Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Difficulty: Intermediate

Servings: 2 Servings

Jalapeño poppers are just one of those appetizers that’s begging to be turned into a sandwich. I mean, it already has two kinds of cheese, spicy chile heat, crispy breadcrumbs, and sometimes even bacon. Honestly, what more does a sandwich need? Slap all of these things together into a quick and easy grilled cheese and jalapeño popper bliss in sandwich form is yours to be had — it’s crunchy, cheesy, spicy, and creamy all at the same time.

Ingredients

2 ounces cream cheese (1/4 cup)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (1 cup shredded)
1 medium jalapeño pepper
4 slices cooked bacon (optional)
4 slices hearty white, sourdough, or French sandwich bread
2 tablespoons mayonnaise

Instructions

Place 2 ounces cream cheese in a medium bowl and let sit out at room temperature until softened, about 30 minutes. Alternatively, place in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until soft to the touch, 10 to 15 seconds. Add 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt, and smash and stir until combined.
Grate 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 1 cup). Trim, seed, and small dice 1 medium jalapeño pepper (about 1/4 cup). Add the cheddar and jalapeño to the cream cheese and stir and smash with a fork or stiff spatula until combined and a paste forms.
Heat a large frying pan over medium-low heat. Meanwhile, place 4 slices hearty white, sourdough, or French sandwich bread on a work surface. Spread 2 tablespoons mayonnaise on one side of the slices (1/2 tablespoon each). Flip 2 of the slices over; divide the cream mixture among these slices, and spread into an even layer. Place 4 slices cooked bacon on top if using, tearing them as needed to fit in a single layer. Top with the remaining 2 bread slices mayonnaise-side up to close the sandwiches.
Place the sandwiches in the pan and cook until golden brown and crisp and the cheeses are melted, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and cut each sandwich in half.