This Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese turned me into someone who actually thinks about grilled cheese as real food instead of kid lunch. I made it the first time when I had leftover caramelized onions from something else and thought "what if I just put these on a grilled cheese with bacon." Best random idea I've ever had.
Why You'll Love This Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
I've been making this caramelized onion grilled cheese for about eight months now, ever since my husband took one bite and said "you can never make regular grilled cheese again."
What Actually Works: The beauty of this Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese is it takes something basic and makes it actually impressive. You caramelize onions until they're sweet and jammy, cook some bacon until crispy, pile everything with good cheese between buttered bread, and grill until golden. The first time I made this bacon grilled cheese sandwich, I understood why restaurants charge $15 for grilled cheese. The sweet caramelized onions balance the salty bacon, the cheese gets melty and gooey, and the bread crisps up perfectly. My kids who normally pick everything out of their food ate these without complaining once.
Why Other Methods Fail: Most people mess up their gourmet grilled cheese by rushing the onions so they're not actually caramelized, just cooked. Some use too much filling and the cheese doesn't melt before the bread burns. Others don't butter the bread properly and wonder why it's not crispy. This bacon and cheese sandwich works because you take time with each component and don't overload it.
The thing that changed everything: Understanding that the onions need PROPER CARAMELIZATION for perfect Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese. My first attempt I just cooked the onions for 10 minutes on medium heat thinking that was good enough. They were still sharp and wet instead of sweet and jammy, and the whole sandwich tasted wrong. Started actually caramelizing them low and slow for 30 minutes like you're supposed to, and suddenly this caramelized onion and cheese sandwich tasted like something from a fancy cafe instead of my kitchen.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
- What You'll Need for Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
- How to Make Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
- Top Tip
- Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Storage and Reuse Instructions
- What to Serve With Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
- My Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Journey
- FAQ
- More Recipes You'll Love
- Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
- Related
- Pairing
What You'll Need for Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
Simple ingredient list but you need decent bread and cheese for this to be worth making.
Main Ingredients
- Good bread
- Bacon strips
- Large yellow onions
- Cheddar cheese, Gruyère, or Swiss (or a mix)
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Optional Add Ins
- Apple slices for sweetness
- Brie instead of cheddar for fancy version
- Garlic for the onions
- Fresh thyme
- Dijon mustard
- Arugula for some green
That's it. Quality ingredients make this savory grilled cheese actually special instead of just expensive.
How to Make Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
This onion bacon melt takes some time because of caramelizing but it's not hard, just requires patience.
Step 1: Onions
Slice your onions thin and cook them in olive oil over medium low heat with a pinch of salt for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. They need to get deep golden brown and sweet, not just soft. Don't rush this or your Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese won't taste right.
Step 2: Bacon
While onions cook, fry your bacon in a skillet until crispy. Drain on paper towels and set aside. You can do this ahead if you're meal prepping.
Step 3: Assemble
Butter one side of each bread slice generously. On the unbuttered side, layer cheese, caramelized onions, crispy bacon, then more cheese. The cheese on both sides helps everything stick together. Top with second bread slice, buttered side out.
Step 4: Grill
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place your assembled sandwich in the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing down gently with a spatula. You want golden brown crispy bread and completely melted cheese. If the bread browns too fast before cheese melts, lower the heat.
Step 5: Serve
Let the grilled cheese with caramelized onions and bacon rest for a minute before cutting so the cheese sets slightly. Cut diagonally because it tastes better that way, I don't make the rules. Serve hot.
You'll have this incredible crispy Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Recipe that's way better than anything you'd get at a restaurant. The sweet onions, salty bacon, melty cheese, and crispy buttery bread is perfection.
Top Tip
- Caramelize onions properly for Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese, 30 minutes minimum
- Don't overload the sandwich or cheese won't melt before bread burns
- Use good quality bread, it makes a huge difference
- Butter the bread generously, all the way to the edges
- Cook on medium heat, not high, so everything cooks evenly
- Press down gently while cooking for better contact with pan
- Made the rushed onion mistake twice, never worth it
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
The basic bacon and caramelized onion grilled cheese is already perfect but you can customize it.
Different Cheeses
Gruyère makes this caramelized onion grilled cheese taste fancy and melts beautifully. Sharp cheddar is classic. Brie with bacon is incredible if you want something rich. Mix cheddar and Swiss for balanced flavor. Havarti melts really smooth too.
Bread Options
Sourdough is my favorite for this gourmet grilled cheese because the tang works with sweet onions. Texas toast makes it extra thick and satisfying. Rye bread if you want something different. Just use good quality bread, not regular sandwich bread.
Add Fruit
Thin apple slices with the bacon and onions is amazing, sweet and savory together. Fig jam instead of regular onions for a fancier version. Pear slices work too. The fruit adds brightness that cuts through the richness.
Make It Spicy
Add jalapeños with the bacon for spicy kick. Pepper jack cheese instead of cheddar. A thin spread of Sriracha mayo on the bread before assembling.
Vegetarian Version
Skip the bacon and add sautéed mushrooms with the caramelized onions. Still really good as just a caramelized onion and cheese sandwich, the onions have enough flavor.
Extra Fancy
Use bacon and brie grilled cheese with caramelized onions for special occasions. Add fresh thyme leaves to the onions while cooking. Drizzle with honey before serving. Suddenly it's restaurant quality.
Storage and Reuse Instructions
This bacon grilled cheese sandwich is best fresh but you can prep components ahead.
Caramelized Onions: Make them up to 5 days ahead and store in the fridge. This saves so much time when you want to make the sandwich quickly.
Bacon: Cook ahead and refrigerate for up to 1 week. Just reheat slightly before using on your sandwich.
Assembled Sandwiches: Don't assemble ahead or bread gets soggy. Make them fresh when you're ready to eat.
Leftovers: Grilled cheese doesn't reheat great honestly. Eat it fresh. If you must reheat, use a skillet on low heat, not the microwave.
What to Serve With Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
This savory grilled cheese is pretty filling on its own but here's what works for a complete meal.
Soup: Tomato soup is classic with any grilled cheese. French onion soup makes sense with the caramelized onions. Potato soup is cozy.
Salad: Simple green salad with vinaigrette cuts through the richness of this bacon and cheese sandwich. Arugula salad with lemon dressing is perfect.
Sides: Sweet potato fries, regular fries, or chips. Pickles on the side are essential for cutting the richness.
My Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Journey
First time I tried making Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese, I cooked the onions on medium high for maybe 10 minutes thinking that was caramelized. They were just soft and still tasted oniony, not sweet at all. Made the sandwich anyway and it was just okay, nothing special. The onions added wet texture without the flavor I wanted.
Second attempt I actually caramelized the onions properly but then overloaded the sandwich with too much filling. Used like half a cup of onions and 4 strips of bacon per sandwich. The bread burned before the cheese in the middle could melt, and when I bit into it everything fell out the sides. Looked like a disaster.
Third time I finally got it right. Properly caramelized onions, reasonable amount of filling, good bread, generous butter, cooked on medium heat with patience. The grilled cheese with caramelized onions and bacon came out perfect with golden crispy bread, fully melted cheese, and that sweet and salty flavor combination. My husband ate two and asked why we ever eat regular grilled cheese.
Now I make this Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese whenever I have time to caramelize onions. Proper technique, don't overload it, be patient with the cooking. That's the whole secret.
FAQ
What is the secret to a good grilled cheese sandwich?
The secret to good grilled cheese is butter the bread generously all the way to the edges, use good quality bread and cheese, cook on medium heat so the cheese melts before the bread burns, and don't overload with filling. For Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese specifically, make sure those onions are actually caramelized (30+ minutes) not just cooked. Press down gently while cooking for even contact with the pan.
Can you cook bacon and onions together?
You can cook bacon and onions together but I don't recommend it for this recipe. The bacon needs to get crispy which requires higher heat, while onions need low and slow to caramelize properly. Cook them separately so each gets the right treatment. Plus bacon grease can make the onions greasy instead of sweet and jammy.
What is the best oil to caramelize onions?
Olive oil or butter works best for caramelizing onions. I use olive oil because it doesn't burn as easily during the long cooking time. Some people use half butter half oil for flavor plus stability. Don't use bacon grease, it's too heavy and makes the onions greasy instead of sweet.
What is the best thing to put on a grilled cheese sandwich?
The best additions for grilled cheese depend on what you like, but bacon and caramelized onions are top tier. Other great options are tomato slices, avocado, ham, turkey, sautéed mushrooms, or apple slices. For this Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese, the sweet caramelized onions with salty bacon is the perfect combination. Just don't overload it or the cheese won't melt properly.
More Recipes You'll Love
Once you've mastered this Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese, try my Biscoff Truffles for an easy impressive dessert. My French Onion Soup Pasta uses similar caramelized onions in pasta form and it's incredible. And my Loaded Potato Taco Bowl is another comfort food dinner that's better than the original. All of these are recipes worth making.
Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
Equipment
- 1 large skillet For caramelizing onions and grilling sandwich
- 1 Separate skillet For cooking bacon
- 1 Spatula For flipping and pressing sandwich
- 1 paper towels For draining cooked bacon
Ingredients
- 4 slices good quality bread sourdough preferred
- 4 tablespoon butter softened
- 4 oz cheese cheddar, Gruyère, or Swiss, sliced or shredded
- 4 strips bacon thick cut
- 1 large yellow onion thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Pinch of salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 apple thinly sliced
- 2 oz Brie cheese
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Handful of arugula
Instructions
- Slice your onion thin and heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium low heat. Add the sliced onions with a pinch of salt and cook for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they're deep golden brown and sweet. Don't rush this step by turning up the heat or they'll burn instead of caramelize. If they start sticking to the pan, add a splash of water to deglaze. This is the most important step for Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese so take your time. Set the caramelized onions aside when done.
- While the onions are caramelizing, cook your bacon in a separate skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes depending on thickness. Flip occasionally so both sides cook evenly. Drain the cooked bacon on paper towels to remove excess grease. You can do this step ahead of time if meal prepping.
- Butter one side of each bread slice generously, making sure to spread the butter all the way to the edges. On the unbuttered side of two slices, layer half the cheese, then the caramelized onions, crispy bacon broken into pieces, and the remaining cheese on top. The cheese on both the bottom and top helps everything stick together and ensures even melting. Top with the other bread slices, buttered side facing out. Press down gently to compact the sandwich slightly.
- Heat a clean skillet (or the one you used for bacon, wiped clean) over medium heat. Place your assembled sandwiches in the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing down gently with a spatula for better contact with the pan. You want golden brown crispy bread and completely melted cheese throughout. If the bread is browning too fast before the cheese melts, reduce the heat to medium low and cook a bit longer. Don't rush this or you'll have burnt bread with cold cheese in the middle.
- Remove the grilled cheese from the pan and let it rest for about 1 minute before cutting so the cheese sets slightly and doesn't all run out when you slice it. Cut diagonally with a sharp knife. Serve the Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese immediately while hot and crispy. The sweet onions, salty bacon, melty cheese, and crispy buttery bread make the perfect bite.
Notes
Nutrition
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Bacon and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Recipe:
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