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    Home » Recipes » Sandwich Recipes

    Published: Jun 12, 2023 Modified: Jun 12, 2023 by Nicole This post may contain affiliate links.

    Make Ahead Frozen Grilled Cheese

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    promotional graphic for make ahead frozen grilled cheese

    Grilled cheese sandwiches just got easier this summer, thanks to meal prepping. With make ahead frozen grilled cheese, you can prep now and eat later. Fast, convenient, and just as delicious as fresh!

    sliced and whole grilled cheese sandwich on a white plate with a bowl of tomato soup in the background

    Did you know that you can meal prep grilled cheese sandwiches? It's true! And they turn out fabulous too.

    Made with sliced cheese, butter, and bread, these grilled cheese sandwiches are exactly what you're looking for, but with the simplicity and speed we need. This prep today, cook tomorrow method has seriously been helpful to us and our busy schedules.

    If you love grilled cheese sandwiches, then you may also love our Sheet Pan Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Microwave Grilled Cheese, Rainbow Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, and Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese.

    Why This Recipe Works

    1. It's so convenient! I work from home, so having a simple lunch option that takes hardly any effort or time is fabulous because I can resume work quickly. This is practically a sanity saver during the summer months.
    2. It's great for older cheeses. We aren't a household that eats cheese at every meal, and we often find packs of sliced cheese going moldy from aging before we can eat it. By prepping freezer grilled cheese sandwiches in advance, the cheese doesn't spoil, so we're technically saving money by NOT wasting food anymore.
    3. It tastes just as great as fresh. If you didn't know that this recipe was frozen prior to being cooked, I doubt you'd even notice. The chewy, crunchy texture is exactly what you know and expect from a grilled cheese, and the cheese is perfectly melty too.
    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🍽 Equipment Needed
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🧾 Substitutions
    • 📖 Variations - Cooking Methods
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Storage
    • 💭 FAQs
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments
    labeled ingredients needed to make grilled cheese sandwiches

    🥘 Ingredients

    Cheddar Cheese- You can use any sliced cheese desired, but we like our grilled cheese sandwiches with cheddar cheese or Munster cheese.

    Sandwich bread- Using sliced sandwich bread is preferred because it's evenly sized and thin, making it a lot easier to cook later.

    Butter- Use some softened butter to make the bread golden and crispy when cooked later.

    For specific quantities, see the recipe card below.

    🍽 Equipment Needed

    BeeyondCereal is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

    • Butterknife
    • Baking Sheet
    • Parchment Paper

    🔪 Instructions

    Check out how to make frozen grilled cheese with these simple step-by-step instructions:

    three slices of buttered bread on a cutting board wit sandwich bread cheese and a butter covered butterknife

    Spread some softened butter on one side of the bread.

    three slices of bread butter side down on a parchment paper lined baking sheet

    Place the bread on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, butter side down.

    cheese topped bread on a parchment paper lined baking sheet

    Top with one slice of cheese. Note you can double the cheese, but heating it up may take longer.

    assembled uncooked buttered grilled cheese sandwiches on parchment paper lined baking sheet

    Place another piece of buttered bread over the top of the cheese, the butter side facing up.

    Freeze on the baking sheet for 2 hours or until solid. Transfer to an airtight container or gallon-sized baggie. They can remain frozen for up to 2 months.

    a frozen uncooked grilled cheese sandwich on a white plate

    When ready to eat, place one frozen sandwich on a microwave-safe plate.

    a warmed buttered cheese sandwich on a white plate

    Heat in the microwave for 15 seconds.

    toasted grilled cheese sandwich in a skillet

    Place onto a preheated skillet over medium heat and cook for 1-2 minutes per side or until toasted to your liking.

    a cooked rilled cheese sandwich in a skillet

    Repeat until all the sandwiches you want have been cooked.

    Serve warm and enjoy!

    two grilled cheese sandwiches next to eachother, one cooked and one not, with a bowl of soup at the top

    🧾 Substitutions

    You can use any sliced cheese or bread for this recipe, so feel free to make them unique or keep them as simple as you want.

    I have not tried to spread mayo on the outside of the bread, so if you like your grilled cheese with mayo instead of butter, let me know how it turns out.

    📖 Variations - Cooking Methods

    We've enjoyed these sandwiches so many times that we've tested out various cooking methods, and they're all pretty great!

    Microwave

    This method is by far the fastest, and it is the one included in the recipe card. 15-30 seconds to thaw in the microwave before toasting on a skillet for a few short minutes, and you're done. You can skip the microwave part, but I find that it helps to prevent cold sandwich centers.

    Oven

    Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil for easier cleanup. Not parchment paper- that makes the bread soggy!

    Lay your frozen sandwiches on the baking sheet in an even layer and cook for 5 minutes. Flip over, and cook the other side for 3-5 minutes or until toasted to your liking.

    Air Fryer

    To cook your sandwiches in an air fryer, lay your frozen sandwiches in the basket and cook at 360 degrees F for 8 minutes. Flip them over at the 4-minute mark to brown both sides.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    You do not NEED to thaw the sandwiches beforehand, but you can if you want to. To thaw them in the fridge, place individually bagged frozen grilled cheese in the fridge and thaw overnight or for at least 4 hours before cooking.

    When cooking from frozen, a quick trip through the microwave can help speed up the process, but it's optional. I think it works great with the skillet to prevent cold centers, but I've found no difference when using the air fryer or oven method as those cook more evenly and for longer times, so the sandwiches are fully cooked when finished.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Storage

    Keep your frozen sandwiches in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Freezing them until solid on a baking sheet before storing helps to prevent a mess and keeps the sandwiches from clumping together if stored in the same container.

    💭 FAQs

    Can you make grilled cheese with frozen bread?

    Yes! If you can separate slices of frozen bread, make this recipe as directed, simply using the frozen bread. You may find it even easier to spread butter since the bread is solid.

    Can you freeze grilled cheese?

    Yes, freezing grilled cheese sandwiches is very simple and easy. Perfect for meal prepping!

    Is it better to cook grilled cheese on high or low heat?

    If using a skillet for cooking your sandwich, cooking it at medium heat works best because too low of heat, and you'll be waiting forever for the cheese to melt and the bread to crisp, but too high of heat and you'll burn the sandwich before the cheese can melt.

    sliced grilled cheese on the rim of a bowl of tomato soup

    More great sandwich recipes to check out soon

    • Air Fryer Club Sandwich
    • Air Fryer Turkey Sandwich
    • Giant Sub Sandwich
    • Spicy Tuna Sandwich

    📖 Recipe

    an upclose view of cooked grilled cheeese sandwiches on a plate with a bowl of tomato soup in the background
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Make Ahead Frozen Grilled Cheese

    Grilled cheese sandwiches just got easier this summer, thanks to meal prepping. With make ahead frozen grilled cheese, you can prep now and eat later. Fast, convenient, and just as delicious as fresh!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 6 minutes mins
    Total Time 16 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 sandwiches
    Calories: 271kcal
    Cost Recipe $1.08 / Serving $0.18
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Butterknife
    • Baking Sheet
    • Parchment Paper

    Ingredients

    • 6 slices Cheddar Cheese ($0.24)
    • 12 slices Sandwich bread ($0.48)
    • 4 Tablespoons Butter, softened ($0.36)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Spread some softened butter on one side of the bread.
    • Place the bread on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, butter side down.
    • Top with one slice of cheese. Note you can double the cheese, but heating it up may take longer.
    • Place another piece of buttered bread over the top of the cheese, the butter side facing up.
    • Freeze on the baking sheet for 2 hours or until solid. Transfer to an airtight container or gallon-sized baggie. They can remain frozen for up to 2 months.
    • When ready to eat, place one frozen sandwich on a microwave-safe plate.
    • Heat in the microwave for 15 seconds.
    • Place onto a preheated skillet over medium heat and cook for 1-2 minutes per side or until toasted to your liking.
    • Repeat until all the sandwiches you want have been cooked.
    • Serve warm and enjoy!

    Notes

    Substitutions

    • You can use any sliced cheese or bread for this recipe, so feel free to make them unique or keep them as simple as you want.
    • I have not tried to spread mayo on the outside of the bread, so if you like your grilled cheese with mayo instead of butter, let me know how it turns out.

    Variations - Cooking Methods

    • We've enjoyed these sandwiches so many times that we've tested out various cooking methods, and they're all pretty great!
    • Microwave- This method is by far the fastest, and it is the one included in the recipe card. 15-30 seconds to thaw in the microwave before toasting on a skillet for a few short minutes, and you're done. You can skip the microwave part, but I find that it helps to prevent cold sandwich centers.
    • Oven- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil for easier cleanup. Not parchment paper- that makes the bread soggy!
    • Lay your frozen sandwiches on the baking sheet in an even layer and cook for 5 minutes. Flip over, and cook the other side for 3-5 minutes or until toasted to your liking.
    • Air Fryer- To cook your sandwiches in an air fryer, lay your frozen sandwiches in the basket and cook at 360 degrees F for 8 minutes. Flip them over at the 4-minute mark to brown both sides.

    Recipe Tips

    • You do not NEED to thaw the sandwiches beforehand, but you can if you want to. To thaw them in the fridge, place individually bagged frozen grilled cheese in the fridge and thaw overnight or for at least 4 hours before cooking.
    • When cooking from frozen, a quick trip through the microwave can help speed up the process, but it's optional. I think it works great with the skillet to prevent cold centers, but I've found no difference when using the air fryer or oven method as those cook more evenly and for longer times, so the sandwiches are fully cooked when finished.

    Storage

    • Keep your frozen sandwiches in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Freezing them until solid on a baking sheet before storing helps to prevent a mess and keeps the sandwiches from clumping together if stored in the same container.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 410mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 404IU | Calcium: 228mg | Iron: 2mg
    Author NicoleDurham
    Course lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    I'm Nicole and I am the owner and recipe developer here at Beeyond Cereal. I love saving money and one of the best places to trim expenses is in the kitchen. With this site, we are serving up tasty and frugal homemade dishes that the whole family will enjoy.

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