Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers (Printable version)

Golden jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese and cheddar, air-fried until crispy. Perfect appetizer in 25 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Jalapeños

01 - 8 large fresh jalapeños

→ Filling

02 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 4 oz shredded cheddar cheese
04 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Coating

08 - 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Optional Toppings

10 - 2 tablespoons cooked, crumbled bacon

# Directions:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 5 minutes.
02 - Wash jalapeños thoroughly. Slice each in half lengthwise and use a spoon to carefully remove seeds and membranes. Wear gloves if sensitive to spice.
03 - In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, chives, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt, mixing until smooth.
04 - Fill each jalapeño half with cheese mixture, mounding slightly.
05 - In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs with olive oil. Sprinkle or press breadcrumb mixture onto filled jalapeño tops.
06 - Arrange poppers in single layer in air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary.
07 - Air fry for 8-10 minutes until tops are golden and jalapeños are tender.
08 - If desired, sprinkle with crumbled bacon immediately after cooking. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The air fryer makes them incredibly crispy without any deep frying mess or oil splatter.
  • You can adjust the heat level by scraping out more or fewer seeds depending on your mood.
  • They come together in under half an hour, perfect for last minute gatherings or snack attacks.
  • The creamy, cheesy filling balances the jalapeño heat in a way that keeps you reaching for just one more.
02 -
  • Softening the cream cheese completely is non negotiable, cold cream cheese will leave you with lumpy filling no matter how hard you stir.
  • Don't skip preheating the air fryer or the breadcrumbs won't crisp properly and you'll end up with soggy tops.
  • If your jalapeños are massive, you might need to add a minute or two to the cooking time so they get tender all the way through.
03 -
  • Line your air fryer basket with parchment made for air fryers to make cleanup faster and prevent any cheese from sticking to the bottom.
  • If you want to prep ahead, stuff the jalapeños and refrigerate them for up to a day, then add the breadcrumb topping and cook right before serving.
  • Use a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon to press the filling in evenly so it doesn't spill out during cooking.
Go back