What Can I Replace My Pepper Jack Cheese With? 5 Best Substitutes

Cheese is one of the most unique and delicious foods there is, not only does it come with plenty of flavors, but it is also very versatile. You can put this one on pizza, pasta, in soups or on salads.

However, there are some people who prefer a little bit more punch to their cheese. That’s where Pepper Jack cheese comes in. Named after the spices put in the milk during the cheese-making process, this stuff is very spicy.

What Can I Replace My Pepper Jack Cheese With 5 Best Substitutes

But what if spices aren’t for you?

Well, luckily there are plenty of substitute cheeses that will work well with your recipe.

Some of these cheeses do have a touch of spiciness about them, however some of a bit milder and simply mimic the texture of Pepper Jack cheese. Read our top 5 Pepper Jack cheese substitutes (see also ‘The 5 Closest Substitutes For Monterey Jack Cheese‘).

Top 5 Jack Pepper Cheese Substitutes

1. Gouda Cheese

Gouda Cheese

This first cheese comes with a similar texture to Pepper Jack, being very smooth and creamy, this will be perfect for melting over various ingredients.

This cheese is one of the milder ones that we have on this list, although it does come with a delightful aftertaste of nuts.

We would certainly recommend this one for a topping on your pizza. If you mix this cheese with something like mushrooms, then you’ll really get that earthy taste that is often associated with healthy vegetables.

One of the most popular dishes that people use this for is an appetizer platter. This is because this type of cheese pairs very well with fruit and nuts.

This cheese is also very easy to prepare, all you have to do is slice it up and you’ll have a cheese that is very easy to prepare.

2. Havarti Cheese

Havarti Cheese

This next cheese is one that is slightly more unusual, even to cheese aficionados. This is another nutty cheese that comes with a creamy texture.

A lot of people like to put this one in salads, as it will add some real body and flavor to your salad leaves. However, you can also slice it up and put it in your burger.

If you are looking for a powerful flavor similar to Pepper Jack cheese, then Havarti cheese will be an effective substitute.

You can also pair this one with cheddar cheese and have it one of the four kinds of cheese on a four-cheese pizza.

This is another cheese that also pairs very well with fruit, again, because of the distinctively nutty flavors.

This cheese is also very famous in Denmark, so if that is a theme for your next dinner party, then we would certainly recommend that you bring some Havarti cheese.

3. Cheddar Cheese

Cheddar Cheese

This might go without saying, but you might have heard of cheddar cheese. This is one of the most popular cheeses in the world.

With the soft texture, this comes in light, mature and extra mature flavors. If you want something strong on your food, then we would suggest that you opt for the mature cheddar flavor.

This cheese is both hard but very crumbly when you slice it up. You can put it on practically anything, but our personal favorite is a topping for cheese.

This cheese is aged for several months, which is what accounts for its tangy flavor. The fact that this cheese can be melted and prepared quickly and easily is one of the main reaosns for its popularity.

This is also another cheese that tastes great on its own. All you have to do is cut it into strips and you can eat some with crackers and butter.

You can also use this as a binding agent as it will melt and hold your food together. This is very evident if you are trying to hold two pieces of bread together in your grilled cheese sandwich.

This is a great substitute for Pepper Jack cheese, as this is practically the same type of cheese in terms of texture and even the flavor has that typical tang.

4. Gruyere Cheese

Gruyere Cheese

Next up, we have a Swiss-made cheese that is also very soft and can be sliced and served very easily.

You can also melt this one, which makes it another great cheese that you can melt down and dribble over bread or nachos. If you want to replicate the spiciness of Pepper Jack cheese, then you can always mix in some jalapenos (see also our favorite jalapeno alternatives).

This is another one with a distinctly nutty flavor, making it another great cheese for salads. You can grate this one very easily too, which allows you to mix in the cheese well with the salad leaves and other ingredients.

This cheese is a common ingredient for fondue, allowing you to dip some crusty bread into it.

If you are looking for something to share with your guests at your next win evening, then why not buy a big brick of this cheese and melt it down for people to enjoy?

You might have to order this online or get it from specialist cheese makers. However, once you have tried this, you might find it hard to switch back to ordinary Swiss cheese.

5. Edam Cheese

Edam Cheese

Finally, we have another very popular cheese, coming with one of the softest textures that you can find on the market.

This comes with an extremely mild flavor, which really makes it almost the exact opposite of Pepper Jack cheese in terms of spiciness.

This cheese does have a slightly salty flavor, which makes it a great sandwich filler, often complementing meats such as salami and chicken.

You can also grate this one very easily, which makes it perfect for using in salads. This is produced in the Netherlands, although it is now manufactured in places all over the world.

This is a very versatile cheese and you can enjoy it in a multitude of different ways. This is why people come back for Edam again and again.

You can also serve this cheese on its own, as it does not have that strong a flavor. What better way to start your cheese and wine evening than by offering some Edam mixed in with other cheeses?

Because of the mildness of the flavor, it will not overwhelm the palate.

Conclusion

We hope that our list of substitutes for Pepper Jack cheese has allayed some of your fears about having to eat the more spicy cheese. 

If you swap out Pepper Jack cheese for Edam or cheddar, it should not negatively impact the taste or the texture of your final dish.

One of the reasons why we have picked the cheese above is the fact that they’re so versatile.

What Can I Replace My Pepper Jack Cheese With? 5 Best Substitutes

What Can I Replace My Pepper Jack Cheese With? 5 Best Substitutes

Recipe by Jenna

The fact that a recipe contains spicy Pepper Jack cheese might make you wince. However, don’t worry, here’s a list of 5 Jack Pepper substitutes for you.

Course: Substitutes
5 from 1 vote

Ingredients

  • Gouda Cheese

  • Havarti Cheese

  • Cheddar Cheese

  • Gruyere Cheese

  • Edam Cheese

Directions

  • Decided on what substitute you need
  • Pick a substitute from the list above
  • Read what you need to substitute with
  • Create the recipe and enjoy

Recipe Video

Jenna
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