Grilled Cheese — Our Family Style (VIDEO)

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the kind that just makes you slow down a little and appreciate being home. We came from beach (yes in South Carolina, beach can be pretty much year around). We were all hungry and craving a snack, and lately, our go-to comfort bite has been grilled cheese sandwiches. So we did just that — and this time, I let the kids take full control of the creativity.

Of course, we didn’t use just any bread. I had a fresh loaf of my homemade sourdough buckwheat sandwich bread waiting on the counter — soft inside, slightly nutty, and perfect for melting cheese between. Each of my kids made their own version, and watching them cook was pure joy.

Let me know in a comment below if you would like me to publish my recipe for buckwheat sourdough sandwich bread.

Johnny, my middle one, went for the bold move — he added slices of salami for that rich, savory touch.

Thomas, my oldest, reached for the Sriracha hot sauce (his new obsession — he’s in his spicy food phase!) and layered it right under the cheese.

And then there’s Matrona, my little chef with a big personality. Her secret ingredient might surprise some of you — she sprinkled her grilled cheese with fresh dill, her absolute favorite herb. It’s such a Ukrainian touch, and I secretly loved that she brought that bit of our roots into her sandwich.

The kitchen smelled amazing — butter sizzling, bread crisping up, cheese melting into gooey perfection. We sat together with our plates, laughing and sharing bites, and I couldn’t help but think how food brings out everyone’s personality. Even something as simple as a grilled cheese becomes special when it’s made with love, quality ingredients and a little creativity.

So if you ever find yourself with a few slices of bread, some cheese, and hungry kids — let them make their own versions. It’s messy, it’s fun, and it tastes even better when it’s a family project.

You will need to make Grilled Cheese:

Sandwich bread any kind, I have fantastic recipe for 100% Whole Wheat Sourdough Sandwich Bread here.

Cheese - we used gouda and provolone, any cheese that you like please use.

Butter - butter can be applied two ways — either spread directly on the bread or melted in the pan for a rich, golden flavor.

Dill, Hot sauce, salami - optional and its a pure my children's creations. Maybe other things such sliced pickles, mustard, arugula, sliced green apple, cranberry relish, etc. can speak to you more.

How to Make the Ultimate Grilled Cheese

Want to level up your cheesy sandwich skill? Here are a few quick tips:

• Low and slow: Cook over medium/low heat, cast iron pan is perfect for this, so the bread gets golden and the cheese melts to perfection.

• Butter matters: A little real butter (or olive oil if you prefer) makes all the difference in crispiness and flavor.

• Experiment with cheese: Cheddar is classic, but don’t sleep on provolone,

  gouda, or even brie.

• Add a boost: Sneak in herbs, just like Matrona did with dill, spinach, arugula, roasted veggies, or protein for a more balanced bite like Johnny did by adding salami, or go with bold punchy flavor by adding your favorite hot sauce, mustard, etc.

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Let's do it...

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 10-15 minutes

Total time: 20 minutes

Autor: Inna of innichkachef.com 

Yielded: three sandwiches

Ingredients:

6 slices of sandwich bread (we used homemade in the video)

2-3 tablespoons butter

12 slices of your favorite cheese (we used gouda and provolone)

Add extra flavor with optional fillings like few slices salami, a drizzle of hot sauce, fresh dill, and other tasty extras.

Tools you will need:

You will need a simple tools:

A panini press weight (or cast iron grill press) — to help the sandwiches crisp evenly and melt beautifully. And  cast-iron skillet.

Directions:

• Prep your pan: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add a small pat of butter and let it melt, swirling to coat the pan. Wait until it starts to turn a nice golden color — that nutty brown butter aroma will give your sandwiches extra flavor.

• Assemble your sandwiches:

  • First sandwich: Place Gouda on the bread and drizzle with Sriracha hot sauce.

  • Second sandwich: Layer a few slices of salami and provolone.

  • Third sandwich: Use provolone and sprinkle with fresh dill.

  (Optional: add extra fillings like more hot sauce, fresh herbs, or your favorite toppings.)

• Grill the sandwiches: Place the assembled sandwiches in the hot, buttered skillet with panini press weight. Press down gently with a spatula. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the bottom is golden and crispy. Flip carefully and cook the other side until the cheese is melted and the bread is perfectly browned.

• Serve warm: Slice your sandwiches and enjoy immediately — the combination of melted cheese, crisp bread, and creative fillings makes each bite irresistible.

ENJOY!

I hope you'll make this recipe soon. If you do, please tag me #innichka_chef on Instagram, Facebook, Patreon, or Pinterest.