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
- How To Make A Jalapeno Popper Sandwich
- Tips for the Best Grilled Cheese
- Vegan Sandwich Recipes
- Vegan Jalapeno Recipes
- Jalapeno Popper Sandwich Recipe
Jalapeno Popper Sandwich
Also known as My Favorite Grilled Cheese.
With good reason β the jalapeno popper is a quintessential party or game day food. I have transformed that very thing into an epic vegan jalapeno popper sandwich β 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 jalapeΓ±o 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!
- Chefβs 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 JalapeΓ±o Sesame Salsa - a unique flavor combination you will always want on hand.
- Pineapple JalapeΓ±o 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!
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Jalapeno Popper Sandwich
the ultimate grilled cheese! serious comfort food you crave: melty cheese and spicy poppers between golden toasty bread.
Ingredients
- 1 - 2 tablespoons dairy free butter, for frying
- 2 slices bread (seen here: gluten free sourdough)
- β cup grated dairy free cheese
- 3 fresh jalapeno peppers
- 2 tablespoons dairy free cream cheese
Instructions
- 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.
- Fill each of the 6 jalapeno halves with cream cheese. Set aside.
- Place a skillet on a burner over medium heat.
- Add 1 - 2 tablespoons dairy free butter to skillet to melt.
- Once butter is melted, place each slice of bread in skillet.
- Add grated cheese in an even layer on both slices of bread.
- Cover the skillet with a lid to allow the cheese to melt a bit.
- 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.
- Return the lid to the skillet to continue cooking and melting the cheeses.
- Once fully melted and bread is golden brown, remove from heat.
- Using a spatula, carefully place the slice of bread with cheese onto the slice of bread with cheese and jalapeno poppers.
- With the spatula, remove the jalapeno popper sandwich from the skillet.
- Let rest a few minutes before slicing and enjoying!
Notes
dairy, egg, soy and gluten free, vegan
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount 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.
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
omg. that looks...so good!!!!
i cannot eat gluten or cheese, so it's kinda out. but god, i want it π
spabettie says
no averie !! this is both gluten free AND vegan !! π
Angela (the diet book junkie) says
my ideal comfort food is cereal and milk. (see, this is why i'm not a food blogger. :)) i don't watch Food Network, but i LOVE Tom Colicchio. Top Chef is the greatest show of ALL TIME!!!
spabettie says
I *LOVE* Tom Colicchio. There is something about him...
couchpotatoathlete says
This looks so delicious!!! I love Bobby Flay -- but other Food Network people I like: Sandra Lee (yep, I like her!), Alton Brown and Claire from 5 Ingred Fix.
spabettie says
There you are!! the one person who likes Sandra Lee!! π just kidding - she has an amazing story of perseverance in how she grew up, so in that I have a ton of respect for her! π and anyone that has "cocktail time" has to be awesome.
Beth says
Wow this looks unreal. Jalapeno poppers are literally one of my favorite things in the world. I love the idea of this sandwich!
spabettie says
I know... I love them also... we made some GREAT ones on the grill this summer... SO good! I think this sandwich is kinda dangerous... π
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman says
Oh goodness, that looks amazing. I'd probably use real cheese. This looks so good--my husband would kill for one of those, too.
spabettie says
you should make him one... π without telling him what it is !!
S @ extremebalance.net/blog says
I'll give you a million dollars to come up to Winterland and make me one of those.
It's a serious comfort food day!
spabettie says
you're on !! π yes... comfort food day here too... it was sunny this morning, now grey and rainy. perhaps another sandwich for lunch... π
Monique says
That looks really interesting! I'm not a huge fan of poppers only because I'm a spice wuss π My fav FN chefs are probably Alton, Aarti and ohh I hope Forgione wins Next Iron Chef!! He has a sexy voice hahaha.
spabettie says
I love Alton, and I agree - I want Forgione to win also!! Maybe you could cut out the middles of the pepper slices, then it's just a little spicy flavor? π
eatmovewrite says
You had me at the words "jalepeno popper." I used to work at a pizza place that sold a deep fried cheese and jalepeno snack. They.were.amazing. I also weighed about 250 pounds when I worked there. Not kidding. Details, details.
I have a feeling, your rendition is somewhat healthier. :p
spabettie says
somewhat... but probably not TOO much. well, it's not fried!! wee! π
Fervent Foodie says
I love all things jalapeno. And this sandwich??? YOWZA!
spabettie says
Mmm hmm... I KNOW !! π delicious.
Lisa says
That looks amazing! I want that!
spabettie says
hee!! you know, I'm still craving sushi in a HUGE way, since our conversation last night!! π