Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese is a delectable combination of baked cream cheese-filled jalapenos, gooey cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese, and crispy bacon. It is sandwiched between two slices of thick, hearty white bread and grilled to perfection.
Do you like grilled cheese? I absolutely love them. Grilled cheese is the ultimate comfort food. In fact, it is a formidable contender, even against mac n cheese. However, you do have to like a little heat to partake in this beauty. If picked properly, jalapenos can be very flavorful with relatively mild heat. Please be sure to read my section on choosing the right jalapenos.
How do you make Jalapeno Grilled Cheese?
First, using plastic food handling gloves, cut the jalapenos in half and remove the seeds and membranes—stuff each half with a little mound of cream cheese. Now place them on a cookie sheet and bake until the peppers are semi-soft, the cheese is bubbly, and they start to brown.
Place one slice of cheddar cheese on two bread slices. Place one slice each of Monterey Jack on two bread slices. Each sandwich will have both kinds of cheese. Slice the cooked stuffed jalapenos into bite-size pieces. Divide the jalapeno slices between the two slices of bread with cheddar. Add the four slices of bacon to the slices of bread with Monterey Jack. If desired, add chopped cilantro to one side. Combine the slices of bread to form 2 sandwiches.
Top each sandwich with several pats of butter. Place in skillet over medium-low heat, butter side down. Top with more pats of butter. Now grill each side until lightly browned. Cheese should be melted and gooey.
How do you choose mild jalapenos?
With just a little patience and understanding, you, too, can pick jalapenos that are flavorful yet mild. Look for the younger peppers that are smooth and green all over with no striations or blemishes. These young green peppers are less stressed and milder. Stay away from peppers with white lines, flecks, and red ones, as these peppers are older and hotter. Take your time picking the peppers.
To reduce the heat once cut in half, use gloves and scoop out the veins and seeds. There is quite a bit of heat in those veins and seeds. If you like your jalapeno poppers hot, leave the seeds and veins in or leave a portion of them.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Use gloves to cut the peppers in half and remove the seeds. Wash your hands thoroughly after working with these peppers, as they can be irritating if you touch your face.
- A small amount of cream cheese mounded in the pepper works best. If too much is in there, it will cook out.
- If you like your jalapeno poppers to be less soft, reduce the cooking time by ten minutes.
- Use good quality smoked nitrate-free bacon.
- This sandwich is worthy of thick bakery-style white bread, Italian bread, or European Artisan Bread.
- Use excellent quality, fairly thick slices of cheese, as the cheese should be the star of the show.
This Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese is one of the best I have ever had or made. It truly is a work of art and perfect for those of you who like lots of flavor and a little heat.
Other sandwich recipes for you to enjoy
Jalapeno Popper Sandwich
Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese is a delectable combination of baked cream cheese-filled jalapenos, gooey cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese, and crispy bacon.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 2 sandwiches
- Category: sandwich
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 Jalapenos sliced lengthwise seeds and membranes removed
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 4 slices bacon crispy cooked
- 2 slices monterey jack
- 2 slices sharp cheddar
- 4 slices Italian bread
- Cilantro chopped (optional)
- Pats of butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Stuff each jalapeno half with approximately 1 ounce of cream cheese. Bake stuffed jalapenos on a baking sheet for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven.
- Place 1 slice each cheddar cheese on 2 bread slices. Place 1 slice each Monterey Jack on 2 bread slices. Each sandwich will have both kinds of cheese. Slice the cooked stuffed jalapenos into bite-size pieces. Divide the jalapeno slices between the 2 slices of bread with cheddar. Add the 4 slices of bacon to the slices of bread with the Monterey Jack. If desired, add chopped cilantro to one side. Combine the slices of bread to form 2 sandwiches.
- Top each sandwich with several pats of butter. Place in skillet over medium-low heat, butter side down. Top with more pats of butter. Now grill each side until lightly browned. Cheese should be melted and gooey.
Notes
- Use gloves to cut the peppers in half and remove the seeds. Wash your hands thoroughly after working with these peppers, as they can be a real irritant if you touch your face.
- A small amount of cream cheese mounded in the pepper works best. If too much is in there, it will cook out.
- If you like your jalapeno poppers less soft, lessen the cooking time by ten minutes.
- Use good quality smoked nitrate-free bacon.
- This sandwich is worthy of thick bakery-style white bread, Italian bread, or European Artisan Bread.
- Use excellent quality, fairly thick slices of cheese, as the cheese should be the star of the show.
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Rebekah
I made this sandwich for my husband and I about a month ago, and we’ve been talking about it ever since. We’re huge sandwich snobs, if you will, and this sandwich easily hits our top 3 at-home sandwiches. I mean, who doesn’t love bacon, jalapeño, and cream cheese?! I would’ve never thought to put them together in a sandwich, but I’m glad that you did, Beth. You’ve changed my life. Lol.
Beth Pierce
That is awesome Rebekah! I am so glad that you and your husband like it. You made my day!
Janet Cordell
I have a question: can you use a panini sandwich maker for these sandwiches?
Beth Pierce
Yes you sure can!
Kim Romine
So good. Only change we made was to add taco seasoning to the cream cheese. Just because I do that for my poppers. Excellent sandwich, my honey raved about it.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Kim! So glad that you and your honey liked the sandwich!
Angie
I rate this recipe a 15🙌🏼 AMAZING!!! We finally have garden jalapeños & added some avocado. Definitely going to be a regular in our dinner rotation!!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Angie! That is so sweet. We love this sandwich too! So delicious!
Victoria Smith
This sandwich is amazing! The two things I did differently were:
1) I didn’t use cilantro, I don’t care for it;
2) I cut the jalapeno peppers into half-moon sections, mixed the cream cheese with them & warmed them in a small pan (I preferred this so when I took a bite I didn’t get a whole pepper out, it was spread throughout the sandwich. Then I just thickly spread it on one slice of bread for each sandwich.
Lif S
I’m glad to see you prepared the jalapeno peppers + cream cheese the way you did. I, too, don’t want to deal with whole peppers sliding out of the sandwich with each bite and while I was reading through the comments I was wondering if anybody else had a way around that.
Emma
This recipe was the reason I’ve bookmarked your site. It was fantastic, thank you for sharing! I honestly have to say it’s one of the best sandwiches we’ve had. I used sourdough bread, with slices of mozzarella cheese and gouda cheese, and these delicious stuffed jalapeños in the middle. Then I buttered the bread and crisped them up in the pan. It was crunchy, gooey and spicy. We dipped them in a home made tomato soup. Yum!! I will try this next time but with eggs and pastrami for breakfast 🙂
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Emma! I love that sandwich too. Eggs and pastrami plus jalapeno poppers sounds heavenly to me.
Marrla Moor
Have made these twice now. Oh boy! Something fun to try is adding a small amount of liquid smoke to cream cheese and a sprinkle of ” Everything But the Bagel”. Stir into cream cheese before filling jalapeno. An added depth of flavor. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine! Thanks for the tips! My readers love tips!
Allie
What is the best kind of bread to use for this recipe?
Beth Pierce
I like sourdough or there is a European whole grain from the bakery down the street that is delicious as well.
Ashley B
My picky, man-child of a husband LOVED this grilled cheese! And it was a great way to use my garden jalapeños. Thank you so much for this recipe 🙂
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ashley! I completely understand being married to a man-child. I have one of those too!
Priscilla Kostura
I recommend adding cooking bacon to the recipe preparation steps to have a realistic idea of the steps and time it takes to cook the sandwich. This recipe utilized two pans and a cookie sheet to clean. It takes lots of dishes to prepare the sandwich. I thought it tasted ok. It was hard to realize the significant calorie content you’re eating in one sandwich. The thick-sliced cheese and the scooped cream cheese, plus the bacon on a buttered sandwich, will pack on the pounds. It was different, and I ate it. I used sweet peppers on my sandwich because I wouldn’t say I like jalapeños.
Esther
Are you using four slices of bread for this sandwich ?
Beth Pierce
No. It is a double stack in the picture.
Deacon Mitch
Put some fried eggs & tomatoes on it too !!
Maur
Let’s not leave out the avocado! 😋
Carolyn Torbet
I love jalapenos. Thank you so much. This recipe is incredibly delicious.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Carolyn! So glad that you liked it! It is one of our absolute favorites.
Heather
This was so yummy! I cooked the jalapeños in butter with the bacon, and added a fried egg. Didn’t have Jack cheese so I used regular medium cheese. Thanks for the recipe! So creamy and delicious!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Heather! So glad that you liked it!
Melanie Morado
I used candied bacon. Bacon goes in oven with brown sugar and kosher salt. Sweet and salty. It’s the best taste combo.
Emma Davis
I love jalapeno cheese. Thanks for the recipe.
Karen Quintieri
I have made these many, many times. They are so delicious.😋 I vary the cream cheese with stir-ins as the mood or refrigerator dictates. I have used chive cream cheese. I’ve added in chopped green chilis, or salsa, or cumin and cilantro, or…
I fire roast the jalapenos and remove the skins first but still stuff and bake them to combine the flavors, just not for as long.
The other change that I generally incorporate is pepper jack cheese instead of the plain Monterey Jack.
I totally agree with using sharp cheddar, the stronger flavor is needed to pair with the jalapenos. This is, absolutely, the best grilled cheese sandwich ever!! Thank you so much for the recipe. 😊😊
Beth Pierce
Thanks Karen! So glad that you like it and thanks for the all the tips! I love a good cook that can improvise.
Rene Heitz
Wow! Best grilled cheese I ever had! Thanks for the recipe
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome! So glad that you liked it!
Kay
My kind of recipe! Really kicks it up a notch to a whole new level…. Added sliced tomato 🍅 and did not have Monterey Jack, but it was super-delish, not sure I can eat plain ones, now! I grow several types of peppers 🌶 🫑, so always looking for new things to add them to and this was perfection!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Kay! So glad that you liked it! I just love an original grilled cheese!
K Carter
Brilliant!! Why didn’t I think of this? Makes perfect sense!
Beth Pierce
Yes indeed and so yummy!
Nancy
I am not sure why you have to stuff/roast the cream cheese, or the jalepenos for that matter. It seems like more work than necessary. I’m guessing roasting makes the peppers milder and softer, but can’t you just cut in half and roast, then spread the cream cheese on the sandwich before adding the peppers? This looks great but my garden serrano/jalepenos are very small and it would take forever to stuff.
Beth Pierce
That would work just fine too. Enjoy!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip Barb!
Tara McIntyre
Can I just say I made this and it is to die for. Literally every time I think of this dish my mouth waters… I can no longer have a regular grilled cheese. Jalepeno Popper Sandwich has ruined it for me.
Beth Pierce
LOL! Sorry Tara but so glad that you like the sandwich.
Nan
OMG! This is wonderful!
Beth Pierce
Thanks! So glad that you like it!!
Vanessa
Thanks for sharing! What a great way to combine 2 crowd favorites! What a fun thing to make for a friend!
Suzanne
This looks so good! What a great way to enjoy a grown up version of grilled cheese!
Josh
I saw a picture of this on Facebook (I think) and immediately had to try it. Thanks for the tips on choosing jalapenos, because the ones I bought were a bid mild for my liking, but I don’t think I can ever eat a regular grilled cheese sandwich ever again.
Just Amazing.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Josh! So glad that you liked it! I just love that grilled cheese!
Scott Zanotti
Made this yesterday and my 15 year old son already asked for me to make it again. He’s now eaten 5 of these in 2 days, I’d say he’s found a new favorite sandwich! I used pepper jack instead of Monterey and I left the jalapeños poppers whole instead of cutting up, which made easier for flipping. Great idea, glad we tried it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Scott! So glad that you and your son liked it! We love it here too!
L L Blake
Ive never followed and or posted on any blog ever…food or otherwise but SWEET BABY JESUS… I saw this picture while innocently hunting for medicinal quarantine fudge recipes and instantly started salivating. I knew you were my kinda lady so Im gonna follow your blog (first time Ive ever considered it). Your food looks sinful and now is the perfect time to start eating my way through this pandemic…LOL THANK YOU!!! :))
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! You are giving me a good chuckle over here. I sure do hope you enjoy the grilled cheese. It is very yummy!!
Martyandmegan
Awesome recipe. My mouth watered when seeing this! However, I knew I had the ingredients from leftovers, but just not in the recipes form. I used french bread, toweled off some pickled jalapenos, used real bacon bits, whipped cream cheese, mexican blend shredded cheese, and followed the rest of the recipe. I made it on good non-stick pan and covered a few times to hold in some in heat. Amazing recipe and idea! Thanks Smalltownwoman!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome! I love a cook that can improvise!!
Marty
Thank you
Angela
I can not handle hot food, I substituted the jalapeños with green bell peppers, same flavor without the heat. Make the hot ones for my husband and boys.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip! Glad that you liked the sandwich!1
Sandy nevil
I’m def. going to try this grilled sandwich . My husband always ordered seeds from a book. He came across the HA HA JALAOENO PEPPERS HA HA MEANS FOOLED YOU AND THESE PEPPERS HAVE SAME GOOD TASTE BUT IS NOT HOT AT ALL THANKS FROM DANDY IN HILLSBORO OHIO
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip Sandy! I hope you like the sandwich!
Stephanie J Aguirre
Wow. Will have to try this sometime this week. I appreciate the nutrition facts – is the 704 for the whole sandwich or 1 serving?
Beth Pierce
Yes that is the calorie count for the whole sandwich.
Taylor
This is the ultimate grilled cheese recipe! Love all the flavors!
Catalina
A must try recipe! This grilled cheese is so perfect for my lunch!
Melanie Bauer
This is absolutely fantastic! Those combinations of flavors are really amazing, gotta give this a try!
Erin
This looks incredibly delicious! This is seriously making me hungry!
Krista
Crazy amazing recipe! I can’t wait to make this! Well done!
Demeter
This is always a hit as an appetizer I bet it’s out of the world amazing as a grilled cheese! Such a great idea.
James
Woah I’m going to do a version of this at my restaurant looks awesome & TY for the amazing idea
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome James. I hope your patrons love it!
Sharon Wu
omg this looks sooooo good my mouth is watering! need to try this recipe for sure! can never say no to cheese 😉
Megha
I am definitely making it during weekends. My hubby is a fan of cheese.
Jenni
I loved it!! It was really amazing!
Sam
This sandwich is truly OUT OF THIS WORLD. My husband said that he can eat it everyday. I guess it was a WINNER :))
Sommer
My two favorite foods in one sandwich! Holy yum!
Elizabeth
This looks so good! I cannot wait to try. My hubby is going to be so happy.
Kiwi
Without the bacon this looks delicious. i want to recreate this for lunch tomorrow!
Toni | Boulder Locavore
This looks really delicious!! Definitely a must-try!
Liz
This is my new favorite grilled cheese!! Absolutely amazing!!
Renee Goerger
This is such a satisfying grilled cheese. I love the pop of heat that the pepper gives. Great recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so Renee! We love them too!
emman damian
Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese seems like a good recipe. I would like to try it on weekends. Yum!
Porsha carr
I haven’t ate dinner tonight this looks so good!
Terri Steffes
Good heavens that looks good! I love a good jalapeno in my sandwich and this one looks so good. I hope I can convince my family to give this a try for dinner.
Heather
I’m not a fan of jalapeños but I bet they are a great compliment to the cheese! My husband would probably like this.
Cinny
Oh, that looks heavenly. I happen to be a fan of grilled cheese and jalapeño poppers!
Sara Welch
This looks delicious! Restaurant worthy, indeed! Can’t wait to try this for my lunch this week!
Jaye Shields
These are all great tips, like wearing gloves for the peppers. I make Jalapeno poppers at least once a week, but I love grilled cheese. I usually do them on my cast iron skillet, then throw them on the grill for a sec.
CherishingFlo
THIS actually sounds soooo delicious. I’m definitely try it!
Stacie
That’s a masterpiece of a grilled cheese sandwich. Jalapeno poppers are my favorite appetizer. I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve ever seen a grilled cheese version. It looks amazing!
Sarah Averett
This took everything I love about a jalapeno popper and paired it perfectly in a grilled cheese. These were phenomenal! Thank you!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure was all mine> I am glad that you enjoyed them!
Gina Matsoukas
This is what grilled cheese dreams are made of!
Amy
Do you have the nutrition value for this recipe i am diabetic and control with diet this looks delicious and would like to try
Beth Pierce
I just added the nutritional information to the recipe. Have a great day!
Melissa
Ha! Reading is fundamental! I totally missed the cooked part on the bacon! My apologies for my ignorance
Beth Pierce
No worries at all. Life is busy. I have missed a step once or twice in my life. 😉 You should try again. It is a delicious sandwich.
Melissa
I find it hard to believe that the bacon cooks with the sandwich. Surely you cooked it ahead of time? Or its possible that I missed a step?
Jamie
The ingredient list says “4 slices bacon crispy cooked” so it is pre-cooked.
Beth Pierce
Yes it is! Enjoy your awesome grilled cheese!
Jeannette Averett
I added grilled onions and it really took this to a new level!!! My family loved them.
Beth Pierce
Awesome! Sounds amazing and so glad that your family loved them! Happy New Year!
Fauziah
Well I made this using smoked beef ‘bacon’ and yummy is not the word, I’d say I was in heaven lol. So today I made one with Turkey bacon and I’m now hooked! Thank you for sharing xxx
bpierce
My pleasure. I am so glad that you liked it! Nothing wrong with a glimpse of heaven!!!
Subhashish Roy
I absolutely love the grilled sandwich. Am surely making it on Friday when I am a little free. So inviting & easy to make.
Candace
How do you pick the jalapeños so they’re not too hot?
bpierce
Jalapeño chilies progressively get hotter the older they get, eventually turning bright red. As they age, they develop white lines and flecks, like stretch marks running in the direction of the length of the pepper. The smoother the pepper, the younger, and milder it is. The more white lines, the older and hotter.
Read more: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/tip_how_to_check_for_the_hotness_of_jalapenos/#ixzz3tJS3fqVP
Also remove the seeds and membranes with your hand covered in a disposable sandwich bag to calm them down!!
Vikki
Another way to tell if the jalapeño is hot is by looking at the tip…. pointy tip hot, rounded tip mild.
Love this recipe idea… I’m going to try a variation by mixing cream cheese, canned chopped jalapeños and shredded cheese and spreading that on the bread, add the bacon and toast.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip Vikki! Sounds delicious! Enjoy your sandwich!!
Sherry Hall
I like the idea of mixing the cheeses & jalapenos then spreading it on the bread!! Please let me know how that actually turns out, please!!!! Post your recipe or put a post giving the recipe amounts & stuff you used, etc. Please!
Beth Pierce
Yes indeed! Great combination!!
Chris Kaitlyn
I altered the recipe as I did not have all of the same ingredients. We had London Broil left over that my husband thinly cut on an angle and I warmed on the griddle. I also cooked bacon and chopped it up. We didn’t have jalapeno peppers on hand so I used canned chilies and drained some of the liquid. I microwaved whipped cream cheese for 20 seconds then added the can of chilies and mixed together. I toasted the bread on the griddle with butter on the outside to it toast up nicely. When those were done I just layered each of the ingredients: London Broil, bacon, different cheeses, and the chili cream cheese mix. It was Yummy!
Beth Pierce
That does sound absolutely amazing! What a sandwich!
Josh
I always give mine an ice bath after deseeding and taking out the membrane
Nknya
Thatll cool them peppers down for sure!
Matt
The hotter the better depending if your from New Mexico or not! Chile capital of the US. So make sure they taste like jalepenos not bell peppers. ?
Dustin
Yeah I’m from SE Texas and we love hot/spicy foods! I vote for more peppers ?
Ronie
I love hot food and I’m from michigan!! Jalapeños are meant to be spicy!!!
Angela
We’ve been making Jalapeno poppers for years, never thought to put it on a sandwich 🥪. Will be trying this very very soon! Thanks for the idea and I am sharing this information on FB. Have a friend that wanted to try it as well.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Angela! I hope you and your friend enjoy it as much as we do!!
Thomas Kent
What on earth is the calorie/fat content of this??
Beth Pierce
Nutritional information is on the recipe but all nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation.
joanne singer PE
USE GREEN CHILIS
Laurie P
If you wash them thoroughly with water after you slice them and remove the seeds it will remove the hotness from the pepper.