Which Grilled Cheese Is the Best?

Here’s the Cheese I’d Pick

There are few comfort foods as simple—and as satisfying—as a grilled cheese sandwich.

Crispy, golden-brown bread on the outside. Warm, gooey cheese in the middle. Maybe a bowl of tomato soup on the side. It is the kind of meal that can bring back childhood memories with the very first bite.

But there is one question that can start a surprisingly serious debate:

Which cheese makes the best grilled cheese?

The picture above gives us six popular choices: American, Cheddar, Mozzarella, Swiss, Provolone, and Colby Jack.

If I had to choose just one, I’d go with Cheddar for its flavor—but if the goal is the smoothest, most reliable melt, American cheese is hard to beat.

And honestly, the best answer might be to combine two cheeses.

American vs. Cheddar: The Classic Debate

American cheese is famous for its ability to melt smoothly and evenly. Its processed formulation includes emulsifiers that help it create the creamy, consistent texture people associate with classic grilled cheese. (US Dairy)

Cheddar brings something different to the table.

It has a stronger, richer flavor, ranging from mild and creamy to sharp and complex. Younger cheddar generally melts more easily than highly aged cheddar, making it a particularly good choice for grilled cheese. (WebstaurantStore)

So the choice really comes down to what you value most:

American: maximum meltability and creaminess.

Cheddar: more pronounced cheese flavor.

American + Cheddar: the best of both worlds.

That last combination might actually be my favorite.

1. American Cheese

If your definition of the perfect grilled cheese is gooey, creamy, smooth, and nostalgic, American cheese is an excellent choice.

It melts extremely evenly and produces the classic diner-style grilled cheese texture. Food professionals frequently recommend American cheese when consistent melting is the priority. (US Dairy)

Best for:

  • Classic grilled cheese
  • Kids
  • Extra-creamy sandwiches
  • Tomato soup pairings
  • Quick meals

The downside

American cheese doesn’t have the strongest flavor.

That’s why pairing it with a more flavorful cheese can be such a good idea.

2. Cheddar

This would be my personal pick from the six shown.

Why?

Because grilled cheese shouldn’t only be about how dramatically the cheese stretches. It should taste fantastic too.

Cheddar provides a richer and sharper flavor than American cheese, while young or medium cheddar can still provide a satisfying melt. (WebstaurantStore)

For a particularly flavorful sandwich, try medium or sharp cheddar with sourdough bread.

Add a little caramelized onion or tomato and suddenly your simple grilled cheese starts feeling like something you’d order at a café.

Best for:

  • Stronger cheese flavor
  • Gourmet grilled cheese
  • Sourdough
  • Caramelized onions
  • Tomato
  • Bacon

One tip

Very aged cheddar can behave differently when heated and may become oily or less creamy than a younger cheddar. If meltability is your priority, choose a younger cheddar. (US Dairy)

3. Mozzarella

Mozzarella is the champion of the cheese pull.

Cut into a properly melted mozzarella grilled cheese and you can get those long, stretchy strands that make everyone want to take a picture before eating it.

Mozzarella’s characteristic stretch comes from the way its curds are heated and stretched during production. (Institut de Cuisine Glacée)

The problem?

Mozzarella has a relatively mild flavor.

That means it can produce an amazing texture without necessarily delivering the strongest-tasting grilled cheese.

Best for:

  • Maximum stretch
  • Pizza-inspired sandwiches
  • Italian-style grilled cheese
  • Pairing with stronger cheeses

A mozzarella-and-cheddar combination can be particularly good.

4. Swiss Cheese

Swiss brings something completely different.

Instead of the straightforward creaminess of American cheese or the sharpness of cheddar, Swiss can add a mild, nutty and slightly sweet flavor.

It also melts well and can create a pleasantly stretchy texture. (US Dairy)

Swiss is particularly good when you want your grilled cheese to feel a little more sophisticated.

Try it with:

  • Ham
  • Dijon mustard
  • Caramelized onions
  • Mushrooms
  • Rye bread

Suddenly, your grilled cheese has gone from childhood snack to café lunch.

5. Provolone

Provolone is another excellent melting cheese.

It provides a smooth melt with a mild, slightly tangy flavor and can deliver the satisfying stretch that people love in a grilled cheese sandwich. (US Dairy)

Provolone is particularly interesting because it works extremely well as a blending cheese.

Try combining it with cheddar for a sandwich that has both stretch and stronger flavor.

Best for:

  • Italian-style sandwiches
  • Grilled cheese with meats
  • Pairing with mozzarella
  • Pairing with cheddar
  • A mild but flavorful melt

6. Colby Jack

Colby Jack may be the underrated option on this list.

It combines Colby and Monterey Jack, creating a cheese that’s mild, creamy, slightly sweet, and excellent for melting. (Simply Cheese)

It’s an especially good choice if you want something between American cheese and cheddar.

It doesn’t have the aggressive sharpness of aged cheddar, but it has more personality than very mild cheeses.

And, of course, the marbled appearance makes it look fantastic.

Best for:

  • Family meals
  • Mild grilled cheese
  • Smooth melting
  • Kids
  • Combining with other cheeses

So Which Cheese Is Actually the Best?

There isn’t one universal winner because the “best” cheese depends on what you want from your sandwich.

CheeseMeltFlavorBest Feature
American⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Ultra-creamy melt
Cheddar⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Strong flavor
Mozzarella⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Amazing cheese pull
Swiss⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Nutty flavor
Provolone⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Stretch + versatility
Colby Jack⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Balanced and creamy

If you’re judging meltability alone, American is extremely difficult to beat.

If you’re judging flavor, I’d choose cheddar.

If you’re judging cheese pull, mozzarella wins.

If you’re looking for balance, Colby Jack is a strong contender.

And if you want something a little more sophisticated, Swiss or provolone can take your sandwich in a different direction.

But Here’s the Secret: Don’t Choose Just One

This may be the real answer to the grilled-cheese debate.

Use two cheeses.

Different cheeses can contribute different characteristics. One can provide the smooth melt while the other adds flavor. Cheese experts and culinary sources commonly recommend combining cheeses for this reason. (US Dairy)

Here are some combinations worth trying.

American + Cheddar

The classic combination.

American gives you the smooth, creamy melt while cheddar adds stronger cheese flavor.

Mozzarella + Cheddar

The cheese-pull combination.

Mozzarella gives you stretch while cheddar gives the sandwich more personality.

Provolone + Cheddar

The flavorful melter.

Provolone provides a smooth melt and cheddar adds sharpness.

Swiss + Cheddar

The sophisticated combination.

Nutty Swiss and flavorful cheddar make a surprisingly delicious pairing.

Colby Jack + Cheddar

The family favorite.

Creamy, mild and flavorful without becoming overwhelming.

The Bread Matters Too

Even the perfect cheese won’t save a poorly prepared grilled cheese.

The bread plays an enormous role.

White bread gives you the classic nostalgic sandwich.

Sourdough gives you a crisp, tangy and more substantial version.

Brioche adds richness and slight sweetness.

Rye creates a more savory, sophisticated sandwich.

Whole-wheat bread provides a heartier flavor.

Food Network recommends a variety of breads, including white, rye, brioche, sourdough, potato, whole wheat and pumpernickel. (Food Network)

Should You Slice or Grate the Cheese?

Both work, but there is a good reason to consider grating your cheese.

Grated cheese has more exposed surface area, allowing it to melt relatively quickly and evenly. Food Network notes that sliced cheese gives good coverage, while shredded cheese can melt faster. (Food Network)

If you’re using cheddar, for example, grating it can help it melt before your bread becomes overly dark.

And there’s another useful trick:

Don’t cook your sandwich over excessively high heat.

A lower, steadier temperature gives the cheese more time to melt before the bread burns.

What About the Perfect Cheese Pull?

Let’s be honest.

Sometimes flavor isn’t the only goal.

Sometimes you want to cut the sandwich in half, pull the two pieces apart, and watch the cheese stretch dramatically between them.

For that experience, mozzarella is an obvious choice.

Provolone and some Swiss-style cheeses can also provide satisfying stretch. American cheese gives more of a smooth, creamy pull than the long strands associated with mozzarella. (US Dairy)

For the ultimate combination, try:

Mozzarella + Cheddar + Provolone.

You’ll get stretch, flavor and a creamy texture.

The Ultimate Grilled Cheese

If I were making one sandwich from the cheeses in this picture, I’d probably make it like this:

Ingredients

  • 2 slices sourdough bread
  • 1 slice American cheese
  • A handful of grated medium cheddar
  • A small amount of mozzarella
  • Butter for the bread
  • Optional: tomato or caramelized onion

Method

Butter the outside of both slices of bread.

Place the American cheese, cheddar and mozzarella between the slices.

Heat a skillet over medium-low heat.

Cook slowly until the bread becomes golden brown and crisp.

Flip carefully and continue cooking until the second side is golden and the cheese is fully melted.

If the bread is browning before the cheese melts, lower the heat and give it more time.

Then comes the most important part:

Cut it in half and pull it apart.

If the cheese stretches, you’ve done it right.

What Should You Serve With Grilled Cheese?

The obvious answer is tomato soup.

There’s a reason this combination has remained popular for so long.

The crispy, buttery sandwich works beautifully with the acidity and warmth of tomato soup.

But there are plenty of alternatives:

  • Pickles
  • Tomato salad
  • Potato chips
  • Coleslaw
  • Green salad
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Tomato relish
  • Spicy soup

You can also add ingredients directly inside the sandwich.

Try:

Cheddar + bacon

Swiss + ham

Mozzarella + tomato + basil

Provolone + roasted peppers

Cheddar + caramelized onion

Colby Jack + jalapeño

My Final Pick

If you forced me to choose one cheese from the six in the picture, I’d pick Cheddar.

Not because it has the absolute smoothest melt, but because it offers the combination I personally value most:

great flavor + satisfying melt + versatility.

But if you asked me to make the best grilled cheese possible, I wouldn’t stop at one cheese.

I’d use American + Cheddar.

The American cheese provides the silky, reliable melt, while the cheddar gives the sandwich the stronger cheesy flavor that American cheese sometimes lacks. The combination takes advantage of what each cheese does best. (US Dairy)

And if you want maximum stretch, throw some mozzarella into the mix.

Because at the end of the day, there may be no single “best” grilled cheese.

There is only your favorite.

So now it’s your turn:

American, Cheddar, Mozzarella, Swiss, Provolone, or Colby Jack—which one are you choosing? 🧀🥪

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Which Grilled Cheese Is the Best? 6 Cheeses Compared

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