This 4-ingredient, 15-minute lunch takes the classic grilled cheese and turns it into a grown up grilled cheese. This elevated Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese uses Monterey Jack Cheese and fresh jalapeños to make a deli-style meal just like your favorite appetizer.
Is there anything more comforting than grilled cheese? Or fried food? Or anything with cheese? Or all of the above in one meal? Well, this spicy Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese is a tasty combo of all of the above, making a delicious comfort food you can make in minutes! Served with a side of chips and a pickle, it elevates your meal while keeping it extra simple.
How do you grill the perfect grilled cheese?
Everyone has their own way of cooking the perfect grilled cheese. When I want a crispy outside, I melt the butter until it sizzles extra hot, then add the bread. Sometimes though, it’s just as easy to use a spreadable butter on each piece of bread and cook. Either way results in great grilled cheese, so I’ll leave that up to your discretion. Of course, the bread and cheese are just as important as the perfectly-browned grilled cheese.
Choosing your ingredients:
You can use your favorite bread for this jalapeño popper-inspired grilled cheese, but I like using a simple, high-quality white bread so that it doesn’t take away from the ingredients inside the sandwich. For the same reason, I paired it with good old Monterey Jack cheese because it’s mild, a little sweet, and melts like a dream. Alternatively, a medium cheddar would be a great fit if you want something with a bigger punch of flavor!
Basically, if you like jalapeño poppers or spicy food, it’s a safe bet you’ll like this elevated, simple grilled cheese with a spicy kick! I used a whole jalapeño, but you can tone down the spice level with half of a pepper instead. As much as I like spicy food, I know that I can’t handle anything TOO spicy, which is also why I use lots of cheese in this grilled cheese sandwich. Cheese makes everything better! Plus, the dairy balances out the spice.
What other fried food can I turn into a grown up grilled cheese next?!
Ingredients
- White bread
- Butter
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and sliced
- Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Melt the butter over low-medium heat in a skillet.
- Once sizzling, grill the bread, topped with cheese and slices of jalapeño and another piece of bread.
- Grill until golden, add more butter to the pan and flip.
- Cook until golden on both sides and the cheese is melted.
- Serve hot with a side of chips, fries and/or a pickle.
Notes
Home Chef Tip: Mix cheeses! Medium cheddar is a great addition to Jack cheese!

We hope you enjoy this Jalapeño Grilled Cheese Sandwich from SoFabFood Home Chef, Holly from Club Crafted, as much as we do. If you love this deli-style lunch, you can find more like it by visiting our Sandwich Section. For daily recipe inspiration, subscribe to our newsletter, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Pinterest. Enjoy!
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