10 Smart Ways to Make a Healthier Grilled Cheese
Who said grilled cheese sandwiches can’t be healthy? Here are 10 easy and delicious ways to do it.
When you want to indulge in a gooey, melty grilled cheese sandwich, you can include quite a few other ingredients for added nutrition.
These ten recipes include everything from mushrooms and asparagus to blueberries and beets. You can add protein too with turkey, chicken, or even lobster, and choose a hearty whole-wheat bread to make these meals even more healthful.
And let’s not forget cheese itself, which is full of nutrients like calcium and phosphorous and supremely satisfying, which means it can help you control your calorie intake for the rest of the day.
Enjoy!
Blueberry Basil Grilled Cheese
Serves 2This sandwich seems fancy – like a fruit and cheese plate on bread – but it’s easy to assemble. And you can make it a vegan grilled cheese, or opt for a creamy and tangy cheese like provolone or Swiss.
Either way, you’ll feel like your lazy lunch is gourmet.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
419
Calories10 g
Protein59 g
Carbs16 g
FatIngredients
2 tsp. coconut oil
1 shallot, thinly sliced
6 oz. fresh blueberries
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
4 slices sourdough bread
4 slices vegan cheese
Get the RecipeParmesan-Crusted Pepperoni Grilled Cheese
Serves 1If you’re craving pizza but don’t want to take time to make dough – or even wait for the delivery guy to get to your house – this sandwich will definitely put a smile on your face.
It only takes ten minutes to assemble a simple grilled cheese. And this one is no different, requiring just six simple ingredients.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
412
Calories28 g
Protein28 g
Carbs22 g
FatIngredients
2 slices whole grain bread
2 tsp. butter, softened
2 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese, divided
1 Tbsp. pizza sauce
6 slices turkey pepperoni
4 Tbsp. mozzarella, divided
Get the RecipeSpinach Artichoke Grilled Cheese
Serves 1This is like warm, gooey spinach artichoke dip meets a grilled cheese sandwich. Not only that, but there’s also turkey for a good amount of protein.
For a vegetarian alternative, try a few strips of vegetarian bacon. Of course, it’s just as good if you don’t worry about all that and focus on the cream cheesy filling.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
364
Calories28 g
Protein36 g
Carbs13 g
FatIngredients
2 slices whole-wheat bread
3 oz. deli turkey
1 Tbsp. light cream cheese
2 Tbsp. chopped artichoke hearts (drained and rinsed, or defrosted)
1/2 cup fresh spinach
3 Tbsp. shredded part-skim mozzarella
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Get the RecipeGrilled Cheese with Prosciutto & Fig
Serves 1One-up the classic combo of bacon and grilled cheese by using prosciutto. To complete the grown-up version of grilled cheese, which features fresh mozzarella, there’s a luscious fig jam. A little arugula tossed in balsamic dressing completes the sandwich.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
549
Calories20 g
Protein67 g
Carbs24 g
FatIngredients
1 ciabatta bun, sliced in half
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. fig preserves
2 slices (1 oz.) prosciutto
1/4 cup fresh mozzarella, room temp.
1 handful arugula
1 tsp. balsamic vinaigrette
Get the RecipeLobster Grilled Cheese
Serves 4One way to make grilled cheese gourmet is to add lobster. This might sound like a joke, but it’s totally doable and definitely delicious. However, you can’t pair just any type of cheese with the delicate meat of Maine lobster.
Havarti has the right kind of buttery flavor to work just right. If you’re trying another variety, be sure to keep it mild.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
719
Calories5 g
Protein30 g
Carbs45 g
FatIngredients
1 1/2 lb. lobster
Kosher salt (for boiling)
8 slices sandwich bread
8 slices Havarti cheese
1 Tbsp. minced fresh chives
1 Tbsp. lemon zest
Fresh watercress
8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
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Click Here to Learn HowEgg-in-a-Hole Grilled Cheese Breakfast Burger
Serves 1How can you combine breakfast, a burger, and grilled cheese into one amazing meal? This version of egg-in-a-hole sneaks the fried egg into the middle of a thick, juicy burger patty.
It’s so good it hardly needs any condiments – but of course adding bacon to a burger never hurts, especially if it’s time for brunch.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
432
Calories32 g
Protein28 g
Carbs24 g
FatIngredients
1/2 lb. ground chuck
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 medium egg
1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar (or cheese of choice)
1 burger bun, halved
Get the RecipeTurkey Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese
Serves 1If you want the Thanksgiving of grilled cheese sandwiches, here it is. It’s missing the gravy and stuffing, but you’ll forget about that with classic cranberry sauce and some melted Brie.
Of course, if you do have holiday leftovers on hand, you can incorporate them into this sandwich too
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
602
Calories43 g
Protein42 g
Carbs29 g
FatIngredients
2 slices seedless Rye bread
3–4 thick slices roasted turkey breast
3 oz. Brie cheese, thinly sliced (rind cut off)
2 Tbsp. cranberry sauce
Get the RecipeRoasted Beet & Chevre Grilled Cheese
Serves 4With rainbow chard and roasted beets, this is one grilled cheese sandwich that certainly can’t be called unhealthy.
It’s chock full of nutrients including vitamin A, folate, and dietary fiber. And with tangy goat cheese and horseradish, it has remarkable flavor that can be called anything but boring.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
310
Calories18 g
Protein34 g
Carbs12 g
FatIngredients
8 slices whole-wheat bread
4 oz. goat cheese, room temp.
3 cups rainbow chard, roughly chopped
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 medium-large beets
Horseradish to taste
Get the RecipeSpicy Smashed Avocado & Asparagus Grilled Cheese
Serves 2Grilled cheese is the go-to vegetarian sandwich, and this version takes that challenge seriously. It’s got tons of smashed avocado oozing out the sides.
But more than that, it has added flavor, texture, and nutrition from a layer of asparagus spears. It all comes together with dill Havarti and a dash of cayenne pepper.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
718
Calories24 g
Protein36 g
Carbs56 g
FatIngredients
1/2 lb. asparagus, ends trimmed
1/2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 lemon
1 avocado, peeled and halved
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
4 slices whole-wheat bread
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
4 slices dill Havarti cheese
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