Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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The best vegan grilled cheese sandwich filled with melty, gooey goodness of dairy-free cheese nestled between perfectly toasted bread!

This cheesy, flavorful sandwich is filled with veggies for that perfect meal your whole family will love. This will be your new go to grilled cheese recipe!

Two halves of a veggie grilled cheese stacked on a plate next to french fries

This post was originally published on February 24, 2022.

The secret to this recipe is the flavorful fajita veggies mixed in with the cheese. Add some spinach for an extra dose of greens, plus the optional vegan ranch to coat the inside, and you have a bomb of flavor you will keep coming back to over and over!

Ingredients

We love cheesy vegan meals, like my vegan quesadillas, so this veggie grilled cheese sandwich recipe hits it out of the park! All of my kids loved it, I may have finely chopped the fajita veggies for the little whiner, but it was devoured by all. The ranch was an added layer of flavor you must try!

This sandwich comes together in no time and is great served with all my vegan soups for dunking! It's easy to customize and switch up the flavors to keep things interesting.

A marble background with a yellow checked towel and cheese, bread, spinach, a bowl of creamy sauce and a bowl of fajita veggies on it.

How to Make a Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This recipe is too easy, here's the steps:

Load the bread with ranch, cheese, veggies, and spinach then close the sandwich.
Cook in a hot pan until melty.
Devour!

Overhead view of two sliced of bread with cheese, spinach and sauteed peppers on top

A spatula holding a grilled cheese sandwich over a black pan

Variations

While I personally think the above ingredients make the very best vegan grilled cheese, it's fun to mix up the flavors! Try including any of the following:

Garlic Aioli
Vegan Mayo
Roasted Carrot Hummus
BBQ Sauce
Vegan BBQ Pulled Pork
Mushroom Bacon
Vegan Sausage
Sautéed Mushrooms
Roasted Peppers
Jalapeños
Tomatoes
Sundried Tomatoes
Avocado

What to Serve with Grilled Cheese

Pair this veggie grilled cheese recipe with any of the following plant based side dishes for a complete meal:

A grilled cheese sandwich on a plate cut in half and spread apart with cheese and veggies oozing out next to fries.

Preparation Tips

For an extra crispy result brush the outside of the bread slices with butter or oil.
If you do use butter or oil make sure to keep a close eye as it will cause the bread to brown faster and can burn.
The ranch is optional on the inside of the sandwich but is highly recommended for amazing flavor.
If you are gluten-free make sure to use your favorite gluten-free bread.
Make an extra cheesy veggie grilled cheese sandwich by adding a slice of cheese in-between the veggie layer.
The best vegan cheese for grilled cheese comes down to personal preference. For store bought brands my favorite are Miyoko's Kitchen and Follow Your Heart, but homemade vegan cheese sauce can also stand in. Check out this guide for dairy free alternatives for more options!

Common Questions

How can you make vegan grilled cheese without butter?

It's actually possible to make a grilled cheese without coating the bread in anything! Plain bread will end up toasting on the outside a bit. However, for the crispiest bread you can coat the outside of the bread slices in oil or dairy free butter.

What is a vegan grilled cheese?

A vegan grilled cheese is a hot sandwich that consists of melted plant based cheese in between two slices of toasted bread.

Can vegans eat grilled cheese?

Typically no, as the classic recipe uses butter and cheese. However, it's easy to make with a few simple substitutions.

More Vegan Sandwich Recipes

Put down the fork and knife and eat with your hands! These plant based sandwiches are all family favorites: