Tomato Bacon Welsh Rarebit
This easy tomato bacon Welsh rarebit tops toasted bread with crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes and a rich beer-cheddar sauce for a cozy meal that’s ready in about 20 minutes!
If you’ve never met Welsh rarebit before, prepare to fall head over heels for what is essentially the most luxurious cheese toast ever invented. Thick slices of bread are topped with crispy bacon and juicy tomatoes, smothered in a rich beer-cheddar sauce and broiled until everything is warm, melty and irresistible.
And despite the name, there is no rabbit involved! This cozy Welsh classic is all about bread and cheese, and my bacon-and-tomato version turns it into an easy supper that’s ready in about 20 minutes. Because if melty cheese toast is wonderful, melty cheese toast with bacon and tomatoes is even better. 🧀🥓🍅
Jump to:
- 🔎 A quick look at this recipe
- Why this recipe works
- 🍅 Ingredients you need
- Ingredient notes
- 💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
- 👩🏻🍳 How to make this recipe
- Recipe FAQs
- What to serve with this recipe
- Tomato Bacon Welsh Rarebit
- 💫 Variations on this recipe
- 😍 Other cheesy sandwich recipes we love!
- ⭐️ We want to know what you think!
- 🥣 Come on into our kitchen!
🔎 A quick look at this recipe
- What It Is: Toasted bread topped with crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes and a rich beer-cheddar sauce, then broiled until warm and bubbly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Servings: 5 servings
- Cooking Method: Stovetop and broiler
- Good For: Quick dinners, cozy lunches, casual suppers and celebrating National Welsh Rarebit Day. 🧀🥓🍅
Why this recipe works
- 🧀 The sauce is rich and wonderfully cheesy: Sharp cheddar, butter and milk create a smooth, velvety sauce that blankets every slice of toast.
- 🍺 Beer adds extra depth: A splash of beer gives the cheese sauce a subtle savory flavor without making it taste overly boozy.
- 🥓 Bacon makes it extra satisfying: Crispy bacon adds smoky flavor and a delicious contrast to the creamy cheese sauce.
- 🍅 Tomatoes keep everything balanced: Juicy tomato slices add freshness and a little acidity to all that rich, cheesy goodness.
- ⏱️ It’s quick enough for a busy day: This cozy lunch or supper comes together in about 20 minutes.
- 🔥 A quick broil brings it all together: The final few minutes under the broiler warm the toppings and turn the cheese sauce bubbly and irresistible.
You can customize your Welsh rarebit any way you like, but good bread and a rich cheddar cheese sauce are essential. I’ve made it with everything from ciabatta and sourdough to English muffins, and they are all scrumptious!
This time I added thick tomato slices and crispy bacon, because if a grilled cheese sandwich is better with tomato—and even better with bacon—the same delicious logic should apply to Welsh rarebit. And oh my goodness, does it ever! 🥓🍅🧀
🍅 Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes
- Bread: Choose a sturdy bread that can hold up under all that glorious cheese sauce. Ciabatta, sourdough, country bread and even English muffins will all work beautifully. Toast it lightly before adding the toppings.
- Cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar gives the sauce the most flavor. Grating it yourself will help it melt more smoothly than packaged shredded cheese.
- Beer: A lager, pilsner or pale ale adds subtle flavor without overpowering the cheese. You can substitute nonalcoholic beer or additional milk if you prefer.
- Bacon: Cook the bacon until crisp before assembling the rarebit. Regular or thick-cut bacon will work; just make sure it is well drained.
- Tomatoes: Choose ripe but firm tomatoes and slice them thickly so they stay juicy without making the toast soggy.
- Mustard: Dijon mustard is my favorite here, but grainy or regular yellow mustard will also work.
- Worcestershire sauce: This adds a little savory depth to the cheese sauce. If you are making a vegetarian version, look for a vegetarian Worcestershire sauce.
- Butter: Salted or unsalted butter will work. If you use salted butter, taste the finished sauce before adding any extra salt.
💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
Missing something or want to swap in something different? Check out the links below to find more ingredient substitution ideas. 👇🏻
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutrition.
👩🏻🍳 How to make this recipe
STEP 1: Toast the bread until it is lightly browned. Set aside.
STEP 2: Cook the bacon until it is done to your liking. Set aside.
STEP 3: Heat the milk in a small saucepan. In a separate saucepan, melt ¼ cup of the butter, stir in the flour and cook for two minutes. Gradually whisk in the warm milk and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens, about five minutes.
STEP 4: Add the cheddar, beer, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth, about three to five minutes.
STEP 5: Spread the remaining butter over the toast and place the slices on a broiler-safe pan. Top each slice with bacon and tomato, spoon the cheese sauce over everything and broil until lightly browned and bubbly, about two minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.
Recipe FAQs
What is Welsh rarebit?
Welsh rarebit is a traditional Welsh dish made by spooning a savory cheese sauce over toasted bread and broiling it until hot and bubbly. Despite its other name, Welsh rabbit, there is no rabbit—or any other woodland creature—involved!
Absolutely. Replace the beer with the same amount of milk or use a nonalcoholic beer. The sauce will still be creamy and delicious, although it will have a slightly milder flavor.
Yes! Make the sauce up to a day ahead, let it cool and store it in a covered container in the refrigerator. Reheat it gently over low heat, stirring frequently and adding a splash of milk if needed.
Use sturdy bread, toast it lightly and choose firm tomato slices. Assemble the rarebit just before broiling and serve it right away.
Cheese sauce can turn grainy if it gets too hot. Keep the heat low when you add the cheddar, stir constantly and use freshly grated cheese for the smoothest sauce.
Of course! (Sob!) The bacon adds smoky flavor, but the tomato-and-cheese combination is still scrumptious without it. Use vegetarian Worcestershire sauce too if you want the entire dish to be meat-free.
Pop your question in the Comments section under the recipe card and I will answer pronto!
What to serve with this recipe
Turn this cheesy, bacon-topped toast into a cozy supper with a cup of tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons or keep things lighter with a green bean tomato salad or some roasted green beans with walnuts. Finish with a slice of easy apple cake for one very happy comfort-food meal! 🧀🥓🍎
This is comfort food with a capital C. Let’s toast, smother and broil our way to cheesy bacon happiness! 🧀🥓🍅
Tomato Bacon Welsh Rarebit
This classic dish of bread with melted cheese (also known as Welsh Rabbit) gets a flavor boost with this easy recipe for tomato bacon Welsh Rarebit!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop and Oven
- Cuisine: Welsh
Ingredients
- 5 slices bread
- 10 slices bacon, halved
- 2 cups milk
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups grated cheddar
- 1/2 cup beer
- 1/2 teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon mustard
- 10 thick tomato slices
- chopped parsley
Instructions
- Toast the bread until it is lightly browned. Set aside.
- Cook the bacon until it is done to your liking. Set aside.
- Heat milk in a small saucepan. Melt 1/4 cup butter in another saucepan, stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk hot milk into flour mixture, stirring constantly until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Add cheese, beer, tomato paste, Worcestershire and mustard and stir constantly over low heat until cheese is melted, about 3-5 minutes.
- Spread remaining butter on bread and place on broiler-proof pan or cookie sheet. Top bread with bacon, then tomato. Pour 1/2 cup cheese sauce over each bread slice. Broil until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
- Garnish each with chopped parsley and serve, assuring diners that there are no bunnies involved.
💫 Variations on this recipe
- 🧀 Change the cheese: Swap some or all of the cheddar for Gruyère, fontina, smoked Gouda or Monterey Jack.
- 🌶️ Add a little heat: Stir a pinch of cayenne, some red pepper flakes or a few dashes of hot sauce into the cheese mixture.
- 🍄 Make it mushroomy: Add sautéed mushrooms beneath the cheese sauce for an extra-savory version.
- 🥬 Bring on the greens: Tuck sautéed spinach or arugula between the toast and the tomato.
- 🍳 Put an egg on it: Top each serving with a fried or poached egg for a hearty breakfast or brunch.
- 🥓 Try another smoky topping: Replace the bacon with chopped ham, prosciutto or cooked sausage.
- 🌱 Make it vegetarian: Leave out the bacon and use vegetarian Worcestershire sauce.
- 🥖 Switch the bread: Try sourdough, rye, English muffins or thick slices of country bread.
😍 Other cheesy sandwich recipes we love!
⭐️ We want to know what you think!
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section below.
I do love the idea of adding bacon to this!
Everything is better with bacon!
Looks divine Kate, as usual! Queen of the kitchen! :)
Cathy! Thank you so much and right back at you, my friend! :)