Finger Foods

Mini Cauliflower Crusted Grilled Cheese with Spinach


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The classic and comforting grilled cheese sandwich with a healthy twist. Made with cauliflower, cheese, and baby spinach. These Mini Cauliflower Crusted Grilled Cheese with Spinach sandwiches are low-carb, nutrient-dense, and perfect finger food for the little ones.

Mini Cauliflower Crusted Grilled Cheese with Spinach

One of the most comforting foods we all love is a grilled cheese sandwich. Problem is they are not the healthiest food. These cauliflower crusted grilled cheese sandwiches bring the same comfort with the addition of adding nutritional value.

These are great to serve as finger food for toddlers and kids or even as an appetizer. They make for a great crowd pleaser and everyone can enjoy them. The baby spinach in them adds more nutrition and makes them that much healthier.

They are surprisingly easy to make and are even freezer friendly. We love these Mini Cauliflower Crusted Grilled Cheese with Spinach recipe in our home. They are highly addicting and so good when paired with a classic bowl of tomato soup!

Health Benefits of Cauliflower:

  • Promotes strong bones
  • Supports brain health and healthy vision
  • Cardiovascular health
  • Detoxes
  • Stimulates iron absorption
  • Anti-inflammatory

Health Benefits of Baby Spinach:

  • High in Iron
  • Extremely rich in vitamin K
  • Excellent source of vitamin C, A, and folate,
  • Aids digestion
  • Alkalizes the body
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Reduces risk of cancer
  • Loaded with antioxidants
  • Promotes bone health

Great finger food for toddlers and kids:

These Mini Cauliflower Crusted Grilled Cheese sandwiches are perfect for toddlers and kids. They make for great finger food and the perfect servings for the little ones. These mini grilled cheese sandwiches are loaded with so many nutrients. Cauliflower, cheese, and baby spinach are rich in vitamins and minerals that are essential for the growth and development of small children.

These are also fun and easy to make and the kids can even help in the making. Makes for great family bonding time. They’re also great to pack for school lunches. These go great in a bento style lunchbox.

What you need to make Mini Cauliflower Crusted Grilled Cheese with Spinach:

Ingredients:

  • Cauliflower
  • Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • Dried Oregano
  • Dried Basil
  • Pink Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Swiss Cheese
  • Baby Spinach

Gadgets:

  • Food Processor
  • Nut Bag
  • Cast Iron Skillet or Griddle
  • Large Baking Sheet Pan
  • Parchment Paper
  • Spatula

How to make Mini Cauliflower Grilled Cheese with Spinach:

  1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees F.
  2. Remove stem from Cauliflower head and take florets apart. Place cauilflower florets in food processor bowl and pulse into small grainy pieces. Resembling rice. 
  3. Using a nut bag or dish towel, place pulsed cauliflower in it and squeeze as much water as possible. Squeeze at least 1/2 cup of liquid from cauliflower. 
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine cauliflower with mozzarella cheese, egg, oregano, sea salt and black pepper. Toss until all ingredients are well combined together. 
  5. Line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Use an ice cream scooper or scpoon to scoop out Cauliflower mixture. Use your hands to shape scoop into a small square. Don’t thin out too much. Mixture makes about 12 mini breads that are about 3 in x 3 in.
  6. Place mini breads in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Once they come out of the oven, allow mini breads to cool down for a few minutes.
  7. Slice cheddar cheese slice into half then take those slices and cut into half again. You should end up with 12 small squares. Stack baby spinach leaves on top of each other. Fold in half lengthwise and slice to shred baby spinach. 
  8. Take 2 mini breads and construct sandwiches with 2 squares of cheese and shredded spinach. Repeat with the rest of mini breads, cheese and spinach. Spreading the baby spinach evenly amongst all the sandwiches. You will end up with 6 mini sandwiches. 
  9. Grease a cast iron skillet or griddle with olive oil and grill sandwiches like a regular grilled cheese. Don’t forget to flip over to other side. Grill for about 40 seconds on each side. Serve and enjoy!

Tips and Substitutions:

  1. Don’t skip squeezing out as much liquid as possible out of cauliflower- This will reduce the amount of excess moisture and allow for the mini grilled cheeses to be easily shaped and to get crunchy on the outside when baked in the oven.
  2. Line baking sheet pan with parchment paper- This will prevent cauliflower mini breads from sticking to the pan.
  3. Switch up the cheese- Use mozzarella, gouda, or even provolone.

Are these freezer friendly?

These are certainly freezer friendly and great to build a freezer stash. Make your cauliflower crust and shape them into the mini “breads” and bake. Freeze each individual crust in a freezer or silicone bag. Place a small piece of parchment paper in between each crust to prevent them from sticking together.

Thaw-out in the fridge and place in the oven for 2-4 minutes. Then put together your grilled cheese sandwiches with the cheese and baby spinach. Pan fry on each side per the rest of the recipe directions below. Keep cauliflower mini breads frozen for up to 3-4 months.

Did you like this Mini Cauliflower Crusted Grilled Cheese with Spinach recipe? You may also like these other Finger Food recipes:

5 from 1 vote
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Mini Cauliflower Grilled Cheese with Spinach

The classic and comforting grilled cheese sandwich with a healthy twist. Made with cauliflower, cheese, and baby spinach. These Mini Cauliflower Crusted Grilled Cheese with Spinach sandwiches are low-carb, nutrient-dense, and perfect finger food for the little ones. 

Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword Cauliflower Grilled Cheese
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6 mini sandwiches
Calories 149 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 large cauliflower head
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 3 slices white cheddar (or cheese of choice)
  • 1/4 cup baby spinach
  • extra virgin olive oil for greasing

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees F.

  2. Remove stem from Cauliflower head and take florets apart. Place cauilflower florets in food processor bowl and pulse into small grainy pieces. Resembling rice.

  3. Using a nut bag or dish towel, place pulsed cauliflower in it and squeeze as much water as possible. Squeeze at least 1/2 cup of liquid from cauliflower.

  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine cauliflower with mozzarella cheese, egg, oregano, sea salt and black pepper. Toss until all ingredients are well combined together.

  5. Line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Use an ice cream scooper or scpoon to scoop out Cauliflower mixture. Use your hands to shape scoop into a small square. Don't thin out too much. Mixture makes about 12 mini breads that are about 3 in x 3 in.

  6. Place mini breads in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Once they come out of the oven, allow mini breads to cool down for a few minutes.

  7. Slice cheddar cheese slice into half then take those slices and cut into half again. You should end up with 12 small squares. Stack baby spinach leaves on top of each other. Fold in half lengthwise and slice to shred baby spinach.

  8. Take 2 mini breads and construct sandwiches with 2 squares of cheese and shredded spinach. Repeat with the rest of mini breads, cheese and spinach. Spreading the baby spinach evenly amongst all the sandwiches. You will end up with 6 mini sandwiches.

  9. Grease a cast iron skillet or griddle with olive oil and grill sandwiches like a regular grilled cheese. Don't forget to flip over to other side. Grill for about 40 seconds on each side. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Tips and Substitutions:

  1. Don’t skip squeezing out as much liquid as possible out of cauliflower- This will reduce the amount of excess moisture and allow for the mini grilled cheeses to be easily shaped and to get crunchy on the outside when baked in the oven.
  2. Line baking sheet pan with parchment paper- This will prevent cauliflower mini breads from sticking to the pan.
  3. Switch up the cheese- Use mozzarella, gouda, or even provolone.

Nutrition Facts
Mini Cauliflower Grilled Cheese with Spinach
Amount per Serving
Calories
149
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
10
g
15
%
Saturated Fat
 
6
g
38
%
Trans Fat
 
0.003
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.5
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
3
g
Cholesterol
 
56
mg
19
%
Sodium
 
346
mg
15
%
Potassium
 
334
mg
10
%
Carbohydrates
 
6
g
2
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Protein
 
10
g
20
%
Vitamin A
 
429
IU
9
%
Vitamin C
 
47
mg
57
%
Calcium
 
225
mg
23
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.

**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used. 

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**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family. 

*Post updated as of 3/21/2020

**Recipe and Photos updated as of 9/5/2020



18 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I’m so happy I came across this blog! I loooove the healthy alternatives to some of my fave dishes (like grilled cheese sandwiches). Keep the recipes coming!! 😍😍😍

    1. Thank you! I’m so glad to have you here and to hear you like my recipes! 😊 There are many more coming!

  2. peanutandcounting

    I got to try this as I love cauliflower

    1. I love cauliflower too!!

  3. I love this. I love to find a healthy recipe and this one looks really good. I like cauliflower and I have never turned down gooey cheese. I’m saving this on my phone for future use.

    1. Cauliflower and cheese are a great combo! Thank you! Let me know how you like it!

  4. Looks a good recipe and looks so healthy. I would love to give it a try

    1. Thank you Angela! Glad you liked it!

  5. I love making cauliflower pizza and so when I saw this post about cauliflower grilled cheese I knew I would need the recipe and have to try it out!

    xo, Laura
    www.have-need-want.com

    1. Oh yes if you love cauliflower pizza you will definitely love these!

  6. Marissa | Diytified

    This is something very new to my taste buds but I’m willing to try it. It looks like a quick on-the-go type of food i can grab and go.

    1. Yes it’s great for on the go!

  7. Helen

    Hi- did you use one or two eggs? Thanks.

    1. Hi Helen. I use one egg. I’ve updated the recipe. Thank you for pointing that out!

  8. I am a huge fan of grilled cheese and I love this variation. I need to try this on our next soup dinner night.

    1. Grilled cheese with soup is one of my favorite comfort foods. This is a great low-carb option and great for added veggie!

  9. […] Mini Cauliflower Crusted Grilled Cheese with Spinach […]

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