Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese - Dish with Drew

 Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese

This Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese is everything you want when those late-night cravings hit, blending the best parts of a classic snack with the ultimate comfort food vehicle: crispy, buttery bread. This is seriously the best way to satisfy a craving for something spicy and creamy without any fuss. The moment the heat hits your tongue and you pull apart that golden-brown sourdough, watching the gooey, molten cheese stretch out, that's the food experience we're chasing here. It takes the familiar crunch and creamy heat of a deep-fried jalapeño popper and transforms it into an elegant, high-end sandwich experience. The secret lies in our filling: a rich, decadent blend of softened cream cheese mixed with freshly grated Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, and sharp Cheddar. It creates a creamy, spicy center that just holds up perfectly, guaranteeing that spectacular cheese pull every single time. We even include a touch of mayonnaise in the filling to ensure the creamiest texture possible while adding a little extra savory depth.

The key to achieving this perfect, spicy, and creamy interior is taking the time to roast the jalapeños until they are tender and slightly smoky, a small step that brings a massive flavor payoff. Roasting not only mellows the raw heat but adds a subtle sweetness and depth that complements the sharp cheddar. Plus, we've designed the cooking instructions to ensure the perfect grilled cheese outcome: we toast the inside of the bread first, which acts as a protective layer against the rich filling, preventing any sogginess. Then, we cook the final sandwich low and slow in unsalted butter to ensure the external crust is perfectly crispy and golden brown before the internal cheese filling melts into a molten river of spicy goodness. If you love the complexity of a jalapeno popper, you will absolutely fall head over heels for this high-end, low-fuss grilled cheese dupe. Enjoy!

This is the pan I'm using to toast my sandwiches ➡️ HexClad 12-inch Griddle

🧾 Ingredients 🧾 5 jalapeños 1 teaspoon neutral oil 8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes 4 ounces colby jack cheese, freshly grated 4 ounces pepper jack cheese, freshly grated 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper Unsalted butter for toasting 3 tablespoons mayonnaise Bread of your choice (sourdough recommended)

👨‍🍳 Instructions 👨‍🍳

1) Toss the whole jalapeños with the neutral oil and a pinch of salt. Place them on a sheet tray and roast at 350 F for fifteen minutes. 2) Remove the jalapeños from the tray and immediately cover them with foil or wrap them in paper towels. Let them sit for ten minutes. The steam will loosen the skins and make them much easier to peel. 3) Peel the skin off the jalapeños, remove the stems, and take out the seeds and ribs unless you want your grilled cheese to be spicier. Leaving in the seeds and ribs will increase heat. 4) Dice the peeled jalapeños into pieces about one quarter to one half inch in size. 5) In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, colby jack, pepper jack, sharp cheddar, salt, black pepper, and mayonnaise. Mix until everything is fully incorporated. 6) Heat a large pan or griddle over medium low heat. Add a small amount of unsalted butter and place slices of bread into the pan to toast one side. This toasted side will become the inside of your sandwich. Once toasted, remove the bread from the pan and set aside. 7) Spread your desired amount of jalapeño popper filling onto the toasted side of each bread slice. Top each with a second slice of bread, making sure the toasted sides face inward toward the filling. 8) Return the sandwiches to the pan or griddle over medium low heat with more unsalted butter. Toast each side until golden brown and the cheese filling is fully melted. It is important to cook on a lower temperature so that the cheese inside is hot and melty before the outside of the sandwich gets too toasty.

YouTube Video:

⚡ Affiliate Note: Some of the links below may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.