I’ll show you how you can turn taco leftovers into an epic sandwich that remains crunchy inside the lunchbox.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Taco Leftovers
If taco night is a way of life in your household, then you most likely have the same question as I do, “what should I do with those last few leftovers?” Rest assured that I never run out of ideas when it comes to reinventing them!
So you have to check out this epic Taco Grilled Cheese lunch made with taco night leftovers! In this recipe, I’m revamping my skillet beef tacos into a cheesy, gooey, grilled cheese sandwich! It doesn’t get any better than that, I tell you.
If a grilled cheese sandwich wasn’t good enough already, now we add all the favorite taco fillings to it, and what you get is one incredible meal. This grilled cheese finally provides a satisfactory answer to the age-old question, is a taco a sandwich?
Of course, this taco grilled cheese is great for lunch or freshly made for dinner. Add some guacamole on the side and boom! Your taste buds will thank you.
What is in Taco Grilled Cheese School Lunch
Swap your tortillas for grilled bread and get ready for the most epic sandwich idea imaginable.
This taco grilled cheese includes:
- Thick bread: your favorite, such as Italian or rustic bread.
- Butter: for grilling.
- Cheese: Cheddar, Swiss, or Gouda are great options!
- Cooked beef: that leftover taco-seasoned beef you didn’t know how to repurpose!
- Fresh salsa: more taco night flavor!
- Avocado: add creaminess and healthy fats.
- Black olives: or your favorite ones.
- Sour cream: optional for extra creaminess.
- Chopped cilantro: optional for freshness.
You’ll find the amounts in the printable recipe card below.
H2: How to pack Taco Grilled Cheese for School Lunch
Wait, what? This is packed for lunch? Of course! If you didn’t know you could grill a sandwich and pack it in a lunchbox, here is how it’s done.
The steps to make and pack it:
- Prep the base
Lay the bread on a flat surface. Spread butter over each slice, flip and place 1 slice of cheese onto each slice of bread. - Add the filling
Top 2 slices of bread with beef, salsa, avocado, olives, sour cream, and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro. Close sandwiches, making sure the cheese is against the bread on both sides. - Grill it
In a non-stick pan or griddle, over medium-high heat, place the sandwiches and grill for 2 to 3 minutes until it’s golden and the cheese has begun to melt. Flip and grill on the other side for an additional minute or 2 until it’s golden, crispy, and the cheese has melted. Remove from heat and serve immediately or pack it for lunch. - Pack it for lunch
Allow the sandwich to cool down to room temperature before slicing and packing in a lunch container. Store fruit, veggies, and your favorite sides in a separate compartment or container.
While the sandwich won’t stay hot, you can keep it from going soggy in the lunchbox. Watch this video to see how:
That’s right, gooey cheese, crispy bread – a tasty combination that you can now have every day of the week!
As you can see, making one meal where leftovers never go to waste is part of our meal plan game plan!
Where you’ll find five incredible recipes, a completed shopping list, and a meal-prep guide for the week to help you save lots of time in the kitchen.
Want more epic lunch ideas? I’ve got over 100 of them in my latest ebook:
101 Packed Lunches eBook
All my best kid-friendly lunches from over a decade of creating meal plans. Add some variety to your child’s lunchbox with these epic lunches, plus receive my Pack Meals Like a Pro ebook, free with purchase!
Success tips for packing grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch
Follow these tips and your taco grilled cheese will stay crispy in the lunchbox for hours:
Allow it to cool down
This is an important step if you want to enjoy all the crispiness of any grilled sandwich. So allow it to cool down. If you pack it when it’s still warm, the steam will make the bread soggy.
Separate dry from wet ingredients
Whether you use a compartmentalized lunchbox or more than one lunch container, place the taco grilled cheese separated from wet ingredients, such as veggies and fruit, to keep the sandwich from absorbing any moisture.
Use the right container
No zip bags for this one! Pack the sandwich in a sturdy, sandwich-size compartment or container. This way, the grilled cheese won’t “dance” inside the lunchbox and will remain neat until lunchtime. Here are my top 5 school lunch containers.
Make it a meal
This sandwich is filled with taco goodness, but you can still add more taste and nutrition by packing along with berries, cherry tomatoes, carrots, a healthy dessert, or your kid’s favorite snacks. Basically, any fruit, veggie, or healthy side is a yes!
More Grilled Cheese Ideas
Now that you know how to pack a grilled cheese for lunch, you might want to try a few new flavors! Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with a few of our favorite grilled sandwich ideas.
- Philly Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Grilled Tuna Melt
- Apple Cheddar Grilled Cheese
- Hawaiian Grilled Cheese
- Grilled Cheese Dippers
Taco Grilled Cheese School Lunch
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick bread, such as Italian or rustic bread
- 1 tablespoon butter, for grilling
- 4 slices Cheddar cheese
- 6 tablespoons cooked leftover taco-seasoned beef
- 2 tablespoons fresh salsa
- ½ avocado, sliced
- 2 tablespoons black olives
- 2 tablespoons sour cream, optional
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro, optional
Instructions
Make the sandwich:
- Lay the bread on a flat surface. Spread butter over each slice, flip and place 1 slice of cheese onto each slice of bread.
- Top 2 slices of bread with beef, salsa, avocado, olives, sour cream, and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro. Close sandwiches, making sure the cheese is against the bread on both sides.
- In a non-stick pan or griddle, over medium-high heat, place the sandwiches and grill for 2 to 3 minutes until it’s golden and the cheese has begun to melt.
- Flip and grill on the other side for an additional minute or 2 until it’s golden, crispy, and the cheese has melted. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Pack it for lunch:
- If packing in a lunchbox, allow the sandwich to cool down to room temperature before slicing and packing in a lunch container. In another compartment or container, store fruit, veggies, and your favorite sides.
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