This grilled cheese with brie is a favorite family 15 minute meal that tastes fabulous! It’s no ordinary sandwich because it also adds pear for sweetness, bacon for a salty crunch, & caramelized onions for the perfect finish. You won’t believe how mind-blowing these are!
These simple sandwiches are a new twist on the classic grilled cheese and yes, they are kid-friendly. The distinctive combination of sweet, savory, salty, and tangy come together between two gorgeous slices of grilled bread. You can use any type of bread, just be sure it is a heart loaf because it needs some density to stand up to all the yummy ingredients!
Can I use different cheeses in the sandwich?
Absolutely! If you decide to play around with the cheeses, stick to keeping one mild and melty, and let the other be more pungent and stronger. You need the balance of both in this special sandwich.
This recipe uses brie and Swiss cheese as it’s base but feel free to try out your favorite cheeses instead. There aren’t many cheeses that don’t go well with pears and bacon so be adventurous.
There is one caveat and I know I will offend some of you by saying this, but for this grilled cheese sandwich, stay away from American cheese. I’m not an American cheese hater in any way, but for the pairing of the pear and bacon, it really wouldn’t be a great match.
Feel free to try any of these personal favorites on your version of this sandwich, again remembering one more mild and melty, and the other more pungent:
Pepper jack
Sharp cheddar
Provolone
Munster
Havarti
Blue
Gruyere
Fontina
Gouda
Goat
What is brie cheese?
Brie cheese is honestly one of the most versatile cheeses on the market. Some call it “the little black dress of cheeses.” It is a French cheese and is best known for how soft and creamy it is. Generally, it is made from cow’s milk and has a white rind around it. And yes, you should eat the rind.
Fruit and cheese boards often feature brie because it pairs so well with them but don’t be limited to only using it in that setting. Give it a go in this grilled cheese with brie and your eyes will begin to be opened to how versatile of a cheese it can become.
What to serve with grilled cheese with brie?
Just because this sandwich might sound like you need extra special sides to pair with it, you don’t. Just simply throw on some salty potato chips, fruit salad, or a slaw onto the plate as well. Perfection!
Looking for more great sandwiches?
Try out one of my other great sandwiches that have been fan favorites for years!
Take your boring grilled cheese to a whole new level with this amazing sandwich that is so packed with flavor you will never go back!
Total Time:15 minutes
Yield:4 sandwiches 1x
Ingredients
Scale
8 slices of bacon
2 cups chopped onions
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 (1 ounce) slices Swiss Cheese
4 ounces Brie cheese, thinly sliced
2 firm but ripe pears, sliced
4 tablespoons softened butter
8 slices hearty bread
Instructions
Heat a large skillet over high heat. When hot, add the bacon and cook until brown and crispy. Remove bacon from pan and place on paper towels to drain.
Remove all but 2-3 tablespoons of bacon fat from the pan and add the onions. Sauté on high for two minutes, then reduce to medium-high heat and cook until onions are dark brown in color, about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Assemble each sandwich by spreading 1/4 of the onion mixture on a piece of bread, add the Swiss cheese, pear, 2 slices of bacon, 1 ounce of Brie, and another slice of bread. Butter outsides of the sandwich and grill on medium heat until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side.
Author:Carole Jones
Prep Time:5 minutes
Cook Time:10 minutes
Category:Main dish
Method:Grilled
Cuisine:American
Nutrition
Serving Size:1 sandwich
Calories:678
Sugar:16 g
Sodium:1037 mg
Fat:39 g
Saturated Fat:12 g
Unsaturated Fat:3 g
Trans Fat:0 g
Carbohydrates:55 g
Fiber:5 g
Protein:27 g
Cholesterol:18 mg
Carole Jones
Carole Jones is an Arizona-based cookbook author & food blogger. She's authored The 30 Minute Cooking From Frozen Cookbook and the self-published Take 5: Chicken e-cookbook. For the past 15 years, Carole has shared her culinary adventures cooking and baking for her six brutally honest children here on My Kitchen Escapades. Hot, crusty bread is Carole's love language, but her two adorable grandchildren are a close second. Yes, second. Don't judge.
2 comments
Donald
5 years ago
These surprised me with how good they were. I didn’t think I would like them but they were REALLY good.
Carole
5 years ago
Always a skeptic 🙂 It helps that there is bacon in there as well because I know how much you love bacon!
The air is getting cooler and the leaves are turning which means it is time to break out those fall recipes and start cooking with apples, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, and cabbage. I have put together...
Here is another quick, easy and delicious recipe to use carnitas in. These crispy carnitas and onion quesadillas are perfect for a weeknight dinner or weekend lunch. The combination of rich...
When I make carnitas I always make a large batch. It always makes sense to do so and there are so many great dishes you can make from the carnitas (Mexican pulled pork). This carnitas enchilada recipe...
Enchiladas are one of my favorite dishes and a go-to weeknight dinner for our family. Whenever I make them, I usually will use a store bought canned sauce. I always say I want to make the sauce myself...
When it comes to Mexican cuisine, few dishes tantalize the taste buds quite like carnitas. These succulent, tender shreds of pork, infused with traditional spices, have been a staple of Mexican culinary...
Tater Tot Casserole is a must-have, kid-friendly recipe in my kitchen. This easy dinner recipe is simply the best because it is jam-packed with ground beef, corn, cheese, and crispy tater tots. When...
2 comments
These surprised me with how good they were. I didn’t think I would like them but they were REALLY good.
Always a skeptic 🙂 It helps that there is bacon in there as well because I know how much you love bacon!