There is a fine art to making an epic grilled cheese sandwich. The crust must be toasted to a golden brown, but not too long where the bread becomes seared or burnt. The basic recipe outlines how to cook the Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Keto diets can use low carb keto-friendly sandwich bread to make amazing grilled cheese sandwiches. Scroll down further to see the 20+ EPIC variations of how we ROCK OUT the basic recipe

To make Classic Grilled Cheese:

• 5 TBSN butter, softened and divided (or use Vegan butter alternatives like Earth Balance or I Can't Believe It's Not Butter- Vegan)

• 4 slices Sourdough bread (or use a gluten-free or Keto bread option like Simply Balanced™ Gluten Free Bread.)

• 2 slices yellow American cheese (or Vegan American cheese alternative such as Galaxy Nutritional Foods American Cheese Flavor Veggie Slices.)

Large nonstick skillet pan, spatula, large kitchen knife

Prep: 10 min Cook: 5 min on stove top Ready: 15 minutes Serves: 2 sandwiches

Before you handle any food, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Clean your kitchen work area and pull back your hair or wear a cap. You want to avoid contaminating your meal with harmful bacteria that could cause food illness.

To make Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:

1. Spread 1 tablespoon butter on one side of each slice of bread.

2. With buttered side down, top each slice of bread with about ½ cup of Cheddar cheese.

3. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat with 1 tablespoon butter.

4. Add the two slices of bread to the hot skillet, butter side down. Cook for 2 minutes until bread is golden and cheese is starting to melt.

5. Using a spatula, flip one slice of bread on top of the other and continue to cook for 30 seconds.

6. Remove from pan and serve, cut in half and serve immediately.

7. Repeat steps for the second sandwich; wiping the skillet clean if necessary.

1 sandwich: 200 calories, 13 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 38 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, 5 g protein, 1 g sugar, 13 g carbohydrates.

Cheese is a great source of Calcium, Protein, vitamin A, B12, riboflavin, zinc and phosphorus. And it's a source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fat that may have anti-cancer, weight-reducing, and heart-protective effects.

For wine enthusiasts, with a really rich cheese, pair with a wine with strong acidity to balance it out, like a sparkling wine. Side Dish pairing: Beer-Soaked Rosemary Potato Wedges, Macaroni & Beer Cheese, Tomato Soup.

Vegan and vegetarian. Use preferred Vegan-friendly cheese alternatives, such as Galaxy Nutritional Foods Cheddar Flavor Veggie Slices or Dayia Cheddar Style Shreds. Use a Vegan butter alternative like Earth Balance or I Can't Believe It's Not Butter- Vegan) Kick the GLUTS and replace sourdough bread with preferred gluten-free sliced sandwich bread, such as Simply Balanced™ Gluten Free Bread.

Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

Add 1/2 lb prepared ground beef and Sloppy Joe mix to top of bread when adding shredded Cheddar cheese.

Grilled Cheese MANdogs

Replace sourdough bread with hot dog buns and butter the bottoms of flattened buns. Butterfly prepared hot dogs and add to top of buns with shredded cheese. Add any additional toppings and use spatula to close the bun around the hot dog.

Beer-Soaked Grilled Cheese

Whisk an egg, half stout beer, and teaspoon of garlic power. Dip and soak bread slices. Add to pan cook for two minutes and flip with spatula. Top with cheddar and bacon.

Grilled Cheese and Bloody Mary

Prepare Bloody Mary Cocktail (see recipe). Assemble basic grilled cheese sandwiches and cut lengthwise into quarter strips. Garnish Bloody Mary with 2 grilled cheese strips.

Grilled Mac, Cheese & Bacon

Add 1/4 cup prepared macaroni and cheese to top of bread. Add crumbed bacon and shredded Cheddar cheese.

Grilled Cheese Monte Crisco

Spread favorite jelly on bread slices over butter. Top with two slices of American cheese, 2 slices of honey ham, and 2 slices of smoked turkey. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

Cali Grilled Cheese

Add thin slices of avocado to top of bread. Add slices of turkey bacon and tomato. Top with Cheddar cheese.

Grilled Swiss Cheese and Mushroom

Add sauteed mushrooms to top of bread. Top with two slices of Swiss cheese.

Caprese Chicken Grilled Cheese

Add thin slices of cooked boneless chicken breast to top of bread. Add sliced plum tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Grilled Cheese Italiano

Add slices of ham, pepperoni, & salami to top of bread. Sprinkle with Oregano and shredded Mozzarella Cheese.

Smoked Gouda & Roast Beef Grilled Cheese

Add sliced roast beef to top of bread. Top with two slices of Gouda cheese.

Grilled Cheese & Tuna

Spread tuna on bread and sprinkle with celery salt. Top with shredded Cheddar cheese.

Grilled Cheese & Salmon

Add slices of smoked salmon and grilled red onions. Top with Chive cream cheese and slices of white Cheddar cheese.

Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese

Add slices of sauteed jalapeno peppers, strips of bacon, and slices of Cheddar cheese.

Philly Grilled Cheesesteak

Add thin slices of cooked thin sandwich steaks to top of bread. Add grilled onion and peppers and top with two slices of provolone cheese. Drizzle with steak sauce.

Chicken Fajita Grilled Cheese

Add strips of grilled chicken breast, sauteed red and green peppers, slices of sauteed yellow onion, 2 slices of Monterrey Jack cheese, sprinkled with fajita seasoning.

Cuban Grilled Cheese

Replace sourdough bread with cuban bread. Add slices of ham, pickles, roasted pork to top of bread. Top with two slices of Swiss cheese.

Good Morning Grilled Cheese

Add prepared scrambled eggs to top of bread. Add crumbled bacon or sausage and top with Cheddar cheese.

Grilled Cheese, Apple & Bacon

Add two thin slices of Granny Smith apple to top of bread. Add crumbed bacon and shredded Cheddar cheese.

Double Cheddar & Canadian Bacon Grilled Cheese

Add two slices of Cheddar Cheese to top of a thick slice of Canadian Bacon.