Jalapeño Popper Turkey Melt
Jalapeño Popper Turkey Melt
Ingredients
For the Jalapeño Popper Mix
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 jalapeños, sliced, seeded, and diced
- 6 strips cooked bacon, diced and crumbled
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
For the Turkey Melt
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 8 slices bread, thick-cut
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the jalapeños: Slice the jalapeños, remove the seeds, and then dice them. For less heat, remove more of the white pith.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Prepare the bacon: If not already cooked, cook the bacon until crispy. Dice the cooked bacon, then crush or crumble it into small pieces.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Create the jalapeño popper mix: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, diced jalapeños, crumbled bacon, and 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Cook the ground turkey: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground turkey. Season it with salt and pepper while cooking, breaking it up into crumbles with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Assemble the sandwich: Butter one side of each of the 8 slices of bread. Place 4 slices of bread, butter-side down, in a large non-stick skillet or on a griddle over medium heat.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Layer the fillings: Spread a generous amount of the prepared jalapeño popper mix onto the unbuttered side of each bread slice in the pan.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Add turkey and cheese: Top the jalapeño popper mix with the cooked ground turkey. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the turkey.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Close the sandwich: Place the remaining 4 slices of bread on top, with the buttered side facing up.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Cook the sandwiches: Cook the sandwiches for 3-5 minutes per side, or until the bottom slice is golden brown. Carefully flip the sandwiches and cook the other side until it is also golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey. You may need to press down gently with a spatula to ensure even browning and melting.
⏱️ 10 min
- 10
Serve: Once cooked, remove the sandwiches from the pan, slice them diagonally, and serve immediately.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Jalapeño Popper Turkey Melt
For the Jalapeño Popper Mix
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 jalapeños, sliced, seeded, and diced
- 6 strips cooked bacon, diced and crumbled
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
For the Turkey Melt
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 8 slices bread, thick-cut
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the jalapeños: Slice the jalapeños, remove the seeds, and then dice them. For less heat, remove more of the white pith.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Prepare the bacon: If not already cooked, cook the bacon until crispy. Dice the cooked bacon, then crush or crumble it into small pieces.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Create the jalapeño popper mix: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, diced jalapeños, crumbled bacon, and 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Cook the ground turkey: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground turkey. Season it with salt and pepper while cooking, breaking it up into crumbles with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Assemble the sandwich: Butter one side of each of the 8 slices of bread. Place 4 slices of bread, butter-side down, in a large non-stick skillet or on a griddle over medium heat.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Layer the fillings: Spread a generous amount of the prepared jalapeño popper mix onto the unbuttered side of each bread slice in the pan.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Add turkey and cheese: Top the jalapeño popper mix with the cooked ground turkey. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the turkey.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Close the sandwich: Place the remaining 4 slices of bread on top, with the buttered side facing up.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Cook the sandwiches: Cook the sandwiches for 3-5 minutes per side, or until the bottom slice is golden brown. Carefully flip the sandwiches and cook the other side until it is also golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey. You may need to press down gently with a spatula to ensure even browning and melting.
⏱️ 10 min - 10
Serve: Once cooked, remove the sandwiches from the pan, slice them diagonally, and serve immediately.
⏱️ 2 min