Roasted Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese Recipe
This Roasted Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese sandwich combines the smoky heat of roasted jalapeños with creamy, seasoned cream cheese, crispy bacon, and melted mild cheddar cheese, all nestled between buttery toasted Texas toast. Perfectly balanced with a touch of spice and savory flavors, this elevated grilled cheese is a crowd-pleasing comfort food ideal for any meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Roasted Jalapeños
- 4 medium jalapeños, stems removed, sliced in half, and seeded
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup (113 g) mild cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
Other Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon, cooked, divided
- 4 slices Texas toast (or your bread of choice)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for roasting the jalapeños.
- Prepare Jalapeños: Brush both sides of the jalapeño halves with olive oil and arrange them on the lined baking sheet, making sure they are evenly spaced.
- Roast Jalapeños: Roast the jalapeños in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until their skins start to char slightly, adding a smoky flavor. Remove them and allow to cool enough to handle.
- Mix Cream Cheese Base: In a medium bowl, combine the room temperature cream cheese with garlic salt, black pepper, and onion powder. Mix thoroughly until smooth and creamy.
- Incorporate Jalapeños: Roughly chop the cooled roasted jalapeños and fold them into the cream cheese mixture, distributing them evenly.
- Prepare Bread: Butter one side of each slice of Texas toast generously with unsalted butter. On the unbuttered side of two slices, spread half of the jalapeño cream cheese mixture.
- Assemble Sandwich: Over the cream cheese layer of each sandwich, place 3 strips of cooked bacon and sprinkle ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Top with the remaining bread slices, buttered side out.
- Cook Sandwich: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place the assembled sandwiches in the skillet and cook for 3–5 minutes on each side until the bread is golden brown and toasted, and the cheese inside has melted completely.
- Serve: Remove the sandwiches from the skillet, cut if desired, and serve immediately while warm and melty.
Notes
- If you prefer less heat, use fewer jalapeños or seed them more thoroughly.
- Texas toast is ideal for its thickness and sturdiness, but any hearty sandwich bread will work.
- Use cooked bacon strips or substitute with turkey bacon for a leaner option.
- Butter the outside of the bread evenly to get a perfectly crispy crust.
- For extra cheesy sandwiches, add more shredded cheddar or even a different cheese for variation.
- Watch the heat carefully while cooking the sandwiches to avoid burning the bread before the cheese melts.
Keywords: jalapeño popper grilled cheese, roasted jalapeño sandwich, bacon grilled cheese, spicy grilled cheese, comfort food, toasted sandwich
