Apple Cheddar Melts with Arugula Salad
- Serves
- 4 servings
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Cost
- $15.50
- Nutrition
- 520 cal · 22g protein
- quick
- meatless
- kid-favorite
🍳 1 pan · Picky-eater safe bet: plain bread or a bun
Apple Cheddar Melts with Arugula Salad is a weeknight dinner that serves 4 and is on the table in about 30 minutes, for around $16 in groceries. You'll need 1 pan, and the 12 ingredients below are everyday supermarket items. Cooking for a picky eater? Plain bread or a bun works on its own for the one who won't try the rest. Add it to your week and the whole grocery list lands in your Instacart cart in one tap.
Goes with: Fresh fruit (2 min)
Contains: Dairy · Gluten · Tree nuts— based on the ingredients; brands vary, so check labels.
Cookware you'll need
Set these out before you start — it saves hunting through drawers mid-recipe.
- 12-inch nonstick skilletDon't have one? Amazon →
- 12-inch locking tongsDon't have one? Amazon →
- Balloon whiskDon't have one? Amazon →
- Salad spinnerDon't have one? Amazon →
- 8-inch chef's knifeDon't have one? Amazon →
- Large cutting boards (set of 2)Don't have one? Amazon →
Our kitchen essentials list · As an Amazon Associate, DinnerDrop earns from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 8 slices whole grain bread
- 8 oz cheddar cheese
- 2 count Gala apples
- 5 oz baby arugula
- ¼ cup pecan halves
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Steps
- Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant, then roughly chop and set aside.
- Thinly slice 1 1/2 apples for the sandwiches and cut the remaining half into matchsticks for the salad. Slice the cheddar.
- Spread Dijon on one side of each bread slice (skip it for kids who don't like mustard). Build 4 sandwiches with cheddar, apple slices, then more cheddar.
- Melt half the butter in the skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the sandwiches in 2 batches if they don't all fit, 3-4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until golden and the cheese melts; add the rest of the butter for the second side or batch.
- Whisk the apple cider vinegar, olive oil, honey, and salt and pepper. Toss with the arugula, apple matchsticks, and pecans.
- Cut the melts in half and serve with the salad.
- Picky eaters can have just the bread and cheddar melted plain, with apple slices on the side.
- Make ahead: toast the pecans and whisk the dressing up to 3 days ahead. Keep the dressing in the fridge and the pecans in a jar, and toss with the arugula just before serving.
On the side: Fresh fruit (2 min)
1 lb fruit (grapes or apples)
- Wash and slice the fruit and put it on the table.
Nutrition per serving
- Protein
- 22 g
- Carbohydrates
- 38 g
- Fiber
- 6 g
- Sugar
- 14 g
- Fat
- 34 g
- Saturated fat
- 13 g
- Sodium
- 690 mg
Estimated from the ingredients and amounts in this recipe; brands and portions vary. Not medical or dietary advice.
Photo: DinnerDrop