Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers (Printable)

Crispy jalapeños stuffed with creamy cheese filling, air-fried to golden perfection in just 25 minutes.

# What You’ll 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 Steps:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 5 minutes.
02 - Wash jalapeños and slice each in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to carefully remove seeds and membranes. Wear gloves if sensitive to spice.
03 - In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, chives, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Mix until smooth and creamy.
04 - Fill each jalapeño half with the cheese mixture, mounding slightly to the top.
05 - In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs with olive oil until evenly coated. Sprinkle or press the breadcrumb mixture onto the tops of filled jalapeños.
06 - Arrange poppers in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
07 - Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the jalapeños are tender.
08 - If desired, sprinkle with crumbled bacon immediately after cooking. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The air fryer gives you all the crunch of deep frying without the mess or the oil splatter on your stovetop.
  • You can dial the heat up or down by keeping or removing the seeds, so everyone at the table stays happy.
  • They come together in under half an hour, which means you can decide to make them on a whim and still have time to clean up before guests arrive.
  • The creamy, tangy filling balances the heat so well that even people who claim they don't like spicy food end up reaching for seconds.
02 -
  • If you skip softening the cream cheese, you'll end up with a lumpy filling that's hard to mix and even harder to spoon neatly into the peppers.
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket traps steam and keeps the breadcrumbs from crisping up, so give each popper a little breathing room even if it means cooking in two batches.
  • Letting the poppers cool for just a minute or two after cooking makes them easier to handle and actually intensifies the flavor as everything settles.
03 -
  • Toss the breadcrumbs with the olive oil in a small bowl before sprinkling them on top so every crumb gets evenly coated and crisps up perfectly.
  • If you want even more crunch, add a tablespoon of grated Parmesan to the breadcrumb mixture for a salty, nutty boost.
  • Use a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon to press the filling into the pepper halves, it keeps your hands cleaner and the portions more even.
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