If you are trying to figure out what to serve with grilled cheese sandwiches, this list is exactly what you are looking for. Grilled cheese sandwiches are a family favorite and a hearty hot sandwich on their own. But they really are better paired with a simple side to make a complete meal.
In our house, we love a simple grilled cheese sandwich with sourdough bread and good-quality cheddar. My second favorite is using Pimento Cheese Spread instead of sliced cheeses - OMG! But we do mix it up sometimes and will add avocado, tomato, bacon, or other fun ingredients.
One of my favorites is my recipe for a salty, sweet, and spicy version - GRILLED CHEESE WITH FIGS AND HOT HONEY! If you want a great grilled cheese without a stove or pan try my sandwich recipe hacks - Microwave Grilled Cheese or Toaster Oven Grilled Cheese.
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Recipe Categories
To help you decide what to serve with them, I have broken down the list into some subcategories. So based on your mood, preference, or diet, there is something for everyone. There are healthy salads, mayo-based salads, low-carb, keto, vegan, and fancy sides.
This list of what to make with grilled cheese includes:
- Side Dishes by The Short Order cook
- Soup & Salad Side Dishes
- Fruit & Vegetable Side Dishes
Side Dishes by The Short Order Cook
Air Fryer Green Beans
In just 10 minutes, this recipe for crispy air fryer green beans is the best. This simple side dish with few ingredients is quick & easy.
Air Fryer Green Beans
Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli
Instant pot steamed broccoli is a healthy and easy recipe that comes out perfect every time. In just a few minutes fresh broccoli is cooked and ready to enjoy. This method works in any electric pressure cooker with or without a steamer basket and results in fresh steamed broccoli that is not mushy.
Instant Pot Broccoli
Air Fryer Frozen Crinkle French Fries
For an easy foolproof method for cooking frozen crinkle-cut french fries in the air fryer, try this recipe. They will be hot, crispy, and yummy with just the right amount of time to cook in the air fryer. Plus delicious dips and seasonings to add for the best air fryer french fries.
Air Fryer Crinkle French Fries
Crispy Air Fryer Keto Radishes
Crispy air fryer keto radishes are the low-carb answer to those that love roasted potatoes. These seasoned radishes are an easy recipe & done in 15 minutes.
Air Fryer Radishes
Roasted Potatoes & Broccoli
Two yummy side dishes in one sheet pan recipe - oven roasted potatoes & broccoli florets are the ultimate pairing. The spice mix add a ton of flavor & it pairs with anything from fish to chicken or beef. This easy vegetable side takes little prep & the small pieces cook fast in the oven. This simple yet fancy recipe is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, & dairy-free.
Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli
Deep-Fried Sweet Potato Fries
Homemade deep-fried sweet potato fries are a quick and easy family favorite recipe. This fantastic method to deep fry & season them makes the best appetizer or side dish.
Sweet Potato Fries made in the Deep Fryer
Roasted Cherry Tomato Soup
The most amazing roasted cherry tomato soup is an easy recipe that only takes 30 minutes. It's creamy, savory, rich & tastes gourmet. A touch of garlic & basil makes this an Italian classic. Serve with grilled cheese for lunch or as a starter for dinner. Simple ingredients like summer ripe fresh red tomatoes, onion, & garlic are oven-cooked, simmered, & blended for a chunky or smooth soup. Gluten-free, low-carb, & keto-friendly too!
Roasted Cherry Tomato Soup
Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup
Sweet, creamy, and rich butternut squash soup is comfort in a bowl. This low-carb recipe is great for those on a keto diet.
Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup
Easy Vegetable Rice Soup (vegetarian & gluten-free)
An easy vegetable rice soup that is vegetarian and full of flavor. This recipe uses vegetable broth, fresh vegetables, tomatoes, rice, and seasonings for a hearty vegan soup that everyone will love.
Vegan Rice Soup with Vegetables
Keto Cream of Mushroom Soup
This restaurant-quality low-carb keto cream of mushroom soup is easy to make and simply delicious. The creamy texture with sherry creates a rich velvety mushroom soup that is so much better than any Campbell’s condensed version you can buy.
Keto Cream of Mushroom Soup
Dutch Oven Chicken Stew
Nohting like a comforting bowl of chicken stew made in the dutch oven. This simple one pot meal is loaded with juicy chunks of chicken breast, tender potatoes, hearty vegetables, & a rich creamy broth. A complete meal in a bowl to warm up any cold winter or fall day.
Dutch Oven Chicken Stew
Pot Pie Soup
Homemade creamy pot pie soup is an easy recipe that is tasty with any savory protein filling like chicken, turkey, beef, ham, or a vegetarian option.
Pot Pie Soup
Asian Avocado Peanut Coleslaw
If you want an easy peanutty coleslaw recipe, this Asian avocado peanut coleslaw is the best. This chopped slaw recipe is bursting with fresh vegetables that are dressed in a homemade Asian-inspired dressing that is salty, sweet, and spicy. This slaw is vegan and gluten-free and sure to be one that everyone loves.
Avocado Coleslaw
Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheese
This healthy broccoli salad with carrots, raisins, apples, and cheese is amazing. The creamy greek yogurt dressing is low-fat and made without mayo. It is tangy, crisp, fresh, and sweet in every bite. It holds up great for potlucks and barbecues. It is even great as a leftover, unlike other salads.
Broccoli, Apple, & Cheddar Salad
Butternut Squash, Apple, and Kale Salad
Butternut squash, apple, and kale make the perfect Fall salad. The crunchy pecans, crisp apples, sweet raisins, and roasted butternut squash make the most amazing Autumn harvest salad recipe.
Butternut Squash & Apple Kale Salad
Spinach Blueberry Salad
A colorful salad of fresh spinach, ripe blueberries, sharp parmesan, & crunchy pecans is a lovely spring recipe. It's fresh, nutty, sweet, & savory in every delicious bite.
Spinach Blueberry Salad
Simple Spinach Salad
Toss together this quick & easy simple spinach salad in just minutes. The crunchy croutons are made from scratch & with a homemade dijon vinaigrette this is the best recipe hands down. It's a fresh & healthy side dish that goes with any meal or enjoy for lunch. Pile on some protein for an entree dinner.
Simple Spinach Salad
Grilled Peach & Goat Cheese Salad
Sweet grilled peaches, creamy avocado, tangy goat cheese, and spicy arugula are a summer salad sensation. This recipe for Grilled Peach, Avocado, and Goat Cheese Arugula Salad is fresh, sweet, crisp, & juicy. This simple summer salad is easy & perfect for bbq, cookouts, & parties.
Grilled Peach & Avocado Arugula Salad
French Potato Salad
Tender warm herbed potatoes in a Champagne dijon vinaigrette with fresh herbs are bright, tangy, and crowd-pleasing. This is the best potato salad recipe without mayo. It is great for parties, picnics, & BBQs to feed a crowd. A fun summer side dish that's gluten-free, vegan, & dairy-free.
French Potato Salad
Toaster Oven Baked Potato
Making baked potatoes in the toaster oven is an easy and delicious way to cook this classic side dish. The skin turns out crispy and the inside is soft and fluffy. If your toaster oven has a convection setting, this baked potato recipe is super quick
Toaster Oven Baked Potato
Deep-Fried Beer-Battered Onion Rings
Onion rings are a classic fried treat that is so easy to make homemade. This beer-battered recipe for onion rings is deep-fried until crispy & crunchy. It's the perfect side dish, snack, or appetizer.
Beer-Battered Onion Rings
Homemade Pickles with Leftover Pickle Juice
Homemade pickles are so easy to make when you reuse pickle juice or brine for this recipe. In 24 hours quick refrigerator pickles are crisp and ready. Fermentation to turn cucumbers into pickles has never been easier.
Pickles Made in Leftover Pickle Juice
Soup & Salad Side Dishes
Potato Leek Soup
4 ingredients can make a wonderful velvety cream soup. This potato leek soup is quick, easy, and completely amazing.
Potato Leek Soup
Caprese Salad
The simplicity of fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and sweet basil is what makes Caprese salads so yummy. This Italian classic is a wonderful pairing for your favorite grilled cheese (panini style maybe?)
Caprese Salad
Vegetable Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing
Crisp fresh vegetables are tossed with a homemade Italian dressing for a healthy side salad.
Vegetable Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing
Fruit & Vegetable Side Dishes
Air-Fryer Broccoli
A quick recipe for fresh broccoli. A few spices, including red chili flakes, helps give this a lot of flavor.
Air-Fryer Broccoli
Pickled Avocado
A unique way to preserve avocado. A wonderful side or addition to any grilled cheese sandwich.
Pickled Avocado
Crispy Oven Fries
No deep fryer needed to make these crispy french fries. Fresh cut russets and a few simple steps make these oven french fries crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Crispy Oven Fries
Orange Cranberry Quinoa Salad
This bright and fresh salad is packed with so much flavor. Sweet dried cranberries, tart juicy oranges, and nutty quinoa make for a satisfying unique salad recipe.
Orange Cranberry Quinoa Salad
Other Recipe Roundups
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