Learn how to whip up a big batch of oven grilled cheese sandwiches for a crowd with little fuss. You can bake or broil for convenience.
Yes, you can bake or broil grilled cheeses! These oven grilled cheese sandwiches are perfect when you need to make multiple sandwiches at once. With this method they are all done at the same time and no one is fighting over the first sandwich while you have to wait to eat last. Plus, the bread gets perfectly toasty and of course you get that wonderful melted cheese.
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
What’s The Best Method For Multiple Grilled Cheeses?
Using the oven is absolutely the best and easiest method when making a bunch of sandwiches. That way, you’re not standing over the stove making one or two at a time to feed everyone and eating last! It is also a great option if you end up in a rental without a proper skillet or working stovetop. Don’t let that stop you from enjoying your grilled cheese, just use my oven instructions instead!
You can do it one of two ways. As whole sandwiches, in which case you use the oven set to 450°F, or in stages, toasting the bread and then melting the cheese, in which case you use the broiler. I recommend baking if you just have 1 or 2 slices of cheese. I recommend broiling if you want to have more between the bread, whether that’s more cheese or other ingredients. You can watch visually as they broil to make sure that the filling is exactly how you want it.
If you only need to make a couple grilled cheese sandwiches, you can try one of my other methods. My Ultimate Grilled Cheese recipe or easy Air Fryer Grilled Cheese.
Ingredients
I like to keep my grilled cheese ingredients pretty simple and classic. I tend to use white bread or sourdough for mine, but you are welcome to use whole wheat, rye, or your favorite type of bread.
For the oven grilled cheese sandwiches, I suggest using shredded cheese because I find it melts faster in the oven than slices of cheese. You can absolutely use sliced cheese though. Cheddar cheese is always a good option, but you could also use Swiss cheese, mozzarella, provolone, or a combination of a couple melty cheeses which gets you really great flavor.
The only other required ingredient is softened butter or a butter flavored cooking spray for maximum convenience.
Grilled Cheese In The Oven At 450°F
To bake whole grilled cheese sandwiches, butter one side of 6 slices of bread. Put them butter side down on a sheet pan. Top each with a slice of cheese or layer of shredded cheese. Up to two slices of cheese will work, but any more and they won’t get hot enough in the middle to melt fully.
Then butter one side of 6 more slices of bread and put them on top of the cheese with the butter side up. Bake for 5 minutes. Flip all sandwiches over. Bake until browned on both sides, another 4-6 minutes. Done!
Grilled Cheese Using The Broiler
For the broiler method, we’re working in steps instead of putting the sandwiches in whole. This allows you get to the level of toasted bread you like as well as really see how well the cheese is melting.
Step #1
Set up broiler so that the rack is 7-8 inches from the heat source. Put the bread on a large baking sheet in a single layer.
Spray the bread with butter flavored cooking spray (Or use softened butter spread onto the bread instead. The spray is just faster).
Step #2
Put the pan of bread under the broiler until toasted. See how toasty?
Step #3
Flip the bread slices over. Top each slice of bread with shredded cheese. Return it to under the broiler until the cheese melts.
Step #4
Top melted cheese with additional slices of bread and spray with cooking spray (or spread on softened butter).
Step #5
Put it back under the broiler until toasted. Cut your perfect grilled cheese sandwiches in half and serve.
More Kid Pleasing Recipes
If you’re looking for more easy, kid-friendly recipes, try these recipes too.
Podcast About Making Grilled Cheese For A Crowd
Listen to me explain briefly about how to make this recipe, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Oven Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
Learn how to use your broiler to whip up a big batch of grilled cheese sandwiches for a crowd with little fuss. See post above for baking instructions.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 11 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Entrée
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 12 slices of bread
- Butter-flavored cooking spray (or softened butter)
- 1 and 1/2 cups finely shredded cheese
Instructions
- Set up broiler so that the rack is 7-8 inches from the heat source.
- Put the bread on a large baking sheet in a single layer. Spray the bread with cooking spray (you can absolutely use softened butter spread onto the bread instead. The spray is just faster). Put the pan of bread under the broiler until toasted.
- Flip the bread slices over. Top each slice of bread with shredded cheese, spreading it around to cover the bread. Return pan to under the broiler until the cheese melts.
- Top cheese with additional slices of bread. Spray tops of bread with cooking spray. Put it back under the broiler until toasted.
- Cut sandwiches in half. Serve!
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This post originally appeared in May 2016 and was revised and republished in June 2024.
Worked great! I used softened butter on frozen bread slices and one slice american cheese with a sprinkle of shredded cheese. I will definitely do grilled cheese this way again.
Thanks for sharing, Anna!