Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
These air fryer jalapeño poppers are the perfect, easy appetizer. Filled with cream cheese, bacon and cheddar cheese and breaded, you’re going to love this simple, delicious recipe.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Jalapeño peppers. I prefer using fresh jalapeños but pickled jalapeños can also be used.
- Cream cheese.
- Cheddar cheese. Use mature/sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavor.
- Crispy bacon. I cooked the bacon in the air fryer until crisp.
- Chives. Other herbs like parsley, basil or oregano will also be delicious.
- Spices: Salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- For the breading: Flour, eggs and bread crumbs. You can skip the breading step and press the seasoned bread crumbs on top of the cheese layer if you wanted to skip a few steps.
How to make jalapeño poppers in the air fryer
- Prepare the jalapeños: Half the jalapeños and remove the seeds and membranes.
- Make the filling: In a medium bowl, combine room temperature cream cheese with crispy chopped bacon, chives and grated/shredded cheddar cheese. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder and stir together until combined.
- Fill and coat in crumbs: Using a teaspoon, filled each pepper then coat first in the flour, then in beaten egg and finally in seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Air fry: Place the jalapeño poppers in the air fryer basket in a single layer then spray with oil and air fry for 10 minutes at 400°F/205°C until crisp and golden. Remove and serve.
Can I make this ahead?
The jalapeño poppers can be assembled and kept on a plate in the fridge for up to 2 hours before air frying. Any leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the air fryer.
I used the Instant Vortex Versazone with ClearCook air fryer and as is the case with all Instant Vortex air fryers, it is absolutely fantastic. The generous basket size can be split into two, giving you separate cooking zones. If you’re cooking for a family, this huge air fryer basket makes weeknight meals a breeze. It’s also perfect if you’re cooking for a crowd because you can cook loads of poppers, chicken nuggets, nachos, etc. at once.
Serving Suggestions
We love serving jalapeño poppers as an easy snack or appetizer and it’s perfect for football season. Serve them with other easy air fryer snacks like chicken wings, zucchini fries and crispy feta bites.
Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Ingredients
- 10 fresh jalapeno peppers halved and de-seeded
- 250 g (½lb) cream cheese room temperature
- 6 strips streaky bacon cooked until crispy (the air fryer is great for this)
- 2 tbsp chopped chives
- ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 cups flour seasoned with 1 tsp salt
- 3 eggs beaten
- 2 cups breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Finely chop the crispy bacon then add to the cream cheese with the chives and cheddar cheese. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder then stir to combine,
- Using a teaspoon, stuff the cream cheese mixture into the halved jalapenos.
- Place the seasoned flour in a shallow bowl, beat the eggs into another bowl and in a third bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with a tsp of salt and the parmesan cheese.
- Coat the jalapenos first in the flour, then in the egg, repeating these steps for a thicker coating and finally into the breadcrumbs. Press the breadcrumbs onto the stuffed jalapenos to ensure even coverage.
- Place the breaded jalapenos in the air fryer basket then spray with olive oil. Air fry at 205°C/400°F for 10 minutes until crisp and golden then serve with lemon wedges.