This First-of-its-Kind Spread Makes the Best Grilled Cheese of Your Life (I’m Buying 3 Jars!)

As the weather gets chillier and I make room for more cozy nights, few things scream COMFORT like grilled cheese. Add a bowl of tomato soup on the side for dipping, and it’s a match made in heaven. The sandwich only requires a handful of ingredients, so quality really counts here. 

I traveled to Oregon in September to visit Tillamook’s creamery and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the cheese, butter, ice cream, and other dairy products come together. Watching the whole process can really work up an appetite, so we also stopped by the food hall to sample the double cheddar grilled cheese, originally created by Josh Archibald, Tillamook’s executive chef of culinary development. The recipe took two years to perfect and is smeared with his signature Butternaise, a mixture of butter (Tillamook’s of course) and mayonnaise. 

In honor of National Sandwich Day (November 3), Tillamook is selling jars of the super condiment as part of limited-edition grilled cheese sandwich kits. Here’s everything you need to know.

An overwhelming 71% of people spread butter on the outside of the bread when making a grilled cheese, according to data from Tillamook (12% go for mayo). But that’s not stopping the creamery from going against the grain and doubling up on delicious. Its new limited-edition Butternaise is the ultimate mashup. 

“By combining both butter and mayonnaise, you get the best of both worlds,” Archibald says. “Butter brings the savory, luscious [richness],” he explains, “while mayonnaise brings crisp, light, almost croutonesque vibes to the sandwich.” Tillamook collaborated with the beloved mayo brand Kewpie and the team at Spiceology to bring Butternaise to home kitchens. It’s made with equal parts extra creamy salted butter and organic mayo, and seasoned with Alvin Cailan Fries Seasoning blend — salt, brown sugar, garlic, onion, paprika, and spices — to kick up the flavor.

The Butternaise is sold as part of a $15 grilled cheese kit that also includes two packs of Tillamook cheddar slices, plus a spreader. It’s available on the company’s website starting November 6 for a limited time only. 

The first time I tried the Tillamook’s classic grilled cheese, I could see why hundreds of thousands are sold at the food hall every year. The sandwich is made with two THICK pieces of sourdough bread, four slices of Tillamook cheddar (two medium white and two sharp yellow), and a generous slather of Butternaise. (It’s a hefty sandwich.) The blend of the cheddars balances out the sharpness, but the Butternaise is what really takes it over the edge. 

The exterior of the bread is crispy and golden brown, and has an audible crunch. The blend of the mayonnaise and butter allows for a consistently even browning. Plus, the seasoning adds more intrigue with savory notes of garlic, paprika, and onion. It’s easily the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve had, and now I don’t have to travel to Oregon to get it. 

Buy: Tillamook Butternaise Kit, $15 for 8 ounces (available starting November 6)

Have you tried Tillamook’s Butternaise? Let us know in the comments.