We have a few recipes we go to when we want something quick, easy, low-mess, and completely satisfying. While we can whip up a pizza bagel, upgrade basic ramen, or make easy mac and cheese when the family is hungry and there’s little time to cook, it’s hard to beat a classic grilled cheese sandwich. It’s ooey, gooey, cheesy, and toasty. And it’s easy to dress up with fancy add-ins and artisanal cheeses, but it’s just as good with some simple Kraft Singles.
However, one of the pains of the grilled cheese is making multiple sandwiches. Very rarely does just one member of the household request this weeknight dinner, so when we make one, we often make several. But even our largest skillet only has room for two sandwiches, max. So, we have to cook one or two individually, plate them, then make some more. And that means sometimes the cheese cools before we’re able to enjoy our first bite.
The internet can be an amazing source of inspiration—especially when it comes to cooking tips and recipes. I’ve learned a nifty trick for cooking juicy chicken breasts, an easy way to eliminate the smell of garlic from your hands, and so many other recipes and techniques that have changed the way I cook.
I recently found a genius trick online that solves my biggest grilled cheese woe—and makes me wonder how I didn’t think of it already.
Why You Should Make Your Grilled Cheese in the Oven
Tiktok star @sydneywehby shared this incredible hack for making multiple grilled cheese sandwiches at one time—by cooking them in the oven on a baking sheet. She put some parchment paper down on a baking sheet, assembled the grilled cheese sandwiches as usual (butter on the outside, cheese on the inside), and popped them in the oven at 450 degrees F for about five minutes on each side—with one flip in between.
The result? Crusty, crunchy, and buttery bread with a warm and oozing cheese filling. The best part is that everyone can enjoy their hot grilled cheese at the same time.
“Any meal that goes from one-at-a-time to everyone eating hot food together is the best,” one fan commented. Another chimed in, stating this trick “just changed my life.”
While Sydney only makes three sandwiches at once, a quick check of my baking pan showed I could fit as many as eight sandwiches—depending on the size of the bread. That means more delicious grilled cheese sandwiches for all without the wait.
Not only does this trick make our weeknight meals easier, it also opens a world of possibilities when it comes to hosting. Cooking up a big pot of tomato soup and making a bunch of grilled cheese sandwiches (maybe this fancy pesto grilled cheese or this three-cheese version) makes for a great informal brunch, movie night, backyard get-together, or other celebration.
This is one of those tricks that is just so good to know. We almost always have the ingredients for a grilled cheese in the kitchen, and now we don’t have to worry about cooking them one by one. Now, the whole family can enjoy their perfectly melted meal together.
