Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This vegan jalapeno popper grilled cheese is the ultimate comfort food! Read on for all the tips to make the best grilled cheese.

recipe originally published November 18, 2010

 

Table of Contents - jump to any section

1. How To Make A Jalapeno Popper Sandwich
2. Tips for the Best Grilled Cheese
3. Vegan Sandwich Recipes
4. Vegan Jalapeno Recipes
5. Jalapeno Popper Sandwich Recipe

Jalapeno Popper Sandwich

Also known as My Favorite Grilled Cheese.

With good reason – the jalapeno popper is a quintessential party or game day food. I have transformed that very thing into an epic vegan jalapeno popper sandwich – gooey cream cheese poppers and melty cheese take this sandwich to new heights of comfort food.

Comfort with a bit of a spicy kick.

Spicy Grilled Cheese

We love to serve this melty sandwich while watching the game - see more of our favorite Game Day Recipes.

This vegan jalapeno popper grilled cheese is legendary among early readers of spabettie - truly a cult like following from year one. We have readers turned friends that still talk about this deliciousness. Y'all know who you are.

Enjoy any time of year. Warm summertime grilling on the patio, and that perfect winter dipper for a bowl of tomato soup.

Vegan Spicy Pepper Sandwich

The many dozens of Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese I have made in the last decade have all plant based - dairy free - vegan.

As commercial dairy free cheese continues to improve in both taste and texture, so have our Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese. The grated cheese you see melting away in these photos is Violife brand, because it is our current favorite.

You can also make your own cheese.

How To Make A Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese

For all things jalapeno, we love this jalapeño corer knife. We use it all the time.

As one might guess, this vegan Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese recipe has a bit of prep. So you are going to seed, possibly grill, slice and fill your jalapeno poppers before you even think about heating up the skillet.

If you want your jalapeno popper sandwich less spicy, remove all the seeds and grill / roast the jalapeno before filling and grilling the sandwich.

• Slice each jalapeno in half lengthwise.
• Fill each half with cream cheese.
• Heat a skillet over medium heat.
• Add (dairy free) butter to skillet to melt.
• Place each slice of bread in skillet, completely covering with melted butter.
• Add generous amounts of shredded cheese to each slice of bread. 
• Arrange the filled jalapeno poppers on one slice of the bread, filling in the entire surface
• See tips below for the best methods for melting cheese.

 

Tips For The Best Grilled Cheese

• Choose a good bread - I love a hearty rustic bread or sourdough. Any bread will work, choose your favorite that will make a great grilled cheese.
• Use grated cheese - even better if you grate it yourself. Grated cheese melts more evenly, and with this jalapeno popper sandwich, melts down in between the peppers... 
• Use (dairy free) butter - this is not the time to be oil free! Melt it in the pan or spread on outsides of each slice of bread.
• If you don't have butter, use (vegan) mayo! this is my favorite fun trick for a crispy golden grilled sandwich with rich flavor.
• Pan fry each slice of bread open faced until the bread gets golden brown and crispy and cheese is melted. Carefully flip the cheese side over on top of the cheese and jalapeno side.
• If cheese needs help melting? cover with lid to keep heat in pan.
• Another cheese melting tip: add just a few drops of water to the pan to make a steam, and cover with the lid for another minute or two. (this is at the end of cooking, after the bread is golden brown and toasted, if you need the cheese to melt.)
• For a flavorful grilled cheese, use this easy homemade vegan butter! 

 

 

Vegan Sandwich Recipes

• Vegan BLT Sandwich - an easy shiitake bacon recipe is the star of this lunchtime stack! all the classic flavor we love.
• Sunrise Stack Breakfast Sandwich - tofu or scramble, cool creamy avocado, fresh ripe tomato, and perfect romesco sauce make this a breakfast you will crave.
• Caramelized Onion Kabocha Sandwich - ultimate comfort food sandwich - sweetly savory kabocha squash and caramelized onions just go together so well on a fresh soft bun.
• Epic After Holiday Sandwich - the one we wait for every year - truly epic!
• Chef’s Mojo Cubano - a favorite film inspired this vegan take on a sandwich I could not stop thinking about...
• Roasted Garlic Chickpea Salad Sandwich - the plant based version of chicken salad gets a umami update with roasted garlic!

Vegan Jalapeno Recipes

• Spicy Jalapeño Sesame Salsa - a unique flavor combination you will always want on hand.
• Pineapple Jalapeño Poppers - an often requested party favorite! sweet and salty, with a buttery crunch topping...
• Black Bean Soup - basic black bean soup gets a spicy upgrade for a quick and easy weeknight dinner recipe.
• Spicy Margarita - a spicy pepper update to everyone's favorite sipper
• Jalapeno Popper Pepper Jacks - a super fun dinner for Halloween night!

 

 

 

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Yield: 1 sandwich

Jalapeno Popper Sandwich

Print

the ultimate grilled cheese! serious comfort food you crave: melty cheese and spicy poppers between golden toasty bread.

Prep Time 7 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 19 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 - 2 tablespoons dairy free butter, for frying
• 2 slices bread (seen here: gluten free sourdough)
• ⅓ cup grated dairy free cheese
• 3 fresh jalapeno peppers
• 2 tablespoons dairy free cream cheese

Instructions

1. Cut the top from each jalapeno, and use the jalapeno corer tool to remove seeds and membranes. Alternatively, slice each jalapeno in half lengthwise and scrape out the insides with a spoon.
2. Fill each of the 6 jalapeno halves with cream cheese. Set aside.
3. Place a skillet on a burner over medium heat.
4. Add 1 - 2 tablespoons dairy free butter to skillet to melt.
5. Once butter is melted, place each slice of bread in skillet.
6. Add grated cheese in an even layer on both slices of bread.
7. Cover the skillet with a lid to allow the cheese to melt a bit.
8. Add the jalapeno poppers (cream cheese filled jalapeno halves) face down on one slice of bread, evenly spaced to fill the surface of the bread slice.
9. Return the lid to the skillet to continue cooking and melting the cheeses.
10. Once fully melted and bread is golden brown, remove from heat.
11. Using a spatula, carefully place the slice of bread with cheese onto the slice of bread with cheese and jalapeno poppers.
12. With the spatula, remove the jalapeno popper sandwich from the skillet.
13. Let rest a few minutes before slicing and enjoying!

Notes

dairy, egg, soy and gluten free, vegan

Tips For The Best Grilled Cheese

• Choose a good bread - I love a hearty rustic bread or sourdough. Any bread will work, choose your favorite that will make a great grilled cheese.
• Use grated cheese - even better if you grate it yourself. Grated cheese melts more evenly, and with this jalapeno popper sandwich, melts down in between the peppers... 
• Use (dairy free) butter - this is not the time to be oil free! Melt it in the pan or spread on outsides of each slice of bread.
• If you don't have butter, use (vegan) mayo! this is my favorite fun trick for a crispy golden grilled sandwich with rich flavor.
• Pan fry each slice of bread open faced until the bread gets golden brown and crispy and cheese is melted. Carefully flip the cheese side over on top of the cheese and jalapeno side.
• If cheese needs help melting? cover with lid to keep heat in pan.
• Another cheese melting tip: add just a few drops of water to the pan to make a steam, and cover with the lid for another minute or two. (this is at the end of cooking, after the bread is golden brown and toasted, if you need the cheese to melt.)
• For a flavorful grilled cheese, use this easy homemade vegan butter! 

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Chef Knife
• 
  Norpro Jalapeno Pepper Corer
• 
  Cutting Board

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 369Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 222mgCarbohydrates: 29gNet Carbohydrates: 24gFiber: 5gSugar: 2gProtein: 22g

nutrition calculations results vary by calculator, are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.

 

about Kristina:

Kristina is spabettie! She found cooking at an early age, and created spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. Kristina turned her culinary training into sharing vibrant vegan food!  Read more...

 

 

 

 

 

spabettie / Kristina Sloggett is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.