These jalapeño poppers are the ultimate party food! Made with fresh peppers, a rich and creamy cheesy filling, crispy bacon bits, and a crunchy panko breadcrumb topping… this appetizer recipe is made easily in the air fryer (oven directions too)!
This is one of my Air Fryer recipes I know you’ll want to keep on hand!
If you’re a football fan, the next few weeks are such an exciting time… it’s the playoffs! My team isn’t in the playoffs this year, but we’ll still be going to plenty of playoff parties, and these jalapeño poppers will definitely be coming along with us.
Even if you’re not into sports, this is an appetizer recipe that’s incredibly popular and easier to make than people think.
There are some versions of jalapeño poppers that are coated and deep fried, but the version I love the most is the one I’m sharing here today.
You still get the crunch from the buttery panko topping, and by using the air fryer you get plenty of great texture, without all the extra fat and oil from the traditional fried method.
How to make air fryer jalapeño poppers?
This is just an overview; the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card toward the bottom of this post.
- Prep peppers. I like to remove the seeds and ribs, and use a spoon to do that.
- Combine filling. Make sure you’re using softened cream cheese, otherwise you’ll have a hard time getting the filling to mix together well.
- Add to peppers. You can use a spoon, rubber spatula, etc for this.
- Add topping. After you mix the butter and panko breadcrumbs, press the filling side of the jalapeño poppers into the crumbs.
- Air fry. These will cook best if they’re added in a single layer, and not overcrowding the air fryer basket.
Helpful Tip!
When choosing jalapeño peppers, you want to look for larger and more plump peppers, so there’s plenty of room for the filling. Also, using larger peppers is helpful for those who want an appetizer with less heat, as (in general) the larger the pepper, the more mild it is.
Variations of this recipe
- Cream cheese – this recipe works well with the full fat cream cheese indicated, but also with reduced fat. I haven’t tried using flavored cream cheese (like chive and onion), but I think that could be a delicious alternative.
- Shredded cheese – if you’d prefer a different type of cheese, colby jack, or pepper jack are great options.
- Garlic – instead of garlic powder, you could try using a couple of cloves of finely minced fresh garlic.
- Bacon – instead of using the bacon bits, feel free to use 2-3 slices of cooked and crumbled bacon.
- Spicier – if you love heat and spice, you can leave most or all of the seeds and ribs in the jalapeño, and/or add some cayenne pepper to the filling.
FAQ’s
Absolutely! I understand that not everyone has an air fryer, and I don’t like to create recipes that can ONLY be made with a specific small appliance. Look below the recipe in the “chef tips” section for the full oven directions!
“Healthy” means different things to different people, but in general, you can use reduced fat cream cheese, turkey bacon crumbles, and reduced fat cheddar cheese.
Making jalapeño poppers ahead of time
As with all fried foods, I don’t recommend making these poppers ahead of time. However, you can prep ahead!
- Peppers – the peppers can be sliced, seeded, and refrigerated for a day or so.
- Filling – the cream cheese filling can be made a couple of days ahead and kept refrigerated.
Storage
Leftovers should be refrigerated in an airtight container and enjoyed within 3-4 days.
I recommend reheating in the air fryer (375°F for 5-8 minutes).
More Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes:
My Favorite Air Fryer!
This is a newer air fryer for me, but I really enjoy it! I love the larger, rectangular basket, and that the basket is nonstick, removable, and dishwasher safe!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 6 fresh jalapeño peppers
- 4 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 Tbsp crumbled bacon bits see chef tip #2
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
- cooking spray
Instructions
Prepare peppers
- Wash and dry the peppers, then slice them lengthwise. Remove the seeds and ribs, then set peppers aside for now.
Make filling
- To a mixing bowl, add cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon bits, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well until combined.
Fill peppers
- Spoon the filling evenly into each half of the jalapeño peppers.
Add topping
- To a small mixing bowl, add the panko and melted butter. Stir well to combine.
- Gently press the filling side of the jalapeño popper into the breadcrumbs, coating it well. Repeat with remaining jalapeño poppers.
Air fry
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
- Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray, then arrange the jalapeño poppers in an even single layer (you may need to air fry in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer).
- Lightly spray the poppers with cooking spray, then air fry for 5-8 minutes, or until the poppers are golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly.
Serve
- Remove the jalapeño poppers from the air fryer and let them cool a few minutes before serving.
Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!
Chef Tips
- This recipe will make 12 jalapeño poppers, and I’ve estimated that will serve about 6 people, with 2 poppers being the serving size.
- I typically use Hormel Real Bacon Bits, but if you’d prefer to use your own cooked and crumbled bacon, you could cook and crumble up 2-3 slices of bacon.
- I highly recommend using gloves when slicing and seeding the peppers, and thoroughly wash your hands afterwards. The oils from jalapeños are potent.
Oven Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Assemble jalapeño poppers as directed, add to prepared baking sheet, then bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly.
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Catalina says
I recently got an air fryer, and these jalapeño poppers have become my absolute favorite snack! The crispy exterior and the gooey, spicy filling—it’s a match made in heaven!
Sandra says
These jalapeno poppers are amazing appetizer! They’re so good!
Erin says
Looks absolutely fantastic! Need to make this soon!
April says
These were amazing! I’ve never thought about putting breadcrumbs on my jalapeno poppers, but it made a huge difference! Love this recipe!
Janelle says
Oh man, I love cream cheese jalapenos! The panko is perfect with them!
Gina says
I love a good air fryer appetizer – these look AWESOME!
Beth says
Oh, these are fantastic! I love being able to get all that popper flavor and texture without having to battle spattering grease!