Bacon Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Recipe
I go through phases where I make grilled cheese almost every day, and this jalapeno popper version is the one I keep coming back to. I load golden artisan bread with jalapeno Havarti, creamy Havarti, crispy bacon, and fresh jalapeno, so every bite has that same spicy, cheesy pop as the classic appetizer. It's ready in under 20 minutes with a handful of ingredients.
Servings: 2 sandwiches
Calories: 654kcal
Ingredients
- 4 slices white artisan bread
- 4 oz jalapeno Havarti cheese
- 4 oz creamy Havarti cheese
- 1 large jalapeno
- 6 slices crispy bacon
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- *For enhanced flavor, save some bacon drippings from cooking bacon, to brush outside of bread before cooking the grilled cheese.*
- Preheat a large cooking pan over medium to medium-low heat. (Add a little bit of vegetable oil if not using bacon drippings.)
- Lay all slices of bread in the pan. Divide sliced jalapeno Havarti cheese between two slices and divide sliced creamy Havarti between the other two slices, covering them evenly.
- Seed and mince jalapeno peppers and divide between two slices of bread, on top of cheese.
- Crumble bacon and divide it between the other two slices of bread.
- Cook over medium heat until cheese starts to melt. Carefully place one of the slices of bread onto the other (bacon and jalapeno) and repeat with the other two slices. Press lightly. Cook on both sides, until the cheese is completely melted.
- Use serrated knife to cut.
Notes
- Swap: No Havarti on hand? Pepper jack and sharp cheddar both work well here.
- Technique: Keep the heat below medium, not higher, so the cheese fully melts before the bread burns.
- Bacon drippings: Save a little bacon fat when you cook your bacon and brush it on the bread for even more flavor.
- Store: in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Calories: 654kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 2693mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 984IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 812mg | Iron: 2mg