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This loaded bacon grilled cheese takes comfort food up a notch with a garlicky Parmesan butter that creates an amazingly crunchy outer layer. Each mouthful gives you gooey cheese and crispy bacon wrapped in buttery, garlic-infused toast that'll make you crave more.
I came up with this idea during a super hectic week when the kids wanted something tasty but I was short on time. Adding the Parmesan butter mix with bacon turned a basic sandwich into what's now our Friday night family tradition.
Ingredients
- Butter: let it sit out until soft so it spreads easily and makes the best golden outside
- Parmesan cheese: gives a rich salty kick that makes this sandwich extra special
- Garlic salt: puts flavor in every bite but you can use fresh minced garlic too
- Texas toast: these bigger slices handle the fillings better and get super crunchy
- Bacon: cook it till it snaps for the perfect texture against melty cheese
- Cheddar cheese: grab a nice sharp one that turns gooey when heated
How To Make It
- Mix Your Flavor Butter:
- Whip the soft butter in a bowl until it's fluffy for about 2 minutes. Mix in the Parmesan and garlic salt until they're completely blended. You want a smooth spread with no cheese chunks showing.
- Build Your Sandwich:
- Put a thick layer of your Parmesan butter mix on one side of each Texas toast slice. Make sure to cover right to the edges for max flavor and crunch. The butter should be thick enough to hold the cheese but not so heavy it falls off.
- Start The Cooking:
- Drop one bread slice butter-side down into a pan on medium heat. You'll hear a slight sizzle if your temperature's right. Add a cheese slice, stack 3-4 bacon strips on top, add another cheese slice, then crown with your second bread piece, butter-side facing up.
- Get It Golden:
- Push down gently with a spatula and let it cook about 3-4 minutes until the bottom turns golden brown. Flip it carefully using a wide spatula to keep everything inside. Cook another 3 minutes till both sides are crunchy and the cheese has melted through.
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When I first made these for a casual get-together, my buddy who brags about his grilled cheese asked for my trick. Now this Parmesan butter isn't just for sandwiches - I use it to jazz up plain garlic bread too.
Make Ahead Options
You can whip up the Parmesan butter mix a week before and store it in a sealed container in the fridge. Just let it sit out for about 20 minutes to soften before you need it. This saves time on busy nights and lets the garlic flavor get even better as it sits.
Tasty Variations
The standard bacon and cheddar filling is amazing but don't be afraid to get creative. Try adding thin tomato slices, some avocado, sweet cooked onions, or thin apple slices for a bit of sweetness. If you love cheese, mix it up with combos like pepper jack with cheddar or gouda with Swiss. The Parmesan butter works great with any cheese you pick.
Serving Suggestions
This filling sandwich goes great with something light like a simple green salad with tangy dressing to balance the richness. For the ultimate comfort food combo, serve it with a mug of tomato soup for dipping. In summer, add some crunchy pickle spears and potato chips on the side to complete your meal.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → How do I get bacon to be extra crisp?
Lay bacon flat in a skillet, cook over medium heat until crispy, then blot with paper towels to remove grease.
- → What’s the best bread for this sandwich?
Thick-cut Texas toast works great because it handles the buttery spread and fillings perfectly.
- → Can I switch to a different cheese?
Sure, swap cheddar with mozzarella, provolone, or whichever cheese you love most.
- → How can I make sure the bread doesn’t burn?
Cook on medium heat and keep an eye on it, flipping when each side turns golden and crisp.
- → Can this be made ahead of time?
It tastes best freshly made, but you can prep the butter and bacon ahead to speed things up later.