Enjoy summertime snacking and easy entertaining with these Grilled Watermelon + Jalapeño Jack Cheese Bites made with delicious Heluva Good! ® Cheese.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schreiber Foods, Inc. The opinions and text are all mine.
Grilled Watermelon + Jalapeño Jack Cheese Bites are a little spicy and a little sweet with a whole lotta flavor. Almost effortless to throw together at the last minute for summertime snacking or serve them up as an easy appetizer for entertaining family and friends at home. They can also be made hours ahead of time and stored, covered in the refrigerator, until ready to use.
I found the perfect combination of spicy and smooth in the refrigerated block cheese section at my local Big Y store, where I purchased an 8 oz block of Heluva Good! Jalapeño Jack. Y’all know how much I LOVE spicy foods and this Jalapeño Jack has just the right amount of heat mixed into the creamy Monterey Jack cheese.
How to make snacking fun with Grilled Watermelon + Jalapeño Jack Cheese
Heluva Good! has been making cheese since 1925, so you don’t have to worry about quality when it comes to their cheeses. Using quality ingredients is so important when it’s a simple recipe, so picking a cheese that’s full of flavor for these bites is at the top of the list.
Since I’m a spicy lover, I used the Heluva Good! Jalapeño Jack, but their Extra Sharp Cheddar and Colby Jack varieties would work equally well in this recipe too. At my next cookout party, I’m going to make this with all three cheeses and line them up on different platters, then there’s a little something for everyone! Variety is the key to a happy life, right?
During the summer, I love using the fresh herbs from my garden in almost all my dishes. For this one, I made a quick sauce of cilantro and basil with a little lime, then tossed the grilled watermelon cubes in it before skewering with the Jalapeño Jack. The flavors of spicy cheese, sweet watermelon, and tangy herb sauce make for a pretty perfect bite!
Enjoy snacking and entertaining all summer long with these delicious Grilled Watermelon + Jalapeño Jack Cheese Bites and don’t forget to grab all of the ingredients for the perfect bite at your local Big Y.
- 2 (8 ounce) packages of Heluva Good! Jalapeño Jack Cheese, cut into ¼" cubes
- 1 small watermelon, cut into 1½" slices, rind on
- For the herb sauce:
- ⅛ cup fresh basil leaves
- ⅛ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil, or substitute another neutral oil, like canola, grapeseed, etc.
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- a couple pinches of salt
- extra long toothpicks or skewers
- optional garnish: 1 small fresh jalapeño, thinly sliced
- Preheat a grill on high. While waiting, make the herb sauce by combining the basil and cilantro leaves, oil, lime juice, and salt in a mini food processor and blend on high until a smooth mixture forms. Put mixture in a small bowl and set aside.
- Once the grill is preheated, grill the watermelon slices for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until softens slightly and grill marks appear. Remove watermelon from the heat and place on a cutting board. Cut the rind off the watermelon and discard. Cut the watermelon into 1" cubes. Place cubes in a large bowl, add the herb mixture, and gently mix until each watermelon cube is lightly coated.
- Assemble by taking one toothpick/skewer, add one grilled watermelon cube and top it with one cube of Heluva Good! Jalapeño Jack Cheese Repeat once more so there are 2 pieces of watermelon and 2 pieces of cheese on each skewer. Top with the thinly sliced jalapeño, if desired. Repeat process with remaining watermelon and cheese cubes.
- Serve immediately or store covered in the refrigerator until needed.
What? Grilled watermelon? I’ve never tried it. Indeed this makes sense. Grilling (and i guess, caramelizing) helps to bring in all the flavors and sweetness. I do love the combo of watermelon and cheese, especially feta and cheddar so this fancy appetizer looks and sounds right to me. I mean, I’m sold – you can ship, Karrie:)
Oh my gosh! These look amazing. You are brilliant! Just brilliant!
You know I’m a spicy lover too so I can pretty much every single serving of this. I bet it tastes wicked paired with the watermelon! You’re really getting your grill on this summer, girl! Gotta love it! xoxo
Hi Karrie, these are not only delicious but beautiful to look at. More importantly they would be so easy to eat which is a bonus for an out door party. I love the herb take on the watermelon and that sweet savory combo is always a favorite of mine.. Great job on these Karrie, love the idea of a cheese trio though.
Have a great weekend!
Cheers!
Loreto
This is so creative, I love this! I also love using all the herbs from my garden. Jack cheese is one of my faves. Hooray for summer recipes like this!!
This looks and sounds amazing, Karrie!! Watermelon is my favorite fruit, but I have never had it with a flavor blast like this! I had already gone through one watermelon this week and there is another waiting to be cut up, and it’s going to have some cheese, heat, and cilantro-base-lime sauce with it! Pinning.
Love me some grilled water melon:) Usually I reach for feta, because I’m a creature of habit more often than not. Interested to try these skewers with jalapeno jack and jalapenos! Spicy and water melon go well together for sure. And the herb sauce rocks! Pinned.