Grab a small bowl and mix together the mayo, honey, garlic powder, paprika, thyme, oregano, salt, and black pepper. This herb butter situation is gonna make your grilled cheese sandwich recipe taste way more interesting than the basic version. Stir everything until it's smooth and combined, taking about a minute to get it all mixed properly.

Spread half of this mixture on one slice of bread, then flip it over so the spread faces down on your work surface. Lay 2 slices of cheese on top of this bread slice, then spread the remaining herb mixture on the second slice of bread. Place that second slice on top, spread-side down, so you've got a sandwich with the seasoned sides facing inward where they'll add the most flavor.

Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the butter and olive oil together — the combo keeps the butter from burning. Once it gets all foamy (takes about 30 seconds), you'll know the pan's ready. The butter should smell amazing at this point, not burned or smoking.

Carefully place your sandwich in the skillet and let it cook for about 3 to 4 minutes without moving it around. Don't panic if it looks a little brown after 2 minutes — that's exactly what you want. You're building that golden crust that makes this the best grilled cheese you've ever had.

Flip the sandwich over using a thin spatula, then cook the other side for another 3 to 4 minutes until it matches the golden color of the first side. Listen for that sizzle — it tells you things are happening right. If you hear it stop sizzling, the pan might've cooled down.

Press down gently on the sandwich for the last 30 seconds of cooking time using your spatula, but don't mash it flat. This helps the cheese melt faster and creates more contact with the hot pan. You want that cheese oozing out just slightly at the edges.

Transfer the sandwich to a cutting board and let it sit for exactly 1 minute before slicing — this keeps the cheese from running everywhere when you cut it. A sharp serrated knife works better than a regular one for this step. Slice diagonally if you're feeling fancy, which honestly just makes it taste better.