Pepper Jack & Tomato Grilled Cheese (Printable)

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

# What You 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 - Salt to taste
06 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Lay out the four bread slices on a clean surface. Butter one side of each slice evenly.
02 - Place two slices of buttered bread, buttered side down, on a work surface. Layer each with two slices of pepper jack cheese and half of 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 until fully preheated.
04 - Place assembled sandwiches in the skillet. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is completely melted.
05 - Remove sandwiches from skillet and let cool for 1 minute. Slice each sandwich in half diagonally and serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It delivers serious heat and melt in under fifteen minutes, perfect for those days when hunger hits hard.
  • The jalapeño bread and pepper jack create layers of spice that wake up your taste buds without overwhelming them.
  • Fresh tomato adds a juicy brightness that balances all that rich, creamy cheese.
  • You only need one pan and a few ingredients, so cleanup is almost as easy as the cooking.
02 -
  • Medium heat is your friend here, too high and the bread will char before the cheese melts, leaving you with a crunchy shell and cold center.
  • Softened butter spreads without tearing the bread, while cold butter clumps and leaves bare spots that won't crisp up properly.
  • Thin tomato slices are crucial, thick ones release too much moisture and turn your sandwich into a soggy mess.
03 -
  • Press the sandwich gently but firmly with your spatula while it cooks, this encourages contact with the pan and speeds up the melt without squishing out the fillings.
  • If your skillet is small, cook one sandwich at a time so you have room to flip without drama.
  • Let the finished sandwich rest for a full minute before cutting, it keeps the cheese from pouring out and makes slicing cleaner.
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