Best Veggie-Bacon Grilled Cheese
Prep Time: 30 minutes | Cook Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes | Serves: 4
This might be one of the most ridiculously decadent, enjoyable sandwiches that I’ve created. It’s not my usual post, but I am swooning right now.
I am collaborating with The Spice and Tea Exchange in Blowing Rock, NC. It is a beautiful store, filled with aromas and flavors that would make any foodie swoon. You are encouraged to smell and taste. I love that about this store! You’re not guessing; you can make a confident purchase. The area in North Carolina is beautiful, so stick around to tour the attractions and enjoy the local faves.
The Spice and Tea Exchange’s “Onion Obsession Spice Blend” is filled with dried vegetables, herbs, and seasonings that complement one another so perfectly… onion flakes, shallot, chive, etc. “Sweet Onion Sugar” which is also sold as a solo flavor in the store, makes its appearance in this delicious blend! I use this Onion Obsession blend to create a compound butter, full of flavor, for spreading on a crispy, veggie-bacon grilled cheese!
Yes, let’s discuss the bacon. Oh, wow! I made a mixture of Sweet Onion Sugar, light brown sugar, Hot Smoked Paprika, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, and freshly-cracked black pepper. The Sweet Onion Sugar gives amazing flavor to the bacon itself, but blended with the other Spice and Tea Exchange ingredients, it will give First Watch’s Million Dollar Bacon a run for its money. Don’t skip this step of boosting the bacon to WOW.
If your veggies are seasoned well and you use a flavorful cheese, you really don’t need a spread such as an aioli or mustard. But, if you feel it’s lacking, go ahead and use your favorite.
You can lessen the amount of brown sugar on the bacon if you don’t want it super sweet. I thought it was perfect; my husband thought it was too sweet. Add the extra brown sugar according to your tastes.
This recipe is not for the faint of heart. As you can see by reading, this recipe has quite a few steps, but really good food isn’t always thrown together in “30 minutes or less.” You will be rewarded for your efforts. Who knows, this recipe may create a weekly “Sandwich Night” at your table!
See more photos below the recipe card.
Enjoy!
Best Veggie-Bacon Grilled Cheese
Give your bacon added flair with The Spice and Tea Exchange (Blowing Rock, NC) spices and sugars, and elevate your grilled cheese sandwiches to WOW!
Ingredients
Onion Obsession Compound Butter:
- 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Onion Obsession Spice Blend, The Spice and Tea Exchange
- 2 small pinches kosher or sea salt, or to taste
- freshly-cracked black pepper, to taste
Onion Bacon:
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Sweet Onion Sugar, The Spice and Tea Exchange
- 1 1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspooon Smoked Paprika, hot or mild, The Spice and Tea Exchange
- 1/2 - 1 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flake, The Spice and Tea Exchange
- sea salt, to taste, depends on the bacon's salt content
- freshly-cracked black pepper, (I prefer a medium-grind for the bacon)
- 8 slices bacon
Roasted Veggies:
- 3 bell peppers, seeded and sliced into 1 1/2" slices
- 1 red onion, sliced into wedges
- 3 poblano peppers, seeded and sliced into 1 1/2" slices
- 1 zucchini, sliced into 1/2" slices
- 1 yellow squash, sliced into 1/2" slices
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced into 1/4" slices
- 2 jalapenos, or other hot peppers, seeded and sliced, optional
- 2 tablespoons oil (extra-virgin olive oil, olive oil, avocado oil, etc.)
- bread of choice, I prefer sourdough or a classic French loaf
- cheese of choice, sliced (I prefer Fontina, Muenster, or Havarti), see Notes
Instructions
- Make the Onion Obsession Compound Butter. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a medium bowl using a hand-held mixer, combine the room temp butter, Onion Obsession Spice, salt and pepper, to taste.
- Set aside or refrigerate until needed. (If refrigerated, bring to room temperature until just softened enough to spread before using.)
- Make the Onion-Bacon. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy clean up. Place a wire (cooling) rack over the baking sheet.
- Lay the bacon slices in a single layer on the rack. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the Sweet Onion Sugar, brown sugar, paprika, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle and press the mixture onto both sides of the bacon slices.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until crispy (or to your preferred doneness).
- Roast the veggies. Either prepare another large rimmed baking sheet with foil or drain off the bacon grease well and wipe gently from the previously used baking sheet. Be careful; it will be hot. Scatter the vegetables on the baking sheet, drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper (or your favorite seasoning).
- Bake the veggies in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how soft you want them. I bake for 26 minutes. Check the vegetables at 20 minutes for too much browning. Remove them from the oven.
- Spread a thin layer of the compound butter on one side of each slice of bread. Turn both the bread slices over. Divide the vegetables amongst the sandwiches. Top with cheese, bacon, and the top slice of bread, butter side up.
- Heat a shallow pan or skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sandwiches (you may need to do this in batches).
- “Grill” the sandwiches just until lightly golden brown, flip and “grill” them again on the other side until lightly golden brown.
- Serve while still warm and delicious.
Notes
Cheeses, I use cheeses that melt well and are creamy, but you may use your favorite. Just be sure it complements the other flavors of the sandwich.
You can change up the vegetables. Eggplant, spicy chiles, sliced leeks, etc. will be delicious, too.
Don’t spray the foil on the baking sheet for the bacon. The reason is that if some of the spice mix that goes onto the bacon falls through the rack as you are coating the bacon, you can lift the rack and get the spices (dry) and pat them onto the bacon. Less waste this way.
The nutrition chart does not include bread or cheese. The chart is meant to be a courtesy to you and is only a guesstimate.
Nutrition Facts
Best Veggie-Bacon Grilled Cheese
Amount per Serving
Calories
586.23
% Daily Value*
Fat
51
g
78
%
Saturated Fat
22.42
g
140
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
1.93
g
Monounsaturated Fat
11.87
g
Cholesterol
89.39
mg
30
%
Sodium
799.95
mg
35
%
Potassium
708.6
mg
20
%
Carbohydrates
21.23
g
7
%
Fiber
4.02
g
17
%
Sugar
17.09
g
19
%
Protein
15.68
g
31
%
Vitamin A
689
IU
14
%
Vitamin C
154.62
mg
187
%
Calcium
43.38
mg
4
%
Iron
2.26
mg
13
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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