Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

You're going to love how easy it is to make Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers! Not only are they made in less time in an air fryer, but they are crispier and more delicious too! This easy 4 ingredient recipe is keto, low carb, and completely sugar free. Great for watching the game, or enjoying some fun appetizers during a weekend movie night! Made with cream cheese, shredded cheese, and wrapped in salty bacon. This is the ultimate comfort food!

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When it comes to the weekends, I like to relax a bit and not invest as much time in cooking. That may seem weird for a food blogger to say, but since I "work" creating recipes and writing content most of the weekdays, I like to take it easy on the weekends.

If I'm thinking ahead, I'll make up a big batch of Instant Pot soup (like my Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup) to feed us through most of the weekend, but often I end up making a bit of smorgasbord of odds and ends, much of which is made in my air fryer! Just this past weekend I tested out a pizza toast recipe in my air fryer, and the weekend before that I made up these delicious Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers.

Perfect for Game Nights!

Since hockey games tend to be on Saturday nights (Hockey Night in Canada, specifically), we tend to make up some kind of snacky and appetizer food to have as dinner instead of the usual fare. These Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers definitely fit the bill, and are a favorite around here! Not only are they absolutely delicious, but they are SUPER simple to make with just 4 ingredients!

Let's get started!

Ingredients

• Jalapenos: Purchase large jalapenos that are bright green, and without any spots. You will need about 6 for this recipe, but you can easily double (or triple) the amount if you're preparing your jalapeno poppers for a crowd.
• Bacon: You will need 6 slices of bacon, cut in half. I prefer using standard sliced bacon for this recipe, since I find that thick cut bacon does not cook through as well.
• Cream cheese: You will need 4oz of softened cream cheese. You can use brick style cream cheese, or the kind that comes in a tub. It will have to be soft enough to blend together with a spatula, so you may need to heat it for 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave.
• Cheese: Shredded cheese adds an extra special touch to these air fryer jalapeno poppers! I used cheese I shredded from the block, but you can use pre-shredded cheese if that's what you have on hand.

How to Make Jalapeno Poppers in an Air Fryer

Cut each of your jalapeno peppers in half and scoop out the seeds and any white pith. Use gloves to protect your hands, since jalapeno peppers can leave capsaicin on your hands if they are not protected.

Place the jalapeno peppers, cut side up, on a baking sheet or tray.

Add the softened cream cheese to a small bowl and mix until smooth with a small whisk or silicone spatula. If your cream cheese is not soft enough, try microwaving it for 10-15 seconds.

Add the shredded cheese to the blended cream cheese and fold it it until completely combined.

Prepping

Spoon some of the cream cheese filling into each jalapeno half, and level it off with the back of your spoon.

Once all of the jalapeno peppers are filled with the cream cheese mixture, wrap them in half of a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.

Note: Make sure to secure with a toothpick! I made that mistake with my first batch, and the bacon kind of flew open. The second batch was much better after securing the wrapped bacon with toothpicks. Just remove before serving!

Cooking

Preheat your air fryer to 390F for at least 3 minutes, or according to your manufactures instructions.

Place the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers into the basket of your air fryer and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp and the filling is bubbling.

Remove from the air fryer and place on a paper towel lined plate.

Repeat with the remaining bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers. Serve and enjoy!

Tips for Success

• Keeping warm: Keep your cooked jalapeno poppers warm by keeping them in an oven set to 350F OR reheat them for 1-2 minutes in the air fryer once all are cooked.
• Reduce smoking: If your air fryer is smoking because of the bacon grease, add 2-3 tablespoons of cold water into the bottom of the basket, over the crisping tray.
• Doubling: This recipe can easily be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled! Just be sure to work in batches to ensure that each jalapeno popper has the chance to cook evenly. Overcrowding your jalapeno poppers in the air fryer will result in undercooked and chewy bacon.
• Storage: Keep your uncooked jalapeno poppers in the fridge in between batches. Once cooked, serve immediately or refrigerate until needed.
• Freezing: If you would like to freeze your jalapeno poppers for another day, freeze them completely uncooked. Then, thaw and bake according to the instructions in the recipe. You may need to add additional time if they are very cold or still slightly frozen.

Variations and Substitutions

Without bacon: Omit the bacon in this recipe and cook with just the cream cheese mixture. Top with breadcrumbs, if desired, for an added crunch.

Without cream cheese: Replace the cream cheese in the recipe with sour cream or ricotta cheese. Wrap with bacon and cook as directed.

More Air Fryer Snacks

• Air Fryer Roasted Almonds
• How to Make Pepperoni Chips in an Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites - Air Frying Foodie
• Air Fryer Pickles - Evolving Table

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