Grilled Cheese without Butter

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Making a grilled cheese without butter is very easy and can even be more delicious. In this post, I give you eight different ways to make grilled cheese without butter.

To make a grilled cheese without butter, all you really need is a different fat and you can have yourself a grilled cheese sandwich that is just as delicious as the classic buttered toasty sandwich.

Provolone Grilled Cheese with Garlic Confit and Honey

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What Can I Use Instead of Butter for Grilled Cheese

1. Aioli

Aioli of any variety is delicious on grilled cheese sandwiches instead of butter. This option is similar to using mayo, but since aioli is often infused with delicious flavors, you can give your grilled cheese tons more flavor.

Aioli grilled cheese ideas:

• Ancho aioli grilled cheese – The recipe below uses my ancho aioli recipe to make a Mexican-style grilled cheese.
• Dill aioli tuna melt – using my dill aioli recipe and my southern tuna salad recipe can give you the most flavorful tuna melt you’ve ever tasted.
• Roast beef and horseradish aioli melt – use my horseradish aioli recipe and add some roast beef to give yourself a roast beef melt full of flavor.

2. Rendered fat

Rendered fat, such as bacon grease, is another delicious option for grilled cheeses. This provides a deliciously crispy outside, and the flavor of the fat is delicious.

Rendered fat grilled cheese idea:

• Figgy piggy grilled cheese – fry up some bacon in the skillet, then use that grease to make your grilled cheeses. Spread some fig jam on the inside portion of the bread and top with the bacon and cheese.

3. Mayo

Using mayonnaise instead of butter for grilled cheese is a great option. This provides a very similar texture as butter would, and offers a nice tangy flavor that you don’t get with butter.

4. Olive oil

Frying grilled cheese sandwiches in olive oil is my favorite way to make a grilled cheese. There’s no spreading involved, all you need to do is pour the oil in the pan and fry your grilled cheese and you get a very sophisticated flavor.

Olive oil grilled cheese idea:

• Provolone grilled cheese with garlic confit and honey – find this delicious grilled cheese recipe here.

5. Coconut oil

Using coconut oil to fry up a grilled cheese sandwich is another great alternative to butter. You’d do this the same way as you would olive oil by putting the coconut oil in the pan, letting it melt, then placing your bread in the pan.

Keep in mind when using coconut oil for grilled cheese that there is a slight coconutty flavor from the coconut oil.

Coconut oil grilled cheese idea:

• Prosciutto grilled cheese using coconut oil – I think prosciutto and coconut oil go so well together.

6. Avocado oil

Similar to olive oil and coconut oil, the method for using avocado oil for grilled cheese sandwiches involves simply frying up the bread in the pan with the avocado oil.

Avocado oil is a perfect option for any type of grilled cheese since it doesn’t have any noticeable flavors.

Avocado oil grilled cheese idea:

• Pesto and tomato grilled cheese – keep it simple and fresh by adding some fresh pesto and sliced tomato to your grilled cheese and frying in avocado oil.

7. Ghee

Ghee is just clarified butter, meaning the water has been removed and you’re left with a fat that has a delicious nutty flavor. The flavor is quite different from butter, though, so keep that in mind when using this as a butter substitute for grilled cheese sandwiches.

8. Eggs

Eggs is another interesting way to make a grilled cheese; remniscent of french toast, the texture will be very different from a traditional grilled cheese.

To make a grilled cheese using eggs, simply whisk the eggs and dunk the bread right before adding the bread to the skillet.

Eggs grilled cheese idea:

• Monte cristo grilled cheese – spread raspberry jam on the inside part of the bread, top the grilled cheese with provolone, sliced ham and turkey and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

How to Make a Grilled Cheese Without Butter

Making a butterless grilled cheese sandwich is pretty much the same as using butter, with a couple of exceptions.

No-Butter Grilled Cheese Ingredients

Fat – choose one of the 8 fats above.

Bread – I love using my roasted garlic sourdough bread recipe for grilled cheese.

Cheese – You can use a blend of your favorite cheeses, or keep it simple with just one kind.

Insides – totally optional, but I always like to add a little something extra to the inside of my grilled cheese sandwiches. I have a ton of ideas in the “variations” section below.

Step by Step Instructions (with photos)

Slice your bread into thin(ish) slices. Not too thick or the cheese won’t melt, but not too thin or they’ll be flimsy.

Preheat your cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat.

Spread the fat of choice over your bread slices. Unless you’re using olive, avocado, or coconut oil, in which case, you’ll add those directly to the skillet and let that preheat. If you’re using eggs, whisk then dip the bread as you would french toast.

Place one side of bread on the preheated skillet with oil then top with cheese and any other insides you’d like.

Add the other slice of bread to the top and place a cover over your skillet then let them sit for a few minutes until browned on the bottom.

Remove the skillet lid, then use a spatula to flip the grilled cheese to the other side to brown that side.

Remove once both sides are brown and the cheese is melted.

How to Store Grilled Cheese Made Without Butter

1. Store your grilled cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
2. To reheat, simply heat over very low heat on a covered cast iron skillet for about 5 minutes. Flip and heat on that side for several minutes until heated through.
3. Alternatively, to reheat, you can place in a 300F oven for about 10 minutes until heated through.

See below to learn how you can prep grilled cheese sandwiches ahead of time and even freeze for later.

Make-Ahead Grilled Cheese Without Butter

Save time cooking dinner or lunch by prepping your grilled cheese sandwiches ahead of time.

Here’s how:

1. Slice your bread
2. Add the inside ingredients of your choice (don’t forget the cheese!)
3. Place in airtight container for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator
4. Alternatively, you can place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to a month
5. When you’re ready to make them, simply add your fat as directed above.
6. Continue with frying the grilled cheese when you’re ready! If frozen, let defrost in the fridge before frying.

Grilled Cheese Without Butter Tips

1. Start on low and cover – starting on a lowish temperature and covering immediately will help the cheese to melt while perfectly browning your bread.
2. Use quality bread – even if you can’t make your own homemade sourdough bread, I highly recommend going to the bakery and getting a freshly baked loaf.
3. Thin(ish) slices – 1/2 inch slices of bread are ideal.
4. Keep warm in oven – Put a baking sheet in a 200F preheated oven and place the finished grilled cheeses in there until you’re ready to serve. Right before serving drizzle the honey on top.

How to Make Grilled Cheese Healthier

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t actually think butter is unhealthy if you’re using good quality butter. However, there are plenty of ways to make a classic grilled cheese healthier.

1. Soaked or sprouted bread – Using soaked (sourdough) or sprouted bread is much easier on your digestion and therefore healthier for your body.
2. Quality fat – whether you’re using butter or not for the fat on your grilled cheese, do make sure it’s a good quality one such as grass-fed butter, homemade mayo without all the additives, etc.
3. Healthy cheese – did you know one of the main sources of bad MSG is from packaged cheese? Be sure to use quality cheese – we like to use raw cheese so all the nutrients are still in place.

Related: Make your own sourdough starter in 7 days

Grilled Cheese Without Butter Variations

Add any combination of the following to the inside of your grilled cheese to make it even more delicious.

• Bacon
• Honey
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini
• Avocado Slices
• Arugula
• Spinach
• Apple slices
• Pear slices
• Caramelized onions and/or mushrooms
• Pickles
• Cold cuts
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Fresh herbs
• Pesto
• Olive tapenade
• Grilled vegetables
• Pickled jalapeños

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