Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipes That Are Next-Level Good

Between its crispy texture, the mounds of melted cheese, and all that buttery goodness, the humble grilled cheese sandwich has earned its place in the sandwich canon. However, sometimes this good ol' combo just doesn't work, mainly because of its calorie overload. To help you get the best of both worlds, we rounded up five grilled cheese sandwich recipes that are both tasty and healthy so you and your family don't miss out on all the fun (and flavor). After all, April 12th, a.k.a. National Grilled Cheese Day, is right around the corner – and coronavirus or not, this is an occasion worth celebrating.

How to Make the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich Ever

Many believe that making the perfect grilled cheese is all about picking the right cheese combos. While this could play a huge role flavor-wise, there's one hack that can take your sandwich to the next level - and that's using ghee instead of butter. The clarified butter has a nutty taste, which adds to the cheese's irresistible flavor, and also a high smoke point, which allows you to toast the bread for longer without burning it.

1. Roasted Broccoli Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Soups, salads, and smoothies may be the easiest ways to sneak some broccoli into your meals, but judging from the amazing flavor of this dish, we now know that grilled cheese is also an option. Plus, the veggie pairs great with many kinds of cheese (Feta, Parmesan, Cheddar, Manchego, etc.), so you can experiment with various flavor combos, depending on your and your family's palate.

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of whole-wheat bread
• 1 ¼ cups cheese of your choice, grated
• 1 ¼ cups broccoli florets (¾ cup if you use freeze dried broccoli)
• 3-4 tbsp ghee (or unsalted butter)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Coat the broccoli florets with the olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast them in a pre-heated oven (400^oF) for about 10 minutes. Set them aside to cool.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat while spreading the ghee or butter on one side of each slice of bread.
3. Then, coat the unbuttered side of 4 bread slices and top with the roasted broccoli.
4. Add more cheese on top of the broccoli and top with the remaining 4 slices (butter side out).
5. Toast the sandwiches in the skillet for 4-5 minutes or until the cheese melts.
6. Serve as is or alongside a bowl of tomato basil soup, which FYI, takes minutes to prep.

2. Eggplant & Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich

If you're trying to cut back on meat, eggplant is a fantastic option. This recipe requires some stove work, but between the caramelized onion, the ghee, and the zingy cheddar cheese, it’s totally worth it.

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of whole-wheat bread
• 1 cup diced eggplant
• 3-4 tbsp dried onion
• 2 cups Cheddar cheese, grated
• 3 tbsp ghee (or unsalted butter) + ½ tsp
• Salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the dried onion, diced eggplant, ½ tsp of ghee or butter, and salt. Sauté for 3-4 minutes and transfer to a plate.
2. Then, melt the rest of the ghee and place two slices of bread in the skillet. Layer with the sautéed eggplant and cheese, and season.
3. Toast the sandwiches for a couple of minutes or until the cheese melts, then top them with one slice of bread each. Press them down lightly to ensure even toasting. Repeat this step with the remaining ingredients for an extra set of sandwiches.
4. Serve as is or alongside a bowl of tomato basil soup for a gourmet experience.

3. BLT Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Even though there are about a million things you can put between your sliced bread, no combo does the trick quite like the classic BLT. This grilled cheese version, however, is far from traditional as it features Feta cheese and TVP bacon which complement the dish even more.

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of whole-wheat bread
• 3 tbsp ghee (or unsalted butter)
• ¾ cup TVP bacon bits
• ¾ cup dried tomato flakes
• 4 lettuce leaves
• ¾ cup Feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt, to taste

Directions:

1. In a bowl, add the bacon bits, the tomato flakes, and 2 cups of lukewarm water. Let them soak for 15 minutes and, then, squeeze away any excess liquid. Set them aside.
2. Add the olive oil to a skillet and heat over medium heat. Toss the bacon and the tomato flakes and sauté for a couple of minutes. Set them aside.
3. Now, spread the ghee on one side of all the slices and layer four of them with lettuce, bacon, tomato, and Feta cheese (in that order). Top each with one slice of bread, buttered side in.
4. Cook on the already heated skillet for 3-4 minutes on each side.
5. Serve with tomato basil soup for a complete meal.

4. Mango Grilled Cheese Sandwich

As unusual as it sounds, mango and goat cheese can make a mean grilled cheese sandwich. So, on those days, when you feel like trying something new, combine the two and let your taste buds get all the feels.

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of whole-wheat bread
• 1 ½ cup goat cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup freeze dried mangos
• 3-4 tbsp ghee (or unsalted butter)

Directions:

1. Add the mangos and one cup of warm water to a bowl and let them soak for 15 minutes. Once they do, remove all excess water.
2. Butter all slices on one side, layer four of them with the mango pieces and the goat cheese, and top with the remaining four slices (buttered side down).
3. Heat a non-stick pan and cook each sandwich on medium heat on both sides until golden and toasty.
4. Enjoy with a bowl of tomato basil soup for maximum flavor.

5. Chorizo & Red Pepper Grilled Cheese Sandwich

We all know that chorizo and red peppers are a match made in heaven! But, add in a little Manchego, and you've got yourself a 5-star treat in your hands. The best part? Despite its fancy looks, this dish takes less than 20 minutes to make.

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of whole-wheat bread
• ¾ cup chorizo sausage, cut in bite-sized pieces
• 2 cups Manchego cheese, grated
• ¾ cup dried red bell peppers
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp ghee (or unsalted butter)
• Salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Add the olive oil in a skillet and heat over medium heat.
2. Sauté the bell peppers for a couple of minutes and then add the chorizo. "Grill" until it's cooked through. Set aside.
3. Spread ghee (or butter) on one side of each slice of bread.
4. Layer the unbuttered sides of four slices with the caramelized bell peppers, chorizo, Manchego, and salt and top with the remaining slices.
5. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and place the sandwiches 1-2 at a time. Cook each side for about 5 minutes or until golden.
6. Serve as is or alongside a bowl of tomato basil soup.

References:

1. https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/roasted-broccoli-grilled-cheese/
2. https://shewearsmanyhats.com/mushroom-onions-gouda-grilled-cheese/
3. https://www.spendwithpennies.com/blt-grilled-cheese/
4. https://www.foodiecrush.com/chorizo-and-peppadew-pepper-grilled-cheese/

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