The Ultimate Vegan Grilled Cheese

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This ULTIMATE vegan grilled cheese is filled with gooey melty cheese, sundried tomato pesto, and spinach all sandwiched between two pieces of crispy, buttered sourdough bread.

Of all the comfort foods, grilled cheese may be in my top 5. How about you? Those gooey, melty slices between two golden brown pieces of bread. HEAVEN! You will love this upgraded grilled cheese that’s an easy lunch or dinner ready in less than 10 minutes!

If you want another comforting meal, try out this creamy vegan mac & cheese (no cashews!)

Ingredients

• Sourdough bread: I highly recommend this for your grilled cheese! It will make it SO MUCH crispier and flavorful.
• Vegan cheddar cheese slices: Grilled cheese classically uses cheddar slices, but feel free to mix it up with some vegan mozzarella. I LOVE So Delicious brand. They have the best cheddar slices that melt to perfection
• Spinach: For some healthy greens!
• Vegan Butter: I love earth balance. It has the best flavor in my opinion. You can also use olive oil but this may change the flavor of the bread slightly.

For the Sundried tomato pesto:

• Sun dried tomatoes (jar): I highly recommend the sundried tomatoes from a jar that are oil-packed. This gives the pesto a lot of moisture and flavor
• Fresh Basil: Will give the pesto a nice refreshing, vibrant flavor
• Nutritional yeast: Adds a cheesy flavor without the need for parmesan
• Garlic: Just a small clove is all you need.
• Lemon: A small bit of lemon juice balances the sweetness of the sundried tomatoes.
• Olive Oil: What’s pesto without a high quality olive oil?

Substitutions & Variations

• To save time you can buy sundried tomato pesto at the grocery store
• Sourdough bread → Use another type of firm bread or your favorite gluten-free bread

• If you don’t have garlic cloves → 1/8 tsp garlic powder for the pesto

Other toppings:

• Red onion slices
• Sliced tomato
• Roasted red peppers
• Arugula
• Sauteed mushroom and onion
• Vegan bacon

What is the best cheese for Vegan Grilled Cheese?

The ideal cheese for grilled cheese has to be flavorful, salty, meltable, and creamy. These flavors and textures make it the classic comfort food.

There are lots of store-bought cheese brands on the market now with quality vegan cheese slices including:

• So Delicious Cheddar Slices: Creamy and easily meltable. Made from coconut oil and potato starch. In my opinion this is the best vegan cheese!
• Violife Cheddar Slices: Flavorful and also melts well. These are also made from coconut oil and potato starch.
• Field Roast Chao: Creamy, coconut-based slices that are also delicious!

I find that stores like Whole Foods or natural grocery stores have the best selection for vegan cheeses. You could also consider using vegan cheese shreds if you can’t get slices.

Equipment

• I recommend a good Nonstick Pan to create the best grilled cheese

Step-by-Step

Follow these simple steps to make the ultimate grilled cheese recipe.

Sundried Tomato Pesto

1. In a food processor add all your sundried tomato pesto ingredients (except oil and water)
2. Process it until its combined, scraping down the edges as needed.
3. With the lid on, add the olive oil and 1 tbsp of water while the food processor is running.
4. Process until smooth.
5. Transfer to a container.

Make your vegan grilled cheese:

1. Begin to heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat.
2. Butter both slices of bread on the outside.
3. Spread a layer of sundried tomato pesto on both sides of the bread (this will be your top)
4. On the bottom slice, add 4 slices of cheese. Top with fresh spinach. Add your top slice.
5. Place grilled cheese (butter side on the outside) in the center of the warmed pan. Cover and cook for ~4 minutes or until side is crispy then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until crispy and the cheese melts. *The key is to cook it slowly*

What to Eat with Grilled Cheese

This melty vegan grilled cheese pairs perfectly with..

• A bowl of tomato soup (like creamy Tomato Gnocchi Soup!) or another one of these vegan soups.
• A fresh side salad to make it a complete meal
• Fresh fruit like strawberries
• Crunchy pretzels or potato chips

More mouthwatering comfort food recipes…

▶︎Looking for more quick recipes? Check out this list of 43+ lazy vegan lunches and dinners!