National Grilled Cheese Day is on Monday, April 12, 2027, and it falls on April 12 every year. It celebrates the buttery, toasted sandwich with melted cheese inside. Whether you like it plain or loaded, it’s an easy day to join in.
When Is National Grilled Cheese Day?
It’s always April 12. Some restaurants and sandwich shops run specials on the day, so check local menus.
Who Started National Grilled Cheese Day?
No founder or start year has been documented for the day.
Background: how the sandwich took shape
Cheese on bread is ancient, but the American grilled cheese is a 20th-century dish. In 1916, James L. Kraft patented a process for making processed cheese, which melts smoothly. Pre-sliced bread arrived in the late 1920s.
During the Depression, an open-faced version called the “cheese dream” was popular. In World War II, Navy cooks followed a government recipe for “American cheese filling sandwiches,” according to Tasting Table. Merriam-Webster dates the phrase “grilled cheese” to 1926.
Why Grilled Cheese Gets Its Own Day
It’s one of the simplest hot meals you can make, and almost every cuisine has a cousin. France has the croque monsieur, a ham and cheese sandwich. Australia has the jaffle, toasted in a sealed iron.
The day celebrates both the classic and the creative versions that fill food truck menus.
How to Celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day
- Cook it low and slow: medium-low heat lets the cheese melt before the bread burns.
- Try mayo on the outside: it spreads easily and browns evenly; butter adds richer flavor.
- Mix your cheeses: pair a great melter like American or fontina with a sharp cheddar for flavor.
- Add a layer: try tomato and basil, caramelized onions, apple and brie, or bacon and jalapeño.
- Pair it with soup: tomato soup for dipping is the classic match.
- Make a croque monsieur: add ham and top with béchamel sauce and Gruyère, then broil.
- Press it in a waffle iron: the grid makes extra crispy edges in about 3 minutes.
- Visit a grilled cheese food truck: many cities have trucks built entirely around melted cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best cheese for grilled cheese?
One that melts well. American, fontina, Gruyère, Havarti and young cheddar all work. Aged cheeses add flavor but can turn oily, so mix them with a good melter.
Why does my cheese not melt before the bread burns?
The heat is too high. Turn it to medium-low, cover the pan with a lid for a minute or two, and use thinly sliced or shredded cheese.
What bread is best?
Sturdy sandwich bread, sourdough or brioche. Slices about half an inch thick hold up without getting soggy.
What’s the difference between grilled cheese and a melt?
A melt usually adds a protein, like a tuna melt or patty melt. A classic grilled cheese is just bread, fat and cheese.