Grilled Cheese With Pepperoni and Pickled Cherry Peppers Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated March 25, 2025
20130416-grilled-cheese-variations-2-20.jpg
Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Pepperoni, pickled peppers, and melted cheese in a buttery sandwich. What's not to like?

Recipe Details

Grilled Cheese With Pepperoni and Pickled Cherry Peppers Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Cook 20 mins
Active 12 mins
Total 25 mins
Makes 1 sandwich
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce pepperoni, thinly sliced

  • 2 tablespoons butter, cut into 3 even pieces

  • 2 slices hearty white bread, such as Pepperidge Farm or Arnold

  • 2 slices  Pepperjack, American, or Colby cheese

  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced pickled cherry peppers or pepperoncini

  • Kosher salt

Directions

  1. Place pepperoni slices on a paper towel-lined microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high power until crispa and rendered, about 30 seconds.

  2. Melt one third of butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat until foaming subsides. Add both bread slices and cook, swirling occasionally, until pale golden brown on bottom side, about 2 minutes.

  3. Transfer to a cutting board toasted-side-up. Place one cheese slice on top of one slice of bread. Top with pepperoni, pickled peppers, and second cheese slice. Close sandwich, with both toasted sides facing inwards.

  4. Melt one more piece of butter in the skillet and reduce heat to medium low. Add sandwich and cook, swirling occasionally, until deep, even golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove sandwich using a flexible metal spatula. Add the remaining butter. Return sandwich to skillet cooked-side up. Season with salt. Cook, swirling occasionally, until second side is deep, even golden brown and cheese is thoroughly melted, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
746Calories
56gFat
35gCarbs
25gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories746
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 56g72%
Saturated Fat 31g157%
Cholesterol 142mg47%
Sodium 1587mg69%
Total Carbohydrate 35g13%
Dietary Fiber 3g10%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 25g
Vitamin C 61mg306%
Calcium 489mg38%
Iron 3mg18%
Potassium 335mg7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

More Serious Eats Recipes