Bacon Grilled Cheese

Whether you want to level up your lunch or serve a sandwich with your favorite soup for dinner, bacon grilled cheese is the ultimate grilled sandwich. And while you could make a basic grilled cheese sandwich and simply add bacon, this recipe has a few extra goodies to really deliver a flavor punch. If you’re making this for just yourself, adjust the amounts accordingly. Otherwise, follow the recipe as described below, and you’ll have everything you need to serve a family of four.

Bacon Grilled Cheese Ingredients

• Mayonnaise: Mayo helps to make the melted cheese creamier while adding a touch of tangy flavor.
• Dijon mustard: You can swap Dijon for honey mustard if you’d like a bit of sweetness to your bite.
• Sourdough bread: The sourdough makes this sandwich, but any bread on hand will also work.
• Swiss cheese: Feel free to sub in mozzarella, pepper jack or another favorite cheese here.
• Cheddar cheese: The sharpness of cheddar is a must in this sandwich.
• Tomato: Thick slices of fresh tomato are basically made for a grilled cheese with bacon.
• Sweet onion: Slice your sweet onion extra thick if you’d like.
• Bacon: Applewood smoked bacon would add some delicious flavor.
• Butter: Be generous with your butter to ensure zero sticking.

Directions

Step 1: Layer the sandwiches

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In a small bowl, mix the mayo and mustard, then spread the mix over four slices of bread. Layer the bread with the two cheeses then the tomato, onion and bacon. Top with the remaining slice of bread, then thoroughly butter the outside of the sandwiches.

Step 2: Grill it up

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On a griddle or in a cast-iron pan, toast the sandwiches over medium heat until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is thoroughly melted, two to three minutes per side.

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

Bacon Grilled Cheese Variations

• Caramelize your onions: Prior to assembling the sandwich for cooking, slice the sweet onions thinly and cook them until caramelized. Add them to your bacon grilled cheese sandwich as otherwise described.
• Add avocado: The creamy, nutty flavor of avocado will be delicious with the bacon, tomato and onion.
• Make it a wrap: Instead of sourdough, consider making this a toasted wrap.

How to Store Bacon Grilled Cheese

While this sandwich is really best served straight off the stove, if you must make it to serve later, you have a couple of options. If you want to bring it in a container, allow the sandwich to cool completely, then cut it into sections small enough to fit in the container. Otherwise, you can wrap your sandwich, hot or cold, in aluminum foil.

How do you reheat bacon grilled cheese?

To reheat a grilled cheese sandwich and achieve the crunch, you’ll need to do it in two steps. First, warm it on low in a covered cast-iron pan (any pan will do, but cast-iron is excellent for reheating a sandwich you’d like crisped). Once the inside of the sandwich has warmed, take the cover off and turn up the heat. Flip it once the bread has begun to re-crisp.

Bacon Grilled Cheese Tips

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

What should I serve with grilled cheese?

Grilled cheese goes well with tomato soup, alongside your favorite green salads or with potato salad.

Can I make this vegetarian friendly?

Yes. By swapping out the bacon for a plant-based bacon alternative, you can make this grilled sandwich veg-friendly.

Can I add other veggies?

Sure. Adding sauteed spinach, mushrooms, green pepper or even sun-dried tomatoes in place of the tomato slices will definitely add to this already delicious sandwich.