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Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Strawberry Hot Sauce and Arugula

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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!

Gluten Free Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese with Strawberry Hot Sauce and Arugula sandwich halves stacked on top of each other. Arugula is on the wooden plate around the sandwich.

(* 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!

Pulling apart two halves of a Gluten Free Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese sandwich with melted cheese stretching

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.

First Street Shopping cart filled with ingredients to make this grilled cheese sandwich

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.

Strawberry Hot Sauce ingredients in a bowl

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.

Grilled Cheese cooking in a cast iron skillet

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.

Grilled Cheese cooking. Arugula added to sandwich

Add another slice of pepper jack then top the one side with fresh arugula. Finish heating then blend the two halves together.

melted cheese stretching between two sandwich halves.

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:

recipe love

Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese with Strawberry Hot Sauce and Arugula

Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese with Strawberry Hot Sauce and Arugula

Yield: 2 sandwiches
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Easy pepper jack grilled cheese sandwich recipe.

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

  1. In a microwave safe dish, combine strawberry jam and hot sauce.
  2. Stir to mix.
  3. Microwave for 40 seconds.
  4. Remove and stir again.
  5. Heat a skillet on medium heat.
  6. Butter one side of each piece of bread.
  7. When the pan is hot, put the butter side bread down on the pan.
  8. Spread cream cheese on one side and the jam on the other.
  9. Cover each with a slice of Pepper Jack cheese.
  10. When the cheese gets a little melted, add arugula.
  11. Remove sandwich halves from the heat and put together.
  12. Serve warm while the cheese is melty.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 548 Saturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 41mg Sodium: 592mg Carbohydrates: 90g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 30g Protein: 7g
Please note this nutrition information is calculated by a recipe plugin and is an estimate based on the ingredients used in this recipe.
© Sandi Gaertner
Cuisine: American / Category: Meal Recipes
What do you like to put on your favorite grilled cheese sandwich?

Gluten Free Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese sandwich on a plate

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Joe Deutsch

    April 19, 2016 at 4:23 pm

    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!

    Reply

  7. jane @ littlesugarsnaps

    April 13, 2016 at 1:34 am

    Fantastic. 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

    Reply

  8. laura@motherwouldknow

    April 12, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    I’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:)

    Reply

  9. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

    April 12, 2016 at 1:27 pm

    What 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!

    Reply

  13. Karly Campbell

    April 12, 2016 at 9:14 am

    Strawberry hot sauce!? I’m intrigued. And drooling a little. Mostly drooling, though. This sandwich looks amazing!

    Reply

  14. jules

    April 12, 2016 at 8:25 am

    I can’t wait to try this with dairy-free cheese options and fresh homemade GF bread. I’m sure it will be scrumptious!
    ~jules

    Reply

  16. Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake

    April 12, 2016 at 6:23 am

    Oh 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!

    Reply

    • Sandi Gaertner

      April 12, 2016 at 8:14 am

      I tend to miss most of the foodie holidays, but grilled cheese is just my favorite so I can’t miss that one 🙂

      Reply

  19. Patricia @ Grab a Plate

    April 11, 2016 at 7:52 pm

    Oh-so tasty! Great sandwich! Good to know about Smart & Final — I wasn’t aware. I used to work for nonprofits, too, also in fundraising ;).

    Reply

  24. Julie at Hostess At Heart

    April 11, 2016 at 10:55 am

    This sandwich sounds amazing! I love the sweet and spicy flavors and ooey gooey cheese is always yummy!

    Reply

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