It is time to celebrate all things cheesy. This Gluten Free 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! While you are here, check out all of my popular gluten free dinner recipes.
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(* 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.
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.
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.
🥘 Ingredients:
- 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.
🔪 Instructions:
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.
Can you use different cheeses?
You can use any cheese. If you prefer a more mild sandwich, try provolone or mozzarella.
Add another slice of pepper jack then top the one side with fresh arugula. Finish heating then blend the two halves together.
How do you know when it is done?
Your sandwich is ready when your cheese is melted and your bread is slightly golden in color.
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
📋 Recipe
Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese with Strawberry Hot Sauce and Arugula
Ingredients
- 8 slices gluten free bread for 4 sandwiches
- 8 Pepper Jack cheese slices
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese per sandwich
- 1/4 cup strawberry jam
- 1-2 teaspoons cayenne hot sauce depends how spicy you like it!
- 1/4 cup fresh arugula
- butter for the outsides of the bread
Instructions
- In a microwave safe dish, combine strawberry jam and hot sauce.
- Stir to mix.
- Microwave for 40 seconds.
- Remove and stir again.
- Heat a skillet on medium heat.
- Butter one side of each piece of bread.
- When the pan is hot, put the butter side bread down on the pan.
- Spread cream cheese on one side and the jam on the other.
- Cover each with a slice of Pepper Jack cheese.
- When the cheese gets a little melted, add arugula.
- Remove sandwich halves from the heat and put together.
- Serve warm while the cheese is melty.
Nutrition
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Candi Elm
Your flavor combinations are amazing. I can't wait to sink my teeth in this.
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Candi 🙂
Keri|flipflopweekend
Hi 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
I 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
That jalapeno jelly sounds really good. I need to find that!
Meghan | Fox and Briar
Love that you made a strawberry hot sauce! That sweet/spicy/cheesy combo has my mouth watering!
Sandi Gaertner
Awww, thank you so much Meghan 🙂
Nutmeg Nanny
This is one crazy delicious looking grilled cheese! Love that addition of sweet and heat...yum!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much 🙂