5 Kid-Approved Condiments For Grilled Cheese That Aren't Ketchup

Decades ago, I worked my first-ever job — a four-hour babysitting shift — and met a little girl who asked for a ketchup sandwich for dinner. I shrugged it off as an interesting quirk (and thought it was cute, honestly). Later, I became a mother and received excessive ketchup requests from my son. It was then that I connected with other parents and officially joined the chat, learning that a large number of youngsters favor ketchup on just about everything (familiarity makes trying new foods less scary). Similarly, plenty of parents share trepidation about their kids overusing the condiment, which can often be high in sugar and sodium, and some brands are made with high-fructose corn syrup.

For parents seeking to limit the not-so-healthy additives, but still give their kids something they'll ask for again and again, we've searched high and low for alternative condiments that pair with one of kids' most beloved sandwiches — the grilled cheese. We scoured social media to find what foodies (and perhaps more importantly, fellow parents) had to say. Consider these five options the next time you and your children whip up a grilled cheese in the kitchen, or order one at one of our top-ranked chain restaurants with the best kids' menus. We chose the last one especially for open-minded kids and adventurous parents who are not afraid to try unexpected (yet surprisingly delicious) combinations.

While ketchup might be a highly sought-after grilled cheese companion, marinara sauce offers a similar taste with a deeper flavor and a bit more texture, for parents endeavoring to expand their kids' palates. Whether it beats ketchup in reduced sugar and sodium content depends on the brand, but as a general rule, look for sauces with short ingredient lists and familiar contents with easy-to-pronounce names(bonus if the sauce is organic). Or parents can make their own batch at home using just a few kitchen staples — tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, and spices.

When a Reddit user shared a photo of their homemade grilled cheese with tomato sauce on the side at r/grilledcheese, parents responded, saying their children love the combo. Another self-proclaimed fan went as far as to say, "This is my go-to. I don't even care what brand [of sauce]. Marinara good. Cheese good. Bread yes." 

In a separate conversation devoted to hashing out the best complementary condiment, a group banded together to support marinara sauce. One person called it delicious, and another said it made the grilled cheese taste like a mozzarella stick. Users from both threads also compared the combination to pizza (especially when the grilled cheese is made with mozzarella, parmesan, or provolone — and one creative Redditor even suggested adding pepperoni).

Tomato-based, but with chunks of real vegetables, salsa is another elevated alternative to ketchup. While the two condiments are similar in protein and sodium per serving, salsa typically has much less sugar and fewer calories. Celebrity chef Rachel Ray highlights a version of the grilled cheese and salsa combo through her Yum-O platform — a nonprofit aimed at empowering kids to prepare easy meals and understand basic nutrition. Ray's recipe calls for cutting the grilled cheese into four strips and features a side of salsa for dipping. Her website notes, "It's good AND good for you!" 

On Reddit, a few adult users recalled their own childhood connections to the grilled cheese and salsa combo. One person said, "It's been my go-to since I was a kid. My dad used to make a pile of grilled cheeses for me and him on football Sundays and we'd dip them in Pace picante sauce lol." Another person echoed the nostalgia, saying, "Yeah my mom always had hers with some not spicy salsa [and] it was the bomb. Wish I had her recipe. Good memories."

Guacamole is already a familiar condiment to countless parents — often favored by toddlers for its creamy texture that provides an introductory transition to solids. Additionally, childhood nutrition experts note that avocado (the star ingredient of guacamole) can provide kids with monounsaturated fat, which helps to strengthen the heart and lower cholesterol levels, and polyunsaturated fat, which is linked to brain health. Busy caregivers on the internet swear by the single-serve guacamole packages procured from Costco, and parents who prefer their own preparation can make it at home with a few easy ingredients (like avocados, tomato, onion, and lime juice).

A versatile companion condiment for the grilled cheese, guacamole can be used as a dipping sauce on the side, or it can be spread directly on the bread. Instagram creator and mom @kamryvincent shared a video tutorial for a toddler-friendly sandwich made with shredded cheese and a simple, homemade guacamole (smashed avocado and spices). In the caption, she explained, "This avocado grilled cheese is soft, nutritious, and perfect for little hands."

After ketchup, mayonnaise might be the second-most sought-after condiment to accompany grilled cheese. Commonly made using egg, vegetable oil, vinegar, and seasoning, mayonnaise is typically lower in sugar than ketchup. However, parents trade sugar for fat. The type of fat (unsaturated fat is typically considered more beneficial than saturated fat, which is recommended in smaller amounts) depends on the oil used. 

Not only is mayonnaise a delicious, kid-approved option for a dipping cup, but there are also entire corners of the internet dedicated to grilled cheese cooking tips incorporating it — whether it's spread over each slice of bread or squirted directly into the pan.

The bonus that comes with using the condiment in preparation? Kids can join in. Over on Instagram, mother @alexandracooks instructed her 9-year-old daughter to make grilled cheese using a mayonnaise mixture (2 teaspoons of mayo and 1 tablespoon of softened butter) on the outside of each bread slice. The child took over the account and posted her own informative tutorial, saying, "My mom recently taught me how to make grilled cheese, and I made a lot of them over winter break. I thought I'd share the method with you because it's so easy and so good."

This might sound extreme, but hear us out — applesauce! As parents on social media point out, applesauce is often already a part of kids' meals — especially toddlers. And while it might sound like an impulsive, juvenile act to dunk a grilled cheese in a cup of it, there are plenty of adult foodies on the internet who advise not to knock it until you've tried it. While the nutritional benefits of applesauce depend on brand or source, homemade or store-bought applesauce with no added sugar can be a natural source of fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients.

Apparently, it's also delicious. When a Reddit user asked for opinions on grilled cheese dipped in applesauce, a few parents were among those who responded — most saying that they'd enjoyed the combination since they were children, and later decided to share it with their own kids. Some responders recommended opting for flavored applesauce, like strawberry or cinnamon. In another thread, a user shared how a fond memory of applesauce and grilled cheese during their childhood influenced an important decision later in life. "It's pretty weird, but I grew up dipping my grilled cheese in applesauce. It just happened to be what my parents usually served with it, and the flavors go really well together, IMO. Everyone I've met thinks it's weird, but when I met a woman who tried it and liked it, I knew she was the one and married her."