

“Toasties” are what the British call grilled sandwiches. They are essentially the same as paninis, toasted sandwiches, or any sandwich which has a filling inside and is cooked until the outside is golden and crispy. Cheese toasties are the most popular form of toastie, as they only need bread, butter, and cheese to prepare.

A British toastie is a quick and easy comfort food that is the perfect option for any meal. It doesn’t require any special equipment and calls for ingredients that are staples in any household. There are numerous variations to the recipe, allowing you to customize it every single time.

Equipment Needed To Make a Toastie

Toasties can be prepared in a sauté pan, a sandwich press, a grill pan, or using an air fryer. However, the easiest way to make a toastie is in a sauté pan or frying pan on the stove. You don’t need a fancy machine to make a classic British toastie, you just need to keep an eye on the heat to ensure the outside of the sandwich is crispy and golden while the cheese is melting on the inside.

You just need 10 minutes to assemble and cook these toasties, which makes the recipe almost effortless.

The Best Bread and Cheese To Use for Toasties

A classic British toastie calls for store-bought white sliced sandwich bread. If you feel like amping up the flavor and texture, then a good milk bread loaf would be ideal, or slices of challah or brioche. You can also use crusty bread like sourdough to make these sandwiches, which yield a crunchier texture on the outside.

The best cheese to use is a combination of two kinds: a cheese with flavor and a cheese that melts beautifully, because a good cheese toastie must have a gorgeous cheese pull factor. My go-to combination is mozzarella and mature cheddar.

You could use another flavorful cheese like Gruyère, Gouda, or provolone in place of the cheddar, if you like. It is important to ensure the cheese is either shredded or thinly sliced, as this will give you the ideal melt factor for the perfect toastie. 

Filling and Flavor Options

You can customize your toasties and get creative by adding any fillings you like; these are some of my favorite pairing options to go along with the cheese:

• Black pepper-crusted turkey or smoked ham 
• Fig or apricot jam
• Cooked bacon
• Sautéed mushrooms
• Pesto and prosciutto
• Sliced peaches and jalapeños
• Caramelized onions

More Classic British Recipes

• Easy British Summer Pudding
• Lemon Posset
• Jacket Potatoes
• Bubble and Squeak