Give Grilled Cheese A Smoky, Spicy Kick With This Canned Ingredient

A fail-proof lunchtime grilled cheese is excellent, made simply with quality cheddar, hearty bread, and ample butter. However, it's also good to switch things up by giving classic meals an elevated twist. For instance, to give grilled cheese a smoky, spicy kick, look no further than one canned staple ingredient: chipotle peppers in adobo. If you haven't tried chipotles in adobo sauce, the canned ingredient can vary, but typically consists of smoky chipotle peppers bathed in a mix of tomato paste, spices, oil, vinegar, and garlic. Read: flavor in a can. 

Just like how chipotles in adobo is the smoky ingredient to take tacos to the next level, the canned ingredient brings the subtle yet smoky heat to a grilled cheese sandwich. All you need to do is chop up the canned chipotle peppers and whisk them with mayonnaise. Then slather the chipotle mayo mix on the inner sides of your bread before adding the cheese and grilling. The mix of extra creaminess from the mayo, plus the smoked chipotle flavor that pairs well with many cheeses — from classic cheddar to Swiss — gives the comfort food classic a good kick. 

Canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce have many versatile culinary applications. To make chipotle mayo for a grilled cheese, chop the canned peppers finely and combine them with mayo. Depending on how finely you chop the peppers, this will add some texture and a nice visual intrigue to your grilled cheese sandwich. However, you can also blend the chipotle in adobo with mayo for a more incorporated, creamy sauce rendition for your sandwich. To up the smokiness even further, add smoked paprika to homemade chipotle mayo.

You can add chipotle mayo to a fancier ultimate grilled cheese sandwich recipe made with a blend of artisanal cheeses, or slather it on to a more standard version of the classic sandwich. Chipotle mayo made with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce pairs perfectly with cheddar or American cheese. However, the spicy and smoky twist also works well with creamy and smooth white cheese slices, such as provolone or mozzarella. You could also pair the smoky heat from the sauce with spicy pepper jack or smoked gouda for a really bold kick in a grilled cheese sandwich. 

These cheeses, as well as other flavorful sandwich add-ons like hickory smoked bacon, provide a stronger flavor, so the taste of the chipotle will usually be less pronounced, but still provide a delicious kick. For even more complementary smokiness, forget tomato soup and dunk your grilled cheese into this sauce.