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This bold and spicy Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese is the ultimate sandwich, with crispy and buttery grilled bread, creamy cheese, and bits of pickled and fresh jalapenos throughout!
We’re homeschoolers, which is a whole thing and I could say so much about it, but mostly I’ll just stick to the important bit…
Homeschooling means that not only do I have to get my kids breakfast and dinner every day, I also have to feed them lunch. There is no hot school lunch option that exists outside of mom standing over a stove. <— Please send help.
This means we do lots of easy lunch foods, like this jalapeno popper grilled cheese or our cheesy pizza bread.
Sandwiches are definitely our go-to though. Whether it’s chicken salad with grapes, homemade sloppy joes, or one of our many variations on a grilled cheese…this is a staple lunch!
This particular sandwich, the Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich, is one that makes lunch time fun. It makes me happy.
If you’ve never put cream cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich, then you’re living your life wrong and it’s time to fix things.
Ingredient Notes:
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Sourdough Bread – I’m a sucker for grilled sourdough bread, but any variety of bread that you like will work well here.
Butter – Every good grilled cheese sandwich starts with some well buttered slices of bread! Don’t have any softened butter? Try spreading mayo on your bread instead – crazy, but it’s amazing!
Cream Cheese – Start with some room temperature cream cheese for this recipe for easy mixing!
Cheddar Cheese – Along with the cream cheese we’re adding in a cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Freshly shredded melts nicer, but a bag of shredded will work just fine.
Jalapeno Slices – You’ll want to use the jarred and sliced kind of jalapeno for this. You will also need a teaspoon of the juice from the jar. We use the “tamed” kind which are milder than some brands of the jarred jalapenos.
Fresh Jalapeno – This is optional and only if you want extra spicy jalapeno cheddar grilled cheese sandwiches! If you do, slice up some fresh jalapeno for topping the cheese mixture before grilling.
What We Love About This Recipe:
- Elevated Classic: This is a great twist on your favorite classic grilled cheese sandwich! Adding a little spice and using cream cheese takes this sandwich over the top.
- Customizable: You can make these as mild or as spicy as you like! Use more or less jalapeno to suit your taste buds.
- Fast & Easy: It only takes minutes to whip these up and less than 10 minutes on the stove!
- Cheesy: Nothing is more satisfying than biting into crisp bread that’s stuffed with gooey, melty cheese! The cream cheese really makes this special.
How To Make Grilled Cheese Sandwich:
Jalapeno Popper Mix: In a small bowl add the softened cream cheese, shredded cream cheese, diced jalapenos and a teaspoon of juice from the jar. Stir all that together until well combined! This is very similar to our jalapeno popper dip.
Assemble: Butter one side of each slice of bread and then spoon the jalapeno popper cheese mixture onto the bread with the butter side facing out. There should be enough of the mixture for 3 grilled cheese sandwiches.
If you like it extra spicy top the cheese with fresh jalapeno slices! It’s even spicier if you leave the seeds in.
Grill: After assembling the 3 sandwiches you can place them all into a hot skillet and begin cooking over medium low heat until golden brown. Flip once to grill the other side too until the cheese is melty.
Serve: You’re going to want to serve these sandwiches while they are hot and the cheese is melty! See below for some serving suggestions.
My Favorite Skillet!
Cast iron skillets are my favorite! They heat so evenly, get piping hot for searing, and nothing is better than bacon fried in a cast iron skillet.
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich:
If you don’t want to use the skillet or if you just like the air fryer better you are in luck! These air fryer jalapeno grilled cheese sandwiches are made pretty much the same way as you do in this recipe.
They’ll get just as golden brown with perfectly melty cheese when you air fry them, and the clean up is a little easier.
What To Serve With Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:
You could enjoy jalapeno popper grilled cheese by itself but wouldn’t it be better with some tomato soup? Here are some great serving suggestions:
FAQs:
Yes, if you have leftovers you can let them cool completely before wrapping in foil. Reheat on the stove or in the air fryer. O
The jarred variety of jalapenos are not as spicy as fresh jalapenos. You can also buy the ‘tamed’ kind which are even more mild. This gives the sandwich just a little kick, but they’re not spicy.
If you want it to be spicier than you can add in some freshly sliced jalapeno. If you leave the seeds in it’ll be even spicier!
MORE GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH RECIPES!
- Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese
- Bacon Jam Grilled Cheese
- Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese
- BBQ Mac & Cheese Grilled Cheese
- Fried Green Tomato & Pimento Cheese Sandwich
Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 6 slices sourdough bread
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4-1/2 cup jarred jalapeno slices diced
- 1 teaspoon juice of jar of jalapenos
- fresh jalapeno slices optional
Instructions
- Heat a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Spread one side of each slice of bread with butter.
- In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, jalapenos, and juice. Stir well to combine.
- Spoon the cheese mixture onto the bread with the butter side facing out. If you like your sandwich extra spicy, arrange fresh jalapeno slices over teh cheese. Sandwich together to make 3 sandwiches.
- Place sandwiches into skillet and cook until golden brown over medium low heat. Flip and continue cooking until golden brown and cheese is melty.
- Remove from heat and serve.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This recipe was originally published in February 2015. It was updated with new photos in April 2023.
fitnfree says
Wow, that sounds yummy! Just had grilled cheese tonight – will have to try your version next time and give it a little “kick”. It’s a favorite around my house.
Joanne says
Most of the time I do leftovers for lunch, but on the weekend trying to figure out lunch for the.boy and I is INTENSE. I don’t know how you do it every day. Although, eating these grilled cheeses every day for forever doesn’t sound like such a bad deal…
Jordan@the2seasons says
This is such a fun spin on grilled cheese. We are going to feature this recipe as one of our picks in our Saturday Selections this week. Yummy!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I love grilled cheese. I eat it often. I like a little nip in them. Then cream cheese—-WOW
Lisa says
Can’t wait to try this sandwich! As a homeschooling mom for 14 years myself, I totally relate. I’m also a mom who unexpectedly lost her 18 yr. old son 13 weeks ago. Cherish these days (even the hard ones), for one day you really will wish you could argue over math again, and you’ll laugh over those science projects.
Karly says
Oh, Lisa, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss.
Malinda @countrysidecravings says
BAHAHAHA! Oh your story made me laugh cuz I can relate on so many levels! I have to pack a lunch for my kids and like the natural procrastinator I am I do it in the morning while trying to shove breakfast into them and do their hair and by the time I get back from dropping them off I have to start thinking about lunch for my littles that are not in school and ugh I don’t want too!! I just sometimes really hate lunchtime! These grilled cheese look killer and I can’t wait to try them out!! Pinned!
Shinee says
You’re hilarious! But this grilled cheese is amazing. I love jalapeño poppers and, of course grilled cheese! The combination is just a bomb!
Simple Green Moms says
Three solid meals a day. You are a CHAMP. Completely and totally adore you for being able to handle all of that and still posts amazing recipes on here for us! =)
Matt Robinson says
This is one serious grilled cheese, wow!!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
This is one sassy grilled cheese! So yummy looking!!
Karen says
I, too, have been beaten down by having to prepare three.meals.every.single. day because I homeschool. Add to that the fact that I don’t love regular sandwiches (I am so trying this one because it isn’t boring deli meat or PB&J) and the job is even more difficult. This sounds delicious!
I’m a science slacker. It isn’t where my kids interests lie, so we’ve done the bare minimum. I remember, however, the horrible stench at the co-op we used to attend when there was a room full of kids gathered around a table dissecting their frogs. In the church kitchen. Right before the cooking class I was assisting. For real.
Karly says
I WANT to be a science slacker, but my son won’t go for it. *sob* And ewwww on the kitchen dissection! We do it at our dining room table, after I’ve covered the whole thing in clean garbage bags, just to be sure no droplets of anything weird get anywhere near my table. 😉
Carlee @cookingwithcarlee says
So funny! The death closet is killing me! Science and math were my favorite subjects in school, so you wouldn’t hear any complaints out of me. Especially if this is what lunch looks like. That is way better than I remember school lunches looking! We love stuffed jalapenos here, so I will have to give these a try.
Karly says
The death closet kills me as well, my friend. 😉
Karen @ On the Banks of Salt Creek says
Yeah. Someone who understands my loathing of lunch. It is the worst meal ever. Right in the middle of teaching, want it to be healthy, really quick and taste good. It is so hard for all of those to work together.
I love it when I have leftovers. Oh, and only a mother will ever understand how annoying it is to have to stop what you are doing THREE TIMES A DAY to cook for people. And I have boys . They will never get it because they will never do it.
And yes, surrounding those meals is school. You know, that thing I spend so much time and money on and when I finally figure out how to explain that new concept to my boys they just look at me with that “I’m not paying any attention to you” look on their faces. And so how weird am I that I still want to homeschool them 🙂
Karly says
Hahaha! Yep. All of that.
Candace @ Cabot says
Hilarious post, and yet I’m nodding my head in sympathy as I’m laughing. Lunch. Is. Hard. But this grilled cheese is a thing of beauty. You’re in line for Mother of the Year (#moty) for this alone!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
Oh my gosh I am DYING about the math! I would feel the exact same if I had kids to home school.
BUT, I DO HATE BEYOND HATE making lunches for my husband, so i feel ya. This grilled cheese looks BOMB. I am obsessed with ALL THE THING Jalapeno Popper. Pinned!