How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

What ingredients do I need for Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese?

You need 16 ingredients. The key ingredients include: Kosher salt, 1 pound elbow macaroni, 6 strips thick-cut smoked bacon, cut in 1/4-inch pieces, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, and more.

Is Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese suitable as pasta & noodles?

Yes, Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese falls under the Pasta & Noodles category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

How do I store leftover Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese Recipe

Name: Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: Kosher salt; 1 pound elbow macaroni; 6 strips thick-cut smoked bacon, cut in 1/4-inch pieces; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 4 cups hot whole milk; Freshly cracked black pepper; 1 teaspoon dry mustard, or more as needed; 8 ounces sharp Cheddar, shredded (2 cups); 8 ounces Muenster cheese, shredded (2 cups); 1 tablespoon hot sauce; Eight 1/2-inch thick slices brioche; 8 slices American cheese; 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil; 4 tablespoons crushed Calabrian hot chile peppers, from jar; 8 slices tomato, cut thin (or 4 large slices, depending on how big your tomato is); 2 1/2 cups grated Parmesan

1

For the mac and cheese: In a pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente; drain.

2

Set an extra-large skillet, or a large heavy saucepan, over medium-low heat and cook the bacon until crispy and the fat renders out, 10 to 12 minutes.

3

Set the bacon aside, reserving the fat to build your sauce.

4

At this point you should have about 1/4 cup of reserved fat.

5

If needed, add some olive oil or butter to make sure you have a 1/4 cup of fat in the pan.

6

Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the paste bubbles a bit, about 2 minutes (make sure it doesn't brown).

7

Continuing to whisk, add 3 cups of the hot milk and cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.

8

Season with salt and pepper.

9

Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes.

10

Stir in the dry mustard, and then gradually add the Cheddar and Muenster cheeses, stirring constantly until all of the cheese has melted into the sauce.

11

Stir in the hot sauce and the remaining 1 cup milk.

12

Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir to coat.

13

Stir in the crispy bacon and season with salt and pepper.

14

You'll need 2 cups of mac and cheese for the sandwiches.

15

For the grilled cheese: Top all 8 slices of bread with a slice of American cheese.

16

This will act as your glue.

17

Spoon 1/2 cup of the mac and cheese onto four of the slices, sprinkle with some basil, and then add a dollop of the spicy peppers.

18

Top with 1 or 2 tomato slices, and cover with a second slice of bread.

19

In a large nonstick skillet set over medium heat, spread 1/3 cup of the grated Parmesan in an even circle roughly the same size as your bread.

20

Let the Parmesan begin to melt and brown, 2 to 3 minutes.

21

As soon as it gets golden brown, set a sandwich on top of the Parmesan.

22

Cook for 2 minutes more.

23

The Parmesan will adhere to the bread and create a nice crispy crust.

24

Remove the sandwich from the skillet and repeat the same process for the other side of the sandwich.

25

Depending on the size of your pan, you may be able to do two sandwiches at a time.

26

If needed, keep finished sandwiches warm in a 200 degree F oven while the others are cooking.

Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese

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