The Simplest Way to Make Grilled Cheese For a Crowd

Donna Elick

21 January 2025 at 5:48 pm·5-min read

Some foods just naturally go together—for example, grilled cheese and tomato soup. When you think of grilled cheese sandwiches, it likely conjures up memories of childhood. This classic food combination is the epitome of comfort food, taking us back to a simpler time. It seems these days, more than ever, coming home and whipping up a grilled cheese fits in nicely with our hectic lives and busy schedules. And though you might usually be content with the basic sandwich, you can also step outside the box and create something a bit more gourmet, just for fun—or even make grilled cheese sandwiches for a crowd!

When you have a party or friends over for a last-minute dinner, the last thing you want to do is flip grilled cheese sandwiches for hours. This easy recipe puts an end to that labor-intensive method.

To celebrate the satisfying sandwich, Sara Lee Artesano Bread conducted a national survey of more than 2,000 people, all about comfort food. Here’s what the survey found:

Four in five Americans consider grilled cheese a comfort food.
Grilled cheese is in America’s top 10 favorite comfort foods. (Pizza takes the top spot, with over 50 percent of Americans choosing it when craving comfort food; other foods include mashed potatoes, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, chili, burgers, pasta, fries and tomato soup.)
Women are more likely to choose grilled cheese, French fries, macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes, while men prefer pizza, burgers, fried chicken and chili.
Two out of three Americans agree comfort food should be gooey and creamy. Ex: grilled cheese!

Traditional Method vs. Grilled Cheese for a Crowd

This classic lunchtime favorite is delicious with a simple combination of buttered bread and American cheese—the epitome of comfort food. A classic grilled cheese sandwich is made in a hot skillet with just the right amount of butter and cheese. The type of cheese is personal, but these are the best cheeses for any type of grilled cheese—a personal one in a pan, or a grilled cheese made for a crowd in the oven. You might opt for a niche gouda, cheddar, or a crowd-pleasing Cheddar Gruyere combo cheese. The gooier and the cheesier, the better.

And the best part is, flavor variations are endless. You can pack any grilled cheese with meats, veggies, nuts and fruit. And have you tried dessert grilled cheese yet? The point is, there are a lot of options when making a grilled cheese sandwich.

How to Make Grilled Cheese For a Crowd

Two pans, a dozen sandwiches, and voilà! You have grilled cheese for a crowd in under 30 minutes without standing in front of the hot stove.

If you have a bunch of kids or family coming over, try my grilled cheese making hack. Simply preheat two baking sheets, place the prepared sandwiches on one and top with the other.

In less than 10 minutes, your sandwiches are in the oven and 10-15 minutes later you are feeding a large group of people. No greasy mess and plenty of time to clean up before they come out of the oven.

Here's how:

Step one

Preheat oven to 450°F. Place 2 jelly roll pans (or cookie sheets) in the oven, on separate racks.

Step two

Shred cheese with a cheese grater. Set aside.

Step three

Prep the sandwiches: generously butter a piece of bread, place it face down on a cutting board. Add a handful of cheese on top of the bread. Place a piece of bread on top and butter the top of the second slice of bread. Set aside and repeat until you have enough sandwiches to fill your baking sheets.

Step four

Once your sandwiches are prepared, remove 1 hot cookie sheet from the oven and place it on a cooling rack. Place sandwiches on cookie sheet and place the second cookie on top. Place the stacked sheets into the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes (or until golden brown), flipping the sandwiches half way through.

Step five

Enjoy! This easy grilled cheese recipe is great for potlucks, picnics, parties and kid events!

Creative Grilled Cheese Recipes

Not that you need it, but with April just around the corner, it's the perfect excuse to tear into a melty, buttery, crispy-crusted sandwich.

Next Up:

Ingredients

16 - 24 slices of good bread
1½ lb Colby Jack cheese
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature

Preheat oven to 450°F. Place 2 jelly roll pans (or cookie sheets) in the oven, on separate racks.
Meanwhile, shred cheese with a cheese grater. Set aside.
Then prep sandwiches: generously butter a piece of bread, place it face down on a cutting board. Add a handful of cheese on top of the bread. Place a piece of bread on top and butter the top of the second slice of bread. Set aside and repeat until you have enough sandwiches to fill your baking sheets. *I made 12 sandwiches, but with wider slices you will only get 8 sandwiches.
Once your sandwiches are prepared, remove 1 hot cookie sheet from the oven and place it on a cooling rack. Place sandwiches on cookie sheet and place the second cookie on top. Place the stacked sheets into the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes (or until golden brown), flipping the sandwiches half way through.
Serve and enjoy!