Take your grilled cheese game to the next level by adding maple bacon! Sweet, sticky, smoky and extra cheesy, this truly is the ultimate grilled cheese!
Yeah I really have no excuse for this is one guys. Could I just make a grilled cheese? Could I even just make a bacon grilled cheese? Is there any need for a MAPLE bacon grilled cheese??? The answer to all 3 is no, but boy oh boy this tastes good.
The ULTIMATE Bacon Grilled Cheese
Bacon sandwiches are a thing of beauty. But when you turn it into a grilled cheese, things just get so much more dreamy. Like most things on this blog I decided to take things a step further today and use maple bacon, because, well, it’s ridiculously insanely delicious – why else?! 🤣
Maple Glazed Bacon
The idea of maple bacon is based around the ultimate combination of sweet and salty. But not only does smearing bacon in maple syrup give a mouthwatering flavour, it also offers the perfect texture. Just imagine how sweet, sticky and caramelized it comes out the oven. So good.
Making maple bacon is as simple as glazing raw streaky bacon and popping it in the oven. Some recipes just use maple syrup, most add sugar, but I like to take things a little further, just for maximum flavour. Here’s exactly how I like my maple glaze:
- Maple Syrup – The backbone and majority of the glaze.
- Brown Sugar – Helps caramelize the bacon.
- Balsamic Vinegar – Balances out the sweetness with a little acidity, but also adds gorgeous flavour.
- Dijon Mustard – Adds a very gentle background heat.
- Cayenne Pepper – Balances out the sweet and sour with a little spice.
And if all of that glaze actually makes it to the bacon then you’ve got a lot more will power than me.
Maple Bacon Grilled Cheese
I’m sure you’re familiar with how to make a grilled cheese, and if you’re not you haven’t spent long enough on this blog. Here’s just a few tips that really go a long way when making a grilled cheese:
- Butter the bread, not the pan. If you butter the pan it’s likely to clump up in certain areas of the bread and cook it unevenly. Spreading on the bread before hand will ensure an even toast across the board.
- Don’t over heat! Keep the flames medium-low; this will allow you to get a nice toasty crust whilst still melting the centre.
- Don’t be afraid to pack in the cheese – when, and I mean WHEN not ‘if’ it spills out, it’ll go gorgeously crispy and IMO those are the best bits!
What is the best cheese to use?
You can really choose and cheese you fancy, but for a maple bacon grilled cheese I go for two: a nice sharp cheddar (to counteract the sweetness) and a smoked cheese (to enhance the smoky tones of the bacon).
How to make a maple bacon grilled cheese (quick summary)
- Add bread to a pan with the heat OFF. Spread with butter and flip over.
- Add smoked cheese.
- Add maple bacon.
- Add shredded cheddar.
- Place another slice of bread to the top and squish down with your hands. Spread with more butter.
- Turn on heat to a medium and fry both sides until golden.
The mayo vs butter debate!
I think it’s pretty well established that us Brits use butter to spread on the bread, but in the US it seems much more divided. When I first heard about using mayo it did intrigue me, mainly because I am an absolute mayo addict. I have tried it a couple of times and it’s nice, but it’s no butter. Using mayo adds a tang to the grilled cheese and arguable makes the outside less greasy, so I can see the appeal, but personally not for me. I have heard of people using a mix of both so you can always try that too!
From there I’d tuck in right away a) so the cheese is still nice and gooey and b) otherwise you’ll be tempted to add sides and I promise you won’t need them 🤣
If you like the sweet salty combo here, check out my Cheese and Bacon Turnovers! They’re stuffed with caramelized onions, so offer a similar flavour profile to this recipe 🙂
For more similar recipes check out these beauties too:
Fun Grilled Cheese Recipes
- Breakfast Grilled Cheese
- Cranberry Bacon Brie Grilled Cheese
- Turkey Grilled Cheese
- Chicken Pesto Grilled Cheese
- Patty Melt
Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for this maple bacon grilled cheese shall we?!
How to make a Maple Bacon Grilled Cheese (Full Recipe & Video)
Maple Bacon Grilled Cheese
Equipment
- Large Frying Pan
- Large Baking Tray
- Small Pot & Brush
- Cheese Grater
Ingredients
Grilled Cheese
- 4 large slices of Bread
- 8 rashers of Streaky Bacon
- 3/4 cup / 75g Cheddar, grated
- 4 slices of Smoked Cheese (here I use Applewood)
- Butter, as needed
Maple Glaze
- 2 tbsp Maple Syrup
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
- pinch of Cayenne Pepper
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/175C. In small bowl combine your glaze ingredients.
- Brush both sides of your bacon with the glaze and lay on a baking tray. Bake for around 10-15mins or until the bacon begins to caramelize. Take out, flip then pop back in the oven for another 10 mins or until sticky and fully caramelized. Timings will vary so just be vigilant. If the bacon begins to char before it's cooked through then turn down the heat.
- Place two slices of bread in a pan with the heat OFF. Spread with butter then flip over so both are butter side down. Add your smoky cheese, then maple bacon, then cheddar and finish with another slice of bread. Squish down with your hands and spread with butter.
- Turn on heat to a medium and fry each side until golden. Slice in half and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Your Private Notes:
Nutrition
Looking for more?
You’ll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook ‘Comfy’
If you loved this Maple Bacon Grilled Cheese Recipe then be sure to Pin it for later! Already made it or got a burning question? Give me a shout in the comments and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!
So excited to make this with my butternut squash soup! I’m making this keto with Lakanto sugar free maple syrup and swerve brown sugar. Also the bread is Loven fresh zero net carbs bread!!! I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Hope it goes down well! 🙂
so excited to make this tonight! do you have suggestions for some of your favorite sides to pair with it?
Oooo enjoy! I’ve got a ‘Sides’ category and an ‘Appetizers’ category so deffo have a look through! Some wedges or fries would be tasty
That cheese!! Love the combo of sweet and salty!
My favourite combo!
Amazing! I don’t think you ever need an excuse for anything that goes in a grilled cheese sandwich — especially when it’s maple bacon! Oh, and I’m all about the butter!
Yay team butter!
This looks so delicious. You had me at maple bacon!
Maple bacon makes the world go round!
Oh my goodness that grilled cheese oozing out!!! Looks soooo delicious!
Can’t beat some oozy cheese!
I didn’t think grilled cheese could get any better… the addition of bacon and maple makes this incredible!
It’s a total game changer!
Oh yummmmmmmm! It is lunch time right now here and I am starving. I wish I was having this for lunch. It looks gooey and cheesey and so yummy. Pinning!!!
It’s seriously the best!!