Jalapeño Cheese Bread (Easy Pull-Apart Recipe)

Why You'll Love This Jalapeño Cheese Bread

• Soft and fluffy inside with crispy, cheesy edges.
• Easy homemade bread made with simple ingredients.
• Pull-apart style makes it fun to serve and eat.
• Cheesy, buttery, and slightly spicy.
• Can be baked in a pie pan, loaf pan, Bundt pan, or muffin tin.
• Great alongside soup, chili, BBQ, or Mexican-inspired meals.

What Others ARe Saying

OMG so delicious and easy to make. Thank you for sharing this recipe! I loved your story and understand your loss. Now when I make this bread I will think of you and thank you again for sharing. ---Jeanette

This has become a staple in our house, we use it often. Definitely recommend.---Kaylee

This recipe is awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing! The pull-apart is the fun. Tastes incredible!!---Denise

The Story Behind This Recipe

My dad was a truck driver when I was growing up. He delivered paper products to grocery stores throughout Northern California, and sometimes customers would give him baked goods from the bakeries. One of those bakery breads inspired this recipe.

My dad loved spicy food, especially jalapeño cheese bread. One day he came home with a jar of sliced jalapeños and asked me to make a batch of bread dough so we could try to recreate it. We cut the dough into pieces, tossed them with butter, cheese, and jalapeños, and baked it until golden. It was delicious!

Over the years, this became one of those recipes that reminds me of home and of my dad. It's still one of my favorite savory breads to make.

Ingredients

Bread Dough

You can make the dough from scratch using basic bread ingredients. The result is soft, fluffy bread that holds up well to the butter, cheese, and jalapeños.

• Water: Use warm water to activate the yeast. It should feel warm but not hot.
• Yeast: Active dry yeast works well for this recipe.
• Sugar: A small amount of sugar feeds the yeast and adds a touch of sweetness to the dough.
• Salt: Enhances the flavor of the bread.
• Vegetable oil: Helps create a soft, tender dough.
• All-purpose flour: Regular all-purpose flour works perfectly.

Jalapeño Cheese Filling

• Butter: Melted butter coats all of the pieces of dough and adds rich flavor.
• Shredded cheese: I like a Mexican cheese blend, but cheddar or Monterey Jack are also delicious.
• Jalapeños: I recommend sliced jalapeños from a jar. They have a softer texture and distribute easily throughout the bread.

Important: Drain the jalapeños very well before chopping. If they're particularly juicy, pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Jalapeño Cheese Bread

1. Make the bread dough. Add warm water, yeast, and sugar to a large bowl. Let sit for 5–10 minutes, or until the yeast becomes foamy.

Add the salt and vegetable oil.

Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms.

2. Knead the dough. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 3–5 minutes.

You can also use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

3. Prepare the jalapeños. Drain the jalapeños very well and chop them into small pieces.

For the best results, pat the jalapeños dry with paper towels before adding them to the bread.

Don't skip this step. Excess liquid from the jalapeños can make the bread dough unnecessarily wet.

4. Cut the dough into pieces. Once the dough has doubled in size, turn it onto a lightly floured surface.

Cut the dough into small, bite-sized pieces.

5. Add the butter, cheese, and jalapeños. Melt the butter in a large bowl. Add the shredded cheese and chopped jalapeños.

Add the pieces of bread dough and gently toss everything together until the dough is coated with butter, cheese, and jalapeños.

6. Add the dough to the pan. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie pan. Add the coated dough pieces to the pan and spread them evenly. You can also use a loaf pan, Bundt pan, or muffin tin.

7. Let the bread rise. Cover the pan loosely and let the dough rise for about 30 minutes, or until the pieces look puffy. During the last 15 minutes of rising, preheat the oven to 350°F.

8. Bake. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and cooked through. The cheese around the edges should be golden and crispy.

Let the bread cool for a few minutes before serving.

Tips for the Best Jalapeño Cheese Bread

• Drain the jalapeños well. This is one of the most important tips. Jarred jalapeños contain quite a bit of liquid. Drain them thoroughly and pat them dry before chopping.
• Don't overbake the bread. You want the outside to be golden and crispy while the inside stays soft and fluffy.
• Use a flavorful cheese. Mexican blend, cheddar, and Monterey Jack are all great choices. Pepper Jack is delicious if you want additional heat.
• Cut the dough into small pieces. Small pieces make the bread easier to pull apart and help distribute the butter, cheese, and jalapeños throughout the loaf.
• Serve it warm. This bread is best shortly after baking, when the cheese is melted and the edges are crispy.

What Cheese Is Best for Jalapeño Cheese Bread?

I usually use a Mexican cheese blend, but you have several options.

• Cheddar gives the bread a classic sharp cheese flavor.
• Monterey Jack melts beautifully and has a mild flavor.
• Pepper Jack adds additional jalapeño flavor and heat.

You can also combine cheddar and Monterey Jack for a delicious homemade cheese blend.

Jalapeno Cheese Bread FAQs

More Savory Breads To Make

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