This classic grilled ham and cheese sandwich takes just 16 minutes to achieve golden, crispy perfection. A harmonious blend of melted cheese and savory ham creates an irresistible combination that’s both comforting and satisfying.
With 20g of protein and ready in minutes, it’s the ideal choice for busy weekday lunches or quick dinners. The crispy, buttery exterior gives way to a gooey center that’ll make your taste buds dance with joy.
Main Ingredients
- Bread: 8 slices of your favorite sandwich bread, preferably sturdy enough for grilling
- Butter: 2 Tablespoons, softened for easy spreading
- Ham: 4 quality slices, room temperature for even melting
- Cheddar Cheese: 8 slices, fresh for optimal melting
Honey Mustard Sauce Ingredients
- Honey: 1/4 cup, adds perfect sweetness
- Mustards: 2 Tbsp yellow + 1 Tbsp dijon for balanced tang
- Mayonnaise: 1/2 cup, creates creamy texture
- Hot Sauce: 1 teaspoon, optional for extra kick
Preparation Steps
- Sauce Preparation: Mix honey, both mustards, mayonnaise, and optional hot sauce until smooth and creamy
- Sandwich Assembly: Spread honey mustard on bread interior, layer with 3 cheese slices and ham
- Butter Up: Generously butter the outside of each bread slice
- Grilling Magic: Heat skillet to medium-low, grill each side 2-3 minutes until golden brown
- Final Touch: Ensure cheese is perfectly melted and bread achieves a beautiful golden color
Cooking Techniques
Getting that perfect golden-brown crust on your grilled cheese is all about patience and temperature control! Keep your heat at medium-low – this lets the cheese melt slowly while the bread turns beautifully golden.
A little butter spread evenly on the outside of each slice works magic. If your bread is browning too fast but the cheese isn’t quite melted, just lower the heat a bit and give it time.
Variations
Want to mix things up? Try these tasty twists:
- Switch the cheddar for Swiss, provolone, or American cheese
- Add sliced tomatoes or crispy bacon
- Try sourdough or whole grain bread instead of white
- Make it spicier by adding more hot sauce to your honey mustard
- Add thinly sliced apple for a sweet crunch
Serving Suggestions
This sandwich loves company! Serve it with:
- A bowl of tomato soup for dunking
- Crispy potato chips
- A simple green salad
- Pickle spears on the side
- Extra honey mustard sauce for dipping The sandwich tastes best right off the griddle when it’s warm and the cheese is perfectly melty!
Storage Tips
The honey mustard sauce is your make-ahead friend! Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
For the sandwich itself, it’s best made fresh – but if you have leftovers, wrap them in foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes to bring back that crispy exterior. The microwave works too, but the bread won’t stay crispy.
Grilled Ham and Cheese
Equipment
- Skillet
Ingredients
Sandwich
- 8 slices bread
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 4 slices ham
- 8 slices cheddar cheese
Honey Mustard Sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 Tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Hot sauce optional
Instructions
- Make the honey mustard sauce by combining all ingredients in a bowl and stirring until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use (can be made in advance).
- Optional: Spread a thin layer of honey mustard sauce on the insides of the bread slices.
- Layer sandwiches with 3 slices of cheese (or more!) and a slice of ham.
- Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Butter the outsides of the sandwich bread.
- Add the sandwich to the hot skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, until golden.
- Flip to the other side and cook for a few more minutes until cheese is melted and bread is golden brown.
- Serve warm, with honey mustard sauce for dipping.
