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    BeeyondCereal » Recipes » Lunch Recipes

    Rainbow Grilled Cheese

    Modified: Oct 18, 2023 Published: May 4, 2020 by Nicole Durham This post may contain affiliate links. 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    These easy baked rainbow grilled cheese are super easy to make and even more fun to eat! My kids love them, and I'm sure yours will too!

    Recipe: $4.90 | Per Serving: $0.82 | Servings: 6

    Rainbow grilled cheese slices on white plate, more in background.

    I made rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches for my oldest child when she was about 3 years old, and they've been a requested favorite ever since. I don't make them often, but when I do, it's for a special occasion.

    In our house, this rainbow sandwich recipe is often called "unicorn grilled cheese." The colors may vary, but the result is always a colorful twist that's perfect for special occasions or adding excitement to an everyday meal.

    Rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches are versatile and can be enjoyed as a fun snack, a creative lunchbox addition, or a delightful party food that's sure to impress your guests.

    Whether you're a child or a child at heart, these sandwiches offer a delightful dining experience that's worth savoring.

    For more grilled cheese recipes, check out my Microwave Grilled Cheese, Baked Grilled Cheese, and Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese.

    Jump to:
    • 🍯 Why This Recipe Works
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions for Rainbow Grilled Cheese
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • ❤️ More Delicious Kid Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍯 Why This Recipe Works

    1. Multiple sandwiches at once. These sandwiches are baked, making them even easier to feed a big family. With the stovetop method, I often found myself taking 5 minutes per sandwich, but I can make 6-8 of them in under 10 minutes with this nifty trick!
    2. They're easy to make. Shred some cheese and mix with colors. This recipe is simple and easy to make. I often have my kids help with mixing the colors and adding the cheese to the sandwiches.
    3. They're fun! Anyone can make a grilled cheese sandwich, but making it into a fun lunch that the kids get excited about eating is something not everyone can do. You're going to love watching their eyes light up. Serve them up with No Bake Apple Donuts and Sour Patch Grapes for more colorful fun.

    🥘 Ingredients

    labeled ingredients needed to make this recipe.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Shredded white cheese- You can use mozzarella cheese or white American cheese. Even muster works well if you can find it in brick form.

    Butter- You will need some non-stick cooking spray or softened butter to coat the outside of the bread. This helps make them taste richer and makes them golden and crispy too!

    Food coloring- Use some food coloring in rainbow colors to give your cheese that fun color. I prefer gel food coloring because it's more vibrant.

    For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.

    🔪 Instructions for Rainbow Grilled Cheese

    Step 1: Preheat your oven to 450F degrees.

    6 slices of sandwich bread on baking sheet.

    Step 2: On a baking sheet, arrange your bottom bread slices.

    buttered bread on baking sheet.

    Step 3: Butter the tops of the bread slices or spray with cooking spray. Flip over so that its "wet" side is facing the pan.

    divided white shredded cheese in bags with dots of food coloring in each.

    Step 4: In small bowls or zipper-topped bags, divide your cheese and add a few drops of color. About 2-5 is plenty. The more you add, the more vibrant the color.

    divided bags of shredded colored cheeses.

    Step 5: Mix until the cheese is completely colored.

    rainbow colored cheese on bread on baking sheet.

    Step 6: Arrange your cheese on the prepared bread slices that are on the baking sheet.

    assembled rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches on baking sheet.

    Step 7: Add the top slice of bread and butter or spray the tops.

    toasted rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches on a baking sheet.

    Step 8: Bake for 5 minutes, flip over and then bake for another 3-5 minutes.

    a hand holding a sliced rainbow grilled cheese sandwich.

    Step 9: Slice, serve, and enjoy!

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    1. Crispy Bread Trick: When preparing oven-baked sandwiches, I've discovered a handy technique to achieve that perfect golden color and crispy texture. Instead of spreading softened butter on the outside of the sandwiches, I opt for a light spray of Canola oil, Olive oil, or butter spray.
    2. Preventing Sogginess: This unconventional method might sound strange, but it works wonders. Not only does it result in beautifully toasted bread, but it also prevents over-buttering, which can lead to a soggy sandwich.
    3. Fun with Cheese: Additionally, adding cheese to the sandwiches is not just about taste—it's also an enjoyable activity, especially according to my kids!

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    What kind of cheese should I use?

    You can use any white or lighter-colored shreddable cheese. I personally prefer mozzarella, Italian blend, Pizza blend, or white cheddar. But Muenster gives a great stringy cheese if you're looking for that coolness factor when you bite into the rainbow cheese!

    What type of bread should I use?

    You can use any type of bread! I usually grab whatever's on hand (which is usually plain white or wheat sandwich bread). But honey oat, buttermilk bread, 12 grain, etc. They all work. So use what you like. 😉

    Where did rainbow grilled cheeses come from?

    This trend has been going on for years now. A lot of the original inspiration for rainbow toasties came from South Korea, Australia, and other parts of the world.
    Some are served with sprinkles on the bread and others include fun-colored bread too. But the basic idea of colored cheese and bread remains the same everywhere (can't have grilled cheese without them).

    several sliced and whole rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches.

    ❤️ More Delicious Kid Recipes

    • sliced scotcheroo squares on and off of a cake stand with scattered chocolate chips and butterscotchchips
      Microwave Scotcheroos
    • decorated honey bee cupcakes.
      Honey Bee Cupcakes
    • two squares of golden graham cereal bars on a plate.
      Golden Graham Smores Bars
    • 4 unicorn themed recipes collaged together.
      Unicorn Party Food Ideas

    If you tried this Rainbow Grilled Cheese, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!

    📖 Recipe

    sliced rainbow grilled cheese on a white plate with more sandwiches in background.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Rainbow Grilled Cheese

    Delicious and colorful rainbow unicorn sandwiches that will have the kids go wild! They're easy to make and super fun to eat!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 sandwiches
    Calories: 465kcal
    Cost Recipe $4.90 / Serving $0.82
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Baking Sheet
    • Spatula (for flipping the sandwiches over)
    • Small Bowls or plastic baggies

    Ingredients

    • softened butter or cooking spray ($0.16)
    • 12 slices sandwich bread ($0.72)
    • 16 ounces shredded white cheese ($3.98)
    • food coloring ($0.04)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 450F degrees and arrange your bottom bread slices on a baking sheet. I recommend lining the sheet with foil for an easier cleanup.
    • Butter the tops of the bread slices or spray with cooking oil and then turn them so that the covered side is facing the baking sheet.
    • In small bowls or zipper topped bags, divide your cheese and add 2-5 drops of food coloring. Mix until well combined.
    • Arrange the cheese on the prepared bread slices. Add the top bread slice and then spray it or spread the top with butter.
    • Bake for 5 minutes, flip the sandwich over and then bake for an additional 3-5 minutes until golden and toasty.

    Notes

    Use Canola, Olive oil, or a butter spray on the outside of oven-baked sandwiches for a golden and crisp texture.
    Choose white or light-colored shreddable cheese like mozzarella, Italian blend, pizza blend, or white cheddar.
    Muenster cheese offers a delightful stringy cheese effect.
    Use any type of bread you prefer, such as white, wheat, honey oat, buttermilk, or 12-grain.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 31.1g | Protein: 22.5g | Fat: 27.6g | Saturated Fat: 14.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7.6g | Trans Fat: 0.7g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 779.1mg | Potassium: 130.6mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 3.7g | Vitamin A: 249.9IU | Calcium: 621.2mg | Iron: 2.2mg
    Author Nicole Durham
    Course lunch, Main Course, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Diet Vegetarian
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used. To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bev says

      March 12, 2025 at 3:33 pm

      Can I use pre-shredded cheese or does it need to be freshly grated?

      Reply
      • Nicole Durham says

        March 12, 2025 at 3:43 pm

        You can use either

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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