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I’ve made these Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers so many times, and they’re always the first thing gone at any party. They’re the perfect mix of creamy, cheesy filling wrapped in smoky, crispy bacon. The air fryer makes them easy and fast, without heating up the whole kitchen.
One of my other favorite game-day appetizers is these juicy air fryer chicken bites. They are always on the menu.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
“Such a good recipe! I added a tsp of garlic salt and a sprinkle of Tajin for a little more flavor. Yum!”
-Sudie
Quick Look At This Recipe
- ✨ Flavor: Smoky, creamy, and just the right amount of heat with the perfect balance of crispy bacon and cheesy jalapeno goodness.
- ⏱️ Prep time: 10 minutes
- 🔥 Cook time: 12 minutes
- ⏲️ Total time: 22 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 10
- 🥄 Tools: Air fryer, tongs, mixing bowl, and gloves for handling peppers.
- ❄️ Freezer friendly: Assemble and freeze unbaked poppers for up to 2 months. Air fry straight from frozen and add 2–4 extra minutes to the cook time.
- 👩🏻🍳 Tip: Pre-cook the bacon for 3–4 minutes before wrapping to get perfectly crisp results without overcooking the peppers.
SUMMARIZE AND SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
The best part about making jalapeno poppers is that this appetizer works for game day gatherings, backyard barbecues, or even a quick weekend snack. And since they’re made in the air fryer, you can have them ready in less than 20 minutes. An option if you want to save even more time, you can make store-bought air fryer frozen jalapeno poppers instead.
Planning a party? You might want to add our air fried bacon wrapped hot dogs, air fryer taco ring, and air fryer mushrooms to your menu for other fun, crowd-pleasing bites.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy, Creamy Perfection: The air fry turns the bacon golden and crisp while the cheese filling stays warm and melty.
- Fast, Foolproof Air Fryer Snack: Ready in about 15 minutes with minimal mess, no deep-frying, and results that rival restaurant-style poppers.
- Customizable for Every Craving: Make them mild or spicy, swap cheeses, or skip the bacon for a lighter twist. These poppers are endlessly adaptable for any crowd or craving.
Table of Contents
- Quick Look At This Recipe
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients You Will Need
- Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers Variations
- How to Air Fry Jalapeno Poppers
- Recipe Tips
- Storing and Reheating
- Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers Recipe FAQs
- More Easy Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes
- Air Fryer Jalepeno Poppers (Bacon Wrapped) Recipe
Ingredients You Will Need
- Jalapenos: If possible, grab jalapenos that are similar in size for more even cooking. Love the flavors? Try these air fryer chicken jalapeno poppers.
- Cheese: Cream cheese adds a creamy filling for our air fryer jalapenos while shredded cheddar cheese adds flavor and that cheesy pull you crave.
- Bacon: Choose your favorite style and flavor of bacon to wrap around these air fryer jalapeno poppers.
A full list of ingredients is included in the recipe card below.
Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers Variations
- Add Crumbs: For a little crunch, sprinkle panko breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter over the cream cheese filling before wrapping with bacon. As the poppers cook, the crumbs turn golden and add an extra crispy layer that pairs perfectly with the smoky bacon.
- No Bacon Option: Prefer a lighter or vegetarian version? Skip the bacon altogether and just top your filled jalapenos with buttered panko. Air fry at 375°F for 6–8 minutes until the crumbs are golden and the filling is bubbly.
- Change Up the Cheeses: Mix things up by swapping cheddar for pepper jack, Colby jack, or Monterey jack for a little heat and flavor variation.
- Serve with a Sauce: Add a finishing touch by drizzling the cooked poppers with BBQ sauce for a sweet and smoky kick, or serve with a side of ranch dressing for creamy contrast.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to your cheese mixture for more flavor. For something bolder, toss in a dash of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper. These flavors complement the bacon beautifully.
For more air fryer jalapeno recipes, try these Texas Twinkies and air fryer jalapeno popper egg rolls.
How to Air Fry Jalapeno Poppers
- Slice the jalapenos in half lengthwise. Scrape the seeds and membranes with a spoon. Then gently rinse to remove any leftover seeds.
- Add the cream cheese and shredded cheddar to a bowl, and stir together until combined.
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture into each jalapeno half.
- Wrap each stuffed jalapeno with a slice of bacon. Secure with a toothpick if needed.
- Place the stuffed jalapenos in the air fryer basket, keeping them in a single layer. Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 12–15 minutes.
- Your jalapeno poppers will be done when the bacon is golden brown and crisp to your liking. Enjoy as a side with air fryer hamburgers and air fryer pizza!
Recipe Tips
- Use Gloves: Jalapenos can irritate skin and eyes, so wear disposable gloves (if you have them) when handling them. If not, you can use a spoon to remove the seeds and membranes to handle the jalapenos less. Be sure to wash your hands after your done.
- Pre-Crisp Trick: Air fry bacon 3–4 minutes before wrapping. This cooks the bacon crispier without overcooking the peppers.
- Batch Cook Smart: Space poppers at least ½ inch apart for best cooking results. Cosori baskets fit 8–10 halves comfortably, but you may need to cook more or fewer at a time.
Storing and Reheating
- Store Leftovers: Store leftover air fryer jalapeno poppers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: To reheat leftovers, air fry them at 320–330°F for 3–5 minutes until the cheese is warm and the bacon re-crisps.
Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers Recipe FAQs
Yes! These bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers are great for prepping in advance. You can assemble them up to 24 hours ahead, cover, and refrigerate until you’re ready to cook. Before air frying, pat the bacon dry, as any moisture can cause sputtering and slow down crisping. You can also freeze them before cooking. Arrange the unbaked poppers on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. You can cook them straight from frozen by adding 2–4 extra minutes to the air fryer time
They are a bit spicy, but removing the seeds and membranes reduces the heat significantly. If you want them milder, soak the jalapenos in cold water for 30 minutes before stuffing. Be sure to drain them well and pat dry before stuffing, wrapping, and cooking. For a mild option, you can also try these air fryer stuffed mini peppers.
Yes, but it doesn’t crisp as well as regular bacon. You can increase the cook time slightly to allow it to crisp up more and for a better texture.
Thin-cut bacon works best for air fryer jalapeno poppers. It crisps up quickly and evenly without overcooking the peppers or causing the cheese to leak out. Thick-cut bacon takes longer to render and can leave the peppers overcooked before the outside gets golden.
Cheese usually leaks when the peppers are overfilled or when the bacon doesn’t wrap tightly enough to seal the filling. Try leaving a little space at the top of each jalapeno and pressing the cheese mixture slightly below the rim. Wrapping the bacon snugly and air frying in a single layer also helps prevent melty cheese escapees.
More Easy Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes
Appetizers
Air Fryer Fried Pickles
Appetizers
Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Avocado Fries
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Air Fryer Jalepeno Poppers (Bacon Wrapped)
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 10 medium Jalapeños
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 10 slices bacon
Instructions
- Cut the jalapeños in half, lengthwise. Remove all of the seeds and rinse the jalapeños.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese until well combined.
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture, filling the jalapenos.
- Wrap each jalapeno with a slice of bacon. Secure with a toothpick if necessary.
- lace poppers in the air fryer basket, keeping them in a single layer. Air fry at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 12–15 minutes, or until the bacon is golden brown and crisp to your liking. (Depending on the size of your air fryer, cooking times may need to be adjusted.)
Video
Notes
- Use Gloves: Jalapeños can irritate your skin and eyes, so it’s best to wear disposable gloves when handling them. If you don’t have any, use a small spoon to scrape out the seeds and membranes to minimize contact. Always wash your hands thoroughly after you’re done.
- Pre-Crisp Trick: Air fry the bacon for 3–4 minutes before wrapping it around the stuffed jalapeños. This simple step helps render the fat and gives you crispier bacon without overcooking the peppers.
- Batch Cook Smart: For best results, don’t overcrowd the basket. Leave about ½ inch of space between each popper so the air circulates evenly. In a Cosori 5.8L basket, you can usually fit 8–10 halves per batch comfortably.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Looks easy and quick to make.
They are! 🙂 You should try them, they’re so good.
These are very fast, easy, and delicious!
Love these in the air fryer! I added a tsp of garlic salt and a sprinkle of Tajin for a little zip. So good!
Such a good recipe! I added a tsp of garlic salt and a sprinkle of Tajin for a little more flavor. Yum!
We grow a large garden every year with jumbo jalapeños. When we have an abundance, we make up huge batches of stuffed peppers (some with cream cheese and shredded cheddar). Then freeze them on cookie trays, after frozen, bag them up! Stuffed peppers all winter long! Last fall we froze 324 !
What a great idea! We had a beautiful garden and the only thing that would grow was my jalapenos. They were little though, so I’d cut the bacon into thirds. They made great bite size appetizers! Thank you for sharing!
The perfect answer to how to use a bounty of jalapeños from the garden. These are great. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! So glad you liked them! And yes, my garden had the most amazing peppers and I loved using them for this recipe.
Do the jalapeños CARMELIZE at this time and temp? I find in baking them, I cook longer for carmelization to take the HEAt out of the jalapeño
I’ve never had them caramelize in the air fryer. I am sure to remove all of the seeds, and rinse them before filling with cream cheese. This helps take some of the heat out.
So I have discovered a little trick to make these things plus all the other meats and dishes taste like they were smoked and cooked on a grill for hours..liquid smoke. I add a couple of caps full to the air fryer and it does NOT disappoint. My favorite so far is rubbing a boneless pork loin with LS and then seasoning it. Brown sugar mixed with seasoning helps give it that charred texture on the outside too..yummmm
I shave a bit off the top to remove the seeds, gives more room for cheese. I also add a little pork sausage
Great idea! Glad you liked the recipe!
How about using whole jalapeño. How may degrees temperature & minutes. Please respond, ty
Hi Regina, I start with a whole pepper, but then cut it in half. I have never tried to stuff a whole pepper without removing seeds. Thank you!
I love these. I have found I can cut the bacon lengthwise and still have plenty to wrap them with.
Great idea. These are a favorite for us too! Glad you like them!