This Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich blends the flavors of crispy bacon and sharp cheddar with a little sweet rhubarb sauce and a hint of jalapeno heat. Toasted with some salty butter until nice and crisp, this amazing combination of a grilled cheese sandwich is a perfect rhubarb recipe to make for lunch or a light dinner for your family!
Your next meal just became tastier and a little more grown up with this combination of spicy, sweet, salty, and crispy grilled cheese sandwich! This sandwich would also make a delicious appetizer for an adult party. Just grill it up until it’s crispy and brown and serve it with a little extra rhubarb sauce on the side for dipping!
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Incorporating Rhubarb into my recipes
I love rhubarb recipes. I also love jalapenos, bacon, and cheese. Because of this, I am always thinking of ways that I can create new and delicious recipes that bring together the flavors and textures of these ingredients.
Since I have my own rhubarb plants, and have plenty of Rhubarb Sauce on hand, I have been coming up with new rhubarb recipes to use it in. Often, I will just spread it on toast or make my recipe for Rhubarb Chia Pudding. While thinking about what I could make with the ingredients I had on hand, thoughts of a Strawberry Habanero Monte Cristo came to mind. I immediately knew I had to make a recipe with sweet heat!
Grilled Cheese Sandwich FAQ
The best cheese to use is going to depend on what you are looking to get from your grilled cheese sandwich. If you're looking for melty and creamy, then a blue cheese is great. Stringy and mild? Go with Colby Jack or Mozzarella. Because I was looking for a bold cheese to compliment the rhubarb sauce, I went with a bold cheddar for this particular recipe.
The best bread is going to be a sturdy slice of bread. My very favorite is a Tuscan pane bread I buy right at Trader Joes. Something with a little bit of crust to it. Because a grilled cheese sandwich should not be soggy, I do not recommend a loaf of bread you find in the grocery aisle! Try something from the bakery instead.
From my experience, a grilled cheese sandwich will get soggy for a few reasons. The first one being the type of bread you used (see Q2), and the second one being the fillings. You need to be sure you are using the right proportions. Any type of filling that releases liquid is going to add moisture to your grilled cheese. This is why I keep the rhubarb sauce to a thin layer in this sandwich and offer a side of sauce for people who like to have something to dip their grilled cheese sandwich in!
How to Make Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
It all starts with great quality cheese. For us, that is Cabot. It is the brand we love the most. Skip out on the pre-sliced cheese that is individually packaged. You know, the kind that has the word “processed” in it.
Next, you want to be sure you have the perfect thickness of cheese slices for your sandwich. I have this handy little Thick and Thin Cheese Slicer (affiliate link) that slices your cheese into the perfect slices! You can cut your slices thin, or thick. For this grilled cheese sandwich, I used the thick side. I like using the thin side to slice cheese for omelettes!
The bread is the next important ingredient in this recipe. It needs to be sturdy and hold up well to fillings that will melt and get gooey. I chose a hearty whole grain bread for this recipe, but my very favorite is a Tuscan Pane bread. Something that is not super soft.
Both slices of bread will need to have one side spread with real butter. None of this margarine stuff will work. It has water in it and believe me, it will aid in a soggy sandwich.
This sandwich starts with a layer of cheese on the bottom, then a layer of rhubarb sauce, fresh jalapeno slices, crispy bacon, then more cheese!
Grill up both sides until toasty and cheese is melty and soft. Cut in half and enjoy with more rhubarb sauce if desired!
Tips for the best Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Have your burner set to medium low and watch the bread carefully.
- Bring your ingredients to room temperature first!
- If you have a thicker sandwich, cover your pan with a lid to trap a little bit of heat for a brief period. This will assist in forcing the heat to stay in the pan and around your sandwich, causing the cheese to melt easier.
- I sliced my cheese for this recipe, but you can also shred it. Shredding will break it up and cause air to circulate around it and make it melt faster and easier.
- Don’t use too much cheese! More is not always better. The more you add, the longer it will take to melt. You want just enough for the cheese to get melty and your bread to get toasty!
What to serve with a Bacon Grilled Cheese
A grilled cheese sandwich with a mouthful of flavors doesn't need anything spectacular to accompany it. You don't what to outshine the hero of your meal. A serving of potato chips and a few pickles from this Crisp Sweet Pickles Recipe is all you really need!
More Sandwich Recipes
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Bacon, Jalapeno and Rhubarb Sauce
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Ingredients
- 2 slices hearty bread
- 1 ounce thinly sliced Cabot Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- 1 tablespoon [rhubarb sauce]
- 2 slices crisp cooked bacon
- ¼ cup jalapeno slices add more or less to accommodate taste
- 2 teaspoon butter
Instructions
- On bottom slice of sandwich, layer as follows: ½ ounce cheese, 1 tablespoon rhubarb sauce, jalapeno slices, bacon, and the last ½ ounce of cheese.
- Place about 1 teaspoon butter in skillet over medium heat and let melt until bubbly.
- Lay bottom slice of sandwich with fillings on top of hot butter. Top with 2nd slice of bread, spread with 1 teaspoon of butter (butter side up).
- When bread is toasty on bottom, carefully flip sandwich over and continue to cook until bottom slice is browned and cheese is melty.
- Remove from pan, let cool 1-2 minutes, then slice in half and serve with side of rhubarb sauce if desired
Rebecca | Let's Eat Cake says
Love the sweet and spicy combo! I think I'll have to make some rhubarb jam so I can have this in the winter!
Ashley says
this looks so delicious - can't beat a grilled cheese with bacon AND jalapenos!
Madi says
This looks like such an awesome grilled cheese! I love the combination of flavors!
Susan Christy says
Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese is my favorite.
Linda F says
My favorite is the Vermont Cheddar!
Melissa @ Served Up With Love says
My go-to is Extra Sharp Cheddar. I buy it by the big block at least once a month. Its the best!!
Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids says
Yum! This looks so good! I should do something like this for dinner today.
Tim says
My favorite is the pepper jack. It add a mild kick to any recipe that requires cheese.
Kristen M Chidsey says
I adore Cabot Cheese and this combination looks and sounds incredible.
Lindsay Bade says
I love their Sharp Cheddar Cheese. It is great in my garlic cheddar biscuits!
Carlee says
It sounds like Grumpy and my husband have a few things in common! Cheese is always on my grocery list, we go through more than our fair share! I love this flavor combination!
Rachel says
The sharp cheddar is my favorite Cabot cheese flavor.
Wendy Klik says
Oh my. I just finished lunch and this is still making me drool
Ellen says
I love that cheese slicer. This sandwich looks like there is so much wonderful flavor!
Nancy Loring says
I have always been a fan of the Vermont Cheddar Cheese and the Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese. I started eating Cabot Cheese with crackers when I was little with my Dad. It was our evening snack while I watched TV and he read the paper.
DealinDiva says
My favorite from their line is the chipotle cheddar.
Claudia Lamascolo says
oh how lucky to get my favorite cheeses and create a fabulous sandwich! nice job!