Description
Gourmet sun-dried tomato bacon pesto grilled cheese elevates the classic sandwich with bold Mediterranean flavors and crispy bacon. Melted cheese, tangy pesto, and smoky bacon create an irresistible combination you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese:
- 1 cup (100 g / 3.5 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (100 g / 3.5 ounces) shredded provolone or cheddar cheese
Protein and Vegetables:
- 8 slices of cooked crispy bacon
- ½ cup (120 g / 4.2 ounces) sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), drained and chopped
- ½ cup (120 g / 4.2 ounces) basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
Bread and Spread:
- 8 slices of thick-cut bread (sourdough, Italian, or ciabatta)
- 4 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (optional for extra crispiness)
Instructions
- Generously coat one exterior surface of each bread slice with a delicate butter layer, ensuring complete coverage for optimal golden-brown crispiness.
- Smoothly apply a vibrant, herbaceous pesto spread across the interior side of each bread slice, creating a rich flavor foundation.
- Layer crispy, crumbled bacon fragments evenly across the pesto-covered bread surface, distributing the smoky protein throughout the sandwich.
- Strategically arrange sun-dried tomato pieces atop the bacon, introducing a tangy, concentrated tomato essence to complement the smoky meat.
- Carefully position sliced cheese to cover the bacon and sun-dried tomato layer, ensuring complete ingredient coverage and optimal melting potential.
- Carefully transfer the assembled sandwich to a preheated skillet or griddle, placing the buttered exterior directly against the cooking surface.
- Cook the sandwich on medium-low heat, allowing the cheese to melt gradually while developing a perfectly golden, crisp exterior.
- Gently press the sandwich with a spatula intermittently to encourage even browning and compact the ingredients.
- Once the bottom slice achieves a rich, amber-brown color and the cheese begins to ooze, carefully flip the sandwich to toast the opposite side.
- Remove from heat when both sides display a uniform, appetizing golden-brown hue and the cheese has melted completely.
- Allow the grilled cheese to rest for a brief moment, enabling the ingredients to settle and the cheese to stabilize before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Bread Selection Matters: Choose a sturdy, thick-cut sourdough or artisan bread that can hold up to the rich, moist ingredients without becoming soggy.
- Pesto Power Tip: Use homemade or high-quality store-bought pesto for the most intense flavor, ensuring it’s not too oily which could make the sandwich greasy.
- Bacon Crispness Hack: Cook bacon until extra crispy to prevent it from becoming chewy and provide a satisfying crunch in every bite of the grilled cheese.
- Cheese Melting Secret: Let cheese sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before assembling, which helps it melt more evenly and creates that perfect gooey texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg