Give Grilled Cheese A Major Flavor And Protein Boost With One Hearty Addition

There are seemingly as many kinds of grilled cheese as there are individuals on this planet. There are, for example, plenty of international styles worth trying, while even the classic all-American versions can consist of a variety of cheeses, like American, cheddar, Gouda, and Havarti. You might like to make yours using mayonnaise on the bread, while your neighbor prefers butter in the pan. And then there are extra fillings and additions. Some people add a little bacon and maple syrup to their sandwiches, while others turn theirs into a breakfast masterpiece with an egg. Another fantastically tasty option is to add chili, which not only imbues the meal with a huge dose of extra flavor, but also gives you a nice protein boost.

Whether you have more leftover chili than you know what to do with, or a can or two in your pantry collecting dust, it's actually the perfect addition. It's savory, hearty, and saucy, which works so well when layered with cheese (which chili often gets topped with) and sandwiched between two slices of bread, pan-browned to crispy perfection. And if you have daily protein goals, a ¼ cup of chili, which is a reasonable starting quantity for a single sandwich, can typically get you roughly 4 to 5 grams closer to meeting that target (though this will vary depending on the recipe).

One of the best things about chili grilled cheese sandwiches is how easy they are to make. You can assemble them in the pan like normal, but add a scoop of chili onto one slice of bread before closing it up. This works well if you're just making one or two sandwiches, but if you have more mouths to feed, you can actually make a whole bunch in the oven at once. You'll just want to be sure to spread butter on the outside of each slice of bread, combine your chili with plenty of shredded cheese to make a gooey, melty filling, and then flip the sandwiches halfway through baking so both sides get nice and toasty.

Now, like all grilled cheeses, this variation is still quite customizable. For example, if you wanted to add some sharpness to help cut through all the richness of the other ingredients, you could sprinkle green onion on top of the chili. Alternatively, if you wanted a bite, plus a bit of spice, sliced or chopped jalapeños would do nicely (or you might make the sweet pickled version known as cowboy candy). To amp up the protein even more, some bacon wouldn't be out of place, either. You could also lean into the idea of a chili cheese dog grilled cheese, and slice a hot dog lengthwise, fry it up, and place that on top of the chili layer.