Grilled cheese sandwiches are a beloved comfort food for many. With their melted cheese filling and golden, buttery bread, they are hard to resist. However, sometimes you may want a tasty hot sandwich but wish to avoid ingredients like cheese or bread.
Luckily, there are many ways to get a similar hot, melty, flavored sandwich experience while using alternative fillings and bread substitutes.
Healthier Cheese Options
If you wish to make a grilled cheese but avoid some of cheese's fat, salt, or cholesterol, you have options. Mozzarella and feta provide great flavor at a lower fat content. Goat cheese is another alternative with less saturated fat than cheese from cow's milk.
You can also use reduced-fat versions of cheese favorites like cheddar or Swiss. Be aware that these may have additional emulsifiers or thickeners added to improve texture. Always check labels for unwanted additives if you have dietary restrictions.
When buying cheese, look for terms like "part-skim" or made from milk that is 2%, 1%, or nonfat. Using a strongly flavored cheese like sharp cheddar means you can use less cheese overall while keeping lots of taste. Combining flavorful cheeses with low-fat mozzarella or cheese made from nonfat milk lets you have the delicious cheese experience while limiting fat intake.
Key Takeaway: Substitute low-fat cheeses like mozzarella, feta, or goat cheese to cut down on fat and cholesterol compared to traditional grilled cheese options.
Vegetarian Cheese Replacements
If you want to avoid dairy products entirely, there are alternatives to traditional cheese slices or shreds. Many markets now carry dairy-free “cheese” options made from nuts, soy, coconut, rice, potatoes, or legumes. Popular brands of vegan cheese replacements include:
- Daiya: Makes dairy-free shreds, slices, and cream cheese
- Kite Hill: Specializes in nut-milk based soft cheeses
- Miyoko’s: Offers cultured vegan cheese wheels aged like traditional dairy cheese
- Violife: Creates vegan cheese blocks, shreds, slices, and spreads
- Field Roast Chao Slices: Provides melty, stretchy vegan cheese slices perfect for grilled sandwiches
While the flavor and texture may differ somewhat from normal cheese, brands are constantly improving. Combining vegan cheese with aromatic add-ins like roasted veggies or pesto can help enhance taste. Grill the bread rather than vegan cheese directly to promote melting without burning.
Avoiding Bread
If you can't or prefer not to eat bread, have no fear. You can enjoy hot, melty, flavored sandwiches without actual bread. Consider using the following bread alternatives:
- Lettuce Leaves: Sturdy lettuce varieties like romaine work wonderfully to wrap sandwich fillings. Butter or grill the leaves first before adding other ingredients.
- Portobello Mushrooms: Larger mushroom caps can substitute for bread once stems are removed. Grill first before adding toppings and cheese, then broil or grill again to melt fillings.
- Zucchini or Eggplant: Thinly slice vegetables lengthwise, grill until tender, then use as “buns” around sandwich ingredients. Another option is to pulse grated zucchini in the food processor to make quick zucchini bread to use for sandwiches.
- Squash: Carefully halved and seeded smaller squash like delicata or acorn work well too. Roast squash halves before using as bread replacements.
- Polenta: Make or use ready-made tubes of polenta, slice into rounds, coat lightly in oil, then grill or pan-fry until lightly browned before using for sandwiches.
- Bread Cheese: This unusual cow or goat milk cheese actually contains no carbs. It bakes up like a flourless bread and develops a delicious crust when grilled or pan-fried in butter or oil. Use in place of bread for an easy lower-carb grilled sandwich base.
Key Takeaway: Use lettuce leaves in place of bread for a low-carb, gluten-free grilled sandwich vessel.
Vegetable and Fruit Fillings
While grilled cheese traditionally showcases cheese as the filling, consider alternatives that add nutrition and depth of flavor. Try:
- Sliced tomato: Choose ripe seasonal tomatoes; grill or roast first to intensify sweetness
- Avocado: Offer creaminess and healthy fats
- Caramelized onions or shallots: Cook low and slow for maximum flavor
- Sautéed mushrooms: Meaty, umami-rich option
- Roasted red peppers: Intensely sweet red bells or spicy peppers
- Fresh greens: Spinach, arugula, kale and the like wilt beautifully
- Pesto: Herby basil or spinach varieties pair nicely with melty sandwiches
- Hummus: For creaminess without dairy
- Apple or Pear: For sweetness; grill fruit first for caramelization
When making open-faced melts, place vegetables or fruit directly on the base before topping with cheese. For closed sandwiches, layer the sliced or mashed add-ins under the cheese so the melty goodness seals them in place.
Savory Protein Fillings
While vegetables can add nice contrast to the rich decadence of melted cheese, don't forget about savory proteins. Delicious options include:
- Deli turkey, chicken, or ham
- Cooked bacon pieces
- Salami or pepperoni
- Refried beans, chickpeas, lentils
- Tuna mixed with a little mayo
- Scrambled or fried eggs
- Leftover pulled pork, brisket, roast beef
Especially with closed sandwiches, add savory proteins before the cheese layer whenever possible. This helps the hot cheese seal around and enhance the other ingredients.
However, vegetables often benefit from direct contact with the bread. When building layered open-faced melts, first add veggies, then protein components before finishing with cheese.
Sauces and Spreads
Don’t limit yourself to just butter on the outside of traditional grilled cheese creations. Consider spreads and sauces to enhance flavor from the inside out:
- Pesto offers herbaceous notes
- Tapenades made from olives or artichokes provide briny contrast
- Hummus brings creaminess without dairy
- Barbecue sauce means savory sweetness
- Salsas offer brightness from acid and vegetables
- Mustard gives sandwiches a lip-smacking tang
- Mayonnaise lends richness
- Guacamole provides cool creaminess
Add spreads after grilling or toasting bread but before other fillings for maximum infusion throughout the bite. They help make both the bread and other ingredients tastier.
Seasonings
Don't forget to season sandwich components before building and grilling for maximum flavor. Things like salt, pepper, spices, herbs, and zest can take a basic sandwich into amazing territory with little effort. Consider:
- Salt and Pepper: Enhance overall flavor
- Smoked Paprika: For soul-satisfying depth
- Italian Seasoning: For herby flavor
- Onion or Garlic Powder: Umami boosters
- Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano: Woodsy notes
- Citrus Zest: Bright pop of flavor
- Chili Powder or Hot Sauce: Spicy kick
Even just sprinkling veggies or cheese layers with a little salt and pepper before adding can seriously improve taste without extra complication. Getting into the habit of seasoning each component builds incredible flavor in every bite.
Cooking Vessels
While grilled cheese is traditionally cooked in a skillet or grill pan on the stovetop, you can use alternative appliances to crisp up and melt these sandwiches beautifully:
Waffle Irons impart irresistible crispy divots to both bread and fillings like hash browns. Brush or spray appliance with oil before adding sandwich components to prevent sticking. Close the lid and cook based on machine instructions, or until bread looks toasted.
Electric Griddles have large flat cooking surfaces perfect for doing multiple sandwiches at once. Use like you would a skillet or grill pan.
Panini Presses apply even heat from dual cooking plates above and below to crisp up bread and encase fillings. Some presses have removable grill plates for waffle-patterned crusts.
Outdoor Grills lend delicious smoky flavor from cooking over an open flame. Wrap sandwiches in foil pouches to avoid fillings dripping into the grill.
No matter which cooking method you utilize, some key tips will set you up for grilled sandwich success:
- Lightly butter or oil cooking surfaces
- Use medium heat to avoid scorching
- Weigh down sandwiches with a spatula or foil-wrapped brick
- Toast bread first before adding melty fillings
With so many alternatives to classic grilled cheese, you can enjoy the experience of hot melty sandwiches even with dietary restrictions. Get creative with ingredients, seasonings, and appliances to invent your own signature grilled sandwiches at home.
FAQs
What bread alternatives work best for grilled sandwiches?
Sturdy vegetables slices like squash, eggplant, zucchini, and portobello mushrooms can substitute for bread if toasted or grilled first. Polenta and ready-made bread cheese also make excellent lower-carb sandwich vessels.
Can I use olive oil instead of butter to grill sandwiches?
Yes, olive oil can provide the necessary fat for grilling. However, butter provides extra browning and flavor. Consider mixing butter with olive oil to get best of both.
My grilled sandwich fell apart. How do I avoid this next time?
Be sure to thoroughly butter or oil cooking surfaces and weigh down sandwiches as they grill. Also assemble sandwiches so melty cheese interior layers seal fillings in place rather than leak out.
What vegetables should I roast or grill first before adding to sandwiches?
Good options to intensify flavor through dry cooking methods first include tomatoes, zucchini or eggplant planks, peppers, mushrooms, and fruits like apples or pears. This caramelizes natural sugars and promotes deeper flavors.
Can I prepare grilled sandwiches ahead of time to cook later?
Yes! Assemble sandwiches then tightly wrap in plastic and refrigerate up to 24 hours ahead. Let sit at room temp about 15 minutes before grilling to take chill off. Cooking times may be slightly longer from cold.
What kinds of seasonings best enhance grilled sandwiches?
Salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, fresh herbs, citrus zest, mustard powder, and spices like chili powder all provide concentrated pops of flavor.
Conclusion
While few foods satisfy quite like a classic grilled cheese sandwich, alternatives provide tasty options if avoiding ingredients like cheese or bread.
Exploring different high-flavor fillings like bold vegetables, fruits, or savory proteins keeps the sandwich experience novel and exciting.
Consider cooking vessels beyond skillets too, like waffle irons, panini presses, or outdoor grills to generate tempting new textures.