Harvest Grilled Cheese with Butternut Squash, Apples & Red Onion
Elevate your grilled cheese sandwich with this delicious and nutritious twist!
Ingredients
- 2 to 4 cups cubed butternut squash
- 1 red onion, roughly chopped
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 slices whole grain bread, toasted
- 1 apple or pear, thinly sliced
- 4 to 8 slices cheddar cheese
- Honey mustard, optional
- Other sauce options: balsamic glaze, pesto, or sriracha
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Liberally mist a baking sheet with oil spray. Spread the cubed butternut squash and chopped red onions in a single layer, making sure to separate any onion slices that are stuck together. Mist the tops generously with more oil spray and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Roast the vegetables in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until the squash is fork-tender. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and set it on your workstation. Using a spatula, push the roasted veggies to one side of the sheet, creating space for your bread. Lay four slices of toasted bread in the cleared area.
- Layer the Ingredients: Top each slice of bread with a few apple slices, followed by a generous amount of the roasted squash and onion mixture. Add 1 to 2 slices of cheddar cheese on top of the veggies.
- Return the baking sheet to the oven for a few minutes until the cheese is melty. Remove from the oven and drizzle on honey mustard or any other sauce of your choice, such as balsamic glaze, pesto, or sriracha. Top each with a second slice of toasted bread. Transfer to plates, slice, and enjoy!
Notes
- If you’re making a single sandwich, store the leftover roasted veggies in a sealed container in the fridge. They can be used for additional sandwiches in the following days or as a tasty side dish to just about any entree. You can also add them to a bowl filled with greens, quinoa or rice, grilled chicken, or salmon for a delicious meal.
- Nutrition information provided without honey mustard dressing, since it’s an optional extra. If using my Honey Mustard Sauce, add 35 calories per tablespoon. Nutrition information accounts for 1 cup butternut squash and 1 slice cheese per sandwich (with all other ingredients as listed).
- Cheese swap: Try using mozzarella, Swiss or gouda for a different flavor profile.
- Add greens: Incorporate a bottom layer of spinach or arugula for added nutrition and color.
- Sprinkle on herbs: Sprinkle fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary on the veggies before roasting for an aromatic twist. Or add minced basil, chives or dill along with your sauce before topping with second slice of toasted bread.
- Vegan or dairy-free version: Substitute the cheddar cheese with a vegan cheese alternative.
- Gluten-free version: Use gluten-free bread.
Nutrition Information per serving
Serving Size: 1 sandwichCalories: 320Carbohydrates: 48gProtein: 14gTotal Fat: 9g— Unsaturated Fat: 4.5g— Saturated Fat: 4.5gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 410mgPotassium: 702mgFiber: 4gTotal Sugar: 12g— Natural Sugar: 12g— Added Sugar: 0gVitamin A: 7466IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 280mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.