There are a lot of obscure food Holidays out there. But National Grilled Cheese Month is one that I can seriously get behind.
That’s right. The whole month of April is dedicated to cheese stuffed between two slices of buttery bread. It’s pure heaven.
I’ve been racking my brain these past few days, trying to come up with something really awesome to celebrate this momentous occasion. But I was coming up blank. In the past, I’ve made these ooey, gooey grilled cheese sandwiches with beer in them. And then there were these savory-sweet beet grilled cheese sandwiches. But this year, I had nothing.
Until I got the idea to put a grilled cheese sandwich into a salad.
Yes. You read that last sentence correctly.
I made a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches with goat cheese. Then I chopped them up into cubes and tossed them into a kale and strawberry salad. Oh and I added bacon too. Because why the heck not.
The grilled cheese sandwich cubes are kind of like croutons. But less crunchy. More cheesy. And so much tastier. Some of them might fall apart a bit when you’re chopping them up or tossing the salad together. But don’t worry about it! Just let them do their thing.
There aren’t too many foods that are quicker to prepare than a grilled cheese sandwich. Or a salad, for that matter. Which is why I’m sharing this Kale and Strawberry Salad with Bacon and Grilled Cheese Sandwich Croutons recipe as part of our monthly #30MinuteThursday series. Dinner never looked so good!
For more quick and easy dinner ideas, check out the links below to see what some of my blogging friends are making this month. And tell me how you’re celebrating National Grilled Cheese Month!
Cheers,
Liz
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon
- 4 slices bread
- 3 ounces goat cheese, softened at room temperature
- 10-12 fresh basil leaves
- 4 cups baby kale leaves
- 2 cups strawberry halves
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the bacon. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add the bacon and cook about 3-4 minutes per side, depending on your desired level of crispness. Remove the bacon from the skillet and transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool enough to handle, chop the bacon into bite-sized pieces.
- Make the grilled cheese sandwiches. Spread the goat cheese onto two slices of the bread. Top with fresh basil leaves and then top with the remaining two slices of bread. Use the same skillet and some of the rendered bacon fat to cook the grilled cheese sandwiches. You’ll need 1-2 tablespoons of bacon fat, so remove and discard any excess before adding the sandwiches. Cook the sandwiches over medium heat until the bread is golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the sandwiches and transfer them to a cutting board to cool slightly. Then chop them into cubes.
- Assemble the salad. Add the strawberries, kale and chopped bacon to a large bowl. Drizzle with the balsamic vinegar and olive oil and add a pinch of salt and black pepper. Toss until well coated. Add the cubed grilled cheese sandwiches and toss to combine. Transfer to serving dishes and enjoy immediately.
Caprese Grilled Cheese from Pumpkin N’ Spice
Sweet Chili Salmon & Broccoli Quinoa Bowls from Sweet Peas & Saffron
Chicken Parmesan Burger from Flavor the Moments
One-Skillet Balsamic Sausage, Asparagus, + Mushrooms from Whole and Heavenly Oven
Cheesy Burrito Casserole from My Kitchen Craze
Hummus Wraps with Spring Vegetables and Herbed Mayo from She Likes Food
Honey Lemon Chicken and Potato Skillet from The Recipe Rebel
Thai Chicken and Vegetable Soup from Bake.Eat.Repeat
Sweet Potato Noodles with Peanut Sauce from Kristine’s Kitchen
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Oh what a pretty salad, Liz! So perfect to go with some grilled cheese croutons to honor this month! I love that you used kale in here, too!
Thanks, Gayle. Grilled Cheese Month is pretty much the best month ever!
Oh.my.gosh. Liz, you have blown my mind COMPLETELY with this beautiful salad! I mean, strawberries + bacon + grilled cheese croutons?? Get in my belly NOW!
You’re going to love it for sure, Sarah! 🙂
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Okay this is just too much fun!! Those croutons! Plus, I love that there’s strawberries involved!
Thanks, Ashley! It’s definitely a pretty fun salad!
GAH! What better way to enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich than with a bunch of fresh greens! There you go again…. so smart! I looove this Liz and am a sucker for grilled cheese. So if I can have it in my salad… all the better! Thank you! xo
You are so cute, Traci! I think we should put grilled cheese sandwiches in ALL THE THINGS!
You had me at goat cheese grilled cheese 🙂 Fabulous salad!
Right? Love me some goat cheese! Thanks, Jennifer!
This salad is gorgeous, Liz! And if strawberries, kale, and bacon weren’t enough, there’s those grilled cheese croutons! Such a great idea and I have got to try this!
I think you’ll love it, Marcie!
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Ohh girl, grilled cheese croutons?! Yes PLEASE! I’m going through a ‘I need to stop eating out’ phase and this looks like the perfect solution 🙂
Oh I’m in that phase too. I eat out a lot in the winter because honestly, it’s like the only thing to do some nights. But gotta get ready for bathing suit season! Eeek!
This is my dream salad girl!! Looks so good!
Thank you!
This is a salad I can TOTALLY get behind- I love grilled cheese so much and these croutons look heavenly! 🙂
Thanks, Medha! I hope you try it out!
First of all, GRILLED CHEESE CROUTONS?! Brilliant. Second, you made the grilled cheese with goat cheese? Strawberries and goat cheese are so good together, so this salad definitely needs to happen for me soon!
So glad you love it, Kristine! 🙂
I can seriously get behind National Grilled Cheese Month too!! Especially when it is goat cheese grilled cheese, yumm!! I think I might even be able to get my kale hating husband to get on board with this if I tell him there are grilled cheese croutons in it! So smart!
Oh yeah, this makes kale taste REALLY extra special good! 🙂
Genius idea to throw a bacon and grilled cheese sandwich in this yummy salad to make it even yummier Liz!! Can’t wait to give it a try!
Thank you, Mary Ann. Have a great weekend!
I have been thinking about your salad ever since Thursday! I love all of the sweet and savory flavors you got in there, and of course those croutons!! I have to try it!
You’re going to love it, Denise!
Should all salads come with grilled cheese croutons? I am seriously convinced that the answer is YES.
I couldn’t agree more!
Um, grilled cheese croutons is a brilliant idea. More salads should include grilled cheese. Obviously.
I totally agree with you, Stacey!
Ok, this is seriously taking salad to a whole new level… grilled cheese croutons are genius enough, but GOAT CHEESE grilled cheese? Omg, yum! Love this!
I hope you try it, Jess!
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Yummmm I love that you did this. I just keep thinking about those grilled cheese croutons …..
All croutons should be grilled cheese croutons!
I am the human version of a heart eye emoji right now. This looks AMAZING. Pinning!
That’s so funny! You crack me up, Meghan. Glad you love it!
This looks absolutely amazing! I would have never thought of grilled cheese croutons. Are there any other cheeses that that you think would be good in this salad?
Oh I think you could use just about anything – cheddar, brie, you name it!