gracie’s grilled cheese roll-ups with marinara dipping sauce
I just watered all of my herbs and tomato plants and now I have blackberry stains on my feet from walking around on our deck barefoot. We have blackberry bushes taking over our back yard… and dying the deck a polka-dotted violet hue. At first I didn’t have the heart to trim the bushes back away from the deck, but after the slipping and sliding episode this AM, I’m reconsidering.
Gracie got a bee in her bonnet to make these grilled cheese roll-ups (some people call them grilled cheese rolls) yesterday for our before-dinner appetizers. She saw something similar online, and now she has ideas for a bunch of different fillings and dipping sauces to try next. The classic grilled cheese is where she started, and they really did turn out yummy! This is a great recipe for kids to attempt if they have some experience using the stove, and with parental supervision, of course.
Whether you call them grilled cheese roll-ups or grilled cheese rolls, I think you’ll agree that they taste AMAZING!
for 6 roll-ups:
6 slices very soft, fresh white bread (crusts removed)
6 slices American cheese (such as Kraft singles)
butter for “toasting”
homemade marinara/spaghetti sauce (or your favorite store bought brand)
Using a sharp knife, carefully remove the crusts from the bread slices. Flatten each slice of bread with a rolling pin until very flat. Place a slice of American cheese on each of the flattened bread slices and roll each of these up into a tight roll. Moosh the edge of the bread to the roll to seal (you can use a couple drops of water to do this if needed.)
Heat a couple Tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Place the roll-ups in the butter once it’s barely sizzling. Using a spatula, roll the roll-ups around in the butter. Gently flip and roll until all sides are golden brown and cheese is melty.
Heat 1/4 cup of your favorite marinara/spaghetti sauce in a microwave-safe cup (covered with a napkin or paper towel) for about 30 seconds or until just warm.
Dip roll-ups in sauce! YUM!
Enjoy!
~ Melissa & Gracie
Woah this is AWESOME!!!! You are so talented Melissa! Plus the styling is impeccable!
Thank you for the sweet compliment regarding the food styling, Sophia! Food Photography is my job and my passion and it’s always nice to hear that people are enjoying my photos 🙂 The kudos for the recipe go to my daughter…and I’ll pass that on to her. XOXOXO ~M
That is AWESOME Melissa! How long how you been a food photographer? I am self taught, but I went to art school. Being creative is half the battle! Keep up the awesome work!
Hi Sophia! I’ve been a professional food photographer for about a year and a half 🙂 Thank you so much for the sweet compliment! I will keep on… I am so grateful that my passion turned into my career! xoxo
This was awesome!!! So easy and so good! I could eat ten of them. Thank you, thank you.
Congrats Gracie…..you’ve got a winner here!
Hi there, Eleanor! I’ll tell Gracie you approve! 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!
Meeeweeesah! Me thinks Gracie is following in Mom’s footsteps!! Love this idea, and, yes, will make and forever be grateful to Gracie’s creativity!! xoxo
Alweeeeeeeeee!!!! enjoy, my lovely friend! I will pass the compliment on to Gracie! XOXO 🙂
Love it. I’m going to make these with my little one who craves grilled cheese every few weeks (her words) 🙂 She’ll love them. Thanks, Gracie!
Hi Danielle! Enjoy, Munchie! 😉 XOXO Thanks for stopping by!
This does sound like a great kids’ lunch! Or…for thirty-one-year-old 😉 I love the idea of using different dips, too- like pesto!
Hi Christy! thanks for visiting! 🙂 We dipped ours in marinara and this creamy pesto dressing…
http://chindeep.com/2013/07/14/pemberley-gardens-creamy-pesto-salad-dressing/
enjoy!
Genius!! Thanks, Gracie! shared and pinned 🙂
Hi Marion! thanks for visiting and pinning Gracie’s recipe! I’ll pass the compliment on to her. 🙂 XO
i loved this article! i knew your blog recently and you won a assiduos reader…. wonderful recipe
thanks, Priscila! Welcome to ChinDeep! 🙂
Melissa, this is such a fun idea! I have to make these with The Bug. Pinning and sharing!
Hi there sweet Brianne! So pleased you like the recipe! thanks so much for visiting and commenting. Enjoy cooking with The Bug! 🙂 XOXO ~M
These look amazing! So crispy and gooey, just perfect. What a clever girl 🙂
Hi Becca! I’ll pass the kudos on to Gracie. She certainly has been enjoying the limelight 😉 thanks for visiting and for leaving a comment. enjoy those little roll-ups XO 🙂
I can only eat Toasted Cheese sandwiches with Tomato soup & these rolled up are so much easier to dip in the soup! This is a wonderful change that works amazing. Thanks for this recipe!
Thanks for visiting! enjoy, Vicki! 🙂
Wonderful idea, i just cant seem to get my bread to work correctly for me. When i try rolling up the bread it breaks with every roll and the cheese is exposed. I tried using water to seal it over the cheese but there doesnt seem to be enough bread to cover the cheese. I tried using less cheese and it still happened. Any suggestions? Maybe i should slightly melt the cheese on the bread first then try to roll before putting it in the skillet?
Hmmmmm, you must not be using soft/big enough bread slices. Also, make sure you use soft, American cheese slices for this. regular cheddar won’t work.
Try a cheese spread works great just roll out bread, spread the cheese and grill!!
Thanks for the tip, Patricia! 🙂
What a great idea! An easy and quick snack, and fun lol 🙂
Thanks, Aurelia! Enjoy 🙂
Would 12 grain bread work? It’s healthier and I hate the way white bread sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You could certainly try it, Chris 🙂 It might be a bit more rigid than white bread… please let me know how it works! Thanks for commenting. ~M
Thanks for the reply, I can’t do it until I do food shopping. I don’t have American cheese. I’ll let you know.
My pleasure, Chris.
🙂
This just got posted on facebook by one of my friends and I fell in love with the idea instantly. I have a 22 month old who loves grilled cheese but usually ends up pulling the sandwich apart. He also loves to dip anything in anything. I’m going to make these for him today and I already see this being a huge success, so thank you!!! It’s a whole new spin on our lunch time. I’m so excited!!!
Hi Daisy! Yay! I’m so glad you like the recipe 🙂 Enjoy.
What a cool idea! I might add some diced jalapenos to spice it up! Thanks, I’ll be trying this one! Pinning!
Hi Lillian! I’m so happy you like the recipe. Love your idea. Jalapenos would be awesome in this…or you could use pepper jack cheese instead of the American. 😉 Enjoy, and thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
Really nice and so easy. Thanks
Hi Deirdre! 🙂 thanks so much for the sweet comment. I’m so glad you like the recipe. XO
Try using coconut oil instead of butter. I use it on my grilled sandwiches and they are crisper and the sandwiches taste better without the heaviness the butter imparts.
Thanks for the tip, Patti!
i can’t wait to make these with my grandkids..i love grilled cheese, but the outside part is better..now i can have the outside all around..oh and by the way,, you rock..keep rockin all these recipes..
Thanks for the tip, Patricia! 🙂
Thanks, Maggie! I’m so happy you like the recipes 🙂 XOXO ~M
Thanks for including these little yummies in your super Bowl menu! 🙂
Just found you ! Great idea for the grilled cheese, and the photos are gorgeous!
What a clever way and they look so much more appetizing .. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi PJ 🙂 I’m so glad you’re enjoying the blog, photos and recipes! Thanks for the sweet compliment and for stopping by. I think you’re going to love these little roll-ups! ~M
Made these for lunch the other day and served with grapes, strawberries, sliced mango and a ice cold glass of sweet tea in a mason jar. Took a picture of it and shared and everyone on my page wanted the recipe for the rollups. They thought it was neat because my daughter is also named Grace, Wonderful lunch….I am a grilled cheese fan and this was very good. -Dawn
Hello there! I’m so glad to hear you like the recipe 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! XO ~M
I just came across your wed page through a friend on Facebook and read it and some of the many recipes! I am very interested in having a subscription to your webpage and news letter please send me one!!
Hopefully a new menber,
Thanks, Rudiann Brown
Don’t know if anyone else said it, how about dipping in Tomato Soup.
Great idea, Bob! 🙂
I made this today for my grandchildren! They absolutely loved them! Instead of marinara sauce I used ranch dipping sauce, it was really good!!!
I’m glad these were a hit with the kiddos, Rudiann! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know! xoxo ~M
I use mayo on the bread and extra sharp cheddar with fresh ground pepper.
Sounds awesome, Hirsch! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Ever so welcome . Salsa and tuna with cheddar makes an awesome but messy grilled cheese
Will definitely be trying these and just curious what other if any other filling have you tried with these?? Just popped into my head that they would also make great P&J roll ups of course without the toasting!!
We’ve done PB&J, Nutella, and pie filling, Emma! 🙂 The possibilities are endless! Thanks for stopping by and for commenting! xoxo ~M
I was wondering if these could be frozen after cooking and warmed up in the microwave or oven after being frozen. Thinking I might make for my 92 year old mom in love who can’t use the stove but can use microwave or toaster oven.
Hi Pat! 🙂
I’ve ever tried freezing them and reheating them… I think they might get soggy, but it would be worth a try! Maybe just try a small batch first and see how it goes 🙂 Hope that helps. XOXO ~M
Just made Garden Fresh Tomato Soup today, these will be lovely dipped in it. Probably have to make a couple with Swiss also, it is my cheese passion.
Yum! I love Swiss too 🙂 My daughter does ham and swiss together sometimes too! Just and idea! XOXO ~M
I made this for the first time today. Mine did not come out looking like yours did! But it was still delicious!!! I will keep practicing!!! Thank you for this great idea!
My pleasure, Kristi! 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe… No worries, they don’t have to look perfect, they just have to taste good, right? 😉 XOXO ~M
I used to drain a can of asparagus spears and slice some Velveeta, put one spear and slice of Velveeta and roll up and fry, slice in smaller pieces and hot d’oeuvres are ready.
Love this little cheesy roll idea!! … my family likes to dip they’re grilled cheese in tomato soup and I’m definitely going to try this for lunch this weekend… and maybe even try the ham and Swiss!!!!
This was on The Kitchen a while back. My grand kids love it. I believe the chef named Katie demonstrated it 🙂
Making these this weekend with my granddaughter for Valentines Day. She will LOVE them!
Melissa, this looks divine! How creative to use the bread as a wrapper!
since i LOVE meat with my grill cheese i would add bits of cooked bacon or ground sausage meat before rolling up. you’ve got my head spinning with ideas of the different things i could do with this idea. it’s going on 3am and the last thing i needed was to see this post, lol! kudos to you and your daughter 🙂
The fillings are endless, and the possibilities are mind boggling! These are awesome! Can’t wait to make them with the grand kids. Besides the cheddar, I could see using mozzarella and having the marinara dip. You can make sweet ones, & savory ones. Maybe brown Italian sausage and add it with mozzarella. Wonder if they would hold up? Nutella and strawberries, too. Apple or cherry pie filling? Lol…Thank you for the ideas. What a fun thing to make for movie night.
Enjoy, Diane! 🙂
First dreary day heading into fall from a blazing hot summer. Time for our traditional grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup! Yummy
I’ve up graded the soup to a basil tomato heartier soup stocking several cans of progresso brand in the pantry. Those cans are just waiting for this chilly day to partner with that grilled cheese sandwich. It’s time to up grade the sandwich too! so from flat and boring to this roll up treat although I don’t have any marinara sauce on hand right now, I’m sure these will dunk just fine.
Hello there Francey! 🙂
Thanks for the awesome note! Happy autumn! Enjoy those yummy roll-ups and cozy cup of soup! XO ~M
Gerry
Hi Melissa
Thanks for the wonderful recipes, So many are great, depends on your likes as to what you try of course.
I am sort of computer illiterate I guess, I am wondering if the pictures can be made smaller, I enjoy them, but I copy them and it takes so much paper and ink. If I print them smaller, I can’t read them as my eyes aren’t to good, or is there a way to skip the pictures which I hate to do, I enjoy seeing them. Thanks, keep up the good work.