How To Make Grilled Cheese Without Butter (9 Ways)
Grilled cheese is simple, classic comfort food. But if you don’t have any butter in the fridge, can you still make a delicious grilled cheese sandwich without using butter?
How to make grilled cheese without butter? You can use some healthy butter substitutes such as olive oil, coconut oil, egg whites, aioli, ghee, and avocado oil. You can also use savory substitutes like mayonnaise, bacon fat, and salad dressing to add a delicious twist!
Keep reading for some tips and recipes!
Best Butter Alternatives
If you’re dying for a grilled cheese sandwich, but you’re out of butter (or avoiding it), here are some alternatives you can use in its place to make the tasty sandwich of your dreams!
1. Olive Oil
Olive oil is a readily available and healthy substitute for butter when you’re making a grilled cheese sandwich.
The taste will be slightly different, so you won’t get to enjoy the rich, savory taste of butter — instead, the flavor will be milder, and it will allow other flavors in the sandwich to shine.
Olive oil contains more calories than butter, but it’s also rich in nutrients.
If you are using olive oil instead of butter in your grilled cheese sandwich, make sure to use a higher heat. Olive oil doesn’t burn as easily as butter, so you’ll want the heat to be medium-high to enjoy the best result.
You can coat the pan with olive oil and heat it until it starts to sizzle. This is when it’s perfect for adding your sandwich to the pan so that you’ll get the perfect crispy texture!
Flip after 30 seconds to coat the other side with oil. This way both sides will have a pleasantly golden crust, and the cheese will melt evenly!
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is another excellent substitute for butter when making a grilled cheese sandwich.
The flavor of the oil is not too strong, although you can smell a light scent of coconut when it first comes out of the bottle.
Similar to olive oil, coating the pan with coconut oil using medium-high heat is a great way to add a crispy texture to the sandwich.
Keep in mind that coconut oil will tend to solidify if the temperature is lower than 77°F. If this is the case, you will need to microwave it for about 15 seconds to melt it before cooking.
3. Avocado Oil
Another type of oil that can complement grilled cheese sandwiches very well is avocado oil.
Compared to olive oil and coconut oil, avocado oil doesn’t actually have a distinct scent or flavor, which makes it an easy substitute for butter.
Similar to olive oil and coconut oil, simply coat the pan with avocado oil over medium to high heat until it starts to sizzle, and then cook your bread until it turns golden brown.
4. Egg Whites
Egg whites are a healthy way to add moisture and crispness to a grilled cheese sandwich.
When used in place of mayonnaise or butter, they help to keep the sandwich moist while still allowing it to crisp up in the pan or on the grill.
Egg whites are also super healthy and very low in calories, so your sandwich will be delicious as well as nutritious. They are also a good source of protein, making them an ideal choice for those on a diet.
You can also use a whole egg to coat your sandwich instead of just egg whites, but keep in mind that it will have more calories compared to just using egg whites.
To use egg whites as a substitute for butter, simply beat the egg white and use a silicone brush to coat the sandwich with it.
When coating a sandwich with egg white, be sure to thoroughly cover all surfaces of the bread. This will help to prevent the bread from drying out or becoming overcooked.
Then, cook your grilled cheese over medium to low heat. As the egg white cooks, the bread will become crispy but without drying out.
Be sure to cook the sandwich until the egg white is firm and set — otherwise, the sandwich may become soggy.
5. Aioli
Aioli is a versatile sauce that can enhance the flavor of many different dishes.
Originally from the Mediterranean, traditional aioli is an emulsification made from olive oil and garlic.
It has a smooth, creamy texture and a rich, savory flavor.
Aioli is often used as a dip for bread or vegetables, but it can also be used to add flavor to other dishes. For example, try spreading a thin layer of aioli on your grilled cheese sandwich to enjoy the added garlic flavor!
The aioli will help to add moisture and an extra layer of flavor to your sandwich. Aioli is a bit thicker than olive oil, and the consistency can resemble egg whites more than olive oil.
To preserve the aioli flavors, you should add it to the bread right before serving instead of cooking the sandwich in aioli. This way, you can enjoy a savory sandwich that’s both crispy and moist!
6. Ghee
Ghee is a clarified butter, which means the butter has been simmered down to remove any water and milk solids, resulting in a creamy, fatty substance with a slightly nutty taste.
Ghee is a type of butter, but it definitely doesn’t taste the same as butter, so it’s not a perfect substitute.
However, if you are looking for a healthy addition to your grilled cheese sandwich that still offers a fatty taste to your sandwich, then this is definitely a great option!
7. Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is a great ingredient for every sandwich, and you probably have a bottle of mayo at home right now!
The main ingredients in mayo are actually oil and eggs, so it’s an excellent substitute for butter when making grilled cheese sandwiches — it can also add a fatty, savory taste to the sandwich too!
Mayo is ready to go right out of the bottle, so you don’t have to melt or cook it before grilling your sandwich.
If you want to try making a grilled cheese sandwich with mayo, simply coat the outside of the sandwich with mayo, and cook it on medium heat with the mayo side down.
Flip the sandwich after grilling for 30 seconds, and you’ll find that mayo does an excellent job of turning the sandwich golden brown, adding a crispy exterior to the sandwich!
Mayo does have a distinct, tangy taste that may not agree with every type of cheese, so we suggest pairing it with a mild cheese for the most delicious grilled cheese sandwich.
8. Bacon Grease
Many people like to save bacon grease after frying bacon because it can be delicious in so many dishes, including grilled cheese!
The bacon grease can act as a lubricant to add moisture to the bread and help the grilled cheese turn a golden brown color.
It can also add a light bacon flavor to make your grilled cheese sandwich even more delicious!
To use bacon grease for cooking your grilled cheese sandwich, you can use the same method as cooking with oil.
However, bacon grease can burn quicker compared to other types of oil, so you should use medium heat to prevent the grilled cheese from burning.
9. Salad Dressing
Most salad dressing has some form of oil in it, which means it is also great for cooking your grilled cheese sandwich.
You can use ranch dressing, Caesar dressing, Italian dressing, or any kind of salad dressing that you have in your fridge salad dressing — as long as you can spread it on the sandwich, you can use it for cooking grilled cheese!
You can use salad dressing to coat the outer layer of the sandwich and cook the sandwich over medium to low heat to slowly turn the bread medium brown.
Depending on the type of dressing that you have, the flavors may turn out a little bit different. However, this is still a great way to keep the sandwich moist and crispy while adding a twist to the flavor.
Best Way To Make Grilled Cheese Without Butter
The best way to make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich is using a cast iron skillet.
The skillet will help the heat spread evenly without being too hot in the middle, and the non-stick surface is perfect for creating a crispy crust.
This way your cheese will melt evenly and your sandwich will have an evenly colored and crispy crust!
Ingredients
- Bread of choice
- Cheese of choice
- Butter substitute of choice
- Cast iron skillet
Instructions
- Choose your butter substitute of choice.
- If you are using a type of oil or bacon grease, then you can add the oil to the skillet over medium to high heat until the oil sizzles.
- If you are using other substitutes that cook easily, like egg whites or mayonnaise, simply coat the sandwich with a light layer to make the bread moist while still easy to cook.
- Place one piece of bread, coated side down, on the skillet and let it heat for a few minutes.
- While waiting for the bread to heat in the skillet, add your cheese of choice to the bread and let it melt in the skillet.
- Coat the other piece of bread with the butter substitute, then place it on top of the cheese, coated side up.
- If the bottom layer is not yet golden brown, you can cover the skillet with the lid to trap the heat, which will help the cheese melt and adhere to the bread.
- After about 3 minutes, remove the lid and flip the sandwich over to grill the other side for another 3 minutes.
- Your sandwich is done when both sides are golden brown, and the cheese is completely melted!
How To Make Grilled Cheese Without Butter
Here's the best way to make a delicious grilled cheese sandwich, even if you're out of butter!
Ingredients
- Bread of choice
- Cheese of choice
- Butter substitute of choice
- Cast iron skillet
Instructions
1. Choose your butter substitute of choice.
* If you are using a type of oil or bacon grease, then you can add the oil to the skillet over medium to high heat until the oil sizzles.
* If you are using other substitutes that cook easily, like egg whites or mayonnaise, simply coat the sandwich with a light layer to make the bread moist while still easy to cook.
2. Place one piece of bread, coated side down, on the skillet and let it heat for a few minutes.
3. While waiting for the bread to heat in the skillet, add your cheese of choice to the bread and let it melt in the skillet.
4. Coat the other piece of bread with the butter substitute, then place it on top of the cheese, coated side up.
5. If the bottom layer is not yet golden brown, you can cover the skillet with the lid to trap the heat, which will help the cheese melt and adhere to the bread.
6. After about 3 minutes, remove the lid and flip the sandwich over to grill the other side for another 3 minutes.
7. Your sandwich is done when both sides are golden brown, and the cheese is completely melted!
