Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough Bread

Posted on April 1, 2026

This Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough Bread comes together in about 3 hours with minimal hands-on time in a couple of easy steps for a easy side that your family will love! Switch up the cheese or peppers to suit your taste.

Ingredient Breakdown

330 grams Bread Flour
260 grams Water
70 grams Active Sourdough Starter (100% hydration)
6 grams Kosher Salt
60 grams Sharp Cheddar, diced
55 grams Pickled Jalapeño Peppers, chopped
3 grams Onion Powder (¾ to 1 teaspoon)
2 grams Dried Oregano (1½ to 2 teaspoons)

How to Make Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough Bread

Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine your bread flour and water. Mix until there are no dry bits left, trust me, it’s a delightful, squishy mess at this point! Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Add the Starter and Salt: After 30 minutes, sprinkle the salt and your bubbly sourdough starter on top of the dough. Use your hands to fold the dough over itself a few times.
Add Cheese and Peppers: Gently incorporate the diced cheddar, jalapeños, onion powder, and oregano into the dough. Ensure they are evenly dispersed without overworking the dough.
Let It Rise: Cover your bowl and let the dough rise in a warm spot for about 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Shape the Dough: Once your dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. With floured hands, gently stretch it into a rectangle. Fold the top third down to the center, then fold the bottom third up over that. Flip it over seam side down, and gently shape it into a ball.
Final Rise: Place your shaped dough seam side down in a floured proofing basket or a bowl lined with a floured towel. Cover it and let it rest for another hour.
Preheat the Oven: About 30 minutes before you plan to bake, preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) and place your Dutch oven inside (lid on).
Score and Bake: Carefully transfer your dough onto parchment paper. Score the top using a sharp knife. Using the parchment as a sling, lower your dough into the hot Dutch oven. Bake with the lid on for 30 minutes, then remove the lid and bake for another 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
Cool Before Slicing: Let it cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

If you loved this recipe, be sure to check out my Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls, my Pumpkin Sourdough Bread, or my Sourdough Discard Brownies!

Why This Recipe Works

Comfort Food

This Jalapeño-Cheddar Sourdough is loaded with tons of flavor! Nothing beats that warm, cheesy goodness, it’s truly the comfort food your heart craves.

Customizable

The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility! Don’t have cheddar? Use mozzarella. Got some leftover roasted red peppers? Toss those in instead! You can use whatever ingredients you have on hand to make it unique to your taste.

Quick & Easy

Sure, there’s some wait time, but the actual hands-on part takes less than an hour. You can totally whip this up while you’re prepping dinner, you can even make it while half-watching your favorite show! Your family will love it, and you will, too.

Serving and Storage Tips

What To Serve With This

This Jalapeño-Cheddar Sourdough is perfect as a standalone snack or paired with soups and salads. It’s fantastic with some butter, or take it up a notch with your favorite spreads. Honestly? It deserves to be the star of your next gathering!

Keeping Leftovers Fresh

If you have any leftovers (not likely, but hey), store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. I recommend wrapping it in a cloth to keep that crust nice and crusty!

Reheating Instructions

To reheat, just pop it in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes. This brings back that fresh-baked texture. Or, if you’re like me and can’t resist the smell, just slice a piece and enjoy it cold; it’s still delicious!

Freezer Friendly

Yep, you can freeze this bad boy! Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil. It’ll keep for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, just let it thaw at room temperature, or pop it in the oven straight from the freezer.

So, what are you waiting for? Roll up those sleeves, grab your ingredients, and let’s get baking! This Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough Bread is about to become your family’s new favorite, I promise!

Happy cooking! And for more recipes follow us on Pinterest.