Craving a spicy, cheesy, and utterly satisfying appetizer that comes together in a flash? Look no further than these incredibly easy Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers! Perfect for any occasion, from casual family dinners to festive game-day gatherings, these poppers deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort. Imagine succulent jalapeños, bursting with a creamy, rich filling of softened cream cheese, savory bacon, and gooey cheddar, all crisped to perfection in your air fryer. Best of all, they’re ready to delight your taste buds in just 15 minutes, making them the ultimate last-minute snack or party favorite.
This recipe was originally published in 2018 and has since been updated to provide even more helpful tips and deliciousness.
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Table of Contents
The Magic of Air Frying Jalapeño Poppers
The air fryer has revolutionized how we prepare our favorite fried foods, offering a healthier, quicker, and less messy alternative to traditional deep-frying. For jalapeño poppers, it’s an absolute game-changer. The circulating hot air ensures that the peppers become tender with a slight char, while the cheesy filling turns wonderfully gooey and the bacon bits crisp up beautifully. You get all the desirable textures and flavors of a classic popper without the excess oil or the fuss of monitoring a deep fryer. This method locks in flavor, reduces cooking time, and makes clean-up a breeze. It’s truly the easiest way to enjoy this crowd-pleasing appetizer!
Key Ingredients for Perfect Poppers
While the recipe itself is straightforward, selecting quality ingredients will elevate your Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers from good to absolutely unforgettable. Here’s a closer look at the stars of this dish:
- Fresh Jalapeños: Choose firm, vibrant green jalapeños without any soft spots or blemishes. Their freshness is key to the poppers’ flavor and texture. For milder poppers, make sure to remove all seeds and the white membrane (pith), as these are where most of the capsaicin (the heat-inducing compound) resides. If you love a spicy kick, you can leave a few seeds or a bit of the pith. Always wear gloves when handling jalapeños to prevent skin irritation.
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese forms the luscious base of our filling. Full-fat cream cheese offers the richest, creamiest texture, but reduced-fat varieties work well too if you’re looking for a lighter option. Just ensure it’s at room temperature for easy mixing.
- Cheddar Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese melts beautifully and adds a classic sharp, tangy flavor. You can use mild, medium, or sharp cheddar based on your preference. For an extra layer of flavor, consider a cheddar-Monterey Jack blend, or even a hint of pepper jack if you want to dial up the spice even more.
- Bacon: Crispy, crumbled bacon provides a wonderful smoky, salty counterpoint to the creamy cheese and spicy jalapeño. Pre-cooked bacon simplifies the process even further. If you prefer to wrap your poppers in bacon (see tips below), choose thin-cut bacon for even cooking.
- Cooking Oil Spray: A light spritz of cooking oil spray helps the jalapeños achieve that desirable crisp exterior and vibrant color in the air fryer.
How to Make Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
Creating these delightful appetizers is surprisingly simple. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the steps, ensuring perfect results every time:
- Prepare the Jalapeños: Start by carefully washing your fresh jalapeños. Using a sharp knife, cut each jalapeño in half lengthwise, from stem to tip. This creates two boat-like halves ready for stuffing.
- Remove Seeds and Pith: With a small spoon or melon baller, gently scoop out the seeds and the white membrane (pith) from the inside of each jalapeño half. Remember, the pith holds the most heat, so thoroughly removing it will result in milder poppers. If you enjoy extra spice, you can set aside a few seeds to mix into the cream cheese filling later.
- Soften Cream Cheese: Place the cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave it for about 15-20 seconds, or until it’s just soft enough to mix easily but not melted. This ensures a smooth, lump-free filling.
- Create the Flavorful Filling: In the bowl with the softened cream cheese, add the shredded cheddar cheese and the cooked, crumbled bacon pieces. Using a spoon or spatula, mix all the ingredients thoroughly until well combined. If you saved some jalapeño seeds for extra heat, now is the time to fold them into the mixture.
- Stuff the Jalapeños: Generously fill each jalapeño half with the cream cheese mixture. You can use a small spoon or even a piping bag (if you want to be fancy) to ensure an even and attractive filling. Don’t be shy; a good amount of filling is what makes these poppers so satisfying!
- Load the Air Fryer: Arrange the stuffed jalapeño halves in a single layer in your air fryer basket. It’s crucial not to overcrowd the basket, as this can prevent proper air circulation and lead to uneven cooking and less crispiness. If necessary, cook in batches.
- Spray for Crispness: Lightly spray the tops of the stuffed jalapeños with cooking oil. This helps achieve that beautiful golden-brown color and crispy texture.
- Air Fry to Perfection: Close the air fryer and set the temperature to 370 degrees Fahrenheit (185°C). Cook for 5 to 8 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, you can gently shake the basket or flip the poppers to ensure even crisping, though it’s often not strictly necessary due to the filling.
- Cool and Serve: Once cooked, the jalapeños should be tender, the cheese filling bubbly, and the tops lightly golden. Carefully remove the poppers from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. They will be very hot!
Air Fryer Temperature for Crispy Results
For these Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers, a temperature of 370°F (185°C) is ideal. This moderate-high heat ensures that the jalapeños soften nicely without becoming mushy, while allowing the cheese to melt and bubble beautifully, and any exposed bacon to crisp up. Cooking at too high a temperature might burn the cheese or the exterior of the jalapeño before the interior is fully heated, and too low might result in a less crispy finish. Always allow your air fryer to preheat for about 3-5 minutes at the recommended temperature for the most consistent cooking results.
Cook Time: How Long to Air Fry
These poppers cook incredibly fast in the air fryer, typically requiring only 5-8 minutes. The exact cook time can vary slightly depending on the size of your jalapeños and the specific model of your air fryer. For a popper with a slight bite to the jalapeño and a crisp exterior, 5-6 minutes often suffices. If you prefer a softer, more tender jalapeño, closer to 7-8 minutes might be better. Keep an eye on them, especially during your first batch, and adjust as needed until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the jalapeños are cooked to your desired tenderness. Overcooking can lead to overly soft jalapeños or burnt cheese, so practice makes perfect!
Can You Wrap the Poppers in Bacon?
Absolutely! Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers are a classic for a reason, and they work wonderfully in the air fryer. Instead of crumbling pre-cooked bacon into the filling, you can wrap each stuffed jalapeño half with a strip of thin-cut bacon. Secure the bacon with a toothpick if necessary. The cook time will remain largely the same (5-8 minutes at 370°F), but you might want to extend it by a minute or two if you prefer extra crispy bacon. Ensure the bacon is thin-cut, as thick-cut bacon may not cook through and crisp up adequately in the short air fryer time, resulting in chewy or undercooked bacon. The air fryer will render the bacon fat, making the poppers even more flavorful and irresistible!
Make-Ahead Tips for Convenience
Preparing these Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers ahead of time is a fantastic way to streamline your party prep or ensure a quick snack is always on hand. You can assemble the poppers up to 24 hours in advance. Simply stuff the jalapeño halves, arrange them in an airtight container, and store them in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to cook, just transfer them directly to the air fryer. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully and saves you precious time when entertaining or when hunger strikes!
How to Reheat Jalapeño Poppers
Leftover jalapeño poppers are rare, but if you happen to have any, reheating them is easy! The best method for reheating is the air fryer. Place the cooked poppers in a single layer in the air fryer basket and reheat at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes, or until they are warmed through and the cheese is bubbly again. This method helps restore some of their original crispness. While you can reheat them in the microwave, be aware that it will likely alter the texture, making the jalapeños softer and potentially less appealingly crisp.
Freezer-Friendly Jalapeño Poppers
These jalapeño poppers are excellent for freezing, making them an ideal meal-prep option or a quick appetizer for unexpected guests. To freeze them, arrange the uncooked, stuffed poppers in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about 1-2 hours, or until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight, freezer-safe bag or container, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 4 months. When ready to cook, you can air fry them directly from frozen. You may need to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the cooking time, ensuring they are heated through and golden brown.
More Irresistible Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes
The air fryer is a versatile tool for so many delicious appetizers. If you enjoyed these jalapeño poppers, be sure to explore more air fryer recipes for quick and tasty snacks:
Air Fryer Homemade French Fries
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
Air Fryer Fried Pickles
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
Air Fryer Potato Wedges
Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
Air Fryer Cheeseburgers
Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
Air Fryer 3 Ingredient Fried Catfish
Air Fryer Bang Bang Panko Breaded Fried Shrimp
Air Fryer Ravioli
Easy Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
Brandi Crawford
These Easy Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers are ready in 15 minutes! This spicy appetizer is stuffed with bacon, cream cheese, and melted cheddar. This is the perfect appetizer or snack for parties, gatherings, or events.
4.96 from 23 votes
Pin Recipe
Equipment Needed
- Cosori Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- 10 fresh jalapeños
- 6 oz cream cheese I used reduced-fat
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- cooking oil spray
Instructions
- Slice the jalapeños in half, vertically, to create 2 halves per jalapeño.
- Place the cream cheese in a bowl. Microwave for 15-20 seconds to soften.
- Remove the seeds and the inside of the jalapeño. (Save some of the seeds if you prefer spicy poppers)
- Combine the cream cheese, crumbled bacon, and shredded cheese in a bowl. Mix well.
- For extra spicy poppers, add some of the saved seeds to the cream cheese mixture, and mix well.
- Stuff each of the jalapeños with the cream cheese mixture.
- Load the poppers into the Air Fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the poppers lightly with cooking oil.
- Close the Air Fryer. Cook the poppers on 370 degrees Fahrenheit (185°C) for 5 to 8 minutes.
- Remove from the Air Fryer and cool for a few minutes before serving, as they will be very hot.
Notes
Use your judgment to determine how long you want your poppers to cook. If you prefer for your poppers to have a slight crunch to the jalapeño, 5-8 minutes is optimal cook time. For softer jalapeños, cook for up to 10 minutes.
I did not add any salt and pepper to this recipe because I feel like the bacon provides enough flavor and saltiness. Feel free to add salt and pepper to the cream cheese mixture if you wish, to taste.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving
Calories: 62kcal
Carbohydrates: 3g
Protein: 3g
Fat: 4g
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Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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