It is time to celebrate all things cheesy. This Gluten Free Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a Strawberry Hot Sauce and Arugula is my new favorite craving!
If you love lots of cheese, with a fun spicy twist…this is the sandwich for you!
(* This post was sponsored by Smart & Final. All “cheesy” opinions are my own.)
Grilled cheese sandwiches are a staple in our house. Everyone in my family loves anything based on melty cheese :-).
You may look at my ingredient list and wonder about this grilled cheese recipe. You have to understand that I love food chemistry and flavor combinations, and I promise I would never steer you wrong.
You will have to trust me on this grilled cheese recipe.
It is so worth making.
The sweetness of the strawberry jam just “works” with the peppery finish of the hot sauce and arugula. The cream cheese adds the creaminess mouthfeel and the flavors create a party in your mouth!
I am not only celebrating this special “foodie” day, but I wanted to talk a little bit about giving back. If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know I used to work in the non-profit realm as events and fundraising person. Even now that I am no longer working for a non-profit, our family is still very active in volunteering.
It is so important to give back
The Smart & Final Charitable Foundation supports four important areas – health and wellness, education, hunger relief, and team sports and youth development. The Foundation gives to nonprofits in California, Arizona and Nevada where the company has stores.
And what better way to support this cause then to shop and get these tasty First Street ingredients to make this pepper jack grilled cheese sandwich! As always, Smart & Final guarantees all of their First Street products with a “try it and you’ll like it” or your money back guarantee.
Shopping list to make this pepper jack grilled cheese:
- Bread
- Pepper Jack cheese
- Cream cheese
- Arugula
- Strawberry jam
- Hot sauce
For my recipe, I found all sorts of great First Street products to use. Not only does Smart & Final carry over 2,000 First Street products, but they also have a lot of gluten free brands, fresh organic produce, and even cleaning products.
To create this easy grilled cheese sandwich recipe is so easy!
First, we want to create the strawberry hot sauce.
Just combine the strawberry jam and cayenne pepper sauce in a microwave-safe dish. Cover and heat. Heating the two together help mesh the flavors together. Do this first so it has time to cool off.
Heat a pan and coat one side of the bread with butter. Spread on cream cheese and add pepper jack to one slice, then spread the special strawberry hot sauce on the other.
Add another slice of pepper jack then top the one side with fresh arugula. Finish heating then blend the two halves together.
This grilled cheese is super cheesy and delicious! Another thing I love about Smart & Final are the prices. Warehouse prices so I save money. It is so easy to get all of the ingredients I need for this perfect grilled cheese sandwich.
More Delicious Sandwiches To Try:
- Grilled Brie Cheese Sandwich
- Crispy Delicata Squash Quesadillas
- Italian Panini Sandwich
- Tuna Panini with Grilled Onions
Easy pepper jack grilled cheese sandwich recipe.
Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese with Strawberry Hot Sauce and Arugula
Ingredients
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 548 Saturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 41mg Sodium: 592mg Carbohydrates: 90g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 30g Protein: 7g
Candi Elm
June 6, 2019 at 6:36 pmYour flavor combinations are amazing. I can’t wait to sink my teeth in this.
Sandi Gaertner
June 7, 2019 at 10:37 amThank you so much Candi 🙂
Keri|flipflopweekend
January 23, 2018 at 10:52 amHi Sandi! Thanks for sharing this great recipe with me! I featured it in my recent post rounding-up some yummy non-dessert strawberry recipes! You can check it out at https://www.flipflopweekend.com/strawberry-recipes/
Thanks again!
Joe Deutsch
April 19, 2016 at 4:23 pmI already can anticipate the taste! It reminds me of a dish that I already make and love…fried Camembert with jalapeño jelly. Yum! Can’t wait to try this!
Sandi Gaertner
April 20, 2016 at 4:45 pmThat jalapeno jelly sounds really good. I need to find that!
Meghan | Fox and Briar
April 13, 2016 at 11:19 pmLove that you made a strawberry hot sauce! That sweet/spicy/cheesy combo has my mouth watering!
Sandi Gaertner
April 14, 2016 at 7:22 amAwww, thank you so much Meghan 🙂
Nutmeg Nanny
April 13, 2016 at 10:46 amThis is one crazy delicious looking grilled cheese! Love that addition of sweet and heat…yum!
Sandi Gaertner
April 13, 2016 at 3:35 pmThank you so much 🙂
Brianna H
April 13, 2016 at 8:54 amThis sandwich is simply genius! The combo of spicy and sweet… I HEART it!
Sandi Gaertner
April 13, 2016 at 3:35 pm🙂
jane @ littlesugarsnaps
April 13, 2016 at 1:34 amFantastic. I’ve tried a wonderful salad with strawberries and mozzarella before, so I have no doubt on your flavour pairing working brilliantly. I love the hit of heat from the cayenne sauce though – perfect to go in a warm and toastie…. cheese toastie as we call them in my house
Sandi Gaertner
April 13, 2016 at 3:35 pmI like cheese toastie…it sounds so cute 🙂
laura@motherwouldknow
April 12, 2016 at 7:35 pmI’m going to run over to the refrigerator right now and make strawberry hot sauce – what an amazing combination. Hope my husband doesn’t mistake it for his strawberry jam tomorrow morning:)
Sandi Gaertner
April 13, 2016 at 3:36 pmI hope you like it Laura 🙂
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
April 12, 2016 at 1:27 pmWhat a wonderful combination! I have never thought of a sweet and spicy combination unless it was an Asian inspired dish! This looks just so good!
Sandi Gaertner
April 12, 2016 at 1:43 pmIt is definitely perfect with the cheese and arugula 🙂
Nettie Moore
April 12, 2016 at 1:21 pmWhat an amazing combo! I want to try that glorious cheesy sammie ASAP!! Nettie
Sandi Gaertner
April 12, 2016 at 1:43 pmThank you so much Nettie 🙂
Jessica - The Novice Chef
April 12, 2016 at 10:05 amStrawberry hot sauce? I am so intrigued with this flavor combo!!
Sandi Gaertner
April 12, 2016 at 1:43 pmIt is so easy to make and put on everything 🙂
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
April 12, 2016 at 10:02 amOh my goodness, yes please!!! These look amazing! Love the strawberry hot sauce.
Sandi Gaertner
April 12, 2016 at 1:44 pmEnjoy 🙂 Thank you for stopping by the blog.
Karly Campbell
April 12, 2016 at 9:14 amStrawberry hot sauce!? I’m intrigued. And drooling a little. Mostly drooling, though. This sandwich looks amazing!
Sandi Gaertner
April 12, 2016 at 1:44 pm🙂
jules
April 12, 2016 at 8:25 amI can’t wait to try this with dairy-free cheese options and fresh homemade GF bread. I’m sure it will be scrumptious!
~jules
Sandi Gaertner
April 12, 2016 at 1:44 pmDoesn’t Daiya make a dairy free Pepper Jack?
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
April 12, 2016 at 8:05 amPepper jack is my favorite for grilled cheese! LOVE the strawberry hot sauce idea!
Sandi Gaertner
April 12, 2016 at 8:13 amThank you so much Anna 🙂
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake
April 12, 2016 at 6:23 amOh wow, I am drooling here! That Strawberry hot sauce, I think I’m in love! Sweet and spicy is my fave combo, add cheese and I’m SO THERE!
Sandi Gaertner
April 12, 2016 at 8:13 amI love sweet and spicy too 🙂 Hope you get a chance to try this out.
Sabrina
April 12, 2016 at 1:02 amIt doesn’t get better than a delicious melty grilled cheese! I love those flavors!
Sandi Gaertner
April 12, 2016 at 8:14 amAgreed 🙂
Mary
April 11, 2016 at 10:36 pmThis grilled cheese looks delicious. I had no idea it was National Grilled Cheese Day, thanks for letting me know.
Sandi Gaertner
April 12, 2016 at 8:14 amI tend to miss most of the foodie holidays, but grilled cheese is just my favorite so I can’t miss that one 🙂
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
April 11, 2016 at 7:52 pmOh-so tasty! Great sandwich! Good to know about Smart & Final — I wasn’t aware. I used to work for nonprofits, too, also in fundraising ;).
Sandi Gaertner
April 11, 2016 at 8:43 pmThank you so much Patricia 🙂
Amanda | The Chunky Chef
April 11, 2016 at 6:31 pmOh wow, that looks so amazingly cheesy!! One amazing grilled cheese!
Sandi Gaertner
April 11, 2016 at 8:43 pmTotally filled with ooey gooes cheese 🙂
Krista
April 11, 2016 at 5:51 pmI thought I had tried the best grilled cheese already!
Roxana
April 11, 2016 at 3:32 pmThat strawberry hot sauce looks amazing! What a perfect blend of heat and sweet!
Sandi Gaertner
April 11, 2016 at 3:33 pmThank you Roxana 🙂
Raia
April 11, 2016 at 1:01 pmWow. I’m a total grilled cheese nerd and all those flavors sound amazing together!
Sandi Gaertner
April 11, 2016 at 2:45 pmThank you Raia 🙂
Julie at Hostess At Heart
April 11, 2016 at 10:55 amThis sandwich sounds amazing! I love the sweet and spicy flavors and ooey gooey cheese is always yummy!
Sandi Gaertner
April 11, 2016 at 2:46 pmDefinitely the ooey gooey cheese 🙂
Tracy @ Served from Scratch
April 11, 2016 at 10:08 amWow! An amazing looking sandwich AND giving back to the community?! Talk about a win-win 🙂
Sandi Gaertner
April 11, 2016 at 3:06 pmAgreed…a company that gives back so willingly is worth supporting 🙂