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This Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese takes a comfort food classic to the next level. Golden brown and loaded with melty cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and a jalapeno cream cheese filling, it’s sure to make an impression on your taste buds.
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Made this for my husband and he loved it! No more plain grilled cheese for us. This elevated it to a whole new level!
Jalapeno Grilled Cheese
I love a kicked-up grilled cheese sandwich, and this one definitely makes it to the top of my list. Classic cheddar cheese and bacon with a surprise filling of jalapeno cream cheese all stuffed between two slices of buttered bread and grilled to melty, gooey perfection. It’s a super easy way to dress up your favorite comfort food, and don’t worry, the creamy jalapeno filling isn’t overly spicy. It’s just the right amount. And if you want it spicier, all you have to do is add a little more jalapeno! Dip yours in a steaming bowl of Crockpot Tomato Soup and wowee! You’re in for a treat.
Why You’ll Love This Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Recipe
- Spicy but not too spicy. Every bite of this deeply savory sandwich delivers a measured, yet noticeable kick of heat. It’s not enough to burn your taste buds off, but it’s definitely enough to wake them up.
- Elevated comfort food. When I think comfort food, I think grilled cheese sandwiches. With the addition of spicy jalapenos, velvety smooth cream cheese, and crunchy bacon, this recipe takes that classic childhood favorite and turns it into an adventurous, adult-friendly culinary masterpiece.
- Customizable. Swap out the cheese, adjust the spice levels, try pickled jalapenos, or make it vegetarian. This recipe is highly customizable. Check out the section below titled “Variation Ideas” for inspiration.
Ingredient Notes
Here’s what you’ll need to make these spicy grilled cheese sandwiches. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for precise measurements.
- Jalapenos – Make sure to remove the seeds and membranes. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself with some VERY spicy sandwiches. I used 3 jalapenos, but you could use more or fewer depending on your spice tolerance.
- Cream cheese – The cream cheese should be softened at room temperature before you begin. If it is too cold, it won’t mix easily with the jalapenos and garlic powder. Plus, it won’t spread as easily over the sandwiches.
- Garlic powder
- Cheddar cheese – Pepper Jack, Colby, American, or mozzarella cheese would be fun too. Feel free to mix and match.
- Bread – I used my favorite freshly baked rustic white bread but sourdough or regular white sandwich bread would also work. Just note that you want the bread to be sturdy enough to hold up to the grilling process.
- Fully-cooked bacon – You can leave the bacon out if you want a vegetarian version of this sandwich.
- Butter – The butter should be softened at room temperature. It will be easier to spread onto the bread that way. Use real butter, not margarine.
How to Make a Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese
Time to get these grilled cheeses cookin’. Here’s a quick look at how its done. Have a look at the recipe card below for more thorough instructions.
- Make the filling. Mix together the cream cheese, jalapeños, and garlic powder.
- Assemble. Lay out 2 slices of bread with 1 slice of cheese, half of the jalapeno filling, and half of the bacon each. Divide the remaining cheese between the slices and close the sandwiches.
- Grill. Heat a skillet over medium heat and spread the outward-facing sides of each sandwich with butter. Grill until the cheese has melted and the sandwiches are golden brown on both sides, flipping halfway through.
Variation Ideas
This recipe is super easy to adjust here and there to make it your own. Here come some fun ideas for you:
- Experiment with different cheeses. Cheddar is the classic pick for me, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use something different. Try pepper jack, Colby, American, mozzarella, or even some combination!
- Make it vegetarian. Not a meat eater? Not a problem. Feel free to leave the bacon out (or use your favorite veggie bacon).
- Use mayo instead of butter – If you’re out of butter, a thin spread of mayonnaise on the outside of the bread will work just as well. It’ll create that same familiar golden-brown, crispy exterior.
- Try pickled jalapenos – Instead of fresh peppers, you can use pickled jalapenos for a slightly different flavor profile or even our awesome candied jalapenos.
Tips for a Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Striving for perfection? I’ve got some simple tips and tricks for you that will get you there. Here they are:
- Seed the jalapenos. Unless you want a VERY spicy jalapeno cream cheese filling, I suggest seeding the peppers. Actually, I suggest doing it anyway. No one wants seeds in their grilled cheese!
- Be choosy with bread. You want to make sure your bread is relatively sturdy. If it is too soft/delicate, it will likely get soggy and might even fall apart during the grilling process.
- Careful with heat. Keep the heat at medium. If you turn it up past that point, the bread will burn before the cheese gets a chance to melt fully.
- Storage tip. Keep the leftover grilled cheese sandwiches in an airtight container or zip-top bag/s. You can store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pan-fry over low heat until warmed through.
More Grilled Cheese Recipes
- Bacon Grilled Cheese
- Kimchi Grilled Cheese
- Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese
- French Onion Grilled Cheese
- Brisket Grilled Cheese
- Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Take your grilled cheese sandwich to the next level! With melty cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and a fresh jalapeno and cream cheese filling on buttered bread grilled until golden brown, this Jalapeno Popper Bacon Grilled Cheese is a real winner.
Servings: 2 sandwiches
Ingredients
- 2-3 Jalapenos chopped and seeds and membranes removed
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 slices of cheddar cheese
- 4 slices bread
- 3 slices bacon fully cooked
- 4 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, chopped jalapeños, and garlic powder.
- Lay out two slices of bread on a clean surface and top each with one slice of cheese.
- Divide the jalapeño filling onto each sandwich and spread out edge-to-edge.
- Cut the slices of bacon in half and place onto the sandwiches over top of the jalapeño filling.
- Top with remaining slices of cheese and the remaining slices of bread to complete two sandwiches.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat.
- Spread butter onto the outward-facing sides of the bread on each sandwich. Place the sandwiches onto the skillet and grill until golden brown, then flip and grill the other side until golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Serve hot.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Nutrition
Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 753kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 61g | Saturated Fat: 34g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 1048mg | Potassium: 286mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1958IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 375mg | Iron: 2mg
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6 comments on “Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese with Bacon”
Great simple recipe.
I just happens to love grill cheese sandwiches and jalapeño poppers with cream cheese.
Made this for my husband and he loved it! No more plain grilled cheese for us. This elevated it to a whole new level!
Didn’t have jalapeños so I used green chilies. It was so very good! Personally I’d use a little less cream cheese, but my husband loved it as is. I’d recommend doing your bacon to crispy. A less crispy bacon is harder to bite into without pulling it out of the sandwich.
I think I’d choppish the bacon, cook until crispy brown then add to mixture. I’d fed use shredded sharp or extra sharp cheese. We love G/C. I’m def going to try.
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