There’s nothing better on a cold fall day than a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches. They’re easy to make, filling, and pair well with beer. It’s the Midwestern version of wine and cheese. Add a rich, smoky bacon and it’s nearly the perfect afternoon sandwich.

Ubiquitous as they are, some people make some crap-ass grilled cheeses. They pile them with too much crap so they fall apart. They use plastic-y, unmelting cheese. Or a tasteless, bright yellow approximation of cheese. They throw a ton of butter into a burning pan and wonder why the end result tastes like licking a chimney wall. That being said, t’s important to keep two things in mind:

a) Use shredded cheese – it’s melts better and distributes evenly.

b) Butter the bread, not the pan – it’ll brown the bread evenly. Use a thin coating of oil in the pan to raise the fat’s burning point.

That’s it. All you need to know to make delicious grilled cheese every time. Enjoy. And for your own sanity, use a nonstick pan.

The Setup

- 1 loaf white bread (Wonder Bread if you want to get super nostalgic)
- 1 lb smoked bacon
- 1/2 lb (1 block) extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

Cooking

1. Place bacon on a rimmed baking sheet with a layer of parchment paper or wire rack. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

2. Butter two slices of white bread and set a nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Coat the bottom of the pan with a tablespoon of olive oil.

3. Place one piece of bread in the skillet and quickly lay down cheese, bacon, a little more cheese, and the second piece of bread (butter side up) – in that order.

4. Cook for 1 1/2 – 2 minutes, until golden brown. Press down, flip carefully, and press down again with spatula. Cook another minute, adjusting heat if necessary to keep from burning.

5. Now that you’ve got a feel for your temperature, add oil if necessary and repeat with multiple sandwiches, taking care not to overcrowd the pan.

6. Remove and slice diagonally. Remove the crust if you’ve never mentally left childhood. Crack a High Life to put an adult spin on things, and settle in.