This Broccoli Grilled Cheese in the Oven takes the classic comfort food up a notch with three types of cheese, broccoli, and thick Challah bread. Baked in the oven, it’s a crowd-pleasing recipe that’s easy to prepare and loved by kids and adults alike! Serve this grilled cheese in the oven on its own or paired with your favorite soup.
Table of Contents
- The Secret to the Best Grilled Cheese
- Simple Ingredients & Easy Substitutions
- Skip the Skillet, and Make Grilled Cheese in the Oven Instead!
- Tips for the Perfect Broccoli Grilled Cheese in the Oven
- Serving Suggestions
- Storage Options
- Common Questions About This Broccoli Grilled Cheese in the Oven
- More Sandwich Recipes You’ll Love
- Broccoli Grilled Cheese in the Oven Recipe
The Secret to the Best Grilled Cheese
Who doesn’t love a sheet pan meal? They’re our go-to on busy nights, but do you know what makes them even better? When they’re used to make an elevated comfort food recipe!
Which is exactly what this broccoli grilled cheese in the oven does. A unique take on classic grilled cheese sandwiches, this version is a lifesaver.
Plus, it’s got broccoli! So, that means it’s automatically healthy, right?
There are countless reasons we love this dish. So, we’ll just name a few.
This grilled cheese in the oven is:
- Made with minimal prep time.
- Created with a cook time of under 30 minutes.
- Customizable and a great option for feeding a crowd.
- A complete meal on its own and perfect for serving with soups, salads, and sides.
Simple Ingredients & Easy Substitutions
We kept the ingredient list for this broccoli grilled cheese in the oven, but feel free to experiment with substitutions and additions to satisfy your tastebuds!
- Bread – We love to use thick Challah bread, but choose whatever your family likes best! For a healthier option, try using whole-wheat bread instead of regular white bread.
- Broccoli – We recommend using fresh broccoli, but frozen will work, too. Just be sure that it is completely thawed first. Or, if you aren’t a fan of broccoli, try using cauliflower instead!
- Cream Cheese – Cream cheese is included in the filling for an extra creamy texture and a bold, tangy taste. Use a plain, full-fat variety for the best results!
- Cheese – We love to use a combination of Monterrey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, but you can mix and match any flavors you like best. Use blocks of cheese, and shred them yourself
- Butter – Rich and creamy, butter gives your oven grilled cheese that crispy golden appearance and slightly crunchy texture you want. Feel free to use salted or unsalted butter, just be mindful of the salt content of the cheese you use. You don’t want your sandwiches ruined because of too much salt!
- Garlic – Use roasted garlic cloves to infuse a nutty, rich, slightly sweet taste into the sandwiches.
- Parsley – Fresh Italian parsley adds a pop of color and a refreshing taste that balances out some of the heaviness of the fats.
- Salt and Black Pepper – Use as much or as little as you like.
Skip the Skillet, and Make Grilled Cheese in the Oven Instead!
Once you learn how to make grilled cheese in the oven, you’ll never go back to skillet versions again. It’s so much easier and is the best way to make multiple sandwiches at once without the need to stand over a hot stove.
- Slice the Bread. Use a sharp knife to slice the bread into thick pieces.
- Create the Sandwich Filling. Add the cream cheese, shredded cheese, and a pinch of salt and pepper to a large bowl, and mix until smooth. Then, fold in the broccoli.
- Whisk. In a separate bowl, whisk the butter parsley, roasted garlic, and salt.
- Coat the Bread. Spread part of the butter mixture on one side of each bread piece.
- Stuff. Spread part of the broccoli filling on the plain side of one piece of bread. Then, layer a second piece on top, leaving the buttered side exposed. Repeat with all of the bread slices.
- Bake. Arrange the broccoli grilled cheese sandwiches in a single layer on a greased baking sheet, leaving space in between each piece. Bake until the cheese is melted and the bread is nice and toasted.
Tips for the Perfect Broccoli Grilled Cheese in the Oven
These sandwiches are super simple to make, but we do have a few tips to make it even easier!
- Keep an Eye on the Oven. The cooking time will vary depending on the type of bread and cheese you use. So, be sure to keep an eye on your sandwiches while they’re baking to ensure they don’t burn!
- Use An Extra Large Sheet Pan. Trust us, your guests are going to want seconds. So, use an extra large sheet pan to make up to 12 sandwiches at a time!
- Roast the Garlic. Roasting garlic is easy to do and not only makes it easier to digest but also completely changes the flavor, giving it a boost of caramelization that makes this recipe absolutely drool-worthy!
Serving Suggestions
Of course, this broccoli grilled cheese in the oven is great served on its own. However, it can also be paired with your favorite main courses for a filling meal full of flavor. Some of our favorite pairings include:
Storage Options
This broccoli grilled cheese is best served right away while it’s still warm. However, if you want to prepare in advance or have extras left over, they can be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to three to four days.
Then, just warm them in the microwave or oven when you’re ready to eat! Just be careful not to let the bread burn.
Common Questions About This Broccoli Grilled Cheese in the Oven
Any flavor of cheese will taste great with this recipe! However, for the best results, we recommend grating it yourself. This will allow for a meltier, gooier texture.
We like to use butter for this recipe! Mayo is popular with skillet grilled cheese recipes because it has a higher smoke point.
Butter works better than oil because it helps create a richer taste and a crispy exterior.
We bake this grilled cheese in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
We prefer to use Challah bread, but any thick, crusty bread will taste great and hold all the fillings.
Of course! Layer slices of turkey, ham, chicken, or any protein you like best with your sandwiches.
More Sandwich Recipes You’ll Love
Sandwiches are always a good option when you are looking for an easy comfort food option! If you crave something other than these oven grilled cheese sandwiches, check out these other tasty options.
- Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteak
- Spanakopita Grilled Cheese
- Slow Cooker Po’ Boy
- Turkey Caprese Sandwiches
Broccoli Grilled Cheese in the Oven
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Challah bread sliced
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup Monterrey Jack cheese freshly shredded
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese freshly shredded
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 cup fresh broccoli florets chopped
- 4 Tablespoons butter room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons flat-leaf Italian parsley chopped
- 3 cloves roasted garlic minced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a baking sheet, and set it aside.
- Slice the Challah into ½-inch slices. (Feel free to slice them thicker, if desired.)1 loaf Challah bread
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, Monterrey Jack cheese, Cheddar cheese, salt, and black pepper, and mix until smooth.8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, 1 cup Monterrey Jack cheese, 1 cup Cheddar cheese, Salt to taste, Black pepper to taste
- Fold in the broccoli, coating it completely with the cream cheese mixture.1 cup fresh broccoli florets
- In a separate bowl, combine the butter, Italian parsley, roasted garlic, salt, and pepper.Salt to taste, 4 Tablespoons butter, 2 Tablespoons flat-leaf Italian parsley, 3 cloves roasted garlic, Black pepper to taste
- Spread 2 teaspoons of the butter mixture on one side of each piece of bread.
- Layer 2-3 tablespoons of the broccoli cheese filling on the other side. Top it with a second piece of bread, leaving the buttered side exposed to create a sandwich.
- Repeat until all the bread has been used.
- Arrange the sandwiches in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a bit of space in between.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bread is nice and toasted.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Video
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We tried this and it was really good. I used more broccoli and added a little bit of cream cheese. My daughter is a broccoli lover and enjoyed it so much. Will definitely make this again. Greetings from Germany!!!
Amazing! So glad this your daughter loved it! <3
Instructions in video are totally different from the recipe??
Thanks for catching this! We have updated the recipe card. It’s on our to-do list to update the rest of the post ASAP!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa