Roasted Asparagus Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Grilled cheese for grownups! These Roasted Asparagus Grilled Cheese Sandwiches elevate ordinary grilled cheese into something quite special.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Sometimes the simplest things are the best, aren’t they? I picked up a pack of sale asparagus this week, and then got to wondering how it would taste with this sliced Havarti cheese I’ve been loving from ALDI lately. The answer? Revealed, in this deceptively simple (yet utterly delectable) recipe for Roasted Asparagus Grilled Cheese Sandwiches!

Not a Havarti fan, or don’t have any on hand? Just substitute your own favorite sliced cheese. These easy yet elegant asparagus grilled cheese sandwiches are the perfect choice for your next Meatless Monday dinner — or for any weeknight where you’re looking for something simple, yet interesting.

Looking for more? Browse through the Meatless Monday category to find additional meatless dinner ideas.

And if you have littles at home who might balk at asparagus, it’s easy enough to make theirs a plain grilled cheese. That way, you can still enjoy an easy weeknight family dinner together by jazzing up the “adult” grilled cheese sandwiches to make them more interesting and special.

Roasted Asparagus Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Ingredients

– for the asparagus

8-10 oz asparagus, woody ends discarded (see Note)
1 Tbsp olive oil
Sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

– for the sandwiches

8 slices hearty bread (I used sourdough)
8 slices Havarti (or your own favorite cheese)
Butter
Dijon mustard, to taste
Shredded Parmesan, to taste

Directions

First, roast your asparagus: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spread trimmed asparagus out on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat, then season with sea salt and black pepper. Roast at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or until slightly browned and crisp-tender.

While asparagus is roasting, butter all eight slices of bread.

When the asparagus is done, it’s time to make your sandwiches. You should be able to cook two at a time in a large skillet, so will have to make yours in a couple of batches in order to feed four.

To assemble the asparagus grilled cheese sandwiches:

1. Turn the heat to medium under a large skillet
2. Place two slices of bread butter side down in the skillet.
3. Spread each slice with a thin layer of Dijon mustard.
4. Add a slice of Havarti, tearing into pieces to fit the bread.
5. Top with roasted asparagus spears.
6. Add a second slice of Havarti, again tearing into pieces to fit.
7. Sprinkle with a little shredded Parmesan.
8. Top with a second slice of bread, butter side up.

Cook for about six minutes over medium heat, or until the bottoms of your sandwiches are nicely browned.

Flip carefully (I like to use a wide pancake turner for this maneuver), then cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until both sides are browned and cheese is nicely melted.

Repeat the process with your second batch of two sandwiches, then serve!

Note: Thinner asparagus spears will work better for sandwiches, but roast more quickly; if your asparagus stalks are thicker they may need a little more time in the oven. You can save time by pre-roasting the asparagus the night before, too, so that you just need to assemble and cook up the grilled cheese sandwiches the next day (or use leftover roasted asparagus for these!) I actually roasted up a whole pound of asparagus here since mine was pre-packaged that way — this was more than we needed for sandwiches, but then you can enjoy the surplus on the side.

Soooo cheeeesy & delicious

Seriously you guys, you have to try these Roasted Asparagus Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, the next time you pick up some fresh asparagus! The answer to the question of how does Havarti pair with asparagus is: Really, really, well, while the Parmesan adds just a bit of a salty kick and the Dijon a little tang that takes these sandwiches up another notch.

All of these elements just work so perfectly together to make this the exact combination of flavors to satisfy your grilled cheese craving… while still allowing you to feel like an adult. 😉 Grown up grilled cheese: It’s what’s for dinner.

Roasted Asparagus Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, printable recipe

Save Recipe! Saved Recipe!

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Roasted Asparagus Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Havarti pairs well with asparagus, while Parmesan adds just a bit of a salty kick and Dijon a little tang that takes these sandwiches up another notch!

Course dinner

Cuisine sandwiches

Keyword asparagus, grilled cheese, sandwiches, vegetarian

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Rachel Singer

Equipment

large skillet

rimmed baking sheets

Ingredients

– for the asparagus

• 8-10 oz asparagus woody ends discarded (see Note)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• Sea salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste

– for the sandwiches

• 8 slices hearty bread I used sourdough
• 8 slices Havarti or your own favorite cheese
• Butter
• Dijon mustard to taste
• Shredded Parmesan to taste

Instructions

First, roast your asparagus:

•  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spread trimmed asparagus out on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat, then season with sea salt and black pepper. 
• Roast at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or until slightly browned and crisp-tender.
• While asparagus is roasting, butter all eight slices of bread.
• When the asparagus is done, it’s time to make your sandwiches. You should be able to cook two at a time in a large skillet, so will have to make yours in a couple of batches in order to feed four.

To assemble the asparagus grilled cheese sandwiches:

• Turn the heat to medium under a large skillet
• Place two slices of bread butter side down in the skillet.
• Spread each slice with a thin layer of Dijon mustard.
• Add a slice of Havarti, tearing into pieces to fit the bread.
• Top with roasted asparagus spears.
• Add a second slice of Havarti, again tearing into pieces to fit.
• Sprinkle with a little shredded Parmesan.
• Top with a second slice of bread, butter side up.
• Cook for about six minutes over medium heat, or until the bottoms of your sandwiches are nicely browned.
• Flip carefully (I like to use a wide pancake turner for this maneuver), then cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until both sides are browned and cheese is nicely melted.
• Repeat the process with your second batch of two sandwiches, then serve!

Notes

Thinner asparagus spears will work better for sandwiches, but roast more quickly; if your asparagus stalks are thicker they may need a little more time in the oven. You can save time by pre-roasting the asparagus the night before, too, so that you just need to assemble and cook up the grilled cheese sandwiches the next day (or use leftover roasted asparagus for these!) I actually roasted up a whole pound of asparagus here since mine was pre-packaged that way — this was more than we needed for sandwiches, but then you can enjoy the surplus on the side.

Recipes in the real world

Be sure not to miss the free ALDI meal plans, which show you how to use these easy family recipes to meal plan affordably and realistically for your family. Or, find more recipe ideas with the Recipe Search!