Pepper Jack & Tomato Grilled Cheese (Print Version)

Spicy melty sandwich with pepper jack cheese, fresh tomato, and jalapeño-studded bread. Ready in just 13 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices jalapeño-studded bread

→ Cheese

02 - 4 slices pepper jack cheese

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium ripe tomato, thinly sliced

→ Spreads & Fats

04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

→ Seasonings

05 - Pinch of salt
06 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Lay out bread slices on a clean surface and butter one side of each slice.
02 - Place two slices buttered side down on a plate. Layer each with 2 slices pepper jack cheese and half the tomato slices. Season tomatoes lightly with salt and pepper if desired. Top with remaining bread slices buttered side up.
03 - Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat.
04 - Place sandwiches in the skillet and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until bread is golden brown and cheese is fully melted.
05 - Remove from skillet, let cool for 1 minute, slice diagonally in half, and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The pepper jack brings this gentle heat that creeps up on you, especially when it melts into those fresh tomato slices and creates this spicy, tangy situation you can't get enough of
  • Jalapeño bread adds another layer of flavor without making it overwhelmingly spicy, so you get this beautiful depth that keeps every bite interesting
  • These come together in under 15 minutes but taste like something from a fancy sandwich shop, which means weeknight lunch just got a serious upgrade
02 -
  • Medium heat is your friend here because high heat burns the bread before the cheese has time to melt into that perfect state, so patience pays off
  • Letting the sandwiches rest for that one minute after cooking prevents all that gorgeous melted cheese from immediately oozing out when you cut them
  • Thin tomato slices are crucial because thick ones create too much moisture and make the bread soggy instead of perfectly crispy
03 -
  • Use a griddle if you have one because the flat surface gives you more even contact and means all that cheese melts uniformly instead of just in spots
  • Put a lid on the pan for the first minute of cooking to trap heat and help the cheese melt faster without burning the bread
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