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This grilled ham and cheese with tomatoes and spinach turns a classic sandwich into a more filling lunch with fresh veggies tucked inside. I’ll show you how to make it and pack it so the bread doesn’t get soggy when packed for lunch.
Spinach, Tomato Grilled Cheese with Ham
I bought a huge bag of spinach for a recipe I never got around to making, so I started adding it to our school lunches instead. This grilled ham and cheese was an easy win: the spinach adds freshness, the tomato makes it feel more deli-style, and my kids still get the melty sandwich they already love.
How to Make It
- Assemble
Butter one side of each slice of bread. On the unbuttered side, layer cheese, ham, tomato, spinach, and the second slice of cheese. Keeping the cheese closest to the bread helps create a barrier between the tomato and the bread. - Grill it
Place the sandwich in a non-stick skillet over medium heat and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, until the bread is golden and the cheese is melted. - Eat it now or let it cool
If you’re packing it for later, let the sandwich cool completely before putting it in a container. Trapping steam while it’s warm is one of the fastest ways to make toasted bread soggy. - Pack it for lunch
Place the cooled sandwich in a hard lunch container and keep lunch sides like fruit and veggies in separate compartments.
Laura’s School Lunch Packing Tips
Let the sandwich cool completely before closing it inside a lunch container. Steam from a warm sandwich creates condensation, which softens the toasted bread. Keeping wet sides in separate compartments helps too.
Use a hard lunch container so the sandwich doesn’t get flattened. When packing a grilled sandwich for school, let it cool completely before closing the container so trapped steam doesn’t soften the bread.
The cheese creates a little separation between the juicy tomato and the bread. It also melts around the filling and helps hold the sandwich together.
Fruit, crunchy veggies, or another easy side all work. Try homemade zucchini chips, apple chips, oatmeal raisin granola bars, or no-bake brownie bites. Keep juicy sides in a separate compartment so moisture doesn’t reach the sandwich.
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More Grilled Sandwiches for Lunch
Grilled Ham & Cheese with Tomatoes & Spinach
Ingredients
- 2 slices of sandwich bread
- 1 handful spinach, chopped
- 2 ounces deli ham
- 2 slices of tomato
- 2 slices of cheese
Instructions
Make the sandwich
- Spread butter or spray one side of the bread. Flip the slices over so the butter is on the outside (for grilling).
- Place the cheese slices next to the bread, top with ham and chopped spinach, then close the sandwich. Placing the cheese on the outermost layer ensures it melts and becomes the "glue" that holds the sandwich together.
Grill it
- Place the buttered sandwich on a non-stick pan and grill it over medium heat for about 2 minutes per side.
Pack it for lunch
- Slice the cooled sandwich in half and pack it in a hard lunch container. Keep any sides like fruit and veggies in a separate compartment or container to keep the sandwich bread dry. Use an ice pack, if necessary.
Jackie says
My kids loved this grilled ham and cheese with tomatoes and spinach for their school lunch!
Rachel says
Amazing lunch. I made this grilled cheese for my family of 6 and we all loved them!! The kids ate the spinach!!
Rita says
my kids loved these sandwiches will be making again very soon!
Karen says
This grilled ham and cheese was a hit with my kiddos! Love the addition of tomatoes and spinach for veggies as well.
Tanya says
My kids loved this elevated grilled cheese!