Crispy Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

Our favorite game day snack is here! These Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers are crispy thanks to a quick “fry” in the air fryer. Everyone will rave over the melty three-cheese filling and crunchy panko topping.

Crispy Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

Oh, jalapeno poppers. How I love you. ? How I look forward to devouring you. I mean, who wouldn’t? A spicy jalapeno pepper, perfectly bite-sized, fried up into mellow, yet still sliiiightly spicy perfection, and filled with cheese? Yes. Please. I’ll take a dozen.

My recipe for jalapeno poppers is so simple, but the combination of three kinds of cheese, fresh garlic, and chives gives you flavor for days! If you’ve never made real homemade jalapeno poppers, I’m sure you’ll love these—and you’ll love how easy they are to make.

For even more super ideas, be sure to check out my archive of easy air fryer recipes.

Why Use an Air Fryer?

Air Fryers make frying up your favorite snacks so much easier, and healthier! Unlike deep frying, which uses a lot of oil and can be very time-consuming, air fryers get the job done with just a spritz or two of oil and a very easy process.

Just pop the ingredients in the air fryer, spray on a little bit of non-aerosol cooking spray (or your favorite cooking oil), and push a button! A few minutes later, you have amazing jalapeno poppers with the perfect texture. The breading is sizzling and crunchy, the pepper is perfectly soft, and the cheesy filling is ooey, gooey, scrumptious.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a rundown of the recipe ingredients (for the full recipe card with amounts and nutrition facts, scroll on down to the bottom of the post). Each one adds its own special fun to the party!

• Cream Cheese: Soften the cream cheese to room temperature. You can use low-fat cream cheese here, if you prefer.
• Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar is the best! It really adds a powerful punch of flavor, and melts beautifully. Finely grate it (or buy it pre-shredded).
• Feta Cheese: Crumbled feta is my secret weapon! It’s extra tangy, and elevates the dish in a special way. If you don’t have feta, use crumbled goat cheese instead, or substitute more cheddar. 
• Garlic: Mince or press fresh garlic for the brightest flavor. Garlic powder is fine, though, if you prefer to use that.
• Chives: I use chopped fresh chives, but dried chives will work as well.
• Salt and Pepper
• Jalapeno Peppers: You’ll need to halve the jalapenos lengthwise, and remove the seeds (more on that in a minute).
• Panko: Use regular panko breadcrumbs, or for a low-carb version, use pork rind panko.
• Cooking Spray: Make sure to use non-aerosol cooking spray to avoid damaging the finish on your air fryer basket.

How to Hollow Out a Jalapeno Pepper

To hollow out your jalapenos, the easiest way is to just cut the jalapenos lengthwise, leaving you with two identical halves. Then, take a teaspoon and gently scrape the seeds and any white membrane away. Be sure to wear gloves if your hands/skin are at all sensitive or dry, since jalapeno juice can really burn sensitive skin! And your eyes, if you touch ’em. Been there, done that. ouch! ?

How to Make Jalapeno Poppers in the Air Fryer

Now that you’ve got your ingredients list nailed down, here’s how to make these addictive little appetizers. The process is really easy, and even fun!

1. Preheat the Air Fryer and Make the Filling Mixture. Before you get started, make sure to preheat air fryer to 325˚F. Preheating tends to give the best results. Next, mix the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, feta, garlic, chives, salt, and pepper in a big bowl. Use a spoon or fork to stir everything together until it’s well-blended.
2. Stuff the Jalapeno Halves. Line up your jalapeno (cleaned out) halves on a plate or tray. Use a tablespoon to stuff each jalapeno half with 2 tablespoons or so of the cheesy filling.
3. Arrange the Poppers in the Air Fryer Basket. Spritz the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Then arrange the poppers in the basket in one layer. Don’t crowd the basket, and don’t stack the poppers or have them overlapping. Top each popper with crumbs, and give them a light spritz with a bit more oil.
4. Cook. Air-fry the poppers for 15 minutes or so, until cheese is melted and gooey, and peppers are tender.

Tips for Success

Here are my best tips and hacks for making awesome jalapeno poppers. Read on, and happy cooking!

• Add Bacon: You can definitely wrap each popper in half a strip of bacon before frying (use a toothpick to secure the bacon), or just sprinkle diced, cooked bacon into the filling.
• Helping Hands: If you do find that your hands are stinging or burning from the jalapeno peppers, wash them, and then rub them well with a small amount of oil. Wash again. The oil helps dissolve the spicy jalapeno liquid and wash it off your hands.
• Oven Baking Option: If you’d rather not air-fry, and want to make your poppers in the oven, go for it! Just arrange them on a baking sheet, and bake at 425°F for 10 to 15 minutes.

How To Make Jalapeno Poppers in the Oven

• If you want to make your poppers in the oven, go for it! Just arrange them on a baking sheet, and bake at 425°F for 10 to 15 minutes.

What to Serve with Jalapeno Poppers

To serve these, I like to create a sampling of several appetizers. It’s perfect for an afternoon of snacking, or even for a “small plate” type of meal.

• Skewers: Anything on a skewer is automatically more festive, especially when it’s these Grilled Chimichurri Steak Skewers! They are so tangy, garlicky, and tender. Yum.
• Shrimp: I adore shrimp, and this easy recipe pairs them with barbecue sauce for an out-of-this-world sweet and savory snack! Skillet Barbecue Shrimp—so much to love.
• Crack Chicken: Serve it with bagel chips. Serve it with pita chips. Serve it with crudites. Whatever you do, just make this addictive Slow Cooker Crack Chicken! It’s full of creamy, cheesy, bacon-y goodness!

How to Store and Reheat Extra Jalapeno Poppers

• Refrigerate leftover poppers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Reheat your jalapeno poppers in the oven at 350°F. Just place them on a wire rack or cookie sheet, and bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until hot and crispy. For extra crispiness, broil for a minute or two.

Can I Make These in Advance and Freeze Them?

• Yes! Jalapeno poppers actually freeze very well. Just flash-freeze them in a single layer on a plate or baking sheet, and then transfer to freezer bags or airtight containers. 
• Frozen jalapeno poppers will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. Reheat directly from frozen, adjusting the cooking time (frozen poppers will take 5 to 10 minutes longer to reheat, depending on the size of the jalapenos and your oven).

ENJOY!

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