Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers are the perfect game day snack made with spicy peppers filled with creamy cheese, chicken, and bacon stuffing. The best part is that they are so easy to make and only take a few minutes. 

If you are looking for other favorite snacks, try our Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders flavored with our homemade barbecue sauce. For more of a meal, this Jalapeno Popper Pasta is made with bacon and cheese and cooks up quickly in one pan. Another way to use your fryer is with this easy and delicious Salmon recipe.

Although the traditional poppers are deep-fried and coated in thick breading, these are an easier and much tastier version.

You can serve these with some air fryer chicken wings, guacamole, and a large bowl of chips and dip for a holiday party or just enjoy them by yourself as a tasty snack.

They are tender and cheesy, and have the perfect crunchy and smoky finish from the bacon. Serve them as an appetizer with an array of dipping sauces!

Ingredients needed:

Scroll down to our handy recipe card for the detailed steps and measurements but here are the basic ingredients for this easy recipe:

• Jalapeno peppers: Cut in half lengthwise.
• Cream cheese: Softened.
• Cooked chicken breast: Chopped.
• Bacon slices: Cooked to crisp and finely chopped.
• Cheddar cheese: Finely shredded. 
• Scallions or green onions: Finely chopped.
• Hot sauce: We used Frank’s Red-Hot sauce.
• Panko breadcrumbs: Or whatever breadcrumbs you like.
• Toppings: Chopped bacon and green onions.

How do you make these air fryer jalapeno poppers from scratch?

1. Preheat: First, preheat your fryer to 370 degrees F for five minutes.
2. Cream cheese mixture: Meanwhile, mix the cheeses, bacon, chicken, scallions, garlic, and hot sauce in a medium bowl until it is thoroughly combined. 
3. Cut: Next, cut peppers in half lengthwise, remove the seeds and membranes, and put them on a paper towel. 
4. Fill: After, fill each jalapeno half with cream cheese filling and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. 
5. Basket: Then, put the poppers into the prepared air fryer basket and spritz with a little bit of cooking spray. 
6. Cook: Last, cook until the tops are golden brown, and the peppers are tender. This usually takes about 10 minutes, but the cooking time may vary depending on the size of your air fryer. Also, the smaller jalapenos may need less time to cook.
7. Serve: Finally, sprinkle each one with bacon and green onions before serving with your favorite dipping sauces. 

Recipe variations:

• Bacon bits: Skip a few steps by using store-bought bacon bits.
• Garlic powder: Alternatively, you can use garlic powder instead of cloves.  
• Less spice: If you are not a fan of spicy food, be sure to rinse the peppers after deseeding and use a mild hot sauce. 
• Rotisserie chicken: To save time, use rotisserie chicken instead of making your own.
• Wrapped: Another way to cook these is by wrapping each of them in a slice of bacon. 
• Sweeten: Sprinkle some brown sugar on top of these before cooking for a sweeter flavor.
• Onion: Try adding a dash of onion powder for a different flavor.

How to serve:

These are a great snack for game day or an appetizer. Here are some of our favorite ideas:

• Serve with your favorite sauce such as ranch or blue cheese dressing.
• These poppers also would make a fantastic side dish for our barbecue sloppy joes.
• Another way to serve these is with a fresh green salad.
• Add a sprinkle of tangy teriyaki sauce onto these just before serving.
• Enjoy these favorite appetizers with a glass of ice-cold beer.
• Mix up a batch of cream cheese and chives for a cool dip. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cook frozen poppers in the air fryer?

It is simple and easy to cook frozen poppers or other frozen food in the air fryer. Just heat up the fryer to 380 degrees F for five minutes.

Place the jalapeño poppers in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Flip after five minutes before cooking for another two to four minutes or until the cheese is starting to ooze out.

What is a good dipping sauce for jalapeno poppers? 

This great snack goes perfectly with all sorts of dips. Try these with a small bowl of cilantro lime, quesadilla, or nacho cheese sauce. Sweet sauces like raspberry or orange sauce are also great with these.

You could even dip them into sour cream or ranch dressing. What makes your poppers such a fun finger food is how versatile they are. 

What are the best jalapenos for this recipe?

Jalapeno peppers are typically easy to find in the produce section at your local grocery store. Try to find large plump jalapenos because they are easier to cut and fill.

Also, make sure they are not soft or turning brown. The deep green color is important. 

How to store leftovers:

1. Store: Make sure the jalapenos are cooled to room temperature before putting them in an airtight container in your refrigerator where they will be good for about three days.
2. Freeze: First, flash freeze these individually by putting them on a baking sheet in the freezer for two hours. Then, wrap them in saran wrap and store them in a freezer bag for up to nine months.
3. Thaw: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving for best results. 
4. Reheat: You can reheat these air fried jalapeno poppers in the air fryer at 380 degrees F for five minutes. 

Recipe tips:

• Remember to remove the white membrane inside the peppers to reduce the spiciness. 
• It is best to wear kitchen gloves to avoid getting the jalapeno juice on your skin. 
• Remember that all fryers do not cook the same so our cook time may be different than yours. 
• Try chilling the poppers before frying to help them cook more evenly. 
• If you are making a large batch, put the ones you already cooked in the oven on a cooking sheet at 200 degrees F to keep them warm.
• Be sure to use cooking spray on the basket to keep these from sticking.

5 from 3 votes

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Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers are the perfect game day snack made with spicy peppers filled with creamy cheese, chicken, and bacon stuffing.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 133 kcal

Author: Catalina Castravet

Ingredients

• 8 large jalapeño peppers halved lengthwise
• 4 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
• 1/4 cup very finely chopped cooked chicken breast
• 1/4 cup fried bacon bits
• 1/2 cup finely shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• tablespoons finely chopped scallion
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Preheat air fryer to 370 degrees F.

2. In a medium bowl, make the filling by mixing cream cheese with chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese, scallions, garlic, hot sauce; stir until well combined.

3. After cutting the jalapenos in half, remove the seeds and membranes, and stuff evenly with the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs.

4. Arrange the stuffed jalapeños in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking spray.

5. Air fry until the tops are browned and the jalapeños are tender, for about 10 minutes.

6. Sprinkle with more diced cooked bacon and green onions before serving.

7. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

Amount Per Serving

Calories 133 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Cholesterol 26mg9%

Sodium 330mg14%

Potassium 102mg3%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 419IU8%

Vitamin C 19mg23%

Calcium 80mg8%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.