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Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

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Crispy, cream cheese-stuffed jalapeño poppers made in the air fryer with a golden panko breadcrumb crust and molten cheesy filling. Ready in about 15 minutes with no deep-frying required.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 fresh jalapenos, halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives or green onion tops
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper
  • Cooking spray
  • Sour cream or ranch, for dipping

Instructions

  1. Wear gloves and halve each jalapeno lengthwise. Scrape out seeds and white membrane with a small spoon, then pat pepper halves dry with paper towels.
  2. Beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Mix in shredded cheddar, garlic powder, onion powder, chives, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
  3. Spoon or pipe the filling into each pepper half, mounding slightly above the top edge. Do not underfill — the cheese shrinks during cooking.
  4. Mix panko breadcrumbs with smoked paprika and a pinch of salt in a shallow bowl. Press the top of each filled pepper into the breadcrumb mixture, using your fingers to help the crumbs adhere.
  5. Preheat air fryer to 375°F. Spray the basket with cooking spray, arrange poppers breadcrumb-side up in a single layer, and spray the tops with cooking spray.
  6. Air fry at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes until breadcrumbs are golden brown and the cheese filling is bubbling. Let cool 2 to 3 minutes before serving — the filling is extremely hot right out of the fryer.

Notes

Wear gloves when handling jalapenos — the oil transfers easily and can burn eyes and skin. Wash hands thoroughly afterward.

For milder poppers, remove all seeds and white pith. Blanch seeded pepper halves in boiling water for 2 minutes to reduce heat further; pat thoroughly dry before filling.

Make ahead: assemble up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate covered. Bread just before air frying, adding 1–2 extra minutes from cold.

Freeze: assemble and bread, freeze on a sheet pan until solid, then transfer to a bag. Cook from frozen at 375°F for 14–16 minutes.

Bacon-wrapped variation: wrap each filled half with a half-strip of bacon secured with a toothpick (skip breadcrumbs). Air fry at 390°F for 12–14 minutes until bacon is crispy. Remove toothpicks before serving.

Find it online: https://airfrycentral.com/air-fryer-jalapeno-poppers-cream-cheese-stuffed-and-crispy/