Jalapeño Havarti Grilled Cheese (Printable)

Creamy Havarti and spicy jalapeños between golden, crispy bread for a quick and delicious sandwich.

# What You Need:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices sourdough or country white bread

→ Dairy

02 - 4 oz Havarti cheese, sliced
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 fresh jalapeño, thinly sliced with seeds removed for reduced heat

→ Optional

05 - 1 tablespoon mayonnaise for enhanced crispiness

# Directions:

01 - Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat until evenly warmed.
02 - Butter one side of each bread slice evenly. Optionally, spread mayonnaise on the interior sides of each slice for enhanced richness.
03 - Place two bread slices buttered side down on a clean surface. Layer Havarti cheese and distribute jalapeño slices evenly across the cheese.
04 - Top each sandwich with remaining bread slice, buttered side facing outward.
05 - Place sandwiches onto the hot skillet and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until bread achieves golden brown coloring and cheese fully melts.
06 - Remove from skillet and allow 1 minute cooling time. Slice diagonally and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The creamy Havarti melts into this incredible silky pool that tames the jalapeño heat just enough
  • That crunch when you bite through the buttery golden bread into the warm spicy middle is absolutely worth the slightly messy fingers
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that cold cheese tears instead of melts—let your Havarti sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before assembling
  • Medium heat is your friend here, high heat burns the bread before the cheese has time to get properly melty
03 -
  • A cast iron skillet gives you the most even browning, but any heavy bottomed pan will work beautifully
  • Don't press down too hard while cooking—you want to melt the cheese, not squeeze it out
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