Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers (Printable version)

Crispy jalapeño halves stuffed with creamy cheese, air-fried golden. Ready in 25 minutes for the perfect appetizer.

# 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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 5 minutes.
02 - Wash the jalapeños. 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, mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, chives, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt until smooth.
04 - Fill each jalapeño half with the cheese mixture, mounding slightly.
05 - In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs with olive oil. Sprinkle or press the breadcrumb mixture onto the tops of the filled jalapeños.
06 - Arrange the poppers in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed.
07 - Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes until the tops are golden and the jalapeños are tender.
08 - If desired, sprinkle with crumbled bacon immediately after cooking. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come out ridiculously crispy on top and creamy inside without any of the grease you get from frying.
  • You can prep them in the morning and air fry them right before guests arrive, no stress involved.
  • The heat level is totally adjustable depending on how much you scrape out from the inside of those peppers.
  • They disappear faster than any other appetizer I have ever made, which means you did something right.
02 -
  • If you skip preheating the air fryer, the breadcrumbs will not crisp up properly and you will end up with soggy tops.
  • Leaving even a few seeds in the peppers can turn them from pleasantly spicy to mouth-on-fire, so scrape them out unless you are feeding heat seekers.
  • Do not overfill the jalapeños or the cheese will bubble over and make a mess in the basket.
03 -
  • Use a small spoon or a piping bag to fill the jalapeños neatly, and you will save yourself a lot of cleanup time.
  • If your air fryer runs hot, check the poppers at 7 minutes to avoid burning the breadcrumbs.
  • For a shortcut, buy pre-shredded cheese and pre-cooked bacon, and nobody will know the difference.
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