These air fryer bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers are one of my favorite appetizers to make. They’re crispy, cheesy, and have just the right amount of kick.
The filling is a simple mix of cream cheese, cheddar, and a couple of seasonings. It takes about two minutes to put together.
Wrapping them in bacon and cooking them in the air fryer gives you that perfect crunch without any deep frying. They come out golden and delicious every single time.
Whether you’re making these for game day, a party, or just a weekend snack, they always disappear fast. Like, really fast.
The whole recipe takes about 20 minutes from start to finish. Let me show you how to make them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Perfectly Crispy Bacon Every Time – The air fryer gets that bacon wrap impossibly crispy without any greasy mess or oven babysitting.
Creamy and Spicy in Every Bite – The rich cream cheese filling melts into the jalapeño and balances the heat beautifully.
Only 7 Simple Ingredients – You probably have most of these items in your fridge right now which makes this a no-brainer to whip up.
Ingredients
- 12 Large Jalapeños
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
- 12 Bacon Slices, cut in half
- Toothpicks
How To Make
Step 1
Cut jalapeños in half lengthwise and remove seeds and membranes with a spoon. Mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl.
Step 2
Fill each jalapeño half with cream cheese mixture, slightly mounding it.
Step 3
Wrap each stuffed jalapeño with a half slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
Step 4
Arrange poppers in air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure bacon ends are tucked under.
Step 5
Air fry at 370°F for 12-15 minutes until bacon is crispy and jalapeños are tender. Let cool for 2 minutes before serving.
Tips
Use a Spoon to Hollow Out the Jalapeños
A small spoon or a melon baller works way better than a knife for scooping out the seeds and white membranes inside the jalapeño halves. You want to scrape the inside clean so you have a nice little boat shape that can hold plenty of filling.
The white membranes are where most of the heat lives. If you want milder poppers, take your time and scrape every bit of it out. If you like some heat, leave a thin layer of membrane behind.
One more thing – wear disposable gloves while you do this. Jalapeño oils stick to your skin and if you touch your eyes or face later, it’s going to be really unpleasant.
Make Sure the Cream Cheese Is Actually Soft
The cream cheese needs to be fully softened to room temperature before you mix it. If it’s still cold and firm, it won’t blend smoothly with the cheddar and you’ll end up with lumps that make the filling uneven.
Pull it out of the fridge about 30-45 minutes before you start. If you forgot, you can microwave it in 10-second bursts until it’s soft but not melted.
When it’s properly softened, the filling will be smooth and easy to spoon into the jalapeño halves without tearing them.
Use Thin-Cut Bacon
Thin-cut bacon works much better here than thick-cut. Thick bacon takes a lot longer to crisp up, and by the time it’s done, your jalapeños will be way too soft and the filling might start leaking out.
Thin bacon crisps up in the same time it takes for the jalapeños to become perfectly tender. Everything finishes cooking at the same pace, which is exactly what you want.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Pickle Spears
- Air Fryer Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers
- Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Cheesy Taco Stuffed Peppers
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep the bacon from unraveling in the air fryer?
The toothpicks do most of the work, but the real trick is placing each popper with the bacon seam side down in the basket. That way the weight of the popper holds the bacon in place while it cooks and crisps up.
Also, make sure you wrap the bacon tightly around each jalapeño half before securing it. If the bacon is too loose, it tends to shrink away from the popper as it cooks instead of hugging it nicely.
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
- air fryer
- toothpicks
- 12 Large Jalapeños
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
- 12 Bacon Slices, cut in half
- Toothpicks
- Cut jalapeños in half lengthwise and remove seeds and membranes with a spoon. Mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl.
- Fill each jalapeño half with cream cheese mixture, slightly mounding it.
- Wrap each stuffed jalapeño with a half slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
- Arrange poppers in air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure bacon ends are tucked under.
- Air fry at 370°F for 12-15 minutes until bacon is crispy and jalapeños are tender. Let cool for 2 minutes before serving.