Description
These Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers are a delicious and easy appetizer featuring spicy jalapeños stuffed with a creamy cheese mixture, topped with crispy bacon, and perfectly cooked in an air fryer for a quick, flavorful snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Jalapeños
- 6 large jalapeños
Cheese and Filling
- 8 ounce cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons green onion, chopped
- 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese, divided
Bacon
- 8 ounce bacon, cooked and chopped, divided
Additional
- Olive oil for drizzling
Instructions
- Prepare jalapeños: Slice the jalapeños lengthwise and carefully remove the seeds and ribs to reduce heat and create space for the filling.
- Pre-cook jalapeños: Lightly grease the air fryer basket and place the jalapeños in it. Drizzle with a little olive oil to help soften them during cooking.
- Air fry jalapeños: Cook at 400ºF for 4 minutes in the air fryer, then let them cool for about 5 minutes until they can be handled safely.
- Drain excess liquid: Place the jalapeño halves upside down on a paper towel to remove any excess moisture or oil from cooking.
- Prepare filling: In a bowl, blend room temperature cream cheese with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Add cheese and bacon: Stir into the cream cheese mixture half a cup of shredded Colby Jack cheese, half the chopped bacon (reserve about 2 tablespoons for topping), and the green onions.
- Stuff jalapeños: Use a spoon to fill each jalapeño half with the cheese and bacon mixture evenly.
- Add toppings: Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese and reserved chopped bacon on top of the stuffed jalapeños.
- Final air frying: Return the stuffed jalapeños to the air fryer basket and cook at 400ºF for an additional 5 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly, and bacon is crispy.
Notes
- Removing the seeds and membranes reduces the heat, but leave some if you prefer spicier poppers.
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature to mix smoothly.
- Cook bacon ahead and chop it finely for easier mixing and topping.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, these can be baked at 375ºF for about 15-20 minutes.
- Handle jalapeños with gloves to avoid irritation from the capsaicin.
