How to cook poppers in air fryer

These air fryer jalapeno poppers are a snap to make and they taste even better than their store bought frozen counterparts!

If you are a snacker and you love your air fryer, you have got to check out my air fryer pickles, air fryer seasoned pretzels and air fryer mozzarella sticks.

How to cook poppers in air fryer

This recipe is adaptable too! If you are gluten-free you can use gf panko crumbs (Like Ian's Brand).

If you are dairy-free or vegan, just sub out the cream cheese for dairy-free/vegan cream cheese!

Love meat? Add some bacon to your air fryer jalapeno poppers!

How to cook poppers in air fryer

Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Ingredients

Jalapeno peppers

Cream cheese 

Fresh parsley

Panko/Bread Crumbs (gluten free if needed)

How to cook poppers in air fryer

How to Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

  1. Carefully cut the jalapenos in half. Remove seeds and insides of peppers.
  2. Mix together ½ of crumbs and cream cheese. Once combined add in the parsley. Stuff each pepper half with mixture.
  3. Gently press the tops of the peppers into the remaining ¼ c of crumbs to create the top coating.
  4. Cook in an air fryer at 370 degrees F for 6-8 minutes OR in a conventional oven at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes.Let cool and ENJOY!
How to cook poppers in air fryer

Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Tips

Jalapeno Tips: Remove all the seeds and white membrane (unless you like things spicy!) Its optional to wear gloves or just be careful after cutting and deseeding these jalapenos.

 It works best to use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and membrane. 

If you are gluten-free you can use gf panko crumbs (Like Ian's Brand).

If you are dairy-free or vegan, just sub out the cream cheese for dairy-free/vegan cream cheese!

Love meat? Add some bacon to your air fryer jalapeno poppers! Wrap the bacon slice tightly around the jalapeno popper so it doesn't shrink during cooking.

You will need to increase your cook time from 6-8 minutes to 10-12 if you add bacon.

Low Carb/Keto? To make your air fried jalapeno poppers low carb/keto you can skip the breadcrumbs and parsley.

You will use the cream cheese, add in some shredded cheddar and bacon crumbles. Cook at directed within the recipe.

Freezable- Make a double batch of these poppers and freeze some for later. When you are ready to make pop them out directly from the freezer and into your air fryer.

Add 1-2 minutes of additional cook time for frozen poppers.

How to cook poppers in air fryer

MORE mouthwatering AIR FRYER RECIPES

We have so many amazing air fryer recipes to choose from!

If you are struggling with which one to try next, we suggest: Air Fryer Mexican Corn on the Cob, Air Fryer Kale Chips, Meatloaf in the air fryer, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Hash and Air Fryer Asparagus

How to cook poppers in air fryer
How to cook poppers in air fryer
How to cook poppers in air fryer

How to cook poppers in air fryer

This recipe was made in a Cosori Air Fryer with a Basket. The recipe should work in other air fryers.

Keep in mind that each air fryer runs differently, it is important to check your food often.

If you have a Cuisinart Air Fryer Oven or a Ninja Basket Air Fryer, both of these units seem to run "hotter" than most air fryers. That means you will need to LESSEN the cook time. For this recipe the poppers were done cooking at 4-5 minutes in those air fryers.

One of our family’s favorite snacks to make in the air fryer are these delicious air fryer jalapeno poppers, stuffed with cheese, wrapped with bacon, and cooked to a crispy perfection.

» Try these Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots or Air Fryer Mini Tacos.

How to cook poppers in air fryer

The joy of these tasty little snacks is that the bacon gets super crispy, the cheesy center gets warm and creamy, and the jalapeno gets nice and tender. It only takes about 10-12 minutes for this magic to happen in the air fryer. If you’ve ever cooked these in the oven, you know how great that sounds, because it takes 30 minutes in the oven.

Jalapeno Poppers are a great snack or appetizer to serve before dinner, or late afternoon when you’re watching TV, or even as a party appetizer. They’re great finger food and everyone loves them. You can make as many as you like, double or triple the recipe, keep some in the freezer for later… whatever you want. Mini bell peppers make a great vessel for this recipe as well, or try these cream cheese stuffed peppers.

How to Make Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

Start out with nice firm and plump jalapenos that are big enough to cut in half and hold a scoop of filling, but not so big that half a piece of bacon won’t wrap around them. In order to keep the cheese in, the bacon needs to wrap around the pepper twice.

Cut the jalapenos in half lengthwise. To remove the extreme heat from the peppers, take out the seeds and ribs. That is where the heat comes from. If you like your poppers very spicy leave some seeds and ribs in.

How to cook poppers in air fryer

Mix the softened cream cheese in a bowl with garlic powder, cumin and salt. You can adjust the seasonings to your liking. I really love the cumin in this filling, but I know a lot of people aren’t cumin fans. It’s up to you. You can also add some shredded cheddar cheese, if you want.

How to cook poppers in air fryer

Fill each jalapeno half with a scoop of filling and wrap with half a slice of bacon. You may want to secure the bacon with a toothpick if it looks like it might not stay put. Bacon tends to shrink as it cooks and it might unwrap a bit. I don’t mind this. It adds character.

How to cook poppers in air fryer

Add the bacon-wrapped jalapenos to your air fryer basket in a single layer. Don’t crowd them. They will cook better if the air can circulate around each one. There’s no need to spray the basket or preheat the air fryer.

How to cook poppers in air fryer

Cook at 360 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Do keep in mind that every air fryer cooks a bit different so yours may require more or less time. I always take a look at the peppers at the halfway point to make sure everything’s good. You can adjust the cooking time then, if necessary.

I like the poppers to be soft and the bacon nice and crispy. If you want a bit more crunch to the peppers, shorten the cook time.

How to cook poppers in air fryer

Why Use an Air Fryer

An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.

  • If you don’t have an air fryer yet, check out these options to find one that fits your needs.
  • See reviews and prices for air fryers on Amazon.
  • Click to find more recipes to make in your Air Fryer.
  • Learn how to make fun things in the air fryer, like potato wedges, pork belly bites, and chicken wings.

Can You Freeze Jalapeno Poppers?

You can definitely freeze jalapeno poppers, but you want to do it before you cook them. Once you’ve stuffed them and wrapped them with bacon, put them in an air tight container or in a zip top bag. You can store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

You can pull as many out of the freezer as you want to cook at one time. That might just be a few to snack on, or the whole batch for a party. It’s simple to cook them from frozen, just increase the cook time by 1-2 minutes.

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How to cook poppers in air fryer

Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

These air fryer jalapeno poppers are quick, easy, and super tasty! These perfect little appetizers are simple to make in the air fryer.

4.8 from 31 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 mins

Cook Time 11 mins

Total Time 36 mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 20 poppers

Calories 47 kcal

Ingredients  1x2x3x

  • 10 jalapeno peppers halved, seeded and ribbed
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 10 slices bacon halved

Instructions 

  • Cut jalapenos in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds and ribs.

  • Mix softened cream cheese, garlic powder, cumin and salt. Taste and add more seasoning, if desired.

  • Fill each jalapeno half with filling. Wrap jalapenos in bacon. Secure with a toothpick, if necessary.

  • Spread the peppers out in the air fryer basket. Cook at 360 degrees for 10-12 minutes, checking half way through.

Notes

  • Don’t forget to wear your kitchen gloves when cutting and deseeding jalapenos!
  • Keep in mind that every air fryer cooks a bit different so yours may require more or less time.
  • You can use a full piece of bacon to wrap the jalapenos if you want. It will give more coverage, but adds extra calories and fat.

All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.

What temp do you cook jalapeño poppers in air fryer?

4Transfer half of the stuffed peppers to an air fryer basket sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and space evenly. Spray tops of peppers with cooking spray. Cook at 380° for 5 to 7 minutes, until the tops are browned and cheese mixture is melty.

How long do you cook frozen poppers in an air fryer?

STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees F. STEP TWO: Place your poppers inside the basket, leaving space between them for the air to circulate. What is this? STEP THREE: Cook for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 4 minutes.

Can you put jalapeño poppers in air fryer?

Wrap a slice of bacon tightly around each jalapeño half and secure horizontally with a toothpick. Repeat with all the peppers. Place jalapeño poppers in the air fryer and cook for 10-14 minutes, until the bacon is cooked through and crisp to your liking.

How long to air Fry jalapeño poppers that are frozen?

Preheat the air fryer by running it at 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Brush the frozen jalapeño poppers with oil, then spread them out in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 6-8 minutes, flipping them halfway. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce!