Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers (Printer View)

Crispy jalapeños stuffed with creamy cheese filling, air-fried golden. Ready in 25 minutes with irresistible flavor.

# Components:

→ 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

# Method steps:

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, combine 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. Work in batches if needed.
07 - Air fry for 8–10 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're ready in 25 minutes flat, which means you can transform a lazy afternoon into appetizer magic without breaking a sweat.
  • The contrast of creamy cheese filling against crispy breadcrumb coating is genuinely addictive, and everyone will think you spent way more effort than you actually did.
  • They're naturally gluten-free friendly and vegetarian if you skip the bacon, so they work for almost any gathering.
02 -
  • Don't skip preheating the air fryer—it takes just five minutes and ensures the breadcrumb coating crisps before the jalapeño skin starts to split and leak filling.
  • If you can't find gluten-free breadcrumbs and need them, panko works beautifully as a substitute and actually gives an even crunchier texture.
  • The moment you think they're done, they probably are—overcooked poppers start to wrinkle and the cheese can leak out onto the basket, so trust the visual cues of golden tops and tender skin.
03 -
  • Pat the jalapeño halves dry after scooping out the seeds so the filling doesn't slide around and the breadcrumb coating sticks better.
  • If your filling is too warm or soft, refrigerate it for 10 minutes before stuffing—it'll be easier to work with and won't ooze out during cooking.
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