Waffle Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Printable)

Golden waffle-pressed bread with melted cheddar cheese creates a crunchy, flavorful snack or light meal.

# What You Need:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices sandwich bread (white, whole wheat, or sourdough)

→ Cheese

02 - 4 slices cheddar cheese (or any melting cheese such as Gruyère, mozzarella, Swiss)

→ Butter

03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

→ Optional Add-ins

04 - 2 slices tomato
05 - 2 slices cooked bacon
06 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the waffle maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
02 - Spread a thin layer of softened butter evenly on one side of each bread slice.
03 - Place two slices of bread, buttered side down, on a clean surface. Add two slices of cheese and any optional add-ins if desired on each slice.
04 - Cover the assembled cheese and add-ins with the remaining bread slices, buttered side up, forming two sandwiches.
05 - Place one sandwich into the preheated waffle maker and close the lid gently, pressing lightly. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the bread is golden brown and crispy and the cheese is melted.
06 - Repeat the cooking process with the second sandwich.
07 - Allow sandwiches to cool for 1 minute, then slice and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The waffle maker creates a texture you simply cannot get in a regular skillet—crispy, defined ridges that hold onto melted cheese.
  • It's faster than traditional grilled cheese because the heat comes from both sides at once, and the whole thing takes about as long as making toast.
  • You feel a little clever making it, which honestly makes it taste better.
02 -
  • The waffle maker gets hot enough that moisture releases as steam, and patience actually prevents soggy sandwiches—don't open it early to peek.
  • Softening the butter is genuinely important; I learned this the hard way by using cold butter straight from the fridge and spending three minutes trying to spread it without shredding the bread.
03 -
  • Cooking spray on the waffle maker instead of relying entirely on butter prevents any sticking and creates more even browning.
  • If your waffle maker has adjustable heat settings, medium-high is usually the sweet spot—high heat can brown the outside before the cheese has time to melt through properly.
Return