Bacon Cheeseburger Grilled Cheese Casserole

Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well and set aside.
Butter one side of each bread slice.
Arrange half of the bread slices, buttered side down, in the baking dish to form the bottom layer.
Spread the softened cream cheese evenly over the bread.
Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the cream cheese layer.
Spoon the cooked beef mixture evenly across the dish.
Top with shredded cheddar cheese.
Add the remaining slices of bread on top, buttered side up.
Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the cheese is bubbling.
Remove from the oven and scatter the crumbled bacon over the top.
Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Pickle Lovers’ Version: Add a layer of sliced dill pickles over the beef for classic cheeseburger tang.
Spicy Kick: Mix chopped jalapeños into the beef or sprinkle pepper jack cheese over the top.
BBQ Twist: Swap the seasoning for 2–3 tablespoons of your favorite BBQ sauce mixed into the beef.
Texas Toast: Replace sandwich bread with Texas toast slices for a thicker, more indulgent base.

Allow the casserole to cool briefly before slicing so it holds its layers.
For an ultra-crispy top, broil the casserole for the final 2–3 minutes—just watch closely to prevent burning.
If your bread is very soft, lightly toasting it first can help maintain structure.
Leftovers reheat well in a skillet or air fryer to restore that grilled-cheese crispness.