The 1861 English recipe book Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management includes a recipe for placing sandwiches of brown bread and butter with 1⁄2-inch (13 mm) slices of "a nice fat Cheshire or any good rich cheese" into an oven, and serving when the bread becomes toasted.

[2] U.S. government cookbooks describe Navy cooks broiling "American cheese filling sandwiches" during World War II.

A layer of butter or mayonnaise is usually added to the outside of the bread for additional flavor and texture.

Alternatives may include additional ingredients such as meat, peppers, tomatoes, or onions.

[7] Microwavable frozen toasted sandwiches are available in supermarkets in a variety of locations.