Can you make a grilled cheese in the microwave? Absolutely! You only need two ingredients to make a great microwave sandwich with melty cheese and toasty golden brown bread. Learn how to make microwave grilled cheese (AKA microwave cheese on toast or a cheese toastie in the UK). We’ll also cover the best way to make grilled cheese, how to make grilled cheese without a toaster, and more!
Let’s talk about how to make crispy grilled cheese in the microwave oven! It’s so easy and fast to melt cheese in the microwave. You don’t even need to butter the bread or use mayo!
I was initially skeptical whether it was possible to make good grilled cheese in the microwave. Air fryer grilled cheese is still the best grilled cheese in my book. However, this grilled cheese on toast in microwave offers several benefits.
For example, this recipe is perfect if you don’t have an air fryer and your stovetop doesn’t work. You can still have a hot meal. Also, there’s no dirtying a pan with oozing fried cheese stuck on it.
You’ve got to love the easy clean up making a sandwich in the microwave offers. Additionally, it’s a quick grilled cheese, faster than using the air fryer, stove top, or oven.
Another benefit is that it’s cheap to make. You can buy frozen microwave grilled cheese at Costco, but you’ll save money making your own.
Finally, this recipe is easy to customize to make the perfect microwave cheese sandwich for your tastes. Make a grilled ham and cheese in microwave with a few slices of ham, add a thin slice of tomato, a little basil, etc. You define delicious flavor here!
Jump to:
🧀 How long to microwave grilled cheese?
It only takes 15-20 seconds on high to make perfect grilled cheese in the microwave. Here are the instructions for how to make a grilled cheese sandwich in the microwave:
- Toast two slices of bread in a toaster. Don’t choose a bread with big holes (like some sourdough breads have).
- Make a sandwich by placing two slices of cheese between the pieces of toast. I used cheddar cheese, but another cheese that melts well will also work. American cheese, pepper jack, Gouda, Brie, and Gruyere are some popular options.
- Place the cheese sandwich on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 15-20 seconds. Please note that cooking times may vary depending on the microwave you use. Add additional time if needed.
- Cut the sandwich in half and serve.
Can you make grilled cheese in a toaster?
In general, you should not make grilled cheese in an upright toaster. The cheese will drip into the toaster as it melts, potentially starting a fire. If you really want to make toaster grilled cheese, use this grilled cheese microwave bag that can also be used in toasters.
The sandwich is placed in the reusable bag before being put in the toaster. The bag catches any cheese drips. They advertise you can use it for making toaster panini, chicken nuggets, and other foods too.
Can you make grilled cheese in a toaster oven?
Yes, you can make toaster oven grilled cheese. Here are the directions:
- Preheat the toaster oven to 400F (200C).
- Place two slices of bread in the toaster oven in a single layer. Place one slice of cheese on top of each bread slice.
- Cook for 5-10 minutes at 400F. Then assemble your sandwich, cut in half, and serve.
🥪 How to Make Grilled Cheese in Microwave (No Toaster)
To make microwave grilled cheese without a toaster, you’ll need another way to toast the bread. You can make air fryer toast, or you can use the oven.
To toast bread in the oven, preheat the oven to 350F (177C). Place the bread on a baking sheet, and toast for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.
🌡 Can you reheat a leftover grilled cheese sandwich?
Yes, you can reheat leftover grilled cheese that was kept in the fridge for a day or two. Reheat in an air fryer at 375F (191C) for 1-2 minutes, adding more time as needed. An alternative is to reheat the grilled cheese in an oven at 350F (177C) for 6-10 minutes (flip halfway through cooking time).
You can freeze grilled cheese, but they’re best made fresh. Store grilled cheese in plastic wrap or a freezer bag with the air pressed out to help prevent freezer burn. Don’t leave grilled cheese out at room temperature for more than 1-2 hours.
How to Reheat Grilled Cheese in Microwave
Reheat microwave grilled cheese in 10 second intervals, checking each time until it’s heated to your liking. Make sure the sandwich is on a microwave safe plate, and use the high setting of the microwave. Unfortunately, reheating grilled cheese in the microwave won’t crisp up the bread again.
🤔 What goes with grilled cheese?
Here are a few ideas for what to serve with grilled cheese:
- Hot tomato soup for dipping
- Vegan gazpacho
- Vegan spinach salad
- Chili
- Air fryer frozen vegetables
- Air fryer frozen french fries
📋 Calories, Protein, Net Carbs
One serving of microwave grilled cheese has 320 calories, 26 grams net carbohydrates, and 14 grams protein. Nutrition information will vary depending on the bread and cheese you use. I used a 70 calorie per slice thin-sliced bread.
Grilled cheese is not a gluten free, vegan, keto, or low carb food.
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). The nutrition information for this recipe will vary greatly depending on the ingredients you use. I used 70 calorie Dave’s Killer Bread thin-sliced. (It's the perfect size for cheese slices!)
There are low calorie breads that are only 45 calories per slice, and others that are 150-200 per slice. When I was on my weight loss journey, I’d make grilled cheese with low calorie bread and low-fat cheese. Then I’d add a large bowl of tomato soup or a salad (or both!) on the side.
This was actually one of my regular filling and easy meals I’d have while trying to lose weight. The veggies added sufficient volume to satisfy this volume eater, and a grilled cheese sandwich (or two) provided protein. Even though I place most items with flour in level 3, it’s not some sort of strict food rule.
A lot of people add a fat to their microwave grilled cheese like butter or mayonnaise. I say save the calories, because I found they just made this microwave sandwich greasy. (Besides, there’s already plenty of fat if you use regular cheese.)
Grilled cheese sandwiches are usually welcomed by kids and picky eaters, and for these groups especially I’d use regular fat cheese. This recipe is easy enough that many kids could make it for themselves for an afterschool snack. Offer a whole grain bread instead of white bread if you’re trying to get the family to eat more fiber.
FAQs
No, you can’t toast a sandwich in a microwave. You can only heat them up.
With a convection microwave, you don’t need to toast the bread first. Simply make a cheese sandwich with untoasted bread and cook on the grill setting for about 6-7 minutes.
You can find directions for Reddit microwave grilled cheese here. They do it slightly differently than I do, as I like to assemble the sandwich before melting the cheese.
To make oven grilled cheese, begin by assembling your sandwich and spreading a little butter on the outside. Put the sandwich on a baking sheet, and bake in an oven preheated to 450F (232C) for 8-12 minutes. Flip the grilled cheese halfway through baking time. Don’t toast the bread before putting in the oven.
To help prevent bread from getting soggy in the microwave, wrap it in a paper towel to help absorb some excess moisture. Also, limit your use of high-liquid ingredients (like tomato sauce) on the bread.
To make grilled cheese in the air fryer, place two slices of untoasted bread in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Top each with a slice of cheese. Air fry in an air fryer preheated to 350F (177C) for 3-4 minutes. Then assemble the sandwich, cut in half, and enjoy.
To make grilled cheese keto, use your favorite low carb bread in place of regular bread.
👩🏻🍳 More Sandwich Recipes
Looking for more recipes for sandwiches? Try these next:
Looking for more microwave recipes? Don’t miss my easy Pancake in a Mug!
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The Disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to my overnight oats no sugar post. Let's get cooking!
📖 Recipe
Grilled Cheese in Microwave (Microwave Grilled Cheese)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 slices bread
- 2 slices cheese
Instructions
- Toast two slices of bread in a toaster.
- Make a sandwich by placing two slices of cheese between the pieces of toast.
- Place the cheese sandwich on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 15-20 seconds. Please note that cooking times may vary depending on the microwave you use. Add additional time if needed.
- Cut the sandwich in half and serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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