Air Fryer JalapeƱo Poppers
Some appetizers are just meant to be a hit, and Jalapeño Poppers deliver every time. But take them up a notch and make them better by making Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers! Every party is about to be better when you add these to the menu.
They’ve got everything spice, crunch, creamy cheese, and best of all bacon, all wrapped up in a jalapeño pepper. The air fryer gets them golden and crunchy in minutes, while the center stays warm and creamy.
Serve With A Dipping Sauce
These poppers are perfect on their own, they don’t need a dipping sauce, they just work well with a sauce. Serve them up with wingstop ranch or this bacon ranch is nice too!
What You Need to Make These Air Fryer Poppers
Be sure to grab all the ingredients ahead of time so when you’re ready to make these for any party at any time.
- fresh jalapeños
- shredded cheddar cheese
- cream cheese
- mayonnaise
- bacon
- pickled jalapeños
- red onion
- garlic salt
- paprika
- panko breadcrumbs
How to Change It Up
Swap out the cheddar for pepper jack to add a little more heat. If you really love heat add a pinch of cayenne or a splash of sriracha to the filling.
Try turkey bacon instead of regular bacon. If you like you can use real bacon bits instead of bacon.
You can also skip the meat altogether for a vegetarian version. Or use imitation bacon bits if you want the flavor but not the meat.
If you like to grill outdoors you can make grilled jalapeño poppers. Or if you like you can use my oven-baked jalapeño poppers. Both of those versions are made without panko or breadcrumbs, but they’re delicious!
How to Store Leftovers
These are best served when freshly made. If you have leftovers, store them in the fridge for up to two days.
Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes to bring back the crispy texture before serving again. Don’t microwave them, they don’t do well.
Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
Ingredients
- 12 fresh jalapeños, sliced in half and deseeded
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 2 TBSP mayonnaise
- 4 strips bacon, crumbled (or ¼ cup)
- ¼ cup pickled jalapeños, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, diced
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- Ranch dressing, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°F (95°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil
- Wearing gloves, slice each jalapeño in half lengthwise and remove the seeds
- Combine cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, bacon, pickled jalapeños, red onion, ½ tsp garlic salt, and ¼ tsp paprika in a medium bowl. Stir until well mixed
- In a separate small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs with the remaining ½ tsp garlic salt and ¼ tsp paprika
- Fill each jalapeño half with the cheese mixture, pressing it in firmly
- Sprinkle the filled jalapeños evenly with the panko mixture
- Arrange 6-8 jalapeño poppers in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each (work in batches if needed)
- Air fry at 380°F (193°C) for 6-7 minutes until golden and crispy
- Transfer cooked poppers to the prepared baking sheet in the warm oven while finishing the remaining batches
- Serve immediately with ranch dressing, if desired
