Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers (Printable)

Crispy jalapeños filled with creamy cheese and air-fried golden. A spicy, irresistible appetizer in 25 minutes.

# What You 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

# How-To:

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 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 mixture onto filled jalapeños.
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 - Sprinkle with crumbled bacon if desired. Serve warm with ranch or sour cream dip.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come out of the air fryer with crispy, golden tops and creamy, gooey centers without any deep frying mess.
  • You can prep them in the morning and cook them right before guests arrive, making hosting feel effortless.
  • The heat level is completely under your control depending on how much of the seeds and membranes you leave behind.
  • Theyre just as good cold from the fridge the next day, which I discovered by accident during a midnight snack raid.
02 -
  • If your cream cheese is too cold, the filling will be lumpy and hard to mix, so always let it sit at room temperature for at least half an hour before you start.
  • Dont skip tossing the breadcrumbs with olive oil, dry breadcrumbs just blow around in the air fryer and never get that satisfying golden crunch.
  • Wearing gloves while handling jalapeños is not overkill, I learned this the hard way after rubbing my eye an hour later and regretting every life choice.
03 -
  • Choose jalapeños that are similar in size so they cook at the same rate and you dont end up with some burnt and others undercooked.
  • If your air fryer runs hot, check the poppers at 7 minutes to avoid over-browning the breadcrumbs before the peppers have softened.
  • For a gluten-free version, swap in your favorite gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed pork rinds for an extra crispy, low-carb topping.
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