Air-Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

These amazing air-fryer jalapeño poppers are perfect for anyone who loves a little kick with their appetizers! Football fans and party guests will absolutely love these crispy, cheesy bites that cook up in just 20 minutes.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Prep Time: 20 minutes, Total Time: 20 minutes, Serves: 4 people.

Nutrition Profile: Low-Carb, Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Low-Calorie.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 104 Calories, 8g Fat, 4g Carbs, 5g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Cream cheese: You’ll need 2 ounces softened, which makes the filling super creamy and helps cool down the heat from the peppers. Just leave it out on the counter for about 30 minutes before you start cooking.

Cooked chicken breast: About 1¼ ounces finely chopped gives you ¼ cup of protein-packed goodness. Leftover rotisserie chicken works perfectly here!

Sharp Cheddar cheese: One ounce finely shredded (about ¼ cup) adds that perfect cheesy flavor. The sharper the better for more taste!

Scallion: You’ll need ¼ cup finely chopped for a nice oniony bite. Both the white and green parts work great in this recipe.

Hot sauce: Two tablespoons of your favorite brand like Frank’s RedHot gives these poppers their Buffalo-style kick. You can use less if you prefer milder heat.

Fresh dill: Just 2 teaspoons chopped adds a fresh, herby flavor that makes these poppers extra special.

Jalapeño peppers: Four large ones halved lengthwise (about 1½ ounces each) are your edible boats for all that delicious filling.

Whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs: Two tablespoons give you that perfect golden, crispy top. Regular panko works too if that’s what you have!

Cooking spray: This helps everything get nice and crispy in your air fryer without adding extra calories.

How to Make Air-Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

Step 1: Mix the cream cheese, chicken, Cheddar, scallion, hot sauce and dill in a medium bowl. Stir everything together until it’s well combined and looks creamy.

Step 2: Clean out the seeds and white membranes from your jalapeño halves. Use a small spoon to scrape them out completely – this step controls how spicy your poppers will be.

Step 3: Stuff each jalapeño half evenly with the cream cheese mixture. Don’t worry about making them look perfect – rustic is totally fine!

Step 4: Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the stuffed peppers. Place them in your air fryer basket and give them a light coating of cooking spray.

Step 5: Cook at 370 degrees F for about 10 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the tops are golden brown and the jalapeños feel tender when you poke them with a fork.

Easy and Quick Air-Fryer Jalapeño Poppers Version

Want to make these even faster? You can totally prep them ahead of time! Just stuff all the peppers with the filling mixture and keep them covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to serve, just pop them in the air fryer with the breadcrumbs and cooking spray. Your guests will think you’re a kitchen wizard!

Serving Ideas

These poppers make a perfect appetizer that’s practically a complete bite on their own. Serve them alongside some cool ranch dressing or blue cheese dip to balance the heat. They’re also amazing with crispy celery sticks and carrot chips for a fun party spread.

Storage

Store any leftover poppers in the fridge for up to 3 days in a covered container. To reheat them, just pop them back in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-4 minutes until they’re heated through and crispy again. The microwave works too, but you’ll lose that nice crispy texture.

Substitutions

No chicken on hand? You can totally leave it out or swap in cooked bacon bits for extra flavor. If you don’t have sharp Cheddar, any cheese you love will work – try pepper jack for more heat or mozzarella for something milder. Fresh chives work great instead of dill, and any hot sauce you prefer is perfect here.

Pro Tips

• Choose the right peppers: Look for jalapeños that are firm and about 3-4 inches long – they’re easier to stuff and hold more filling.
• Control the heat: Remove every bit of the white membrane and seeds for milder poppers, or leave some in if you like things spicy!
• Don’t overcrowd: Make sure your poppers aren’t touching in the air fryer basket so they cook evenly and get crispy all over.
• Make them ahead: These are perfect for meal prep – stuff them in the morning and air fry them right before your guests arrive.

FAQs

Can I make these in a regular oven instead of an air fryer?

You bet! Just bake them at 400 degrees F for about 15-18 minutes until the tops are golden and the peppers are tender. The air fryer just makes them extra crispy and cooks them a bit faster.

How spicy are these poppers?

They have a nice mild to medium heat level! The cream cheese really helps cool things down, and removing all the seeds keeps the heat manageable. If you want them spicier, leave some seeds in or add extra hot sauce to the filling.

Can I freeze these ahead of time?

Sure! You can freeze the stuffed poppers before cooking for up to 2 months. Just add an extra 2-3 minutes to the cooking time when you air fry them straight from frozen.

What if I don’t have panko breadcrumbs?

No worries! Regular breadcrumbs work fine, or you can even crush up some crackers or chips for a fun twist. The breadcrumbs just add extra crunch, so get creative with what you have!

I hope you love these crispy, cheesy poppers as much as my family does! They disappear so fast at every party we make them for. Let me know how yours turn out – I love hearing about your cooking adventures!