I so love a good grilled cheese sandwich! But they are not always all the healthy. Here is how to make a healthy grilled cheese, or at least a healthier one than the standard grilled cheese sandwich recipe.
How to Make Healthy Grilled Cheese
I love cheese. Like really, really, really love cheese! And grilled cheese sandwiches are always a big hit with me. Of course cheese is also higher in calories and fat, not to mention that grilled cheese sandwiches are often loaded with butter. See here the calories in a grilled cheese sandwich.
But you can make them a bit healthier. Here are suggestions:
- Make an open faced sandwich: This cuts down on carbs by going to one slice of bread.
- Use whole grain bread: Get your fiber in this way. White bread is high in empty carbs. Or try a Keto Bread!
- Use olive oil instead of butter: Olive oil browns the sandwich nicely without a healthier fat than butter.
- Use low fat cheese: I like to make grilled cheese with lighter cheeses such as swiss or provolone.
- Use shredded cheese: Using a small handful of shredded cheese instead of slices usually results in less total cheese used.
- Add veggies: Use less cheese and beef up your sandwich with vegetables to fill you up. Tomatoes are wonderful on grilled cheese!
- Make a healthy garlic tahini instead of using mayo (included in recipe below): Mix equal parts sesame tahini and peanut butter with a bit of soy flour and garlic powder for a protein packed flavor spread. It is healthier than mayo and tastes awesome on grilled cheese, although it is not necessarily low in calories.
- Cook under the broiler instead of grilling or pan frying: Lightly toast the bread dry and then place an open faced sandwich under the broiler or in the toaster oven for a grilled cheese without all the fat from oil and butter.
Here is my favorite healthier grilled cheese recipe. If you really insist on pan frying, spray the pan with oilive oil instead of buttering the bread to keep things lighter. If you like crispier onions, put them on after broiling.
Now go make yourself a healthy grilled cheese sandwich! This also pairs really well with my slow cooker tomato soup.
Healthy Grilled Cheese
How to make a healthier grilled cheese sandwich.
Ingredients
- Tahini Spread
- 2 T peanut butter
- 2 T Seasame Tahini
- ½ T soy flour
- pinch of garlic powder
- Sandwiches
- Small handful of shredded mixed lower fat jack and cheddar cheese
- 4 tomato slices
- 2 thin slices of sweet onion
- 2 slices whole grain bread
- Tahini spread
Instructions
- Mix the ingredients for the Tahini spread
- Toast whole grain bread
- Spread the tahini mix on bread
- Top with shredded cheese, tomatoes, and onion slices
- Place under a broiler or in the toaster oven until the cheese is melted and brown
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 138Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 122mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 5g
Age is of no importance. Unless you are cheese – Old Man Fancy (Cheese Quote)
Emily says
The serving size is confusing to me. Is it 138 calories for one open face sandwich? Is the spread meant for two pieces of bread or for eights?
Carleen says
Hi! Something was definitely off with that. Serving size is open face and the spread is for 4 servings. I edited the recipe card and reran the nutrition info.