Cranberry Bacon Grilled Cheese

This sweet and salty cranberry bacon grilled cheese is the perfect way to use up leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving! Excellent for breakfast or dinner, it’s filled with cream cheese, regular cheese and plenty of bacon.

A Cranberry Bacon Grilled Cheese sandwich on a white plate.

Note: This recipe is NOT dairy free. It was published before Cook Nourish Bliss transitioned to dairy free recipes and remains popular with long time readers. You can try using substitutions to make it dairy free, however I have not tested this myself and can’t say how it will turn out.

I’m in the thick of it.  Thanksgiving prep that is.  

This weekend it all started.  I made two kinds of dinner rolls (which are stashed in the freezer for now), some of the spiced nuts for the appetizers and a batch of sugar cookies with royal icing.

This weekend also started the week of craziness as I’m going to call it.  

Prep is in full swing.  I’m trying to wrap up some things for my day job before a few days off.  

I’ve been cleaning our house like mad.  My in-laws are arriving Tuesday.  There’s more grocery shopping to be done.  More dishes to be made.  

But I’m ready.  Bring it on.

Uncooked Cranberry Grilled Cheese sandwiches on parchment paper.

About This Cranberry Bacon Grilled Cheese

So, since you’re likely all set for the big day, let’s turn our attention to Thanksgiving leftovers. 

We are big fans of leftovers here … we make extra food on purpose just so we have plenty to enjoy after t-day.  While decorating the house for Christmas (!!).

We seem to always have leftover cranberry sauce.  Always.  And while I do love swirling some into my yogurt for a snack, here’s another way to put it to use. 

A delicious sweet and salty breakfast sandwich.  Thick pieces of salty bacon, two different types of cheese and some of that tangy sauce all between two thick pieces of bread.  It definitely hits the spot.

Oh, and this grilled cheese is reeeeally good if you use two big ol’ slices of this pumpkin cinnamon swirl bread.

A sliced Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese on a white plate.

Additional Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes You Might Enjoy:

Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.

Cranberry Bacon Grilled Cheese | Cookie Monster Cooking

Cranberry Bacon Grilled Cheese

Yield: 2 sandwiches
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

This sweet and salty cranberry bacon grilled cheese is the perfect way to use up leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving! Excellent for breakfast or dinner, it’s filled with cream cheese, regular cheese and plenty of bacon.

Ingredients

  • 4 thick slices of your favorite bread
  • about 2 tablespoons cream cheese
  • about 2 tablespoons leftover cranberry sauce
  • 2 to 4 slices thick cut bacon, cooked until crispy
  • about Β½ cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Instructions

  1. Lay out two pieces of the bread on a work surface. Smear half of the cream cheese on each slice. Top each with half of the cranberry sauce, half of the bacon slices (breaking them in half if needed to fit), and half of the cheddar. Top with the two remaining slices of bread.
  2. Set a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the butter. When melted, add the two assembled sandwiches to the pan. Cook, flipping once halfway through, until golden brown on both sides and the cheese is melted.

Notes

Recipe time does NOT include time to cook the bacon.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 458Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 726mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 2gSugar: 10gProtein: 17g

Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.