Is there any meal more comforting, more nostalgic, or more universally loved than a gooey, crispy, golden-brown grilled cheese dunked into a warm bowl of creamy tomato soup? This incredible, from-scratch recipe is the ultimate, “grown-up” version of that classic duo, featuring a sophisticated Apple, Bacon, and Cheddar Grilled Cheese paired with a rich, savory, and unbelievably flavorful Roasted Tomato Soup.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a guide to the perfect bowl of soul-warming comfort. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a perfectly crispy grilled cheese, loaded with the irresistible combination of sweet, salty, and tart flavors. And we’ll demystify the process of making a restaurant-quality tomato soup, with a deep, complex flavor that comes from roasting the vegetables first. Get ready to create the coziest and most delicious meal you’ll have all season.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Comfort Food Duo
What makes this meal so spectacular is the perfect, classic pairing of a gourmet grilled cheese with a homemade, from-scratch soup. The grilled cheese is a masterpiece of textures and flavors: sharp cheddar, salty bacon, and tart Granny Smith apple are layered between buttery, toasted country bread with a hint of tangy Dijon. The soup is a true showstopper, getting its deep, sweet, and complex flavor from slow-roasting fresh tomatoes, garlic, and onions until they are perfectly caramelized. It’s a rewarding, impressive, and deeply satisfying meal that is perfect for a chilly day.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 30 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 4 |
The Essential Ingredients for This Classic Meal
This recipe is built from two perfect, from-scratch components.
For the Apple & Bacon Grilled Cheese:
- The “Holy Trinity” of Fillings: This is the secret to the perfect sweet, salty, and savory flavor combination.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: A good quality, sharp cheddar provides a wonderful, tangy flavor that stands up beautifully to the other bold ingredients.
- Crispy Bacon: Salty, smoky, crispy bacon is the perfect savory counterpoint.
- Granny Smith Apple: A firm, crisp, and tart apple like a Granny Smith is essential. Its bright, acidic “snap” cuts through the richness of the cheese and bacon.
- The Bread: A sturdy, thick-sliced country white bread is the perfect choice to hold up to all the hearty fillings without becoming soggy.
- Dijon Mustard & Butter: A thin layer of tangy Dijon mustard adds a wonderful, sophisticated kick, while a generous smear of softened, unsalted butter on the outside is the key to a perfectly golden-brown and crispy crust.
For the Roasted Tomato Soup:
- The Tomatoes: For the best, most complex flavor, use a mix of different ripe tomatoes, such as heirloom, vine-ripened, and plum tomatoes.
- The Roasted Aromatics: We roast whole garlic cloves and sliced onions right alongside the tomatoes. This technique makes them incredibly sweet, tender, and deeply flavorful.
- The Richness: A rich, savory chicken stock, a touch of unsalted butter, and a final splash of heavy cream create a soup with a beautiful, velvety texture and a luxurious finish.
- Fresh Basil: A handful of fresh basil, blended into the soup at the end, adds a wonderful, fresh, and peppery-sweet herbaceous note.
Step-by-Step to the Ultimate Comfort Food Meal
It’s best to start the soup first, and then while it is simmering, you can make the grilled cheese sandwiches so that everything is hot and ready at the same time.
Recipe 1: The Rich and Savory Roasted Tomato Soup
Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).
Step 2: Core and halve your 2 1/2 pounds of assorted tomatoes. In a large, flameproof roasting pan over medium-high heat, drizzle the 1/2 cup of olive oil. Add all your halved tomatoes, the 6 cloves of garlic, and the 2 sliced small onions to the pan. Cook, stirring gently, for about 5 minutes, until the garlic begins to brown. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Transfer the entire pan to the preheated oven and roast for 20 to 30 minutes, until the tomatoes are beautifully caramelized and have softened.
Step 4: Carefully remove the roasting pan from the oven. Transfer the roasted tomatoes, garlic, and onions to a large stockpot. Add 3 cups of the chicken stock, the 2 bay leaves, and the 4 tablespoons of butter.
Step 5: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until the liquid has reduced by about one-third. Remove and discard the bay leaves.
Step 6: Add the 1/2 cup of chopped fresh basil to the pot. Using an immersion blender, carefully purée the soup until it is completely smooth. (Alternatively, you can carefully transfer the soup in batches to a regular blender and then return it to the pot).
Step 7: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the 3/4 cup of heavy cream. If the soup seems too thick, you can adjust the consistency with the remaining 1 cup of chicken stock. Season the soup with salt and pepper to your taste. Garnish with roasted cherry tomatoes and a final drizzle of olive oil, if desired.
Recipe 2: The Ultimate Apple, Bacon & Cheddar Grilled Cheese
Step 1: Spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard on 4 of the slices of country white bread.
Step 2: On top of the mustard, layer your sliced sharp cheddar cheese, your cooked bacon, and your thinly sliced Granny Smith apple. Top with the remaining 4 slices of bread.
Step 3: Generously spread softened butter on the outside of both the top and bottom slices of each sandwich.
Step 4: In a large skillet or on a griddle over medium-low heat, cook the sandwiches for about 3 minutes per side, until the cheese is completely melted and gooey, and the bread is a deep, beautiful golden brown and perfectly crispy.
Slice the sandwiches in half diagonally and serve them immediately with the hot Roasted Tomato Soup for dipping.
The Ultimate Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese (with Roasted Tomato Soup!)
A gourmet grilled cheese sandwich featuring a classic combination of sweet and savory flavors. Slices of country white bread are spread with Dijon mustard and filled with sharp cheddar cheese, crispy cooked bacon, and thin slices of tart Granny Smith apple. The outside of the sandwich is buttered and then pan-fried over medium-low heat until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is perfectly melted. The recipe article also includes a full, from-scratch recipe for Roasted Tomato Soup as a suggested pairing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 16 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 8 slices country white bread
- 4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 slices cooked bacon
- 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
Instructions
- Note: The ingredient list was not fully specified in the source article and has been inferred from the instructions.
- Lay out 8 slices of country white bread on a work surface.
- Spread Dijon mustard on 4 of the slices.
- Layer each of the mustard-spread slices with 2 slices of cheddar cheese, 2 slices of cooked bacon, and several slices of Granny Smith apple.
- Top with the remaining 4 slices of bread to complete the sandwiches.
- Spread softened butter on the outer sides of each sandwich.
- Cook the sandwiches in a skillet over medium-low heat for about 3 minutes per side, until the cheese is fully melted and the bread is golden brown and crisp.
- Serve immediately, optionally with Roasted Tomato Soup.
Notes
- Cooking the grilled cheese over medium-low heat is a key technique that allows the cheese to melt completely without burning the bread.
- The article includes a full, separate recipe for a from-scratch Roasted Tomato Soup, which is the recommended pairing for this sandwich.
- The combination of sharp cheddar, smoky bacon, and tart apple creates a balanced, gourmet flavor profile.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- The Soup: The Roasted Tomato Soup is the perfect make-ahead dish! You can prepare the entire soup up to 3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It also freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.
- The Grilled Cheese: A grilled cheese sandwich is at its absolute crispiest and best when it is served fresh and hot from the skillet. You can assemble the sandwiches (without the butter on the outside) a few hours in advance and keep them covered in the refrigerator.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Use a Different Cheese: This gourmet grilled cheese is wonderfully versatile! Try it with a nutty, melty Gruyère, a creamy fontina, or a smoky Gouda instead of the cheddar.
- Add a Sweet & Savory Jam: For an extra layer of delicious, complex flavor, you can spread a very thin layer of fig jam or an onion bacon jam on the inside of the bread along with the Dijon mustard.
- Make the Soup Vegetarian: For a completely vegetarian version of this meal, you can simply substitute the chicken stock in the soup with an equal amount of a high-quality, flavorful vegetable stock.
Enjoy The Ultimate Comfort Food Classic!
You’ve just created a truly special meal that is the very definition of homemade comfort. This classic, from-scratch Roasted Tomato Soup and gourmet grilled cheese combination is a perfect harmony of creamy, tangy, sweet, and savory flavors. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying meal that is sure to become a new family favorite.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, classic comfort food meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute secret to the best, crispiest grilled cheese?
The secret is to cook it low and slow! It may be tempting to crank up the heat to get it done faster, but cooking a grilled cheese over a gentle, medium-low heat is the key. This gives the cheese in the center plenty of time to melt completely and become gooey, while the butter on the outside of the bread has time to slowly toast to a perfect, even, deep golden brown without burning.
Q2: What are the best tomatoes to use for a roasted tomato soup?
The best secret is to use a variety of tomatoes! As the recipe suggests, using a mix of different types of ripe, in-season tomatoes—like large, meaty heirloom tomatoes, classic vine-ripened tomatoes, and sweet plum or Roma tomatoes—will give your final soup a much more complex, balanced, and deep tomato flavor.
Q3: Can I make the soup ahead of time?
Yes, absolutely! The Roasted Tomato Soup is a perfect make-ahead meal. In fact, its flavor is often even better on the second day after the flavors have had time to meld. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Q4: What other kinds of cheese are good with apples and bacon?
The classic, sharp cheddar in this recipe is a fantastic choice. However, other cheeses that have a good, nutty flavor and melt well would also be delicious. Try it with a nutty Gruyère, a creamy fontina, or a mild and melty provolone.
Q5: What is an immersion blender, and can I make this soup without one?
An immersion blender (also known as a stick blender) is a fantastic kitchen tool that allows you to blend a hot soup directly in the pot, which is very easy and convenient. If you don’t have one, you can still absolutely make this soup! Simply let the soup cool down slightly, and then carefully transfer it in batches to a regular, countertop blender. Blend each batch until it is smooth, and then return the puréed soup to the pot to finish with the cream.