How long to air fry the jalapeno poppers?

This air fryer jalapeno poppers recipe cooks up in 5 to 6 minutes.

Can this jalapeno popper recipe be made in advance?

Yes, you can do all the prepping and fill the jalapenos with the filling a day or two beforehand. Just wrap them with plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container til ready to use. Then, when you are ready to cook the poppers, you can add the bread crumbs and air fry them. You can also freeze the poppers. Prepare them to the stuffing phase, then tightly wrap them with plastic wrap and add them to an airtight container. When ready to cook, add bread crumbs and air fry. Add 1-2 minutes of additional cook time for frozen poppers.

Can I bake these jalapeno poppers in the oven?

Yes, you can bake these in the oven. While I love my air fryer for small-batch cooking, if I were planning to make a significant amount of jalapeno poppers, I would actually bake them in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

How do I make these jalapeno poppers gluten free?

If you want to make these poppers gluten-free you can substitute gluten-free panko breadcrumbs or make your own using gluten-free bread.

How can I make the jalapeno poppers less spicy?

As long as you remove all of the seeds and all of the white membrane, the poppers really aren't that spicy. However, you could use the mini sweet peppers instead.

Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers: the perfect party appetizer

Ingredients

Scale

15 jalapenos
8 oz cream cheese
¾ cup Colby Jack cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
pinch of salt
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
¼ cup bacon bits

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Instructions

Cut each jalapeno in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scrape out the insides of each half so they are hollow. Set the prepped jalapenos aside.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir together the cream cheese, Colby Jack cheese, and half of the bacon plus a pinch of salt until the cheese and bacon is evenly distributed throughout the cream cheese.
Using a spoon or spatula, fill each jalapeno half with the cream cheese filling.
In a small bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs and remaining bacon. Dip the top cream cheese side of each popper into the breadcrumbs to fully coat the cream cheese.
Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 390 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the air fryer has preheated, carefully place the poppers in the air fryer basket, give them a light spray of cooking spray and then cook them in batches, 5-6 at a time, for 5 to 6 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!

Notes

*Air fryer times can vary based on the power of your air fryer. So keep an eye on your first batch.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 poppers
Calories: 119
Fat: 9
Carbohydrates: 9
Fiber: 3
Protein: 4