Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers are so easy to make and are perfect for game day parties and get-togethers! Filled with cream cheese and topped with crispy breadcrumbs, these stuffed jalapenos are always a hit.

Air Fryer Jalapeño poppers come together in less than 20 minutes with just a handful of simple ingredients! Juicy jalapenos are filled with a smooth cream cheese filling, topped with a crispy breadcrumb topping, and air fried to golden perfection.

Cook them up for your next party or as a delicious game-day snack, along with our Air Fryer Chicken Wings (or vegetarian Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings) and our Hot Corn Dip.

Reasons why you will love this recipe

• They are done in 15 minutes
• Make them as spicy as you like
• So flavorful and a perfect balance of crispy and creamy
• They make a great vegetarian snack or appetizer

Ingredient Notes

Here is an overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for quantities.

• Jalapeños – Make sure they are not too small otherwise they are hard to fill. 
• Cream Cheese – Room temperature cream cheese makes it easier to mix the filling.
• Cheddar Cheese – Sharp cheddar works best in my opinion! But any cheddar will do. Use a cheese grater or buy pre-shredded.
• Garlic Powder – Adds lots of flavor!
• Green Onion – I only use the green part of the stalk. If you prefer less onion flavor you can also use chives instead of green onions.
• Panko Breadcrumbs – They are crispier than normal breadcrumbs
• Butter – Adds flavor, crispiness, and helps brown the topping

How to make this recipe 

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found at the bottom of the page on the printable recipe card.

1. Prep: Prep the jalapenos by slicing them in half lengthwise, then scoop out the seeds and membranes using a small spoon.
2. Combine: In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar, garlic powder, and green onion. In another bowl, combine Panko breadcrumbs and melted butter.
3. Fill: Fill jalapenos with cream cheese mixture, then top with breadcrumbs.
4. Bake: Put in Air Fryer basket and bake for 6-8 minutes at 380 degrees F until breadcrumbs are golden brown.
5. Finish and serve: Let cool for a few minutes before serving with blue cheese dressing or ranch on the side.

Expert Tips

• Cream Cheese: To soften cream cheese fast microwave for 10 seconds.
• Air Fryer: Depending on your Air Fryer you might need to air fry the poppers in batches. My 5.8 qt Air Fry fits 12 jalapeno halves. The cooking time can also vary slightly depending on your Air Fryer
• Presentation: I prefer to leave the stem on the jalapenos because it makes it easier to pick them up and to fill them without the filling spilling out
• CAUTION: Wear gloves when prepping the jalapenos and avoid touching your face
• Heat: If you like it spicy leave some of the membranes in the jalapenos intact, for less spiciness remove all of the seeds and membranes
• Oven baking: If you don’t have an Air Fryer or want to make a bigger batch at the same time you can make this recipe in the oven. Arrange the prepared jalapenos poppers on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake them in a preheated oven at 425 degrees F for 12-15 minutes, until crisp and golden on top. 

Recipe FAQs

Optional Add-ins and Variations

I love to add cooked, crispy bacon bits to the cream cheese filling. This way you get the delicious bacon flavor but the poppers will still cook fast and have a crispy breadcrumb topping. Breaded jalapeno poppers are my favorite!

But if you want to make Air Fryer Bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers, you can easily do that by leaving out the breadcrumb topping. Wrap each stuffed jalapeno in a slice of bacon and secure it with a toothpick. Air fry at 380 degrees F for 10-12 minutes until the bacon is crispy.

How to make Frozen Jalapeno Poppers in the Air Fryer

To make frozen store-bought jalapeno poppers air fry them at 380°F for 7-9 minutes, turning them after 5 minutes. They are done when the cheese filling just starts to ooze out. Let them sit for a few minutes before biting into them because the filling gets very hot.

More Air Fryer Recipes to try

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