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Everything Cheddar Tomato Bacon Grilled Cheese…all the flavors we love in a bowl of good tomato soup but in the form of grilled cheese. And it is SO GOOD! Summer tomatoes and crispy bacon layered between two slices of sourdough bread with fresh herbs, sharp cheddar, and buttery Havarti. This sandwich is coated in everything bagel spice and parmesan cheese before being pan-fried until the cheese is melty and the bread is crisp. It’s savory, herby, and heavy on the cheese…the most perfect summer grilled cheese…any day of the week.
Is there anything better than a really good grilled cheese? I’m pretty sure it’s that classic comfort food we all know and love. As a kid, my grilled cheese sandwiches consisted of whatever bread we had laying around the kitchen, cheese, and butter. Three ingredients that can do no wrong. My dad would make my brothers and I grilled cheese on nights when he didn’t have a lot in the kitchen. He was always heavy on the sharp cheddar and made them extra buttery.
They were perfect, and we loved them!
The one thing that always missing from dad’s grilled cheese dinners though? A bowl of tomato soup, which I feel is such a classic combo in the summer. But the funny thing about my dad? He’s always despised tomato soup. His memories of tomato soup are from the eighties. To him, tomato soup came from cans of Cambell’s that his mom would serve him at least once a week…or so he says anyway. This means instead of grilled cheese with a side of soup, my brothers and I grew up with just the grilled cheese.
We didn’t complain, we didn’t know any different. But since then I’ve learned just how delicious a good bowl of tomato soup is when paired with an extra cheesy grilled cheese. Such delicious summery flavors. And that combination is the inspiration behind this recipe. I took all the flavors from tomato soup and sandwiched them between sourdough bread with crispy bacon and a bit of everything bagel spice.
It’s extra special, but yet still so simple. These few added touches make this grilled cheese better…and exciting…and fun…and oh my gosh just so delicious!
Sorry for the run-on sentence there, but it’s hard to express my excitement. This grilled cheese is a new favorite and I already know it’s going to be a repeat recipe for the remainder of the summer.
The details.
Start with the tomatoes. Find some delicious ones, preferably heirloom, and then salt them. This helps to draw out any excess moisture the tomatoes may have. This step is key and ensures that your grilled cheese sandwich will never become soggy.
While the tomatoes are sitting, toss together a mix of extra sharp cheddar cheese, Havarti cheese (fontina would be great too), fresh basil, thyme, and chives. The cheddar adds the bulk of the flavor, while the Havarti acts as the super melty, gooey cheese. Yum!
Mixing the herbs in with the cheese creates an even more flavorful sandwich. Plus I’m just obsessed with all the fresh summer herbs from the garden right now. I love them so much.
Crisp up some bacon. Of course, this is optional. But if you’re a bacon lover, I would be sure to use it. It kind of makes this like a BLT grilled cheese. And yes, it’s just as delicious as it sounds.
Finally, the everything bagel spice…oh how I love this flavor combo! It’s a mix of sesame seeds, onion, and herbs. If you love the classic everything bagel, then you’ll love this spice. And guys, it makes this grilled cheese, so don’t skimp on it.
And now you layer.
Butter the outside of the bread, sprinkle with parmesan (yes, that is the third cheese), and then add the everything spice. Layer the cheese mix, tomatoes, and bacon between the slices of bread. If you want to add even more flavor, sprinkle the tomatoes with a bit of everything spice too.
Now, add the sandwiches to a skillet and cook until the cheese has melted and the crust is deep golden and crunchy.
The cheese on the inside becomes that melty goodness we love so much. While the outside of the bread becomes crisp from the parmesan, which is literally pan-fried into the bread. And the everything spice? Well…
It. Is. So. Good!
Melted cheese, ripe summer tomatoes, crispy bacon, and everything spice equals perfection on so many levels. Make this one tonight as an easy Thursday dinner, trust me, you’re going to be very happy you did.
Looking for other grilled cheese recipes? Here are a few ideas:
French Onion and Apple Grilled Cheese
Lastly, if you make this everything cheddar tomato bacon grilled cheese, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Everything Cheddar Tomato Bacon Grilled Cheese.
Servings: 2 sandwiches
Calories Per Serving: 804 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 tomato, thinly sliced
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Havarti cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 2-4 tablespoons everything bagel spice (recipe in notes)
- 2-4 slices cooked crispy bacon
Instructions
- 1. Arrange the tomatoes on a cutting board and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Let sit 15 minutes to draw out excess moisture.2. In a bowl, combine the cheddar, Havarti, basil, thyme, and chives. 3. Brush the outside of each slice of bread with butter. Sprinkle the parmesan and everything spice over both buttered sides of the bread, pressing the spice mix gently into the bread to adhere. On the inside of half of the slices of bread, evenly layer half of the cheese mix, the tomatoes, bacon, and the remaining cheese. Add the top piece of bread. 4. Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Place the sandwiches in the skillet and cook until golden on each side, about 3-5 minutes per side. EAT and ENJOY!
Notes
Everything Spice: In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons toasted white or black sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, 2 teaspoons dried onion., 2 teaspoons dried garlic, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Keep stored in a cool, dry place.
My husband LOVES when I make these grilled cheese sandwiches! So great to make and you can make them as simple as you want by using just cheese or adding whatever toppings you feel like using. Can’t go wrong with making these and serving with tomato soup! Thanks for such a great recipe! 🙂
Hi Hannah! Thank you sooo much for trying out this recipe! Hope your New Year is off to an awesome start! xT
I made this last nite, but skipped the bacon. I wanted to REALLY taste the tomato. WONDERFUL!!! The everything spice blend makes enough to put on my popcorn also!!!
Thanks for giving the recipe a try! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! xT
I prepped the ingredients the day before to make a quick, kid-friendly dinner after a busy night of sports… this is a winner and made it into our official rotation during baseball season. We didn’t use the bacon or bagel spice because some family members do not like bacon or dried onion. I did flavor the butter with garlic powder, salt and paprika, but if you love the bagel spice, I bet it would be next level for you! Thanks again, Tiegan! My mom just bought me and my college daughter one of your cookbooks cause I talk about your recipes so much 🙂
Hey Stephanie,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for making it:) Thanks a lot for your kind message! xT
My husband found this in my recipe binder and made it for lunch today. It was delicious — one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve ever had! He did, however, follow a suggestion made by another commenter to mix the butter, everything spice and Parmesan together before smearing them on the bread in order to keep it all stuck to the slices. It was time consuming to make, but I’m sure we’ll be having this one again for Sunday lunch.
Hey Helen,
Happy Monday!! I truly appreciate you trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad it was enjoyed! xx
This was dinner last night.
My husband and daughter said this was going to be hard to beat. It was the best grilled cheese to date. Perfect for tomato season.
Hi Deb,
Happy Wednesday! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am thrilled to hear that it was a winner! xTieghan
This grilled cheese was a huge hit! I couldn’t eat the whole thing!! We will definitely be making this again! Delicious, thanks
Tammie
Hi Tammie,
Amazing! Thanks for sharing your feedback and making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed:)
This recipe has been an instant favorite for Summer at our house. When preparing our menus, we have included it every other week! So delicious!
Hi Emmy!
Happy Wednesday!? Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was a tasty one! xxT
Sorry ‘bout your dad’s aversion, but our neighbor dropped off a big sack of tomatoes from her garden, so I did a homemade cream of tomato soup, with fresh basil and other herbs, and then these sandwiches, ‘zackly to spec. Wow, whadda lunch. It’s surely more involved than my usual grilled-cheese sandwich, with 14 ingredients rather than 2 or 3, hah. But, hey, I had the time and the tomatoes, so why not. Thanx for another winner, Thiegan.
Hey Dave,
Amazing!! I am thrilled that this dish was a hit, thanks a lot for trying it out! xTieghan
Made your Detroit-style pizza today. It was very tasty. I will use a quarter sheet next time. My husband was involved and he wanted to use the half sheet ?
Ps – how do we keep dough crispy?
Hey Laura,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try! Do you have a pizza stone? I like to put my baking sheet on top of the pizza stone to get a crispy crust! xTieghan
Oh my yum! Made this tonight with your 6-ingredient tomato soup, and it was an amazing pairing. This THE BEST grilled cheese I have ever had or made. And yet, it was so simple and quick. The parmesan-everything-spice crust definitely put this over the top. I’ll never make a plain grilled cheese again!
Hey Brenda,
Awesome! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Happy Holidays!❄️ xT
So good.
Hey Tammy,
Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Have the best day! xTieghan
sooo good!!! definitely a sandwich to make when heirloom tomatoes are in season!
Perfection! So delicious . . . Thanks Tieghan
Hey Lynne,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
Delicious! Second time around, I mixed up the parm cheese butter and everything seasoning before smearing onto the outside sides of the bread. That helped the seasoning to stay on the bread. Thank you!!!
Hey Ro,
Happy Friday! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan