Since starting a food blog, I’ve learned that every ingredient, every recipe category, and even every lima bean (April 20th) has its own “holiday.” Honestly, unless it’s a day when I’m a) freakishly organized, b) feeling kitschy, and c) totally obsessed with whatever food is “on holiday,” I tend to miss most of these events. Grilled cheese is an exception for a few reasons:
One. We eat it all the time, holiday or not. I never need an excuse to eat grilled cheese.Two. Grilled cheese (in my opinion) has been deemed worthy of its own month. Three. While a classic Air Fryer Grilled Cheese will always be divine, I will always look for any opportunity to jazz up a grilled cheese with fun, unexpected ingredients. (I’m talking about you Avocado Grilled Cheese).
How to Make Raspberry Chipotle Bacon Grilled Cheese
With melty cheddar, sweet raspberries, salty bacon, and spicy chipotle peppers, this sandwich has everything a proper grilled cheese sandwich could ever need to be delicious. (This Apple Grilled Cheese with Turkey is also perfectly balanced.)
The Ingredients
Bread. This fruity-gooey-smoky-bacony creation begins and ends with excellent bread. The bread is the first and last thing you taste when biting into a grilled cheese sandwich. Choose something thick, hearty, and full of flavor (this Oatmeal Bread is great for grilled cheese). Butter. For toasting up the bread to golden perfection in the skillet.Cheese. I love sharp white cheddar. It has stellar flavor, melts beautifully, and pairs well with bacon and berries.Raspberry Chipotle Filling. Made with mashed fresh raspberries, a bit of raspberry jam, and smoky dried chipotle powder. It’s sweet, spicy, and sultry. Bacon. For some salty crunch that contrasts all the sweet, spicy, and creamy ingredients. (Try this Air Fryer Bacon recipe).
The Directions
The other food holiday I’ll never miss? National BLT Sandwich Day (July 22). Mark your calendars.