Jalapeño Poppers in the Air Fryer
Crispy jalapeño poppers with a creamy cheese filling and crunchy bacon — the ultimate finger food in under 30 minutes in the air fryer.
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Teaspoon For removing the seeds
Ingredients
8 pcs jalapeño Fresh, medium-sized- 200 g cream cheese Plain
- 100 g grated cheddar
8 skive bacon Halved crosswise- 1 tsp garlic powder
0.5 tsp paprika
0.5 tsp salt- 0.25 tsp freshly ground pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Cut 8 pcs jalapeño in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds and membranes with a teaspoon. Wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
- Mix 200 g cream cheese, 100 g grated cheddar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 0.5 tsp paprika, 0.5 tsp salt and 0.25 tsp freshly ground pepper in a bowl into a smooth cheese mixture.
- Fill each jalapeño half with the cheese mixture — press it together firmly so the filling stays in place.
- Halve 8 skive bacon crosswise and wrap one piece of bacon tightly around each filled jalapeño half.
Cooking in the air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 200 °C fan.
- Place the jalapeño poppers in the air fryer basket cheese-side up in a single layer — without them touching. Cook for 10-12 minutes, until the bacon is crispy and the cheese is golden and bubbling.
- Let the poppers rest for 2 minutes so the filling sets before serving.
Notes
Tips for the perfect result:
Wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after deseeding the jalapeños — the capsaicin clings to your skin and stings on contact with your eyes. Choose firm, glossy jalapeños for the best result. If the bacon isn't crispy enough after 12 minutes, give it an extra 1-2 minutes while keeping a close eye on them. Variation:
Stir a tablespoon of finely sliced chives or spring onions into the cheese mixture, or swap the cheddar for grated mozzarella for a milder flavour. For extra heat, mix a little finely chopped fresh chilli into the filling, or sprinkle over smoked paprika instead of regular. Serving:
Serve with a cool sour cream dip, ranch dressing or sweet chilli sauce. They go perfectly with a cold beer, as a starter before a barbecue evening or as a tapas bite. Portion size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can cook the poppers in two batches — always make sure they sit in a single layer without touching, so the bacon can crisp up all the way around.
Wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after deseeding the jalapeños — the capsaicin clings to your skin and stings on contact with your eyes. Choose firm, glossy jalapeños for the best result. If the bacon isn't crispy enough after 12 minutes, give it an extra 1-2 minutes while keeping a close eye on them. Variation:
Stir a tablespoon of finely sliced chives or spring onions into the cheese mixture, or swap the cheddar for grated mozzarella for a milder flavour. For extra heat, mix a little finely chopped fresh chilli into the filling, or sprinkle over smoked paprika instead of regular. Serving:
Serve with a cool sour cream dip, ranch dressing or sweet chilli sauce. They go perfectly with a cold beer, as a starter before a barbecue evening or as a tapas bite. Portion size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can cook the poppers in two batches — always make sure they sit in a single layer without touching, so the bacon can crisp up all the way around.
Nutrition
Calories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 12gFat: 30gSaturated fat: 13gPolyunsaturated fat: 2gMonounsaturated fat: 9gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 650mgPotassium: 200mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 600IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 160mgIron: 1mgNet carbohydrates: 4g
