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Jalapeño Pepper Popper Grilled Cheese
Table of Contents
- Jalapeño Pepper Popper Grilled Cheese
- Jalapeño Pepper Popper Grilled Cheese Ingredients
- How to Make Jalapeño Pepper Popper Grilled Cheese
- How spicy are these sandwiches?
- How can I be careful when cutting jalapeños?
- Do I leave the poppers whole in the sandwiches?
- How to Store Jalapeño Pepper Popper Grilled Cheese
- JUMP TO RECIPE
Cheesy jalapeño poppers in a sandwich? Sign us up! These crispy sandwiches take grilled cheese to the next level with bacon and jalapeños.
MORE RECIPES: Southwest Chicken Roll-Ups | White Chicken Enchiladas | Egg Salad Sandwich
Jalapeño Pepper Popper Grilled Cheese
To make these delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, you start by making homemade jalapeño poppers. They’re easier than you probably guessed, and you’ll probably even want extra to serve on the side to pop in your mouth while assembling.
Just like a traditional grilled cheese, these ultimate sandwiches filled with spicy jalapeños and crispy bacon also pair deliciously with a bowl of classic tomato soup. Cool off with a nice big glass of Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea.
The ooey-gooey, creamy filling is enough to stuff about 20 medium-large jalapeños, which could make up to 10 sandwiches. If you’re not feeding that many people, you can easily halve the filling recipe, or store leftovers in the fridge for lunch the next day.
Jalapeño Pepper Popper Grilled Cheese Ingredients
- Cream cheese - softened
- Pepper - Coarse black pepper
- Onions - Green onions
- Garlic - minced
- Cheese - medium cheddar cheese, grated
- Cheese - Monterey jack cheese, grated
- Jalapeño peppers
- Bread
- Butter - salted butter, softened
- Cheese - Monterey jack cheese, sliced
- Cheese - medium cheddar cheese, sliced
- Bacon - cooked
A grilled cheese simply isn’t a grilled cheese without oodles of gooey cheese which is why you see both grated and sliced cheddar and Monterey Jack on the ingredient list. The grated cheese gets mixed into the cream cheese filling and the sliced cheese is for the sandwich assembly.
Crispy slices of bacon are part of the grilled cheese sandwich, but bacon lovers could also add bacon bits to the cream cheese mixture when stuffing the jalapeños. Want a little extra crunch? Sprinkle a buttery panko topping on the poppers before baking.
When choosing bread for your sandwiches, there are truly endless options. For something a little more stalwart than white bread, try a sourdough. Sourdough will also add another layer of flavor.
How to Make Jalapeño Pepper Popper Grilled Cheese
FIRST STEP: Preheat the oven to 400°F.
SECOND STEP: Use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix together cream cheese, black pepper, sliced green onions, garlic, and grated cheese.
THIRD STEP: Slice each jalapeño in half lengthwise and remove seeds and ribbing (if you want more heat from the poppers, leave some of the ribbing and/or seeds).
FOURTH STEP: Place jalapeños on a baking sheet, open side up.
FIFTH STEP: Use a small spoon or a piping bag to fill each pepper half with the cheese filling mixture.
SIXTH STEP: Bake for about 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and browned on top.
SEVENTH STEP: Meanwhile, butter one side of each slice of bread. Place face down on a plate or sheet of parchment paper.
EIGHTH STEP: For each sandwich, cover one slice of bread (the non-buttered side) with jack cheese and the other slice of bread with cheddar cheese.
NINTH STEP: Top the cheese on one slice of bread with two slices of cooked bacon and the other slice of bread with two cooked jalapeño poppers.
TENTH STEP: Flip the two sides of the sandwich together and cook over medium heat in a skillet. Cook until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown and then carefully flip the sandwich over to cook the other side. Turn the heat down if you notice that the bread is browning too quickly before the cheese has a chance to melt.
ELEVENTH STEP: Repeat for the remaining sandwiches. Serve hot with a side of extra jalapeño poppers.
How spicy are these sandwiches?
These are not spicy at all if you use green, fresh jalapeños. If you want some spice, simply leave some of the ribbing and/or seeds or use more mature jalapeños that are turning red.
How can I be careful when cutting jalapeños?
To take care against getting any of the oils on your skin, use gloves when slicing the jalapeños and removing the seeds and ribbing. If you touch the jalapeños with bare hands, wash thoroughly and be careful not to touch your face or eyes.
Do I leave the poppers whole in the sandwiches?
Leaving the poppers whole makes it easier to keep the sandwich intact both while cooking and eating. Though, some people do like to cut the jalapeño poppers into pieces.
How to Store Jalapeño Pepper Popper Grilled Cheese
IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftover Jalapeño Pepper Popper Grilled Cheese sandwiches in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Jalapeño Pepper Popper Grilled Cheese
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Ingredients
POPPER INGREDIENTS:
- 1 package cream cheese, softened ((8 ounce))
- ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 1-2 sliced green onions, green parts ((about 3 tablespoons))
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic or garlic paste
- ½ cup grated medium cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Monterey jack cheese
- 10-12 medium jalapeño peppers
SANDWICH INGREDIENTS:
- 20 slices bread (we used cracked wheat sourdough)
- 8-10 tablespoons salted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1¼ Monterey Jack cheese, sliced ((10 slices))
- 1¼ medium cheddar cheese, sliced ((10 slices))
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix together cream cheese, black pepper, sliced green onions, garlic, and grated cheese.
- Slice each jalapeño in half lengthwise and remove seeds and ribbing (if you want more heat from the poppers, leave some of the ribbing and/or seeds).
- Place jalapeños on a baking sheet, open side up.
- Use a small spoon or a piping bag to fill each pepper half with the cheese filling mixture.
- Bake for about 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and browned on top.
- Meanwhile, butter one side of each slice of bread. Place face down on a plate or sheet of parchment paper.
- For each sandwich, cover one slice of bread (the non-buttered side) with jack cheese and the other slice of bread with cheddar cheese.
- Top the cheese on one slice of bread with two slices of cooked bacon and the other slice of bread with two cooked jalapeño poppers.
- Flip the two sides of the sandwich together and cook over medium heat in a skillet. Cook until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown and then carefully flip the sandwich over to cook the other side. Turn the heat down if you notice that the bread is browning too quickly before the cheese has a chance to melt.
- Repeat for the remaining sandwiches. Serve hot with a side of extra jalapeño poppers.
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