These Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers are stuffed with a super flavorful creamy cream cheese filling encased in a crunchy, buttery breadcrumb topping. Ideal for parties, you can assemble them ahead of time and air fry them just before serving. Plus, they're completely vegetarian—no bacon or meat required.
What are jalapeno poppers? Also known as jalapeno bites, they are jalapeno peppers that are typically halved, filled with a mixture of cream cheese or other cheeses, and sometimes additional ingredients like herbs, spices, or even bacon.
The filled jalapenos are then baked or air fried until the outer layer is golden brown and the filling is melted. If wrapped in bacon, then they are sometimes called armadillo eggs, since they resemble armadillo shells.
They are known for their combination of spicy jalapeno heat and creamy, savory filling, making them a favorite as one of the air fryer game day recipes or holiday parties.
The hot air from the air fryer crisps up the breadcrumb topping, preserving the peppers' texture without overcooking. This ensures they retain their shape, allowing your guests to easily pick them up without any floppiness.
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Why you'll love it?
- Cheesy and Flavorful
- Vegetarian
- No bacon, sausage or meat
- Crispy bread crumb coating
- Perfect for parties
- Assemble ahead and bake before serving
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Jalapenos - Unlike the jalapeno dip with cream cheese that uses canned jalapenos, this homemade air fryer jalapeno poppers recipe uses fresh peppers. I like to use medium-sized jalapenos, as they are easier to handle and provide a good balance between heat and filling.
- Cream cheese – As in the stuffed mushrooms with cream cheese, use block style cream cheese (I prefer to use Philadelphia).
- Cheese – I like to use Mexican blend cheese which is a mix of 4 cheeses like Monterey Jack, cheddar, Asadero, Queso Quesadilla cheese. Use a mix of Monterey jack and cheddar instead.
- Flavorings - A mix of chopped onion, tomato, cilantro and red pepper flakes add crunch and make the air fryer jalapeno poppers filling super flavorful.
- Bread crumbs - Adding one tablespoon of panko breadcrumbs to the filling provides stability and helps it hold together seamlessly after cooking.
Tip: Select jalapeños that are uniform in shape to ensure they cook evenly and at the same time. If you love jalapenos, then you'll adore our jalapeno cornbread muffins.
Variations
- Use a different mix of cheese like cheddar, mozzarella or Monterey jack.
- Add chopped cooked bacon to the filling.
- Experiment with spices such as cumin, garlic powder, or paprika for added depth of flavor.
- Add cooked corn kernels to the filling. Refer to the air fryer corn on the cob recipe to cook corn in your air fryer.
- Replace chopped vegetables with some salsa.
How to make it?
You can find the full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
1 & 2. Prepare jalapeños - Slice each jalapeno in half lengthwise and use a spoon to remove the seeds and veins.
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Pro tip: The heat in jalapeños are found in the seeds and inner membranes. Reduce heat by removing seeds and inner membranes from jalapenos. For extra spiciness, leave some membrane intact.
3 & 4. Make filling - Stir together, cream cheese, cheese, 1 tablespoon panko, chopped onion, tomato, cilantro and salt in a bowl.
Tip: Replace the onion and tomato mixture with approximately 2 tablespoons of salsa. Ensure you drain any excess water from the salsa to prevent the filling from becoming watery.
5. Fill the hollowed-out pepper with the filling.
6. Stir together panko, melted butter and paprika together in a shallow bowl. Sprinkle evenly over each popper.
💡 I find that coating the panko breadcrumbs in butter first not only enhances their crispiness but also imparts a beautiful deep golden perfection as they air fry.
Step 7 - Air fry at 400 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes, until topping is golden brown.
Baking instructions
If an air fryer is not available, you can also bake these in the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F, place them on a baking sheet, and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the top is crisp.
How to serve?
Although homemade jalapeno poppers are wonderful on their own, piping hot from the air fryer, they can also be enjoyed with a variety of dipping sauces, such as ranch dressing or spicy aioli.
To keep them warm for a party, place the poppers in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil to prevent drying out, and keep them in a low-temperature oven (around 200°F or 90°C) until it's time to serve.
How to store leftovers?
These are irresistibly delicious, and you might find yourself with no leftovers! In the rare event that you do, they store well in the fridge. It will keep for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
- To reheat in microwave: When ready to enjoy, a quick few seconds in the microwave is an option, but note that the breading may not crisp up. For a crispier crust during reheating, we recommend using the air fryer.
- To reheat in air fryer: Place the refrigerated peppers in a preheated air fryer at 400 degrees for approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
Helpful tips
- Jalapenos - Buy medium to large sized jalapeno peppers that are fairly of uniform size.
- Cheese - Use a combination of cheddar, mozzarella and Monterey jack instead of Mexican cheese blend.
- Use salsa - Use salsa in place of onion, tomato and cilantro. Drain salsa, to remove excess liquid and then measure about 2 tablespoons to use in the filling.
- Make it gluten free - Use gluten free panko to make gluten free air fryer jalapeno poppers.
- Double the recipe - Air fry in batches if doubling the air fryer jalapeno poppers recipe.
- Air fryer - I used an Instant Vortex 6-quart air fryer and was able to place all the peppers in a single batch without overcrowding.
- Wear gloves if needed - If you think that you are sensitive to spicy peppers, then I recommend wearing gloves when cutting.
How to assemble ahead for a party?
Assembling homemade air fryer jalapeno poppers ahead of time is a convenient option for planning ahead.
- Prepare the jalapenos and stuff them as per recipe instructions.
- Once filled, assemble them on a baking sheet or tray, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to cook.
- Top them with panko and cook in a pre heated 400 degree air fryer for 8 to 9 minutes.
Freezing instructions
- Prepare the jalapenos, fill with cream cheese filling and then top them with panko as per recipe instructions.
- Assemble them on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container for long-term storage.
- Place the frozen peppers in a pre heated 400 degree air fryer for 10 to 12 minutes. Do no thaw before cooking.
Recipe FAQs
No! I recommend cooking it only one side, which results well browned and crispier panko crust from the circulating hot air from the air fryer.
No, pre-cooking the jalapeños isn’t necessary for air frying. This recipe is designed to cook them from raw, allowing them to become tender and flavorful during air frying. Pre-cooking can make them overdone and soggy.
Here are few tips to to ensure that the air fried jalapeno poppers are never soggy.
1. Preheat your air fryer - Preheat your air fryer to ensure a crispy exterior from the start.
2 Avoid Overcrowding - Avoid overcrowding the air fryer, as it will steam the jalapeños instead of crisping them. Cook the poppers in a single layer to ensure even airflow and crispiness.
3. Air fry at a higher temperature - This ensure that they cook quickly and the exterior gets crispy without becoming soggy.
4. Top with bread crumbs - This helps to create a crispy exterior and absorb any excess moisture.
5. Don't overstuff - Too much filling can lead to excess moisture leaking out when cooking.
More spicy recipes
Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 jalapeños peppers medium
Cream cheese filling
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- ½ cup Mexican blend shredded cheese
- 1 tablespoon Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped tomato remove seeds before chopping
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes use less or skip, if needed
- ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon salt
Bread crumb topping
- ¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika optional
Instructions
- Prepare jalapeños - Slice each jalapeno in half lengthwise and use a spoon to remove the seeds and veins.Pro tip: The heat in jalapeños is in the seeds and membranes. Remove these to reduce heat; leave some membranes for extra spiciness.
- Make filling - Stir together, cream cheese, cheese, 1 tablespoon panko, chopped onion, tomato, cilantro and salt in a bowl.
- Make topping - Mix Panko breadcrumbs, melted butter and paprika together in a plate, until thoroughly combined.
Fill and Cook
- Spoon the cream cheese filling evenly in the jalapeños and top with bread crumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 8 minutes. When hot, place place stuffed jalapeños in the basket, spacing evenly. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until topping is golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
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