Does grilled cheese ever get old? Not in this house!
And evidently, not for the Barefoot Contessa either since the Ultimate Grilled Cheese is one of the recipes from her upcoming new book, How Easy Is That?
I’m still swooning over this simple sandwich on steroids. It’s Bread + Cheese + Butter x 10. Plus some bacon and mayo. No joke, this was a fabulous sandwich. How could it not be with a line-up like that one? Though I suppose it isn’t a sandwich for lightweights. You have to be all or nothing. Do this sandwich justice. And if your conscience nags you about eating this, you can always eat two meals of fruit for the day. Like I did. ‘Cause lots of fruit totally negates the butter, cheese, and bacon. Totally.
When you make this…and you will want to…head over to Ezra Pound Cake and thank Rebecca for choosing this recipe for the Barefoot Bloggers to make this month. She didn’t have much to go off of because she doesn’t have a copy of the book yet but went on a hunch after seeing the recipe mentioned on the Amazon.com write-up of How Easy Is That? I love her hunches.
Ultimate Grilled Cheese
source: Ina Garten, How Easy Is That?
12 slices thick-cut bacon, such as Nodine’s applewood smoked
1 cup good mayonnaise
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 white pullman loaf or sourdough bread, sliced 1/2 inch thick (12 slices)
6 tbsp salted butter, at room temperature
6 oz aged Gruyere or Comte cheese
6 oz extra-sharp Cheddar, such as Cabot or Shelburne Farms
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the bacon on a baking rack set over a sheet pan in a single layer and roast for 20 to 30 minutes, until nicely browned. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels and cut in 1-inch pieces.
Meanwhile, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, Parmesan, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Lay 12 slices of bread on a board and spread each one lightly with butter. Flip the slices and spread each one generously with the mayonnaise mixture. Don’t neglect the corners!
Grate the cheeses in a food processor fitted with the largest grating disk and combine. Distribute the bacon evenly on half the slices of bread. Pile 1/3 cup grated cheese evenly on top of the bacon and top with the remaining bread slices, sauce side down.
Heat an electric panini press. When the press is hot, cook the sandwiches for 3 to 5 minutes in batches until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted. Allow to cool for 2 minutes. Cut in half and serve warm.
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
That grilled cheese looks positively delicious! Love that there are two kinds of cheese. And the addition of bacon? Inspired
There is only one thing that could make that better… A bowl of tomato soup! I love the two together, and boy does that sandwich look good! Great job and thanks for sharing.
This has to be the best grilled cheese I have ever heard of; has to be a keeper.
Great blog!
This looks incredible! Gorgeous sandwich, gorgeous site, gorgeous Tara!!! Thanks for sharing!
This looks amazing! I’m definitely going to add bacon to my next grilled cheese sandwich. Yum!
Oh. My. … Your photo makes me want to take a bite right NOW! That is an amazing sandwich. Good idea to eat fruit for the rest of the day!
Simply decadent! This sandwich looks out of this world, and based on this recipe alone I’m so ordering the book LOL
Yum! Is there ever a bad time for grilled cheese…such a feel good food.
It’s definitely that spread that puts this over the top. Ina always knows how to get your mouth watering! All you need is a little tomato soup…
No, this is not for the feint- hearted. Grilled cheese never gets old!
UGH! I think I just gained ten pounds reading that recipe. What an amazing sandwich. You had me at bacon!
I just want to take a bite out of that! Looks soo good!
Definitely not a light sandwich but man it looks yummy!
Ina Garten and bacon make everything better
This recipe sounds like my perfect type of Grilled Cheese. I love all the ingredients you used for this grilled cheese. Thank you for sharing this wonderful and simple recipe.
Grilled Cheese never gets old in my house, my son asks for it everyday for lunch, this grilled cheese looks so stinking good, I will have to give this a go for sure!
Wow, that is one mouthwatering grilled cheese! YUM! I’ve always made mine with just the classic sandwich bread and Kraft American cheese, but this is something I’ve got to try!
Oh Tara – that looks divine!!
Um. Yeah.
Wow!!
Holy Moly that looks amazing! Perfect for a fall evening. Your pictures are awesome!
Even though this looks AMAZING, grilled cheese is something I usually make when I’m too lazy to make anything else. BUT….the idea of this paired with a yummy tomato soup on a chilly Fall evening sounds TOO good to pass up!
Thanks for posting
I remember when I was kid, I would eat grilled cheese sandwiches at least 3 times a week! Haha! Thanks for sharing your recipe! It looks delicious. Now, I’m all about this Italian Grilled Cheese and Tomato. Hope you enjoy it too!
That literally looks like the best grilled cheese ever
I could live off grilled cheese, well basically anything with cheese, LOL. Nice photos too.
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