10 Smart Ways to Make a Healthier Grilled Cheese

Written by: Mike Matthews

Blueberry Basil Grilled Cheese

This 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.

Ingredients

Parmesan-Crusted Pepperoni Grilled Cheese

If 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.

Ingredients

Spinach Artichoke Grilled Cheese

This 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.

Ingredients

Grilled Cheese with Prosciutto & Fig

One-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.

Ingredients

Lobster Grilled Cheese

One 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.

Ingredients

Egg-in-a-Hole Grilled Cheese Breakfast Burger

How 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.

Ingredients

Turkey Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese

If 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

Ingredients

Roasted Beet & Chevre Grilled Cheese

With 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.

Ingredients

Spicy Smashed Avocado & Asparagus Grilled Cheese

Grilled 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.

Ingredients