Everything Cheddar Tomato Bacon Grilled Cheese.
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!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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.
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!
Recipe 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.
Our Favorite Recipes
Instant Pot BBQ Beer Pulled Chicken Tacos with Ranch Corn Slaw.
OMG it looks soooo good! I need to taste a bite !
I hope you make this one, Oriane! Thank you! xTieghan
I am sure my husband would like this.
I hope you both love this one, Charlotte!! Thank you! xTieghan
DELISH! Now i want some.
Thank you so much Johanna!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Looks absolutely delicious. I love a kicked up grilled cheese. Im sure the herbs also add a nice touch.
XX Angelica
https://eraenvogue.com
Love to hear that! Thank you for trying this one, Angelica! xTieghan
Wow! Just made this…. it was amazing, honestly so so good! Thanks for all your awesome recipes!
Yes! So glad this turned out so well for you, Aggie! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
love the soup in a grilled cheese sandwich idea, and two grilled cheeses too with cheddar and havarti! Bacon puts it over ever so nicely, so thank you for all!
Thank you Sabrina!! xTieghan
Made this tonight, my “dry garlic” was “garlic granules” which must have been a version of garlic salt, so unfortunately my homemade everything spice made it too salty 🙁 However! everything else was great, I used fresh basil & chives, no thyme. Had homemade tom soup in the freezer too. My husband does a grilled cheese in the pan and uses mayo instead of butter, so he was on pan-duty and we used mayo on the bread. Would make again but refine my everything seasoning first. Duh.
I am really glad the rest of it turned out amazing, Katie!! Thank you so much for trying this one!! xTieghan
OMG, this looks so good. Just added to my Pinterest board and I plan to make next week!
Thank you Krissy!! I hope you love this one! xTieghan
I made a vote just by touching my screen. Sorry, no vote intended ! Also I think we should vote only when we made it
Thank you! Many people like to rate my recipes based on the photography. I hope you understand! I also hope you love this recipe if you get a chance to try it! xTieghan
Please explain the lid on grilling your sandwich, do you add water and steam it? Looks delicious
Hey Micah,
I just simply add the lid to help melt the cheese, no water is adding it’s just the steam from the heat. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Have you tried cooking the sandwiches in bacon oil? Do you think that would be too much?
Hey Eunice,
You could certainly do that, I would only leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in your pan. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made this for lunch today…oh…my…goodness…it was delicious! Will make this again and often…thank you!
Thank you Diane!! I am so happy this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Make it! Make it right now! I had every intention of making BLTs for dinner tonight when we realized the lettuce we had was no good. I remembered that I had seen this and since we already had the tomato and bacon ready to go – we went for it! The only changes I made were to use white sandwich bread and mozzarella instead of havarti because those are what I had on hand. I’m lucky enough to have basil, thyme and chives growing in the garden so I grabbed those fresh from outside and everything came together amazingly! My husband took his first bites with his eyes closed and may have used phrases including “best grilled cheese ever” and “amazing”. He literally would not stop thanking me for making this. The sweetness from the tomato paired so well with the salty bacon and the fresh herbs added so much flavor. Will definitely be a regular on our summer rotation!
Haha wow yes!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you, Justine! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
Making for my boyfriend soon. Will def tag on IG.
Amazing! I cannot wait to see it! Thank you! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious! I didn’t have fresh herbs so I threw in a little bit of oregano and thyme with the cheese and it still worked well! The seasoning on the outside stayed on really well! Will try again with fresh herbs, this will be a repeat recipe now.
Yes!! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you!! xTieghan
HOLY SHIT.
I can’t believe I just made and ate the world’s greatest grilled cheese.
So salty, so gooey, so savoury, so satisfying.
Absolutely worth the effort of fiddling around with three types of fresh herbs.
Haha wow I am so glad you loved this one, Leah!! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Made this amazing sandwich for dinner last night and loved it! Took another reviewers suggestion and used the oil from the bacon to fry it in and it was epic! Sooo good that we are having it again for dinner tonight! Also, I’ve never been a fan of the Everything bagel spice but this recipe changed my mind. It totally made the sandwich. Fantastic recipe!
Thank you so much! I am so glad this could change your mind and you enjoyed this! xTieghan
Best. Grilled. Cheese. Ever. And pretty easy to pull together! Thx for sharing this one!!
Thank you for trying it! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This sandwich is INSANE! I’m not a fan of sourdough but I had some homemade sandwich bread so I used that instead. This would be good on any bread honestly. SO GOOD. SO SO GOOD! I will pay for it on my jog in the morning but so worth it. Thanks for another winner, HBH!
I am so glad this turned out so well for you, Karima! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
How to make everything spice ?
Hey Rani,
The recipe for the everything spice is located on this page😉 I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
how do you cook your bacon so perfectly?
Hey Thomas,
I could my bake in a cast iron skillet. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made this for my parents and me today. It was a delicious sandwich and it went well with a nice veggie-filled salad! I can’t wait to make it to pair with some soup this fall/winter!
Thank you so much Alycia! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This is the best grilled cheese I’ve ever made!!!
Thank you so much Kathy! xTieghan
This is delicious! One question, how do you turn the sandwich without everything flying apart? I need your secret (I’m so uncoordinated when it comes to that part)
Hey,
The key is a very large spatula! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
So good!!!
Thank you so much Katie! So glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
SO GOOD!
This grilled cheese does not disappoint! Delicious!
Thank you Cara! I am so gla thsi turned out well for you! xTieghan
I typically do not comment on recipes but I felt the need on this one! WOW, so delicious. The crisp crunch of the bread, gooey cheese & fresh herby flavor is pure delight. I have recently, in the past couple of weeks, discovered your recipes and each one is better then the last. I think this was the 5 recipe I have made, you’re a new favorite of mine and can’t wait to keep exploring!
That is so amazing to hear! Thank you so much for trying this one, Melissa!! I am really glad it turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I just made this for lunch and it is such a game changer! Very simple additions added onto the “traditional grilled cheese” that make it bursting with different flavors! This is always going to be my go to grilled cheese now, thank you for sharing your brilliance!
Thank you Mes! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This grilled cheese is SO GOOD!! Just be careful if you are using store bought everything but bagel seasoning, I didn’t realize that mine has sea salt in it and it made the sandwich too salty. I will definitely make this again.
I am so glad this turned out so well for you, Svonne! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
Wow!! Seriously one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten! I didn’t have fresh chives and forgot to put the parmesan on the outside of the bread but we both couldn’t stop saying “WOW”
Wow love to hear that, Bethany!! Thank you so much for trying this recipe! xTieghan
FANTASTIC!! I’ve made this twice already. The second time I added a runny fried egg and served it for breakfast. It was a huge hit at our family gathering…highly recommend! Thanks for another spectacular recipe.
I am so happy to hear that, Emily! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
The Parmesan/everything bagel seasoning crust is *chef’s kiss*
Thank you Jackie! I am so glad you like this! xTieghan
I’m giving this recipe a full 5 stars because I will be making it again in the future and I have no doubt it will be the perfect grilled cheese because of how close to perfect it was the first time I made it.
That being said, the first time some bites were perfect and some were way too salty. I used Trader Joe’s EBTB seasoning instead of homemade so I didn’t control the amount of salt in that. Next time I’ll just be more aware of the amount of salt on the tomatoes + in the butter + in the seasoning and once I’ve got that perfected I’ll never go back to regular grilled cheese!
I am so glad this turned out so well for you, Victoria!! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
AMAZING! Best grilled cheese I have ever had! Thank you!
Thank you so much Shelby! xTieghan
The addition of everything but the bagel spice on the outside of the sandwich was wonderful!! I added a smashed avocado to the bacon, tomato and cheese and used a panini press. Great recipe you shared with us. Thanks.
Thank you Melissa!! xTieghan
This my ideal sandwich, sounds and looks delicious!
Thank you so much Heather! xTieghan
This was so delicious, Tieghan! Perfect comfort dish while we watched the Dodgers in the World Series. We love you!
Aw you are too kind! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you Seth! Thank you! xTieghan
Amazing! Actually used Trader Joe’s everything but the bagel seasoning out of laziness and it was terrific
Hey Brigit,
I am delighted you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
This was SO good! I had to sub Monterey Jack and Mild cheddar because Walmart has like NO good cheese (haha). And subbed dried herbs for fresh (because again, Walmart) But still AMAZING and so simple. Thank you for your amazingly creative and flavorful recipes!!
Hey Kari,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy Monday! xTieghan
Loved them!!
Thanks so much!!
Can’t wait to try! Can i use sun dried tomatoes instead of regular tomato’s
Hey Luiza,
Thanks so much, sure sun dried tomatoes would be fun to use! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan