Easy 20-Minute Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

These air fryer jalapeno poppers are made with less than 10 ingredients – including salt and pepper! – and come together in about 20 minutes for a super easy appetizer or a game day snack your friends will love! Filled with classic jalapeno popper flavors like cream cheese, bacon, and cheddar cheese they’re crowd-pleasingly delicious!

 

You Will Love This

• You don’t have to tediously wrap them in bacon! I’m sure you’ve had those homemade bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers before. Not only are they a pain in the butt to make – tediously wrapping each small piece of raw bacon around the popper – but the bacon never quite gets crispy all the way through because it’s being cooked while wrapped against the jalapeno pepper. In these air fryer jalapeno poppers, you get a bit of bacon in each bite with no wrapping required! That means less work for you and more crispy bacon flavor throughout! This recipe also requires no deep-frying or breading the poppers in bread crumbs which means they’re naturally gluten-free.
• This is a fantastic appetizer made with real ingredients! We’ve all made those frozen jalapeno poppers at home or tried the deep-fried breaded ones at a restaurant, but they’re just never that great. And they’re loaded with all kinds of preservatives! These jalapeno poppers are made with a handful of simple, real ingredients so the flavor is delicious and you can feel good about feeding them to your family.
• If you loved this easy air fryer jalapeno poppers recipe, be sure to check out my Air Fryer Potato Wedges, 15-Minute Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, and my Perfect Air Fryer Pizza Rolls. 

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Jalapenos – Make sure the jalapenos are all relatively the same size so they cook evenly. I like to wear gloves when I slice them and remove the ribs (the white membranes) and seeds just to be sure I don’t get the oils on my fingers.
• Cream Cheese – I prefer full-fat cream cheese for this recipe because I think it gives the best flavor and texture.
• Bacon – Any brand of bacon will do for this recipe. You can cook the bacon ahead, even a day or so ahead of time, to cut down on prep time. 
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese – Use sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavor. I recommend getting a block of cheese and shredding it yourself as it will melt much better and have better flavor. Pre-shredded cheeses at the grocery store are coated in cellulose to prevent them from clumping, but this also prevents them from melting well.
• Garlic Powder – Garlic powder is my favorite way to boost the flavors of these poppers. You could also try onion power if you like. The poppers don’t cook very long in the air fryer, so fresh garlic will likely be too strong a flavor.
• Green Onion – I like to use green onion in the cream cheese mixture as well as a garnish along with extra crumbled bacon. I find that the fresh flavor really balances the rich, creamy filling. If you don’t have any on hand, add a couple pinches of onion powder to the cream cheese mixture instead.

Instructions

Cut jalapenos in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to remove the ribs and seeds and discard them.

Add cream cheese, bacon (reserve a few tablespoons for garnish), ½ of the shredded cheese, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, a 1/4 cup green onion, and a large pinch of salt and pepper to a large bowl.

Mix until well combined.

Divide the filling evenly between the cavities of the jalapenos.

Divide the remaining cheddar cheese evenly between the poppers.

Place filled jalapenos about an inch apart on the air fryer tray/basket and cook for about 6-8 minutes or so. Garnish with reserved crumbled bacon and sliced green onion and enjoy!

Tips

• After you slice the jalapenos in half, use a regular spoon to gently scrape out the ribs and seeds. This is the easiest way to remove them.
• If you want your poppers spicy, feel free to leave some of the ribs and seeds in. This is where the heat of the jalapeno comes from. So, the more ribs and seeds, the spicier your poppers will be!
• To keep the cheddar cheese from falling off the jalapeno poppers, press it slightly into the cream cheese mixture when you put it on top.
• Place the jalapeno poppers in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray. This will ensure that they cook evenly. Be sure that you’re using jalapenos that are about the same size so that they cook evenly as well.
• If you have an Instant Vortex air fryer with different trays, it should be easy to fit them all, but if you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
• You can also bake these jalapeno poppers in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.

How do you know when your jalapeno poppers are done?

The jalapeno poppers are done when the jalapeno pepper is cooked through but still holds its shape and is tender-crisp. This means that it will still have a bit of a toothsome bite when you eat it and it isn’t floppy. If it is floppy it may be a bit overcooked. However, even overcooked jalapeno poppers still taste delicious! If your poppers look done, allow one to cool for a few minutes and then give it a taste. Tasting is the best foolproof way to know when they’re cooked.

How long does it take to cook jalapeno poppers in an air fryer?

It depends on your air fryer, but it will typically take about 6-8 minutes to cook these homemade jalapeno poppers.

What are jalapeño poppers made of?

These easy homemade air fryer jalapeño poppers are made with halved jalapeno peppers filled with a cream cheese mixture loaded with sharp cheddar, bacon, spices, and green onions. They are topped with more sharp cheddar and air fried to perfection!

Make-Ahead, Storage, Freezing, and Reheating

• Make-Ahead: You can easily prepare all the different elements of these jalapeno poppers ahead of time. Cook the bacon ahead of time, slice the jalapenos in advance, and mix up the cream cheese mixture the day before. The entire jalapeno poppers themselves can also be prepped, assembled, and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before cooking. I recommend letting them sit out on the counter for about an hour to come to room temp before air frying if they’ve been refrigerated.
• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Freezing: You can easily freeze these jalapeno poppers to save them for parties or as a last-minute appetizer. Cook the poppers as usual then wrap them in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer-safe bag or airtight, freezer-safe container and store them for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then let sit out on the counter for an hour before reheating.
• Reheating: To reheat refrigerated jalapeno poppers, place them in the basket or on the tray of the air fryer and air fry for 5-8 minutes, or until warmed through and the cheese is melted.

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