Grilled Cheese with Spinach & Tomato

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​​This grilled cheese with spinach and tomato is a flavorful twist on the classic sandwich, cooked to golden perfection on the stovetop. Wilted spinach is infused with plenty of garlic. Juicy tomato slices add color and a fresh bite to the melty mozzarella filling. This sandwich makes for an easy lunch or dinner and pairs well with tomato soup or a simple green salad.

An image recipe of Grilled Cheese with Spinach & Tomato.
Credit:

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen.

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:
4

This Grilled Cheese with Spinach & Tomato is the perfect solution for nights you don’t feel like cooking a large meal. Protein-rich mozzarella cheese provides the proper stringy, cheesy bite. Garlicky spinach, juicy tomato and a drizzle of balsamic glaze merge with the mozz to bring a caprese-like feel to this handheld meal. A dash of crushed red pepper brings just the right amount of heat, while crusty whole-wheat bread holds everything together and gains just the right amount of crispness. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to ensure your cheese melts right on time.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • We enjoy the flavor of beefsteak tomatoes in the summer, but you can also use heirloom, Roma or vine-ripened tomatoes if you prefer.
  • This recipe includes only ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper, but you can adjust the heat level according to your taste. Feel free to increase or decrease the amount as you like. If you’re not a fan of spicy food, you can simply omit it.
  • You don’t have to use crusty bread; sliced whole-wheat sandwich bread works perfectly fine.
  • Browning the sandwiches in a covered skillet guarantees that the cheese will melt properly by the time the bread is toasted.

Nutrition Notes

  • Mozzarella cheese brings its protein and calcium to this sandwich. It’s a lower-sodium, lower-saturated-fat cheese, perfect if you’re watching your intake of either. You’ll even get some gut-loving probiotics in mozzarella cheese. 
  • Whole-wheat bread is rich in fiber, which provides food for the beneficial bacteria in the cheese. The fiber will also help fill you up and get things moving through your gut—perfect if you’re trying to prevent constipation.
  • Spinach is a leafy green packed with antioxidants that help lower inflammation and may reduce your risk of cancer. Spinach is great for eye health, and its nitrates may help reduce blood pressure. 
  • Tomatoes add vitamin C to this sandwich, which will help your body better absorb the iron in the spinach. Tomatoes are also rich in antioxidants, like lycopene, which are linked to a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease.
Ingredients for a grilled cheese sandwich, including bread, spinach, tomato, sliced cheese, garlic, spices, oil, and vinegar

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen.

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

  • 6 medium cloves garlic, thinly sliced (about 2 tablespoons)

  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper

  • 1 (10-ounce) package baby spinach (about 10 packed cups)

  • 8 (1-ounce) slices low-moisture whole-milk mozzarella cheese

  • 8 (1-ounce) slices crusty whole-wheat bread

  • 1 large beefsteak tomato, sliced into 8 (¼-inch-thick) slices

  • teaspoon salt

  • 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze

Directions

  1. Cook 1 tablespoon oil, the sliced garlic and ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until fragrant and the garlic starts to brown, about 2 minutes. Add 10 ounces baby spinach; cook, stirring constantly, until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a small heatproof bowl and set aside. Reserve the skillet.

    Sautéed spinach in a pan with a wooden spoon on a marble surface

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen.

  2. Place 1 slice mozzarella on each of 4 bread slices. Top each with 2 tomato slices. Sprinkle the tomatoes with ⅛ teaspoon salt. Top with the spinach mixture and drizzle with 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze. Top with the remaining 4 cheese slices and 4 bread slices.

    Open-faced grilled cheese sandwiches being prepared with spinach, tomato slices, and melted cheese, with someone pouring balsamic glaze

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen.

  3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the skillet over medium-low heat. Add 2 sandwiches; cook, covered, until browned on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board. Repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 2 sandwiches. Cut the sandwiches in half diagonally to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I use frozen spinach?

    We didn’t use frozen spinach, but you can. A 10-ounce package should be enough. Let it thaw, squeeze out the excess moisture, and then stir the spinach into the olive oil mixture to heat it through. The greens will heat up quickly, so keep an eye on it.

  • What’s the best way to cut a tomato?

    Using a serrated knife is often best for cutting tomatoes. We find that makes the task easier and safer compared to using a dull chef’s knife.

  • Can I make this sandwich in a panini maker?

    Absolutely. If you have access to a panini maker, you can forgo the stovetop method.

  • What should I serve with Grilled Cheese with Spinach & Tomato?

    We recommend pairing it with one of our tomato soups. You can choose a classic option like our Tomato Soup recipe or our Sheet-Pan Tomato Soup, or you can try one that includes beans, such as our Hearty Tomato Soup with Beans & Greens. We also love the idea of serving sandwiches alongside a green salad.

  • Can I store leftovers?

    We usually avoid storing leftover grilled cheese sandwiches because the toasted bread can become soggy. However, if you do have leftovers, don’t throw them away. Instead, place the sandwiches in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. It’s easy to repurpose them the next day by cutting them up to use in your scrambled eggs breakfast, or using them as flavor-packed croutons for a side salad or to top one of our tomato soup recipes.

EatingWell.com, July 2025

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

483 Calories
28g Fat
36g Carbs
24g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 1 sandwich
Calories 483
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 36g 13%
Dietary Fiber 6g 20%
Total Sugars 9g
Added Sugars 2g 4%
Protein 24g 48%
Total Fat 28g 35%
Saturated Fat 11g 53%
Cholesterol 52mg 17%
Vitamin A 481µg
Vitamin C 28mg 31%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 5mg 32%
Folate 174µg
Vitamin K 358µg
Sodium 785mg 34%
Calcium 516mg 40%
Iron 4mg 22%
Magnesium 119mg 28%
Potassium 732mg 16%
Zinc 3mg 31%
Vitamin B12 1µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.