red or green?: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Three Pepper Cheese, Grilled Onions & Pickled Jalapenos

So grilled cheese sandwiches will never be on any healthy foods list. But, once in a while, they are the perfect comfort food dish. I try to make mine as good-for-you as possible by using the best quality possible ingredients and cooking them panini style which means I can eliminate the butter spread on the outside of the bread. A few less fat grams never hurt, right? Sadly, my panini press is still buried deep in the storage room after the move so I am sharing my "grill pan topped with heavy skillet" trick to achieve the same result.

In keeping with the Red or Green? philosophy of adding spiciness to everything, this recipe uses a delicious New Mexican 3 Pepper Colby Jack cheese with jalapenos, chipotle and habanero peppers but you could use your favorite pepper jack.Grilled onions and pickled peppers complete this delicious, perfectly melted treat. Enjoy!

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Three Pepper Cheese, Grilled Onions & Pickled Jalapenos
(makes 4 sandwiches)

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
8 thick cut slices sourdough or french bread
1/3 lb Three Pepper Colby Jack or Pepper Jack cheese, thinly sliced
1/4 cup pickled jalapenos, jarred or homemade, thinly sliced

cheese and peppers, prepped

Heat large grill pan over medium high heat or heat panini press. Add olive oil and onions. Saute for 3-4 minutes or until onions soften and begin to caramelize. Remove from pan. Add 4 slices bread to grill pan and top with cheese, onions and peppers.

Top with remaining 4 slices of bread. If using a panini maker, close top and cook for 4-5 minutes until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.. If using a grill pan, reduce heat to medium, top the sandwiches with a heavy pan, cook for 4 minutes, flip sandwiches and cook another 3-4 minutes.

see the sandwich pressed between the two pans?

Remove from pan, cut in half and serve immediately.

Melty spicy cheese, toasted bread, grilled onions and tangy pickled peppers...The ultimate comfort food!

Other grilled cheese recipes you may enjoy:
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Red or Green Style
Grilled Vegetable & Cheese Quesadillas