Roasted Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ For the Roasted Jalapeños

01 - 5 medium jalapeños, stems removed, sliced in half, and seeded
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ For the Cream Cheese Mixture

03 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
04 - 1 garlic clove, grated on a Microplane or finely minced
05 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
06 - ½ teaspoon onion powder

→ For Assembly

07 - ½ cup mild cheddar cheese, freshly shredded, divided
08 - ½ cup Monterey Jack cheese, freshly shredded, divided
09 - 6-8 strips bacon, cooked until crispy, divided
10 - 4 slices bread of your choice (sourdough or thick white bread works well)
11 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, divided

# Instructions:

01 - Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. While it's heating, slice the jalapeños in half lengthwise and remove the stems and seeds. Brush all sides of the jalapeño halves with olive oil, making sure they're evenly coated. Place them in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. You want them to get slightly charred and softened but not completely collapsed. Once done, remove them from the air fryer and set aside to cool slightly.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, grated garlic, black pepper, and onion powder. Mix everything together until well blended and smooth. This creates the creamy base that gives this sandwich its jalapeño popper flavor profile.
03 - Once the roasted jalapeños have cooled enough to handle, roughly chop them into smaller pieces. You want some texture, but not huge chunks. Gently fold the chopped jalapeños into the cream cheese mixture until evenly distributed. The warmth of the peppers will help them incorporate into the cream cheese.
04 - Have all your ingredients ready for efficient assembly: the jalapeño cream cheese mixture, shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, cooked bacon strips, softened butter, and bread slices. This makes the assembly process much smoother.
05 - Take one slice of bread and generously butter one side - this will be the outside of your sandwich. Flip it over and spread half of the jalapeño cream cheese mixture on the non-buttered side. Layer 3-4 strips of bacon on top of the cream cheese, then sprinkle ¼ cup of cheddar and ¼ cup of Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the bacon. Take another slice of bread, butter one side (for the outside), and place it butter-side-up on top of the cheese.
06 - Repeat the exact same process to build your second sandwich using the remaining ingredients: butter one side of bread, spread remaining cream cheese mixture on the inside, layer with remaining bacon, and top with the rest of both cheeses. Finish with the last slice of bread, buttered side facing out.
07 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. When the pan is hot, carefully place one (or both if they fit) assembled sandwich in the skillet, butter-side down. Cook for about 3-4 minutes until the bottom is golden brown and crispy. Using a spatula, carefully flip the sandwich and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the second side is equally golden and the cheese inside has completely melted. If needed, lower the heat and cover the pan for a minute to help the cheese melt without burning the bread.
08 - Remove the golden, crispy sandwiches from the skillet and let them rest for just a minute (they'll be extremely hot inside). Cut each sandwich diagonally for the most dramatic cheese pull, and serve immediately while hot and gooey. For an extra touch, serve with a side of ranch dressing for dipping.

# Notes:

01 - This sandwich combines everything you love about jalapeño poppers - spicy peppers, creamy cheese, and bacon - into a deliciously indulgent grilled cheese format.
02 - For the best flavor and meltability, try to use freshly shredded cheese rather than pre-shredded, which contains anti-caking agents that can affect how smoothly it melts.
03 - If you prefer a crispier sandwich, you can spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the outside of the bread instead of butter - it produces an incredibly golden, crispy exterior.

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