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    Home » Lunch » Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

    Sep 28, 2018 · Modified: Oct 16, 2020 by Sues · This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads · View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer · 49 Comments

    Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese takes everyone's favorite  jalapeño popper appetizer and turns it into a grilled cheese sandwich fit for a meal!

    (This recipe for Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese was originally posted in August 2011, but has been updated with new photos and content in 2018).

    Head-on view of two halves of a jalapeño popper grilled cheese sandwich stacked on top of each other on a white plate with "Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese" text at top

    Grilled cheese is one of life's magical foods. But really, isn't it kind of amazing that a cheese sandwich sounds so "blah," but a grilled cheese sandwich sounds like heaven on Earth? It just goes to show you what a difference a little bit of butter and a griddle can make. I am always in the mood for a grilled cheese. I probably love cooking more than most people, but there are still nights where I just don't feel like cooking dinner. And those are often grilled cheese nights. Because we always have bread and cheese in the house (SO much cheese!) and it takes a grand total of 10 minutes to prepare (which means I can get back to the couch quickly).

    But sometimes it's fun to jazz up a typical grilled sandwich. And sometimes it's fun to combine it with one of your all-time favorite appetizers and call it a day. And that's how this jalapeño popper grilled cheese was born.

    JALAPEÑO POPPER GRILLED CHEESE RECIPE

    As you probably know by now, I like to add spice to my meals whenever possible. So, what's better than a jalapeño-packed grilled cheese sandwich? And since jalapeño poppers are just about the best party appetizer ever, I decided to recreate them into a sandwich. Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers, of course. Because until recently, I didn't even realize people ate jalapeño poppers without bacon. Huh.

    You'll start by cutting the jalapeños into strips and broiling them until they're nice and blackened. The first time I made this recipe, I peeled the peppers once they cooled a bit, but then I realized this wasn't really necessary. If you don't mind the skin, keep it on; otherwise, when you take the peppers out of the oven, place in a bowl and cover. Once the peppers are cool enough to touch, peel the skin off. Of course, you'll want to cook your bacon until it's very crispy, too.

    Collage with one photo of jalapeños sliced and on foil-covered baking sheet, one photo of jalapeño slices after being broiled, and one photo of crispy bacon

    After that, comes the assembly! Butter one side of each slice of bread and then coat one side of two of the slices with cream cheese (for two sandwiches). Pile the peppers over the cream cheese and then top the other slices of bread with sliced cheese. I used pepper jack because it's especially fun with jalapeño poppers, but cheddar would work here, too.

    Place each slice of bread butter-down on a lightly buttered griddle or skillet and

    Two slices of bread on griddle, one with cream cheese and jalapeño slices and one with sliced pepper jack cheese

    And your jalapeño popper grilled cheese sandwich is complete! I love that it's basically a deconstructed jalapeño popper snuggled in between bread. But, in my opinion, it's a whole lot easier to make than actual jalapeño poppers since you simply slice and broil the jalapeños and don't have to worry about soaking them, stuffing them, and wrapping bacon around them.

    Close-up head-on photo of two jalapeño popper grilled cheese sandwich halves stacked on top of each other on a white plate

    Plus? There's bread involved. I recommend using a nice crusty bread... I used brioche and it absolutely hit  the spot.

    If you're worried about too much spiciness, don't be! Since the jalapeños are seeded and broiled, they don't have too much heat left in them. And when mixed with cheese and bacon, the heat is not overwhelming at all and you get more of the actual flavor of jalapeño instead.

    Landscape view of two halves of jalapeño popper grilled cheese stacked on each other on a white plate

    I honestly don't know that I'll be able to eat a "normal" grilled cheese sandwich again now that I've had this jalapeño popper grilled cheese! Fine, I'm not fooling anyone; any grilled cheese is welcome in my life, but this one is definitely going to be my #1 choice.

    Head-on view of two halves of a jalapeño popper grilled cheese sandwich stacked on top of each other on a white plate

    This jalapeño popper grilled cheese is the perfect Monday "dinner sandwich," but it's also a wonderful way to celebrate the end of the week. Who wants to be stuck in the kitchen cooking dinner on Friday night anyway?? Plus, you deserve lots of cheese. And bacon. I know I'm not alone when I say this week has been a doozy (to put it mildly). I can't fix the world's problems (oh how I wish I could!), but I can provide you with some recipes for delicious food so you can maybe feel just a little bit of comfort and love.

    Do you ever have grilled cheese dinner nights?

    If you're looking for more delicious grilled cheese recipes, check out my Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese or my Brie Grilled Cheese with Fig Spread, Green Apple, and Prosciutto.

    Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese -- This Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese takes everyone's favorite  jalapeño popper appetizer and turns it into a grilled cheese sandwich fit for a meal | wearenotmartha.com

    Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

    This Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese takes everyone's favorite  jalapeño popper appetizer and turns it into a grilled cheese sandwich fit for a meal!
    No ratings yet
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    Course: Entree, lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: grilled cheese, jalapeño, sandwich
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Makes: 2 sandwiches
    Author: Sues

    Ingredients

    • 3 medium jalapeño peppers, thinly sliced
    • 1 tsp olive oil
    • 4 strips bacon
    • 4 slices crusty bread
    • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, plus more for pan
    • 3 Tbsp cream cheese (can use reduced-fat if you prefer)
    • 3 oz. pepper jack or cheddar cheese, sliced

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat broiler and line a small baking sheet in foil.
    • Cut jalapeños into strips, removing membrane and seeds. Brush jalapeño strips lightly with olive oil and place on a foil-covered baking sheet.
    • Broil peppers for about 5-7 minutes, until nice and blackened. If you want to remove the skins from the peppers (not required), immediately put the peppers in a bowl and cover, so they can steam. Once they’re cooled, remove from bowl and take the skin off. It should come off from the pepper easily.
    • While peppers are in oven, cook bacon on a griddle or skillet until it's crispy.
    • Butter one side of each of the four slices of bread. Slather the tops of two of the slices with cream cheese. Pile jalapeño peppers on top of cream cheese. On the other two slices of bread, lay out cheese (on the non-buttered side). Place bread slices butter-side down on lightly buttered griddle or skillet over medium-low heat.
    • Cook open-face for about 3 minutes, until the cheese is nice and melty and the bread is crisping up (but not burning). Place bacon on top of jalapeños and top with cheese-covered slice of bread. Press together and let cook for another minute, flipping once.
    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!
    Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle says

      August 01, 2011 at 8:26 am

      I'm looking forward to cooking our first meal in our new place tonight!

    2. Blog is the New Black says

      August 01, 2011 at 8:26 am

      I don't do cream cheese but the rest of this sandwich?1 YUM!

    3. Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says

      August 01, 2011 at 8:52 am

      Ooh fun! I definitely love the bacon but my hubs would love the jalapenos - will have to give this a try sometime 🙂

    4. Cara says

      August 01, 2011 at 8:57 am

      I am definitely going to make these sandwiches this week, what a genius, delicious idea!

    5. Daisy says

      August 01, 2011 at 9:02 am

      this grilled cheese looks life changing. such a great recipe!

    6. Erica says

      August 01, 2011 at 9:14 am

      We have tons of jalapenos from our garden- i will totally be adding them to my grilled cheese. We are starting this month with a bang!

    7. Dawn says

      August 01, 2011 at 9:24 am

      Wow that sounds amazing! I often put jalapeños in my grilled cheese, but nothing so fancy as this! I can't wait to try it. 🙂

    8. Mal @ The Chic Geek says

      August 01, 2011 at 9:38 am

      Great idea! Looks delish.

    9. Candace says

      August 01, 2011 at 10:41 am

      That is the best looking grilled cheese that I've seen in a long time. I love that you used Cabot's products too. We are Cabot lovers around here too. Thanks for sharing this great idea!

    10. Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says

      August 01, 2011 at 10:45 am

      This is a great idea! I love jalapeno poppers too but have a confession that might shock you: I've never had a bacon wrapped jalapeno 🙁 That will change as I will be recreating this sandwich soon!

    11. Monique says

      August 01, 2011 at 11:11 am

      How gorgeous and tasty does taht look!?!
      I am having a day from hell so far... and this gives me hope!

    12. Pam says

      August 01, 2011 at 11:37 am

      Wow, wow, WOW! That looks fantastic!!!

    13. vanillasugarblog says

      August 01, 2011 at 12:06 pm

      the heat of the summer makes me sluggish too. i'm upping my lemon juice and water in the mornings to help me get going. humidity kills me.
      this sandwich? is the bomb. genius girl!

    14. Ann says

      August 01, 2011 at 12:48 pm

      This looks so great!! Where do you find the Cabot reduced fat pepperjack? I only ever see the regular cheddar in reduced fat (usually Stop & Shop).

    15. Emily @ A Cambridge Story says

      August 01, 2011 at 1:24 pm

      ooh bacon is clearly necessary here! I'd love to slather a little sweet jelly on it too!

    16. Sues says

      August 01, 2011 at 2:51 pm

      @Ann- I know Market Basket has a lot of the reduced fat Cabot cheeses. And I've seen reduced fat jalapeno (very similar to pepperjack) at the Stop and Shop in Brookline, MA!

    17. NicoleD says

      August 01, 2011 at 3:35 pm

      This is genius!

    18. Epicurea says

      August 01, 2011 at 4:51 pm

      what a delightful and fun blog! and i guess you just made everyone's week a little less painful :-).

    19. Kelly says

      August 01, 2011 at 6:03 pm

      That grilled cheese sounds a-ma-zing. I haven't had many jalapeno poppers in my life, but I love the sound of this re-imagined as a grilled cheese sandwich. So sinful!

    20. Amy says

      August 01, 2011 at 7:24 pm

      That looks and sounds AMAZING. I'm not a huge jalapeno fan, but I do like the poppers...YUM!

    21. 5 Star Foodie says

      August 01, 2011 at 7:32 pm

      An awesome grilled cheese, excellent with jalapenos and bacon!

    22. Candace Karu says

      August 01, 2011 at 7:45 pm

      Well that grilled cheese got my attention! Love the combinations you put together and can't wait to try this one! PS I'm an unashamed fan of JP's too. ;-}

    23. Shawna says

      August 01, 2011 at 8:43 pm

      My husband would love me even more if I made this for him - thanks for sharing. This would be a very special treat for him 🙂

    24. sarah k. @ the pajama chef says

      August 01, 2011 at 9:16 pm

      my husband would be ALL over these...but i just made black bean burgers with jalapeno in them tonight and now have jalapeno burns on my fingers...no fun 🙁 so if he wants them soon, he'll have to make it himself! haha!

    25. emily @ the happy home says

      August 01, 2011 at 10:13 pm

      i'm stumbling into this week. sandwiches were a good idea. i resulted in frozen pizza... it's from trader joe's... so it's not the worst ever.... sigh.

    26. Betty @ scrambled hen fruit says

      August 02, 2011 at 12:21 am

      I can't say I'm looking forward to it, but school starts this month, and there's air conditioning there at least. 🙂 That grilled cheese looks amazing! I passed up some free jalapenos yesterday and now I'm sorry I did. I'll know better next weekend! 🙂

    27. Tori (@eat-tori) says

      August 02, 2011 at 3:52 am

      Brilliant. Am also kicking myself that I've just discovered your blog now. I have so much to catch up on. Including last night's episode of The Bachelorette (it's my absolute guilty pleasure. I force myself to stretch my hamstrings while I watch it, so at least I feel like I'm doing something good for myself).

    28. Barbara says

      August 02, 2011 at 6:46 am

      I've got a son who's going to love this grilled cheese! Never have made one with cream cheese, either. Great recipe which I've written down already.

    29. [email protected] says

      August 02, 2011 at 8:07 am

      Amazing sandwich! I tend to love Mondays, I feel like there is something so hopeful about them, and I feel so energized after the weekend.

    30. Beth @ DiningAndDishing says

      August 02, 2011 at 8:38 am

      Oh my, that looks so good! I had a grilled cheese like this at Melt in Cleveland, dipped in raspberry preserves. It was way too good - and kinda worth the tummy ache it gave me after :).

    31. Jenn's Food Journey says

      August 02, 2011 at 8:47 am

      Genius!! This has to be the best grilled cheese sandwich I've ever seen 🙂 Is it wrong to want one at 5:45am???

    32. Reeni says

      August 02, 2011 at 9:59 am

      You are a genius, my dear! This would be like having fireworks go off in my mouth! I love it.

    33. purabi naha says

      August 02, 2011 at 11:33 am

      I love cream cheese and I love jalepeno peppers! First time here and I loved my stay here! Really nice recipe. Absolutely mouth-watering!! Have you got anything left for me?

    34. Amanda L. (Tales from a Kitchen Misfit) says

      August 02, 2011 at 1:40 pm

      I usually like to spice up my grilled cheese with sriracha but I like the thought of grilled jalapenos!

    35. jeannie says

      August 02, 2011 at 9:10 pm

      Yeah, we are having some very hot days here too, followed by scattered showers every other day...not fun especially when you are stuck in the traffic jam! A quick meal like your delicious looking sandwich would be the perfect fast meal 🙂

    36. Bee says

      August 02, 2011 at 9:28 pm

      Mmmm I looove jalapenos! I also looove grilled cheese--so these are PERFECT! However, I need a good soup to drip my grilled cheese in... I wonder what would pair well with these?

    37. briarrose says

      August 03, 2011 at 10:04 am

      If I could hide from the Monday's under the covers I would. 😉

      My husband would be totally addicted to this grilled cheese. I can even visualize the puppy dog eyes demanding I make it...now...now is good.

    38. Bridget says

      August 03, 2011 at 11:49 am

      THis sounds SO good! I've really just been starting to like more spicy things...I never in the past would have put jalepenos on a sandwich but now this sounds fabulous!

    39. Leah | So, How's It Taste? says

      August 03, 2011 at 1:43 pm

      Whoa, I'm loving this idea. I'm a sucker for anything with cream cheese or bacon. A nice twist on a classic!

    40. Shannon says

      August 03, 2011 at 6:48 pm

      i think coming back from vacation also makes me sluggish 🙂 this sounds awesome, and i'm not really a huge fan of the traditional popper. i'm turning 30 all too soon... and doing my first olympic distance tri this month... so i guess i'm looking forward to those 🙂

    41. Mark says

      August 05, 2011 at 10:30 pm

      You win the grilled cheese award. I can't believe I haven't tried this. Two of my favorite things... Thanks for the post!

    42. Spike says

      August 08, 2011 at 1:35 pm

      This grilled cheese is the perfect remedy for a rough week!

    43. Megan says

      August 27, 2011 at 10:49 am

      My BF loves jalapeno poppers so this is the perfect sandwich! I can't wait to give this a shot!!!

    44. Kelly says

      August 30, 2011 at 9:34 pm

      This is a great use of extra jalapenos from the garden this year!

    45. Christine says

      November 02, 2011 at 5:26 pm

      Hi Sues, Your Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese recipe has been selected to be featured in a Recipe Guessing Game. Please share the following link with your friends and fans. Congrats again!! 🙂

    46. Julie Evink says

      October 01, 2018 at 11:29 am

      5 stars
      What a delicious twist on grilled cheese! Can't wait to this this one!

    47. Britni says

      October 01, 2018 at 11:58 am

      5 stars
      These look so yummy & easy to do! Thank you

    48. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says

      October 25, 2018 at 9:35 am

      I want one of these!! Pinned! I'd love it if you shared it at our What's for Dinner party!

    49. Erica says

      April 04, 2020 at 5:33 am

      I made this back in 2011 apparently... saved the recipe, and now that we're all in quarantine I'm going back through my bookmarks to make old favorites. I got into the sourdough craze and made my own bread, used some jalapeño pimento cheese I made for a midnight snack the other night, and then the roasted jalapeños and bacon and it was killer! I want another one...

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