This Spinach and Feta Grilled Cheese Sandwich makes an amazing lunch. With its warm spinach, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, creamy feta, and melty cheddar between golden, buttery bread, each bite is pure bliss.
You can whip up this sandwich in under 20 minutes and serve it for lunch, dinner, and virtually any other special occasion that’s coming up. Serve it on its own, with a fresh salad or with a bowl of rice tomato soup.
You can't miss out on this mouthwatering feta grilled cheese sandwich! A sprinkle of oregano, a dash of chili flakes, and a touch of honey make it an irresistible experience you won't want to miss.
Can You Make Grilled Cheese With Feta?
Yes, you can! Feta is a tangy, crumbly cheese that adds a unique twist to the traditional grilled cheese sandwich.
However, it's important to note that feta cheese doesn't melt as smoothly as other cheeses like cheddar, mozzarella, or Swiss.
So we recommend that you combine feta cheese with a more melting cheese (such as cheddar, as in our recipe) to ensure a gooey texture in your sandwich. The combination of feta and another cheese not only improves the meltability but also creates a delightful blend of flavors.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This spinach grilled cheese with feta is one of our all-time favorite quick lunches, and here's why it will become your go-to choice as well:
- Tasty mix: Spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta make a yummy combo. Oregano and chili flakes add extra flavor.
- Great textures: Gooey feta, melting cheddar, and crispy bread make it enjoyable to eat.
- Easy to make: This sandwich is simple and quick to prepare, perfect for any lunch.
- Make it your own: Add your favorite herbs or spices, or even some honey, to customize it.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Before learning the easy preparation, let's explore the key ingredients in this recipe, their roles, and possible alternatives to help you make the perfect feta grilled cheese.
- Olive oil: We use it to sauté the spinach. You can use other oils like avocado or grapeseed oil.
- Spinach: We use fresh spinach. Its mild flavor complements other ingredients. You can use baby spinach or frozen spinach.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: They bring a tangy, slightly sweet taste and chewy texture. Make sure you buy sun-dried tomatoes in oil. If you have sun-dried tomato sauce on hand, it would be amazing in this sandwich. You can use fresh tomatoes too but they don't have the same flavor or texture. And as they are quite juicy, it is a good idea to dry the fresh tomato slices with some paper towels before placing them in your sandwich. Alternatively, you can use roasted red peppers.
- Greek Feta cheese: Its salty and tangy flavor adds a distinctive Mediterranean touch. You can buy a block or crumbled feta cheese. Check out our guides on What Is Feta Cheese and How To Store Feta Cheese.
- Cheddar cheese: It adds a creamy, melting texture and a rich, slightly sharp taste. You can use mozzarella cheese, Havarti, Gouda, Monterey Jack, or Muenster cheese for a milder flavor.
- Bread: We use sourdough bread because we love its tangy taste and chewy texture. Plus, it holds up well to grilling. You can use whole grain, rye, or ciabatta bread too. Even pita bread works fine, but the texture won't be the same.
- Spices: We use oregano and chili flakes (red pepper flakes) for another layer of richness. You can substitute thyme, basil or za'atar for oregano and cayenne pepper for chili flakes.
- Butter: We use it on the outer sides of the sandwich bread. It adds a rich, savory flavor and helps create a crispy, golden-brown crust when grilling. If you want, you can mix it with a little grated parmesan cheese. Spread this mixture on the outer side of bread slices to turn it into a parmesan crust sandwich. If you don't want butter, brush the bread with extra virgin olive oil instead.
Optional Add-Ins
You can enhance the flavor and texture of your feta grilled cheese sandwich, adding a personal touch and making it even more delicious. Here are our suggestions:
- Honey: A light drizzle of honey over the finished sandwich provides a touch of sweetness, contrasting beautifully with the tangy and savory flavors of the sandwich.
- Garlic or onions: Consider adding minced garlic or diced onions to the pan before adding the spinach leaves. Cook them until soft and then add the spinach. This addition will give extra flavor and aroma the overall taste of the sandwich.
- Olives: Chopped Kalamata or green olives can be added to the sandwich filling. This adds an extra layer of flavor.
- Pesto: Spread a thin layer of pesto on the bread slices before assembling the sandwich. It adds a rich taste and a moist texture.
- Egg: Including a fried or scrambled egg in the sandwich if you want to add a protein boost. This addition makes the feta sandwich more filling.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Here's a detailed breakdown of the instructions for making the grilled cheese with feta:
Prepare the spinach:
Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan and sauté the spinach for 5-6 minutes, or until wilted. Once wilted, sprinkle it with salt (and black pepper if you want), give it a quick stir, and transfer the cooked spinach onto a plate.
Afterward, clean the pan with a paper towel to prepare it for assembling the sandwich.
Prepare the bread:
For each slice of bread, spread butter on one side. This buttered side will be in contact with the pan while cooking, resulting in a crispy, golden-brown crust.
Assemble the sandwich:
- Place two slices of bread, butter side down, in a nonstick skillet. On each slice, arrange chopped sun-dried tomatoes, pressing them gently with a spoon to ensure they stick to the bread.
- Then, add half of the crumbled feta cheese, half of the shredded cheddar, and cooked spinach on top.
- Follow this by adding the remaining feta and cheddar cheese, and finally, sprinkle oregano and chili flakes over the filling.
- Complete the sandwich by placing the second slice of bread on top, butter side up.
Cook the sandwich:
Put the pan over medium heat and cook the sandwich for about 5 minutes, or until the bottom side turns golden brown.
Carefully flip the sandwiches and cook the other side for an additional 5 minutes, or until the bread is nicely toasted and the cheese inside becomes gooey.
Serve:
Sprinkle thyme or oregano and red pepper flakes on each sandwich, optionally drizzle a little honey on top, and serve immediately.
Pro Tips
- Use a sturdy bread, like sourdough or ciabatta, that can hold the ingredients without becoming soggy or falling apart.
- If using frozen spinach, thaw and drain it well to prevent excess moisture from making the sandwich soggy.
- Cook the sandwich over medium heat to ensure even toasting of the bread and proper melting of the cheese without burning.
- Feel free to add other ingredients, like sautéed onions, bell peppers, or mushrooms, to suit your taste preferences.
- If you have any leftover ingredients, simply store them in the refrigerator for future use. You can easily incorporate them into your next sandwich or into a pasta dish. They can make a great pizza topping too.
Can I Cook It In The Oven?
Yes, you can easily make this feta cheese toastie in the oven.
Preheat your oven to 390 ºF (200 ⁰C). Pre-toast your bread slices in a skillet.
Assemble your sandwich as you usually would. Then, wrap the entire grilled cheese in parchment paper. The wrapping should be quite tight to ensure the cheeses melt and everything in the sandwich merges together.
Place the packed sandwich in the preheated oven and leave it to bake for roughly 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted and soft.
What To Serve It With
You can pair this spinach grilled cheese with a variety of dishes. Here are some of our suggestions:
Soup: Pair your sandwich with a bowl of soup, such as roasted tomato soup, Turkish tomato soup or carrot tomato soup. You will end up with a comforting and satisfying meal.
Salad: Serve the sandwich alongside a fresh, crisp salad to add a refreshing, light touch to the meal. Check out our fig and goat cheese salad or Turkish shepherds salad.
Pickles: The acidity of the pickles helps to balance the richness of the sandwich. Check out our pickled cabbage recipe and quick beet pickles.
Coleslaw: A side of homemade yoghurt coleslaw, made from shredded cabbage, carrots, and a tangy dressing, can provide a refreshing, crunchy contrast to the warm, melty cheese sandwich.
FAQs
No, they are different types of cheese. Feta is a Greek, tangy, crumbly cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk, while Gorgonzola is an Italian blue cheese made from cow's milk, characterized by its blue or green mold veins and sharp, pungent flavor.
Yes, you can grill feta cheese. To do so, select a firm block of feta, preheat the grill to medium heat, and lightly brush the cheese with olive oil. Grill carefully, as feta is crumbly and doesn't melt as easily as other cheeses.
Yes, you can use frozen spinach. Just be sure to thaw and thoroughly drain it before sautéing to remove excess moisture.
Feta cheese pairs well with various foods, such as salads, grilled or roasted vegetables, grains like rice or quinoa, and dishes like pasta, spanakopita or stuffed peppers.
Other Recipes With Feta Cheese
Other Sandwich Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Feta Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Spinach
Spinach and Feta Grilled Cheese Sandwich, packed with sautéed spinach, tangy feta, melty cheddar, and sun-dried tomatoes. Perfect for a quick and satisfying lunch, this delicious sandwich pairs beautifully with your choice of bread and can be customized with your favorite additional ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups spinach leaves (113 g / 1.4 lb)
- A pinch of salt
- 4 slices bread (we use sourdough bread)
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened at room temperature
- 6-8 pieces sun dried tomatoes (packed in oil), chopped
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese (or mozzarella cheese)
- A pinch of oregano
- A pinch of crushed chili flakes
- Honey, optional for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan. Add the spinach and sauté it for 5-6 minutes or until it wilts down. Sprinkle salt, give it a stir and transfer onto a plate. Clean the pan with a paper towel.
- Spread butter on one side of each bread. Place two slices of bread (butter side down) in the pan.
- Arrange chopped sun-dried tomatoes on each bread, press on them with a spoon so they stick on the bread. Top it with half of the crumbled feta cheese, half of the shredded cheddar and cooked spinach. Add the remaining feta and cheddar on top of the spinach. Sprinkle oregano and chili flakes on them.
- Top each sandwich with the second slice of bread, butter side up.
- Put the pan over medium heat and cook for about 5 minutes or until the bottom is golden. Carefully flip the sandwiches and cook the other side for 5 minutes or until the bread is nicely toasted and the cheese inside is gooey.
- Sprinkle thyme or oregano and red pepper flakes (chili flakes) on each sandwich, optionally drizzle a little honey on each and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use a sturdy bread, like sourdough or ciabatta, that can hold the ingredients without becoming soggy or falling apart.
- If using frozen spinach, thaw and drain it well to prevent excess moisture from making the sandwich soggy.
- Cook the sandwich over medium heat to ensure even toasting of the bread and proper melting of the cheese without burning.
- Feel free to add other ingredients, like sautéed onions, bell peppers, or mushrooms, to suit your taste preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5.1 g
- Sodium: 1945.5 mg
- Fat: 31.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 34.5 g
- Protein: 15.8 g
- Cholesterol: 80.2 mg
Ozlem Besimoglu says
Zerrin and Yusuf thank you for this gorgeous sandwich recipe. They are mouth watering and I will make as soon as possible!
Zerrin & Yusuf says
Hi Özlem,
Thank you so much for the kind words and the 5-star rating! Let us know what you think when you have a chance of trying it.
Ozlem Besimoglu says
Zerrin and Yusuf thank you for this gorgeous sandwich recipe. They are mouth watering and I will make as soon as possible!
Ashley Judd says
Well explained recipe.We planned for a potluck picnic tomorrow and I am planning to make these yummy and quick sandwiches of yours. Absolutely mouth watering, drooling all over it 🙂 clean recipes and great shots.
Zerrin says
Thank you Mimi! Feta and pickled onions are my favorite sandwich ingredients. Well, I can pair feta with anything indeed.
Touria says
It looks so delicious
Zerrin says
Thank you so much! Makes a great light lunch!
Blogr says
Thank you for the recipe!
Zerrin says
Hi Adina, I make the onion pickles while preparing the other ingredients of the sandwiches. It's really easy and quick to make, you don't need to wait for long. Hope you love them as much as we do.
Natalie Galland says
Thank you,Zarin!
It seems sooooo delicious 🙂 I didn't know this is actually Turkish recipe
Aysegul Sanford says
This sandwich and these incredible photos. They talk to me on another level.
I dream of the day that we will eat this together. <3
Zerrin says
Awww you are so sweet my friend! I believe those days are not very far 🙂