Get ready to treat yourself with super yummy Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers in the Air Fryer! Crispy bacon wrapped around spicy jalapenos filled with creamy cheese – it's the ultimate appetizer or party snack!
Plus, they're healthier too, thanks to the air fryer doing its magic. These babies are gonna give you that perfect combo of smoky, spicy, and cheesy goodness in each and every bite! You'll get extra flavor when you dip 'em in some healthy ranch dressing.
Why you'll love this recipe
They're healthier - These bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers cook up in the air fryer, using less oil. That means there's no smell factor to deal with after all the goodness is gone!
Versatile - No air fryer? No problem! You can still make these with my baked jalapeno poppers!
Perfect party food - These bites of deliciousness are perfect for a game day snack and a great appetizer for a Friday night at home!
For more air fryer appetizer recipes, try my buffalo chicken egg rolls and air fryer sweet potato wedges.
What's the big deal about air fryers, anyway?
An air fryer can be a countertop appliance, or can be part of your existing electric stove. Basically, it works by circulating hot air around the food as it cooks.
As a result, food cooks taster and gets a nice, crispy outside like fried foods.
It also keeps your kitchen from smelling like deep fried oil after cooking.
Ingredient Notes
This easy appetizer recipe only has six ingredients! Can you say game changer?
- cream cheese - combined with the shredded cheese, this cool and creamy cheese tames the heat.
- Monterey Jack cheese - this variety of cheese has a mild and buttery flavor with a smooth, creamy texture. It melts easily, making it a great choice for adding to our jalapeno poppers. If you have leftover cheese, add it to some pulled pork quesadillas.
- bacon - any brand of bacon is fine to use, just make sure you use a regular sliced bacon (not thick sliced). Why? The thicker sliced bacon will take much longer to cook through and doesn’t work well with this recipe.
See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Substitutions
If you prefer a spicier version, pepper jack will give you some spice action. Cheddar cheese works, too.
Play around with different types of bacon. Turkey bacon would likely work thought it may cook faster. This means your jalapeno halves may have a little crunch to them after cooking.
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How to make jalapeno poppers in the air fryer
Here are the step by step instructions to make this air fryer appetizer.
Before you get started, lightly grease the basket of your air fryer basket with cooking spray. Then, cut the bacon pieces in half and set aside.
Step 1: Cut the jalapeños in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and white inside membrane. Remember that the heat from the peppers live here.
If you like lots of spice you can leave a few seeds in, but you should probably warn your guests.
Either way, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands after handling the peppers. And don't wipe your eyes!! Ask me how I know, wink wink.
Step 2: Make the popper stuffing: Combine the cream cheese, shredded cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and sea salt until smooth.
Step 3: Stir well until the mixture is creamy. Be sure to remove any lumps.
Step 4. Spread the cream cheese mixture into all of the jalapeño halves.
It works well to use a spoon to scoop in the filling. Then use the back of the spoon to press the filling into place and smooth it out.
Step 5: Wrap a half slice of bacon around the entirety of the pepper half.
I find it's helpful to make the end of the bacon on the underside of the pepper half to hold it into place.
Step 6: Place the jalapeno poppers in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overlapping. You may have to work in batches.
The cheese will get a light golden brown as it cooks and the bacon will wrap those jalapeno halves in a crispy, salty hug!!
Tips
Air fryer model: Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook these in several batches.
For best results: Use thin sliced bacon, not thick bacon so it can crisp up as it cooks.
Recipe FAQS
So, here's the deal with cooking bacon-wrapped jalapenos in an air fryer – it's not an exact science! The time it takes can change depending on how thick your bacon is and how crispy you want it. But, as a ballpark figure, you're looking at roughly 10 to 15 minutes of cook time.
Remember, everyone's air fryer is a bit different, so you might need to play around a bit to find your perfect bacon-wrapped jalapeno timing!
Reheating leftover jalapeno poppers in the air fryer is a total game-changer! First, fire up your air fryer to 375°F. Lay out your poppers in the basket, single file please! Then, let them cook for around 3 to 5 minutes, but keep an eye on them.
Remember, they'll be toasty hot when they come out so let them cool a few minutes before you dive in!
What to serve with poppers
These are great served alongside some sour cream garnished with green onions or a side of healthy ranch dressing or chipotle mayo as a dipping sauce.
More air fryer recipes
Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers in the Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 12 large jalapeño peppers
- 12 slices regular sliced bacon
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
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Instructions
- Lightly grease the basket of your air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Cut the bacon pieces in half and set aside
- Cut the jalapeños in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out the seeds and membranes and discard.
- In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and sea salt. Stir well.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture into the jalapeño halves. Wrap with a piece of bacon around the middle of each jalapeno half and secure with a toothpick if necessary.
- Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overlapping. (You may have to work in batches.)
- Cook in the air fryer at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until the cheese mixture becomes warm and bubbly and the bacon is cooked through. The cheese will get a light golden brown as it cooks.
Notes
Nutrition
This Farm Girl Cooks 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 and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Carlee says
Mmmm! What a great way to make jalapeno poppers. I love how the air fryer helps to crisp up the bacon.
Deanne Frieders says
Yeesssss!