The Discontinued Hot Pocket Flavor We Wish Would Make A Comeback

Hot Pockets has churned out its fair share of flavors over the years — some classics, some questionable, and a few hidden gems that left too soon. At the top of the "why was this taken away?" list is the Cheesy Jalapeño Stuffed Pretzel. It didn't get the kind of love pepperoni or meatball marinara did, but for those who were fortunate enough to get a box while it was around, this flavor hit all the right notes. I was only able to have these once when I had returned to my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio; my mom had gotten a couple of boxes from the grocery store, and she let me try one. 

This Hot Pocket was successful at combining comfort food with a little something different. A soft pretzel crust that had the right kind of chew, paired with melted cheese and just enough jalapeño to wake things up — what's not to love? 

This is exactly what you're looking for when you want something you can throw in the microwave quickly, and it's awesome in the air fryer as well. It feels like a crime that it's no longer available. Because if there was ever a flavor that deserved a second chance, it's this one. And who actually knows why the brand would discontinue this flavor out of all the low-quality options it is still producing (cough, cough, the BBQ chicken one). There's some speculation that the pretzel dough was costly to produce, but since Nestle hasn't come out and confirmed anything. I guess we're just left in the dark with this one. 

First of all ... Pretzel, as a crust? ... Yes, yes, yes. Outside of the flavor being different, the pretzel holding everything together made this Hot Pocket variety an absolute winner for me, and I've always loved pretzels with cheese. Not to knock the regular Hot Pockets crust, but the pretzel dough on this one was doing heavy lifting. It brought texture, salt, and chew, all in a neat, hand-held package. Microwaveable soft pretzel? Check. Crust that actually tastes like something? Double check. Most frozen snacks get a pass for having forgettable exteriors, but this one doesn't need any concessions; it's a hit on all levels.

The outside was golden, a little shiny (I know that's a weird thing to fixate on, but hey, you eat with your eyes first, right?), and dusted with just enough coarse salt to remind you it wasn't messing around. And unlike some limited-edition gimmicks, it held up. Whether you threw it in the microwave or got fancy with the toaster oven, that pretzel crust stayed deliciously chewy with a hint of crisp on the edges. I also fully appreciated that I didn't have to drown/dip it in sauce to complement the flavors like I did with the pizza one sometimes. 

Though I focused on the cheesy jalapeño flavor, there were also other pretzel bread Hot Pockets, like the one that had chicken in there along with the cheese and jalapeños, or the Lean Pockets kind with turkey, bacon, and cheese pockets. Those were bangers, and those have been wiped from existence as well ... sigh. 

Consistency is everything in a good filling. We're talking cheese and jalapeños — simple but effective, and the cheese was creamy without being too runny. The spice of jalapeños didn't get swallowed up in the filling either; it brought that much-needed kick to take things to the next level. It wasn't over-the-top spicy, but it had enough bite to make it interesting. Even people who aren't big on heat could handle it, making it a solid pick for snackers who wanted something with personality but not a fire alarm.

More importantly, it had a flavor profile that wasn't trying too hard. No weird meat substitutes, no confusing sauce combinations — just cheese, spice, and a great base. Sometimes less is more, and in this case, it really worked. I can't tell you how many times people told me they hated the inside of a Hot Pocket because the meats inside were mushy when they weren't supposed to be. 

On a higher note, I made my own version once using a bunch of Annie's pretzels from the mall. I put them on a baking sheet after smashing them all together, drizzled nacho cheese on top, and sprinkled chopped jalapeño peppers over the top of that. I then smashed more pretzel crust on top and baked it for like 5 minutes. The pretzel crust got a little harder than I had wanted (epic fail there), but I did feel a hint of nostalgia when I got that flavor combo again, so not all is lost. Nestle needs to get its coins together and give the people what they want: pretzel bread Hot Pockets, particularly the cheesy jalapeño kind!