Healthy Recipes Main Dishes Healthy Sandwich Recipes Healthy Hot Sandwich Recipes Cabbage Grilled Cheese 5.0 (2) 2 Reviews This warming cabbage grilled cheese has it all from melty cheese, tender cabbage and crispy sweet-tart apple slices. This sandwich is an easy winner for lunch or dinner served with a green salad. A light layer of mayonnaise on the outside of the bread is a great way to toast a grilled cheese to golden brown without having to rely on butter. We love tender, sweet Savoy cabbage, but this recipe would work with red or green cabbage as well. By Catherine Jessee Catherine Jessee Catherine Jessee is a test kitchen assistant at the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. She has tested recipes for brands including Allrecipes, EatingWell, Food & Wine, Real Simple, People and Southern Living. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on July 4, 2024 Tested by Amanda Stanfield Tested by Amanda Stanfield Amanda Stanfield is a Test Kitchen assistant in the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. She completed her undergraduate degree in journalism and strategic communications at Hampton University. After graduation, Amanda worked in the nonprofit sector as a marketing associate for a global nonprofit organization. In 2018, she pivoted into the food industry and began training in fine-dining restaurants around Atlanta. Later she gained her culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University and went on to work in a variety of kitchens from boutique restaurants to conference hotels. As a true foodie, Amanda seeks out nutritious and unique flavors to inspire others to eat happily and healthfully. When she's not cooking up delicious recipes, you can find her lap swimming in the pool or watching a good sci-fi movie. Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Active Time: 35 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 4 Nutrition Profile: No Added Sugar Sesame-Free Nut-Free High-Fiber Vegetarian High-Protein Egg-Free Gut Healthy Mediterranean Diet Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe Our Cabbage Grilled Cheese is a less salty, lighter twist on a traditional Reuben. The cabbage and onions meld together for a sweet and savory umaminess. Apple provides a fresh-tart textural crunch, while the Cheddar is rich and tangy and ties the sandwich together with its melty goodness. And who can pass up toasty, crisp grilled bread? This comforting grilled cheese is packed with fiber and antioxidants, making it an easy choice for lunch or dinner. Keep reading for expert tips on ingredient substitutions and more. 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! If you don't have red-wine vinegar, you can use cider vinegar, champagne vinegar or any other vinegar you have on hand.Cooking the cabbage and onions together until they’re super tender and falling apart makes them jammy and sweet, and a great complement to melty Cheddar and apple. Spreading mayonnaise on the bread and before toasting it causes a Maillard reaction, which helps create a perfect golden-brown exterior. Plus, it spreads more easily and is less messy than butter. Nutrition Notes Cabbage is a cruciferous veggie that’s loaded with filling fiber and antioxidants to help reduce disease risk, including cancer. When you eat cabbage you’ll also get a healthy dose of vitamin C to boost your immune system, and vitamin K for strong bones. Cheddar cheese is a good source of calcium and protein. It also provides probiotics—those beneficial gut bacteria that support a healthy body. It does also contain saturated fat and sodium, which is why you want to eat it in moderation. With that said, there is some evidence that the saturated fat in cheese is not as harmful as other types of saturated fat. Compared to refined-wheat bread, whole-wheat bread provides more fiber and antioxidants. This is because refined-wheat bread is made from wheat kernels that have been stripped of their nutritious outer layers. These layers contain the majority of the wheat kernel’s fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Most refined-wheat breads have been fortified with vitamins and minerals, so they still provide nutritional value beyond carbohydrates. Don’t let the white flesh of apples fool you—they are loaded with fiber and antioxidants! As a result, there is evidence that regularly eating apples can reduce heart disease, diabetes and cancer risk and boost brain health. And because they’re low-glycemic, they won’t spike your blood sugar. Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon caraway seeds 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups) 1/4 teaspoon salt 4 cups shredded Savoy cabbage 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar 8 slices whole-wheat bread 2 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise 4 teaspoons country-style Dijon mustard 4 slices sharp Cheddar cheese 1 large Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced (about 2 cups) Directions Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add caraway seeds; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly toasted, about 30 seconds. Add onion and salt; cook, stirring often, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add cabbage; cook, stirring often, until very soft and tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in vinegar. Remove from heat and set aside, uncovered, at room temperature. Wipe the skillet clean. Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Spread 1 side of each bread slice with about 1 teaspoon mayonnaise. Spread the other side of each bread slice with 1/2 teaspoon mustard. Place 1 slice of Cheddar on the mustard side of 4 bread slices. Top each with cabbage and onion mixture (about 1/2 cup per sandwich). Top with apple slices and the remaining bread slices, mayonnaise-sides up. Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 sandwiches; cook until toasted on both sides and the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining 2 sandwiches. Cut in half crosswise; serve warm. Frequently Asked Questions Can I make these sandwiches ahead? Although these sandwiches are best when freshly made, you can wrap them in foil, store them in the fridge overnight and then heat the entire package in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes. Can I cook this in a panini press instead of a pan? Absolutely. This compact appliance is perfect for grilled sandwiches. It ensures even heating of the fillings and creates perfectly toasted bread. What should I serve with Cabbage Grilled Cheese? Pair it with a soup or a salad. Depending on the season, go with a hot tomato soup or a chilled gazpacho. And a simple salad with leafy greens is always a nice addition. EatingWell.com, July 2024 Rate It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 411 Calories 20g Fat 43g Carbs 16g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Serving Size 1 sandwich Calories 411 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 43g 16% Dietary Fiber 8g 30% Total Sugars 11g Protein 16g 32% Total Fat 20g 26% Saturated Fat 6g 32% Cholesterol 26mg 9% Vitamin A 99µg Vitamin C 24mg 26% Vitamin D 0µg Vitamin E 3mg 19% Folate 96µg Vitamin K 72µg Sodium 781mg 34% Calcium 306mg 24% Iron 2mg 13% Magnesium 84mg 20% Potassium 474mg 10% Zinc 2mg 21% Vitamin B12 0µg Omega 3 1g 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, M.S. Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a freelance 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. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines and Linda Frahm 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, such as Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, and has edited cookbooks for Dovetail Press and The Taste Curators. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines