Grilled cheese sandwiches are quick, easy, and universally loved by both kids and adults alike. But it can be enjoyed more when you know what to serve with grilled cheese.
They’re so quick to make; grilled cheese sandwiches can also be a great way to use up leftover veggies in your refrigerator, particularly when you need to use up food before it goes bad.
If you decide to pair the sandwich with a soup or stew of some sort, you can have dinner on the table in minutes! Use these ideas as inspiration when planning your next grilled cheese feast.
A grilled cheese sandwich is delicious, but it’s even better when paired with the perfect side dish! Here is the list of what to serve with grilled cheese sandwiches to complete your meal.
1. Tomato Soup
This is the first on our list of what to serve with Grilled cheese. Grilled cheese and tomato soup are a classic combination that’s perfect for lunch or dinner.
The soup helps cut through the richness of the cheese, and you can use the bread from your grilled cheese sandwich as a scoop. Plus, it only takes about 10 minutes to make this comforting dish.
Start by sauteing some chopped onions in butter until they are soft, then add diced tomatoes and seasonings like salt and pepper.
Add chicken broth (or vegetable broth) until the mixture is hot and simmer for 5-10 minutes until it has thickened slightly.
Finish with cream if desired, often stirring so it doesn’t stick to the pot or burn on the bottom of the pan.
2. Vegetable Beef Soup
This is the next on our list of what to serve with grilled cheese, and it is easy to make. For a hearty vegetable soup, follow the steps below:
- Combine beef broth, tomato sauce, carrots, celery, onion, and garlic in a pot and cook over medium-high heat.
- Add mixed frozen vegetables and mix until softened.
- Add dried thyme leaves.
- Simmer for 10 minutes or until all vegetables are cooked through.
- In a separate pot, combine whole milk or 2% milk with flour until it forms a thick paste.
3. Corn Chowder
Corn Chowder is a delicious side dish that can be served with grilled cheese. This is what to serve with grilled cheese.
It is a hearty soup that goes great with the ooey-gooey cheese of your favorite grilled sandwich. A few ingredients are all you need to get this meal on the table!
First, melt butter in a large pot and add chopped onion, celery, and carrots. Cook over medium-low heat until vegetables are soft.
Add potatoes, corn kernels, water, and chicken broth. Bring mixture to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
4. Potato Soup
When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing better than a piping hot bowl of potato soup alongside grilled cheese. Potato soup is easy to make and can be served as a side dish for grilled cheese.
5. Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
Wondering what to serve with grilled cheese, broccoli, and cauliflower salad. This salad is perfect for winter because it’s light and easy to eat.
It also has the perfect balance of vegetables and protein. Plus, this salad is inexpensive since most ingredients are leftovers from previous meals.
6. Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup is a classic side dish for grilled cheese. It’s quick and easy to make and can be served either hot or cold. For an extra kick, add some freshly grated ginger.
To make the soup, heat up one tablespoon of oil in a deep pot and saute diced onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger until the onions are translucent. Add broth (chicken or vegetable) and two cups of water.
Next, add salt and pepper to taste as well as red chili flakes, if desired. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce it on low heat for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, then add thinly sliced carrots and chopped cabbage.
7. Butternut Squash Soup
Butternut squash soup is one of the best side dishes for grilled cheese because it has a nice sweetness and texture that balances out the smokiness of the grilled cheese.
It also has a beautiful color, which will be a nice contrast to the darkness of the grilled cheese. If you are wondering what to serve with grilled cheese, butternut squash soup is a great option.
To make this soup, you’ll need butternut squash, olive oil, kosher salt, ground black pepper, chopped thyme, chopped sage, and vegetable broth.
Chop up your butternut squash into cubes and mix it in a large pot with olive oil, kosher salt, ground black pepper, thyme, and sage. Add in your vegetable broth and bring it all to a boil over high heat.
8. Cucumber Salad
Cucumber salad is a refreshing side dish for grilled cheese. For a quick, easy, and tasty recipe for cucumber salad, you need only three ingredients: cucumbers, salt, and lemon juice.
To make the cucumber salad, thinly slice one or two cucumbers and place them in a bowl. Season the sliced cucumbers with salt, then top them off with fresh lemon juice.
Stir everything together so that the salt evenly coats the sliced cucumbers. Finally, add a sprinkle of black pepper to the mix before serving it immediately. This simple dish is perfect for what to serve with grilled cheese.
9. Italian Chopped Brussels Sprout Salad
This salad is a great side dish for grilled cheese because it has an earthy and nutty flavor that pairs well with the creaminess of the cheese.
The sweetness of the apples balances out the bitterness of the Brussels sprouts. It also features a tangy lemon dressing that balances out the richness of everything else.
10. Spinach Salad
Are you looking for what to serve with grilled cheese? Spinach salad is a good option. Spinach Salad is a quick and easy side dish that can be made in advance and stored in the fridge until ready.
Also, it’s a great way to get your daily dose of greens. The ingredients are simple: spinach, avocado, tomatoes, red onion, and feta cheese. Dress it up by adding red wine vinaigrette or balsamic vinegar for an extra kick of flavor.
11. Caesar Salad
Caesar Salad is a great option for serving as a side dish with your grilled cheese. It’s easy to make and can be served cold or hot.
Plus, it has all the fixings that you love on a traditional caesar salad, like lettuce, tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and croutons. You can even add crispy bacon if you want to give it an extra kick!
12. Orzo Salad
Why not mix things up a bit and serve grilled cheese with something other than macaroni salad or tomato soup? Why not try something new and exciting?
One way to add some pizzazz is by serving grilled cheese alongside an orzo salad. It’s easy, it’s delicious, and it’s sure to be a hit. If you are wondering what to serve with grilled cheese, orzo salad is a great option.
13. Waldorf Salad
Waldorf salad is a classic dish that is typically served as a first course or side. It has three main ingredients: apples, celery, and mayonnaise.
One of the most important parts of Waldorf salad is the dressing. For this recipe, you will need equal parts of sour cream and mayonnaise for your dressing. You can also add some salt and pepper for flavor.
14. Sweet Potato Fries
This is a perfect recipe for grilled cheese night! One of my favorite side dishes is sweet potato fries. They are crispy and delicious and go very well with any grilled cheese meal.
To make them, you will need the following:
- Large russet potatoes
- Olive oil
- Coarse salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Chili powder
- Smoked sea salt
15. French Fries
French fries make a perfect side dish for a grilled cheese sandwich. You only need potatoes, oil, salt, and pepper to make them at home. You can also get creative and add in some spices like garlic or chili flakes for a little more flavor. Give it a trial today
16. Crispy Gnocchi
Gnocchi is a traditional dish from Northern Italy that is boiled in water, then served and seasoned as desired. It’s made from semolina flour, eggs, milk, and salt.
The crispy fried gnocchi on top makes this recipe even more special! This dish is perfect if you are wondering what to serve with grilled cheese sandwiches.
17. Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is a delicious side dish that can be served alongside grilled cheese. This salad is quick and easy to make and goes well with the creamy flavor of the melted cheese in the sandwich.
Also, Broccoli salad is a great addition because it offers something crunchy and refreshing that contrasts nicely against warm bread.
It’s important to mention that this recipe makes more than enough for one sandwich, so if you have leftovers, they’ll be perfect for lunch tomorrow!
18. Carrots
Carrots are excellent if you want to serve them with grilled cheese. They’re nutritious and a perfect complement to rich, cheesy dishes. Plus, they’re easy to prepare.
All you need is a little olive oil and salt and pepper, then toss them in the oven until they’re tender. You can also serve them raw
19. Marinated Tomatoes
Grilling tomatoes is a great way to add flavor and texture to your grilled cheese sandwich. They’re perfect for any time of year, but especially during the summer when they are in season.
Tomatoes have an affinity for bread, so it’s no surprise that they taste amazing on grilled cheese sandwiches.
Plus, because tomatoes are acidic, they balance out the fatty richness of the cheese perfectly. Here’s how you can make them:
- Cut ripe tomatoes into slices or halves
- Brush each side with olive oil or melted butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper
- Grill on low heat until browned and softened (about 10 minutes)
20. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Brussels sprouts are one of my favorite sides for grilled cheese. They are perfect for what to serve with grilled cheese.
It adds a great crunch and flavor to the sandwich. Roasts Brussels sprouts in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Tossing them with lemon juice after roasting brings out the vegetable’s natural sweetness.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Mix olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper in a bowl and toss Brussels sprout leaves until completely coated in seasonings.
- Spread chopped-up Brussels Sprouts onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Place in a preheated oven for 10 minutes or until tender-crisp.
- Drizzle lemon juice over roasted Brussel Sprouts before serving
21. Dill Pickles
This is what to serve with grilled cheese. Sliced dill pickles are a tasty, tangy side dish that complements the richness of grilled cheese.
They’re also inexpensive and easy to prepare. You can find them at your grocery store in jars or bags, and they only require a little bit of time on the stovetop to make.
Simply boil the jarred pickles in water for about 10 minutes until they are soft enough to eat. Add them as a side dish alongside your grilled cheese sandwich for an inexpensive, delicious meal!
22. Caprese Salad
The Caprese salad is a summer-time favorite. It’s light, refreshing, and easy to prepare. Just a few simple ingredients come together in the most delicious way. This is the perfect side dish for a grilled cheese sandwich!
You can assemble this recipe by slicing tomatoes and mozzarella into thin rounds and brushing both sides of the bread with olive oil.
And put it on the grill until golden brown on both sides. Drizzle it with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle salt over the top before serving.
23. Potato Chips
Potato chips are also on the list of what to serve with grilled cheese. They are the perfect side dish for grilled cheese.
They have a crunchy texture that goes well with the creamy melted cheese, making any sandwich more filling.
If you’re looking for a healthier alternative, try eating your sandwich on whole wheat bread or rye bread instead of white bread. This will also give your sandwich a little more flavor.
24. Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is a great side dish for grilled cheese. It’s easy to make, and it tastes delicious.
Here’s how you can make it: boil elbow macaroni in salted water until it is just barely cooked through, drain the macaroni, and toss it in a bowl with mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and pepper. You can also add onion or celery if you want! Add whatever else you like as well.
25. Coleslaw
Coleslaw is one of the most popular side dishes for grilled cheese because it’s easy to make, refreshing, and pairs well.
Like a grilled cheese sandwich, coleslaw doesn’t require many ingredients: shredded cabbage mixed in a creamy dressing.
The best coleslaws have a balance of tangy and sweet flavors and a little bit of spice. Coleslaw is a great choice if you are wondering what to serve with grilled cheese.
26. Fruit Salad
This is the last on our list of what to serve with grilled cheese. Grab some fresh fruit and toss it in a bowl. Add some nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips for crunch and flavor.
Next, top the salad off with one of these four sauces: raspberry vinaigrette, strawberry balsamic vinaigrette, citrus dressing, or blueberry sauce. Now all you need is some whole grain bread and sliced cheddar cheese!
Conclusion
The grilled cheese sandwich is a classic American dish that has been around since the 1800s. This sandwich is typically made from two pieces of buttered bread, sliced and grilled on a pan.
The sandwich can be served plain or with any number of toppings like avocado, bacon, or tomato. Regardless of how you decide to top your grilled cheese, here are 5 delicious sides that are perfect for serving alongside this classic dish!
