Ina Garten’s Ultimate Grilled Cheese is like grilled cheese on steroids. Add a bowl of creamy roasted tomato basil soup and be prepared to be blown away.
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. Oy!
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.
And if you need some tomato soup inspiration to go along with the ultimate grilled cheese, let me point you in the direction of either this creamless creamy tomato soup or this roasted tomato basil soup.
Otherwise and unconventionally, I think Ina’s split pea soup would also be an excellent soup to make for dipping this grilled cheese. Either way, make Ina’s ultimate grilled cheese and make yourself happy.
Ina Garten's Ultimate Grilled Cheese
Not any old grilled cheese includes 3 types of cheese but this one does! Add some crispy bacon - or skip for a meatless version - and you're on your way to eating the ultimate grilled cheese!
Ingredients
- 12 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup dijon mustard
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 loaf sourdough bread, sliced ½-inch thick (12 slices)
- 6 tbsp salted butter, at room temperature
- 6 oz gruyere or swiss cheese
- 6 oz extra-sharp cheddar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F. 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 ⅓ cup grated cheese evenly on top of the bacon and top with the remaining bread slices, sauce side down.
- Heat an electric panini press or griddle. When the press/griddle 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.
Notes
adapted from How Easy Is That? by Ina Garten
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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!
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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.
Has anyone actually made this?
LOL! I know, all reviews on the picture but none of the actual recipe.. I still have to pin this to try, though..
I LIVE BY MYSELF i JUST WANT ONE OR TWO GRILLED SANDWICH NOT TO FEED A LOT OF PEOPLE.SHOW HOW TO MAKE JUST ONE OR TWO. THANKS
You can always just divide the ingredient amounts by the number of sandwiches you want to make.
I have been on a low iodine diet for four weeks due to thyroid cancer and the need for radioactive iodine treatment. Your not allowed any dairy, bread, or bacon (been living on grits, veggies and chicken). I have been planning my “graduation meal” for this coming Wednesday night and I knew it would be grilled cheese. I think I’ve found it!
Hi Karen! Major congratulations on your graduation day tomorrow!! I hope you enjoy this grilled cheese and take some time to reward and pamper yourself after your journey. Will be thinking about you tomorrow!
This was delicious if VERY rich. I used wheat bread with fontinella and sharp yellow cheddar. Next time I’m going to try adding some tomato or pickle, something to just breakup all the richness. My 1 year old loved it, but my 3 year old didn’t, but he doesn’t like anything lately.
Hi Crystal! Yes, they are very rich but oh so delicious! I love the idea of adding pickles! Pickled banana peppers might be really good too if you want to spice these sandwiches up a bit. Thank you for coming back to leave a review. And I totally feel you on the toddler pickiness. We’ve just entered this phase with our 20 month old. Dark times in our house these days! 🙂
Best grilled cheese ever
Agreed!!!
I love how 99% of the reviews are in the “looks great and would love to make this,” category. I thought the purpose of reviews was to be written by people who actually made the recipe.
I have made this grilled cheese and it is absolutely delicious! It Is comfort Food at its finest.
So glad to hear you love this sandwich! I have to agree!