Name: Whole Wheat Grilled Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 slices bread (whole-wheat); 2 slices cheese (your favorite); 1 tablespoon butter (for grilling)

Recipe

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Whole wheat brings extra fiber and a hearty bite to this classic grilled cheese sandwich!

Below, you’ll learn how to make this whole wheat grilled cheese and pack it just right so it stays perfectly crispy in a lunchbox.

Easy Whole Wheat Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Whole wheat bread adds extra nutrition to this easy grilled cheese sandwich, and honestly, my kids don’t even notice the swap. They only care that it's buttery, crispy, and loaded with melty cheese!

Like a grilled ham & cheese or toasted PB&J, this grilled cheese takes only 5 minutes and the payoff is SO worth it! Plus, whole wheat is sturdier than white bread and holds up better when grilled, so your school lunch stays crunchy instead of soggy. Protip: If you’re making sandwiches for a crowd, use this baked grilled cheese recipe to cook several at once!

What You Need

Three budget-friendly ingredients are all you need to make this grilled cheese on whole wheat. Here's what you'll need:

Whole wheat bread: hearty, wholesome and packed with fiber.
Cheese: Cheddar, Swiss, Gouda, or your favorite melty cheese.
Butter: for that golden, crispy crust.

How to Pack a Whole Wheat Grilled Cheese for Lunch

Here's how to pack grilled sandwiches to keep that crispy crunch intact until it’s time to open the lunchbox!:

Assemble the sandwich
Spread butter on one side of each slice of whole wheat bread. Then flip the bread and place your favorite cheese on the unbuttered sides. Close the sandwich with the buttered sides facing out.
Grill to perfection
Heat a non-stick skillet and grill each side for 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy. The cheese should be melty and irresistible. You can also air-fry a grilled cheese for a quick, mess-free alternative!
Cool completely
If you’re not serving this sandwich right away, let it cool completely before packing so the steam doesn’t make the bread soggy.
Pack it for school
Slice your grilled cheese in half and place it inside a hard lunch container. Pack fruit, veggies, or other healthy sides separately to keep the sandwich dry.

whole wheat grilled cheese halves stacked

Keeping a Grilled Cheese Crunchy & Fresh Until School Lunch

These additional packing tips will ensure lunchtime success!

Use the right container
A hard, sandwich-sized container keeps sandwiches from getting flattened in the lunch bag. These are my top picks!

Let it cool first
We want the crispiest grilled cheese, so give it time to cool before packing. If it goes in the lunchbox warm, trapped steam will soften the bread.

Keep sides cool
Pack sides like fruits and veggies with an ice pack to keep them fresh, but store them in a different compartment from the grilled cheese. This keeps everything at the right temperature without making the bread soggy.

Prevent excess moisture
Place a paper towel at the bottom of the lunch container to absorb any extra moisture and keep the bread crisp.

More School Lunch Grilled Cheese Recipes

Grilled cheese never gets old around here! A grilled mozzarella and turkey adds extra protein to keep it filling, and a Caprese grilled cheese or apple grilled cheese is an easy way to give this classic a gourmet upgrade.