Strawberry Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Strawberry bacon grilled cheese sandwich is going to make you say Wow! First, just seeing what is in it will surprise you, but when you smell it cooking, your mouth will water. In the first bite, you will taste the sweet strawberries, gooey cheese, and crispy bacon on the buttery light bread cooked to perfection. It is hard to describe my favorite taste between the creamy cheese and the sweet strawberries. Either way, this is my new favorite sandwich.

This is a new hit that you are going to love as much as I do. Make it for yourself before you make it for anyone else. Once you realize how scrumptious it is, you are going to have to make about six more so you can feed the family. Ensure everyone gets a taste of what you created, so they know you didn’t just dream it up. A grilled sandwich with crispy bacon,  juicy strawberries, cream cheese, and sharp cheddar may seem too good to be true.

What’s more, it only takes a few minutes to make. You will only need one pan and a spatula, so there are no dishes to wash. Talk about an easy dinner. Sure, you can toss a salad to go with it. Then you have the perfect summer dinner without having to turn on the oven and heat up the house. And it is always fun to serve something fresh and new.

Why you will love this recipe

• New sandwich: It is always fun to serve something new.
• Make it in minutes: You can cook it in 10 minutes.
• Easy cleanup: One pan is all you have to wash.
• Perfect for summer: No oven is needed.

What you’ll need to make strawberry bacon grilled cheese sandwiches

Special items:

• Cast iron skillet – Or a large heavy skillet.
• Cooking utensils

Ingredients:

• Sourdough bread – First, I use a fresh round of sourdough straight from the bakery and slice it right before I start cooking.
• Cream cheese – For this, you can use whipped cream cheese to make it easier to spread if you like. If not, make sure the brick is softened to room temperature.
• Strawberry jam—I have two strawberry jam recipes you can try. If you are in a hurry, use the instant pot recipe, or use my easy stovetop method.
• Cheddar cheese – For the best ooey gooey cheese, shred your own cheese. The pre-shredded cheese is treated so it doesn’t clump.
• Strawberries – I prefer and recommend you use fresh organic strawberries for the best flavor.
• Bacon – Cook your bacon beforehand and ensure it is completely cool and patted dry before using.
• Butter – I love the taste of real butter when grilling my sandwich. Margarine doesn’t have the same flavor.

How to make strawberry bacon grilled cheese sandwiches?

• Make the sandwich: First, spread the cream cheese on one side of each bread slice. Then, top that with a thin layer of strawberry jam, shredded cheese, crispy bacon, and sliced strawberries. Place the other piece of bread on top, with the cream cheese facing down.
• Cook the sandwich: Place a cast iron skillet on medium-high and heat the butter until it is sizzling. Then, turn the heat to medium and place the sandwich in the pan. Press down lightly and cook it for about three to four minutes on each side, until it is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
• Slice and serve: Lastly, remove from the heat and slice in half. Serve with strawberry jam for dipping.

Expert tip

Butter the bread or the pan?

It seems like every good recipe has a bit of controversy, and this grilled cheese recipe is one of them. With this one, the big question is whether to butter the bread or the pan. I have always been one to put butter in the pan because that is how we have been doing it for centuries. However, most new cooks are now saying that buttering the bread is the better way to do it.

After a lot of research, I have figured out why. And it makes sense. If you butter the bread, it puts the flavor on the bread where it belongs. You are not flavoring the pan, after all. Also, buttering the entire bread evenly means you lessen the chance of burning it. When you put the butter in the pan, you never know if the whole slice of bread is getting buttered evenly.

Now, others say that they first melt the butter in the pan and then dip the bread in the butter and coat it that way. That seems okay but could be a little messy, which means you have to butter the pan and the bread instead of just the bread. That can cause soggy bread. I may start buttering the bread and try it that way for a while to see if it is any easier or better. I will let you know.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Different cheese: Try this with Swiss or mozzarella instead of cheddar for a new taste.
• Other fruits: Similarly, you can use raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries instead of strawberries. My kids love it with raspberries.
• Add veggies: Slice some tomatoes, onions, and lettuce or spinach to make it more filling and flavorful. I love it with arugula. The nutty, tangy taste adds a layer of unique flavor.
• Spicy grilled cheese: You can also heat your sandwich by using pepper jack cheese and sprinkling red pepper flakes on your strawberry jam.
• Add meat: To make this a meaty sandwich, slide in a few slices of turkey, ham, or chicken. 
• Herbs: For more flavor, sprinkle some herbs on your cream cheese or herbed cream cheese.

Serving suggestions:

Strawberry bacon grilled cheese sandwiches go great with all sorts of things. Here are some ideas I like:

• Grilled cheese sandwiches go great with soup. This would pair well with my instant pot bacon ranch potato soup for a hearty lunch or light dinner.
• Any wine would go great with this sweet and savory sandwich, but I really like it with Pinot noir.
• Instead of wine, try my delicious summer cocktail, boozy watermelon lemonade. For the kids, serve this strawberry banana smoothie.
• If you serve this for dinner, it will pair nicely with some arugula strawberry salad or strawberry broccoli salad.
• Sticking with the bacon and cheese theme, serve this bacon ranch cheese ball and some chips with your sandwiches at your next big game day party.

Frequently asked questions

How do you keep a grilled cheese warm and crispy?

For a few hours, you can keep grilled cheese warm and crispy on an electric food warmer or grill set at a very low temperature. However, it is not a good idea. The longest I would keep them out is two hours, so ensure you keep them covered. If you are packing them for lunch, pour boiled water into a thermos and let it sit while you cook and cool the sandwich. Then, dry it out and cut the sandwich into strips. Place it in the thermos, and it will stay warm and melty until lunch.

Why is my grilled cheese soggy?

Too much butter is the main reason for soggy grilled cheese sandwiches. I recommend one tablespoon per slice of bread. But remember, I am using huge slices of bread. Also, if you use low-fat butter, the water in it can cause extra moisture, which will also cause sogginess. Another thing is to make sure your pan is hot enough. If it is not, your bread will have to sit too long in the pan and get soggy. Finally, place your sandwich on parchment paper instead of directly on the plate to avoid condensation. 

How can I reheat my grilled cheese?

You need to eat your strawberry bacon grilled cheese sandwich right away. That is the best time to eat it. But you can always try to reheat it. There are a couple of options, and neither one involves the microwave. First, you could put it into a sandwich maker or panini press if you have one. Second, you could reheat it in the air fryer for a few minutes. If you have a toaster oven, this will work too, but it will take 10 to 15 minutes. You can also try cooking it the original way, in the pan. Just preheat the pan, add butter, and cook for two minutes per side.

Is it okay to keep my sandwiches in the oven at 175 degrees F for several hours?

Keeping your food warm in the oven has been going on for centuries. Actually, before that, we used to keep food in pots over a low fire. They still do this in some countries. It is called perpetual stew (also known as forever soup and hunter’s pot) and is cooked over a low fire constantly 24/7/365 for the whole tribe to add to and eat from. There is one in Thailand that has been going for 49 years. However, I would not recommend it. Honestly, it is not worth the risk. 

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: You can store this sandwich in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container.
• Freezing: Freezing is not recommended.
• Reheat: Reheat in a sandwich maker, air fryer, toaster oven, or pan.   

More sandwiches to try:

Recipe tips:

• If strawberries are not in season, use strawberry preserves or stick with the strawberry jam.
• Although I prefer sourdough bread, you can use any bread you want. You are putting a lot of ingredients on this sandwich, so make sure the bread can handle it.
• Using shredded cheese makes it melt faster and more evenly. Do NOT use sliced cheese.
• Make sure your pan is at the right temperature. Too high, and your bread will burn. Too low, and your sandwich will be soggy.
• Pressing down gently on your sandwich will help the cheese melt and promote even browning.
• Do NOT use too much butter. That is the main reason for soggy sandwiches.