The Appetizer That Just Makes Sense Inside A Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Creamy, cheesy, crunchy, salty, slightly sweet, and substantially spicy; these are the flavors and textures you love about jalapeño poppers that can easily be transferred between two slices of bread for a jalapeño popper grilled cheese sandwich. There's a few ingredient variations when it comes to this traditional appetizer. Some peppers are stuffed with cream cheese, breaded, and then fried, while others are stuffed with a cheddar and cream cheese mixture, wrapped in bacon, and then baked. For the best jalapeño popper grilled cheese sandwich mash-up, it's highly recommended to use it all: fresh jalapeño peppers, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, and of course, sliced bread (you can't go wrong using sourdough for grilled cheese).

If you or someone you're serving this sandwich to doesn't eat meat or dairy, you can easily substitute any dairy-based component with a non-dairy version and use a plant-based bacon product or a similar, bacon-flavored vegan meat alternative. For those who don't eat pork or want a leaner cut of meat with the same umami flavor as bacon, opt for turkey bacon instead. If you're sensitive to the heat of jalapeños, a tasty pepper swap for a less spicy 'jalapeño' popper grilled cheese involves using a milder pepper like whole pepperoncini. That, or opt for a completely heat-free option with something like green bell pepper.

Unless you prefer jalapeños on the spicier side, before assembling and cooking the sandwich you should first roast them whole in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the skin turns charred. Roasting not only softens the jalapeños, it also infuses them with smoky, sweet flavors that complement the other ingredients. Once charred, place the peppers in a covered dish to cool and make peeling easier. Peel the skins off the peppers, remove the stem if you haven't already, and slice the jalapeños in half lengthwise, removing the seeds if you prefer less heat.

You want the grilled cheese to look and taste like it walked into a jalapeño popper, so assembly matters. Ensure the outsides of your bread slices are nicely coated with butter or mayonnaise, as the fat helps achieve a perfectly crisp exterior once cooked; emulating the outside of a fried popper. On the inside of each bread slice, evenly smear a generous coating of cream cheese and layer a slice of cheddar or American cheese on top. On one bread slice, lay the roasted jalapeño halves on top of the cheddar cheese and then place the other slice of bread, cream cheese-side down, on top. Place in a frying pan set to medium-low heat, cooking the sandwich until each side is golden brown and crispy and the cheese is melted. To fully experience the jalapeño popper in sandwich form, just as you savor the appetizer with a dipping sauce, serve the sandwich alongside a creamy dip like ranch, blue cheese, or garlic aioli for dipping.