Jalapeno Poppers Air fryer & Oven (2024)

Cheesy Jalapeno Poppers in the air fryerare the perfect snacks for game nights, parties, gatherings and any occasion that calls for a celebration. These cheesy bites are fantastic appetizers as well. The air fryer just made this effortless because it takes less than 30 minutes to put together.

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It is football season y’all! My 8 yo has taken a fancy to the soccer recently and we have been contemplating introducing her to it by letting her watch a few games this season. And what is a game night without a few snacks, eh?

Five reasons to make these this game season

1. Literally takes 30 minutes and you can involve the tweens in the prep work.
2. The spicy kick from jalapenos + the creamy cheese is a combination to die for.
3. You can easily prep these ahead and air fry them them just before you are ready to eat.
4. They can be made gluten-free.
5. This is a no-oil recipe that can be made in the oven as well.

Ingredients

Obviously, the star here is the Jalapeno. Other than that, we will need some cheese and flavorings.

1. Jalapenos– Choose even size peppers that are at least 3 inches long. The longer ones are better since they can be cut and cored easily. Cannot find Jalapenos? Try using sweet peppers.
2. Cheese– For the filling, we will need a combination of cream cheese and cheddar. I recommend using cream cheese that come in blocks as opposed to the ones that come in tubs.
3. Bread crumbs– While Panko is very convenient, I m still someone who believes that buying an ingredient for one dish is not wise. If you cannot source Panko bread crumbs, grind 1 and 1/2 slices of bread in a blender using the pulse mode. And there, you have your own bread crumbs. You can find Panko in Asian stores.
4. Garlic powder– If someone asked me for that one aromatic that I cannot do without in the kitchen, it has to be garlic powder. Even since I tried it the first time, I am hooked to it and even add it to my fried rice. This is amazing for this recipe as well.
5. Green onions– I have used fresh green onions here. You can also use 1 tsp onion powder instead of these.
6. Paprika– You may wonder if this will make these spicier. But trust me, the paprika is just what we need to make these poppers complete.
7. Salt- I had to add very little salt to this recipe since cheese and cream cheese both have added salt. Please be very cautious while adding salt.

Variations

Peppers

You can try the same filling with different types of peppers. We love this with sweet peppers and Shish*to peppers as well. While you can stuff sweet peppers effortlessly, please be gentle with Shish*to peppers since they break very easily.

Cheese

I have tried sharp cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, Monterey pepper jack and regular cheddar for this. Personally, I love the regular cheddar cheese but you can also use a combination of regular and sharp cheddar.

No cream cheese

Feel free to use other cheese if you do not have cheddar on hand. If you do not have cream cheese, you can use ricotta cheese instead.

Flavorings

Apart from the green onions and garlic powder, you can also use Cajun spice, pizza seasoning or taco seasoning for an interesting twist.

Keto Jalapeno Poppers- Gluten free

If you are looking for a gluten free version of this recipe of you want to customize it to make it keto-friendly, then skip the bread crumbs completely. The only non-keto ingredient here is the bread crumbs. These are added to give these poppers a beautiful crispy golden topping, it can always be skipped for a gluten-free version.

Making ahead, storage and leftovers

You can stuff the peppers and refrigerate them the previous day until you are ready to fry them. If you plan on doing this, do not roll the stuffed peppers in the bread crumbs. Instead, just stuff them, cover and keep them refrigerated. Just before you are ready to air fry them, roll the peppers in the crumbs and then air fry them.

Leftover poppers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. To serve them, reheat gently in the microwave.

Recipe Notes

1. Allow the cream cheese to soften for at least 20 minutes before using. The cream cheese should be at room temperature.
2. Use a sharp paring knife to cut the jalapenos into halves. Core them using a sharp spoon instead of a knife to avoid breaking them. If you want a spicier version of these poppers, leave a few seeds in the jalapenos intact.
3. Replace regular cream cheese with low fat cream cheese if you are worried about the calories.
4. Check how to make these in the oven under the section titled ‘ Method’.
5. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Doing this will steam the peppers and make them soggy instead of crispy. There should be at least 1 inch gap between each filled pepper.
6. Air fryer timings may vary based on its model and capacity.
7. Serve these poppers immediately after air frying them. The peppers become a bit soggy after they cool down.

Serving suggestions

These poppers are good just on their own. You can also serve them with a mint chutney, just plain ketchup or some ranch dip.

Method

Step 1-Prep the peppers

Wash and wipe dry the jalapenos. Slice them into halves lengthwise. Core the peppers using a sharp spoon and scrape out the edges. Fill each pepper half with 2 to 3 tsp of filling. I recommend using your hands for this. Make sure the filling covers the rim of the peppers too.

Step 2- Make the filling

Soften the cream cheese. Add the softened cream cheese to a mixing bowl along with the shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, garlic powder, paprika, green onions and salt. Combine everything by gently mashing the cream cheese into the other ingredients. Your filling should resemble something like a pasty dough.

Step 3- Coat them in bread crumbs

Spread out the remaining 1/4 cup bread crumbs over a plate. Now, press the peppers, filling side down, onto the bread crumbs gently. Do this with all the filled peppers.

Air fried jalapeno poppers

Place the filled jalapenos in the air fryer basket. Do not over crowd them. If your air fryer basket is small, then I recommend air frying the peppers in two or three batches. I have a 6 quart air fryer and so I could air fry them all in one batch.

The top picture in the image below shows the poppers when they were done mid way around the 5th minute mark.

Set the temperature to 375 F (190 C) and air fry them for 8 to 10 minutes. Stop mid way around the 5th minute and check on the peppers once. Keep an eye on the peppers after the 8th minute mark since they tend to burn quickly. Air fry the poppers till the cheese is melty and the jalapenos are blistered.

They should look golden brown and crusty at the top after they are done. This should not take you more than 10 minutes for each batch.

Oven baked cheesy poppers

If you do not have an air fryer, you can bake these in the oven too. Preheat the oven at 375 F ( 190 C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Follow the steps from 1- 3. Arrange the stuffed peppers on the tray without any overlaps. They should be spaced at least 1 inch apart. Bake the peppers for 10 to 12 minutes until the tops are golden.

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