*I love to pair this easy Grilled Cheese with a bowl of soup or a simple salad for the quickest weeknight dinner. I combine sharp cheddar and smooth Monterey jack for the perfect toasty, cheesy concoction.*

There are so many variations on a simple grilled cheese sandwich: a fancy panini, a croque monsieur, even a quesadilla counts, I’d argue. In fact, it seems to me that all of the coolest cuisines have their own take on this epic combination of carbs and lots and lots of cheese. If you’re like me, a simple grilled cheese is something that you learned how to make pretty early in life. Maybe this sandwich was your go-to when the babysitter was over, or for weekend lunches at home; maybe it was even the first thing that you cooked on a real stove. Today, we’re perfecting that childhood favorite.

A perfect grilled cheese sandwich is a great tool to have in your arsenal because it’s incredibly versatile. You can add pretty much any ingredient you could possibly desire (salami, prosciutto, grilled chicken, tomatoes, arugula, caramelized onions, sliced apples, ok, fine, I’ll stop). Or, try pairing your sandwich with a bowl of warm soup or a lovely salad. Whatever the occasion, and whatever else you’re eating, a grilled cheese sandwich is guaranteed to be a popular option that adds some heft and pure deliciousness to the meal.

This particular grilled cheese sandwich happens to be about the easiest version ever – and, at least in my opinion, the most delicious. I like to use a combination of cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses: the former, for its sharp, tasty flavor, and the latter, for its unbelievable creaminess. I take the extra minute to grate the cheese, which I find saves time during the melting step. And finally, make sure to have softened butter on hand to spread on your bread; it’s key for a golden brown, toasty exterior. This easy grilled cheese is one of my staples for weeknight dinners, and I hope that you love it, too!