Sometimes, it’s OK to settle. Unless we are talking about a BLT sandwich—in which case, please never ever agree to anything less than a BLT Grilled Cheese.
The word “settle” does not have a particularly positive connotation. If we settle, it’s because we’ve given up, we’ve decided we don’t deserve the best, and we lack a certain measure of self worth.
Certainly, I wish the best for everyone, but the truth is, in my own life, “the best” is not always the most practical (or affordable) solution. I’m OK with that. My coffee isn’t freshly roasted, my socks don’t always match, and I probably should have washed my hair today, instead of opting for the dry shampoo again. I settled for Trader Joe’s medium roast and put my hair in a ponytail.
Daily survival demands settling and compromise. Maybe it’s the movies we rent or where we go out to dinner. Maybe it’s the discount brands we buy or the pizza toppings we choose to avoid household mutiny. Some sacrifices are bigger than others. Many are worth it.
About This Delicious BLT Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
In a world that demands compromise, we can find refuge in the BLT. I know it sounds odd, but I believe there is comfort in the fact that, no matter what the universe hurls our way, we never need to settle for a sub-par BLT.
Classic BLTs have never particularly appealed to me. Where’s the messy sauce to moisten the bread? The greens hearty enough to stand up to the salty bacon? (Sorry iceberg lettuce—you are not up to the task.) And the biggest question of all, where is the cheese?
Today’s BLT grilled cheese is everything a BLT sandwich can and should and must be. It has all of the best parts of a BLT—the thick cut bacon, the juicy tomato—but none of the drawbacks.
Instead of iceberg lettuce (which I find adds nothing to the sandwich but a half-hearted watery mush), I used feisty arugula, which adds peppery boldness. For the bread, I skipped the ho-hum white slices in favor of a multigrain sourdough. It’s slightly tangy, thick, and hearty, perfect for toasting and capable of containing the sandwich’s hot, melty interior.
Since my biggest beef (er, pork?) with BLTs are that they are too dry, I slathered the bread with Dijon mustard. It’s zippy and keeps the sandwich moist.
The final essential: sassy sharp cheddar cheese. Pile that baby high! Making a no-settle BLT is not the time to be skimpy with the good stuff.
What to Serve with BLT Grilled Cheese
- Salad. Fresh, healthy Creamy Cucumber Salad would go great with this sandwich.
- Fries. A side of Crispy Baked Fries are the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
- Veggies. Add more vegetables to your plate by serving this sandwich with a side of Roasted Zucchini.
More Gourmet Grilled Cheese Recipes
- Apple Grilled Cheese with Turkey Cheddar and Apple Butter
- Avocado Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Herbed Goat Cheese and Garlic
- Raspberry Chipotle Bacon Grilled Cheese
- Corned Beef and Cabbage Grilled Cheese
- Roasted Eggplant Ricotta Grilled Cheese
- Roasted Carrot Grilled Cheese
April is National Grilled Cheese Month, and while I’m not usually one to plan my dinner schedule around food holidays, grilled cheese is a culinary genre I feel deserves the recognition. After all, when a meal is this easy, cheesy, and flavor-packed, we’d be settling if we missed it.
Go forth and griddle!
BLT Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon cooked*
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- Softened butter for grilling
- 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 large ripe tomato, cut into 1/2-inch slices
- 2 ounces freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 small handfuls arugula
Instructions
- If necessary, cook the bacon according to one of my easy methods listed below. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium low. To make each sandwich, spread one side of a bread slice with butter, ensuring that you cover all the way to the edges. Spread the other side of the buttered slice with 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, then layer on half of the cheese, 2 strips of cooked bacon, tomato slices, and a small handful of arugula. Spread another slice of bread with Dijon mustard, then place it mustard-side down on top of the arugula. Butter the remaining topside of the bread. Repeat for the second sandwich.
- Once the skillet is warm, cook the sandwiches on each side, until the bread is golden and the cheese melted, about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Be patient and resist the urge to turn up the skillet heat—low and slow will ensure a golden toast and gooey center. Transfer to a plate, let cool a few minutes, slice, and enjoy.
Notes
- *Easy bacon cooking methods: Oven Baked Bacon or Air Fryer Bacon.
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I like how you think! While I’ll never pass up a classic BLT, I can appreciate a fancy BLT with cheese and an upgrade from iceberg. And the dijon! Love that.
This is my type of sandwich! It’s perfect when you are hungry and are walking around the house looking for something to whip up :D
Can’t wait to make breakfast tomorrow!
BLT Grilled Cheese for breakfast? You da man!
I know what you mean about BLTs – I always make BLTAs instead (avocado). But look what you did here!! Marrying BLT with grilled cheese is brilliant!
I love everything about this post and recipe. =D The only thing I noticed was the “T” part of the sandwich wasn’t mentioned in the ingredients. It does have tomatoes on it, correct?
Hi Kori,
The “T” definitely should be there! Thanks for the reminder, and I apologize for the miss. It’s all updated now :)
This looks great, BUT…! I stand in defense of the classic BLT sandwich. Iceberg lettuce and mayonnaise – yum. Homegrown tomatoes. Crispy bacon. Toasted white bread. What’s not to love?
To each their own, so stand proud! If you love a classic BLT, then enjoy every bite. The beauty is that no one needs to choose just one or the other for life. We can have them both :-)
:) I hope I didn’t come across rudely, but I just thought I was missing something. Thank you for the awesome recipes, & have a great Monday, Erin!
Hi Kori, oh my goodness, not at all! I so appreciate your telling me. I try to be really careful, but sometimes I stare at these recipes so long, I see what I think is there, instead of what I typed!
Totally in love with this sandwich! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!