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Best grilled cheese recipe pulled apart to show melty cheddar cheese stretch with crispy golden challah bread

The Best Grilled Cheese of Your Life

Crispy golden challah bread packed with thick sharp cheddar, smoky bacon, and a crunchy shredded cheese crust on the outside. Ready in 12 minutes and guaranteed to become a family favorite.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 790
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 slices challah bread sliced 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick
  • 4-6 tbsp butter softened, divided
  • 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese thick slices, or more to taste
  • 8 slices bacon cooked
  • 1 cup shredded cheese sharp white cheddar and Monterey Jack recommended, divided

Equipment

  • Wide nonstick skillet
  • Cooling rack
  • Baking sheet

Method
 

  1. Slice challah bread into 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick slices. You need 8 slices total for 4 sandwiches.
  2. In a wide nonstick skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Add 2 slices of bread and coat the bottoms in the melted butter.
  3. Place 2 thick slices of sharp cheddar on one piece of bread. Set the second slice on top with the butter side facing up.
  4. Lay 2 strips of cooked bacon on top of the sandwich, then sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese evenly over the bacon.
  5. Melt an extra 1/2 tablespoon of butter in the pan next to the sandwich. Carefully flip the sandwich onto the melted butter so the cheese and bacon are on the bottom. Cook on medium-low for 3 to 4 minutes until golden and crispy.
  6. Sprinkle 2 more tablespoons of shredded cheese on top of the sandwich. Flip again so the cheese side faces down. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until golden and crispy.
  7. Repeat for all 4 sandwiches. Keep finished sandwiches on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet in a 170 degree F oven to stay warm and crispy until ready to serve.

Notes

For the best cheese stretch, add a slice of Velveeta alongside the sharp cheddar in the center. Use any shredded cheese blend you prefer for the outer crust. To keep sandwiches crispy when cooking in batches, place finished ones on a rack in a 170 degree F oven until all sandwiches are done.