Why You’ll Love This Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese
Comfort food enthusiasts, get ready for the ultimate sandwich upgrade.
I’ve combined two classics—garlic bread and grilled cheese—into one mind-blowing creation that’ll make your taste buds dance.
The buttery, garlicky exterior gives way to gooey, melted cheese that stretches with every bite. It’s crispy where it should be crispy, soft where it should be soft. Perfect for lunch, dinner, or those nights when adulting feels too hard.
The best part? It takes just minutes to make with ingredients you probably already have.
Trust me, once you try this hybrid, regular grilled cheese will seem downright boring.
What Ingredients are in Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese?
For this mouthwatering mash-up, we’re taking everything you love about garlic bread and stuffing it with gooey, melted cheese. The ingredients are surprisingly simple, but together they create something truly magical.
Think of it as the comfort food equivalent of 1+1=3—somehow the combination becomes more than the sum of its parts.
- 1 refrigerated pie crust (9-inch)
- 6 strips turkey bacon (cooked and crumbled)
- 1 large sweet onion (thinly sliced)
- 3 medium ripe tomatoes (sliced, about 2 cups)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
When shopping for these ingredients, quality really matters.
Splurge on good cheese if you can—it melts better and tastes richer. And those tomatoes? Try to find the ripest ones possible for maximum flavor.
While the recipe calls for turkey bacon, regular bacon works perfectly if that’s what you have on hand.
And don’t skip the fresh basil if you can help it; that aromatic pop of flavor takes this sandwich from great to unforgettable.
How to Make This Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese
Let’s transform these simple ingredients into the ultimate comfort food mash-up. Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C) and fitting that 9-inch refrigerated pie crust into a pie pan. You’ll want to par-bake this crust for about 8 minutes—just enough to give it a head start without fully cooking it.
While the crust is doing its thing, cook your 6 strips of turkey bacon in a skillet over medium heat until they’re nice and crisp. Sometimes turkey bacon needs a little help, so don’t be shy about adding a touch of oil if necessary.
Now for the flavor foundation—use those precious turkey bacon drippings to sauté your thinly sliced large sweet onion until it’s soft and golden, which usually takes about 7 minutes. Trust me, these caramelized bits will make all the difference.
Once your crust has cooled slightly, start layering: first, place half of your sliced tomatoes (you’ll need about 3 medium ones total), then add your golden onions and that crumbled turkey bacon, followed by the remaining tomato slices. Can you smell it yet? The magic is happening.
For the crowning glory, mix together 1 cup of shredded cheddar, ½ cup of shredded mozzarella, ½ cup of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped basil (or 1 teaspoon dried if that’s what you have), ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper in a bowl.
This cheesy mixture gets spread over the top of your layered pie, creating what’ll become a golden, bubbly blanket of deliciousness. The recipe doesn’t specify the final baking time, but you’ll want to return this beauty to your 375°F oven until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown—probably about 20-25 minutes.
When the top is bubbling and golden, you’ve reached grilled cheese nirvana, that perfect moment where garlic bread meets melty cheese sandwich.
Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese Substitutions and Variations
While this classic garlic bread grilled cheese is already a showstopper, I’m all about personalizing recipes to match what you have on hand or your dietary preferences.
Try swapping cheddar for gouda, gruyère, or pepper jack for different flavor profiles. Not a fan of turkey bacon? Regular bacon works perfectly, or skip it altogether for a vegetarian option.
You can also play with different herbs – rosemary or thyme make lovely alternatives to basil. For a vegan version, use plant-based cheese and mayo.
And when tomatoes aren’t in season? Sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers add that perfect tangy sweetness.
What to Serve with Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese
A perfect garlic bread grilled cheese deserves equally perfect accompaniments to round out your meal.
I’m a firm believer that tomato soup is the ultimate pairing—that creamy, slightly tangy soup perfectly balances the rich, buttery sandwich.
For something lighter, try a crisp side salad with a vinaigrette dressing. The acidity cuts through the cheese beautifully.
Roasted vegetables work wonderfully too, especially if you’re craving something heartier.
In the summer, I serve mine with fresh fruit—watermelon, grapes, or strawberries. The sweetness provides a rejuvenating contrast to the savory, garlicky goodness of your sandwich.
Final Thoughts
Now that we’ve covered side dishes, I can’t help but reflect on why garlic bread grilled cheese has become such a beloved comfort food in my kitchen.
It’s that perfect marriage of two classics, creating something greater than the sum of its parts.
The crispy, buttery exterior giving way to gooey, melted cheese. The punch of garlic that transforms an ordinary sandwich into something crave-worthy.
Simple to make but impressive to serve.
Whether it’s a quick lunch, casual dinner, or midnight snack, this sandwich never disappoints.
Isn’t that what comfort food is all about? Pure, uncomplicated satisfaction.
Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Fit pie crust into a 9-inch pie pan and par-bake for 8 minutes.
- Cook turkey bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp.
- Using the bacon drippings, sauté the thinly sliced onion until soft and golden, about 7 minutes.
- Layer half of the tomato slices in the cooled crust, followed by the caramelized onions and crumbled turkey bacon, then add remaining tomato slices.
- In a bowl, combine shredded cheddar, mozzarella, mayonnaise, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Spread the cheese mixture over the layered ingredients.
- Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and beginning to brown.
