Snacks, Appetizers & Frozen
Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers (Cream Cheese and Cheddar)
Crispy air fryer jalapeño poppers at 370°F: 8–12 minutes for cream cheese-stuffed halves with a panko topping. Plus frozen poppers in 6–9 minutes.
Quick answer
Cook homemade jalapeño poppers in the air fryer at 370°F190°C for 8–12 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the cheese filling is bubbly and golden. Stand the stuffed halves in a single layer, filling side up, and don't flip them. Frozen breaded jalapeño poppers take 6–9 minutes at 380°F195°C, shaken halfway, with no thawing.
- Time
- 8–12 min (homemade halves)
- Flip
- No flipping
- Done when
- Filling bubbly, peppers tender
Cream Cheese Jalapeño Poppers air fryer times
| What you're cooking | Temp | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homemade poppers, stuffed halves | 370°F190°C | 8–12 min | Filling side up |
| Homemade poppers with a panko topping | 370°F190°C | 8–12 min | Spray the topping with oil |
| Breaded homemade poppers (flour, egg, panko) | 370°F190°C | 8–10 min | Spray with oil, flip halfway |
| Whole stuffed jalapeños | 370°F190°C | 10–14 min | Stand upright or lay flat |
| Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers | 380°F195°C | 12–15 min | Until the bacon is crisp |
| Frozen breaded jalapeño poppers | 380°F195°C | 6–9 min | No thawing, shake halfway |
| Reheating cooked poppers | 350°F175°C | 3–5 min | Until the cheese is soft |
Times are for a preheated 5–6 quart basket air fryer with food in a single layer. Oven-style and very large air fryers can run 1–3 minutes slower. Always check doneness with an instant-read thermometer.
Jalapeño poppers are one of the best party snacks to make in the air fryer. The peppers soften, the cream cheese and cheddar filling turns hot and bubbly, and a crunchy panko topping gives them the crispness of fried poppers without a pot of oil. A batch takes about 10 minutes.
How to make jalapeño poppers in the air fryer
- Halve and seed the jalapeños. Gloves help.
- Fill them with a cream cheese and cheddar mixture.
- Top with buttered panko for crunch.
- Air fry at 370°F190°C for 8–12 minutes, filling side up, until bubbly and golden.
- Cool for a few minutes so the filling sets.
How long to cook jalapeño poppers in the air fryer
- Homemade stuffed halves: 8–12 minutes at 370°F190°C
- Breaded homemade poppers: 8–10 minutes at 370°F190°C
- Bacon-wrapped poppers: 12–15 minutes at 380°F195°C
- Frozen breaded poppers: 6–9 minutes at 380°F195°C
The poppers are ready when the peppers are tender enough to pierce easily with a fork and the filling is bubbling at the edges. Smaller jalapeños cook faster, so check them early.
Frozen jalapeño poppers
Store-bought frozen breaded poppers crisp up well in the air fryer, much better than in the oven. Spread them in a single layer straight from the freezer, with no oil needed, and air fry at 380°F195°C for 6–9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. Let them sit for a minute before eating, because the filling gets very hot.
Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers
Wrap each stuffed half in a third of a slice of thin-cut bacon, tucking the ends underneath, and air fry at 380°F195°C for 12–15 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Thin bacon works best, because thick-cut bacon takes too long to crisp before the peppers overcook. See our full bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers recipe, and our guide to air fryer bacon.
Filling ideas
- Classic: cream cheese and sharp cheddar, the recipe below.
- Ranch: add 1 teaspoon of dry ranch seasoning to the filling.
- Sausage: stir in ½ cup of cooked, crumbled breakfast sausage.
- Pepper Jack: swap the cheddar for pepper Jack for extra heat.
- Everything bagel: skip the panko and sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning.
Tips for the best poppers
- Wear gloves when cutting and seeding the peppers, and keep your hands away from your eyes.
- Soften the cream cheese first so the filling mixes smoothly.
- Don’t overfill. A slight mound is enough. Too much filling melts over the sides.
- Keep them upright. Stuffed halves cook filling side up and don’t need flipping.
- Line the basket with a perforated parchment liner to catch any drips.
What to serve with jalapeño poppers
Serve them with ranch, sour cream or a sweet chili sauce for dipping. For a game-day spread, add French fries, burgers or garlic bread.
Storing and reheating
Refrigerate leftover poppers for up to 3 days. Reheat at 350°F175°C for 3–5 minutes, until the cheese is soft and hot again. See our reheating guide.
Air Fryer Cream Cheese Jalapeño Poppers
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Air fryer
- 370°F190°C
- Makes
- 24 poppers
- Calories
- 70 per popper
Ingredients
- 12 medium jalapeños
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon melted butter or olive oil
- Chopped chives or green onion, to serve (optional)
Instructions
Tap a step to check it off.
- Prep the peppers. Wearing gloves if you have them, cut the jalapeños in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds and white ribs with a small spoon.
- Make the filling. Stir together the cream cheese, cheddar, garlic powder, smoked paprika and salt until smooth.
- Stuff. Spoon the filling into the pepper halves, mounding it slightly. Mix the panko with the melted butter and press a little onto the top of each one.
- Preheat. Preheat the air fryer to 370°F190°C for 3 minutes.
- Air fry. Arrange the poppers in a single layer, filling side up, working in batches if needed. Cook for 8–12 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the topping is golden.
- Cool and serve. Let the poppers cool for 3–5 minutes so the filling sets, then sprinkle with chives and serve.
Notes
- Wash your hands well after handling jalapeños, and don't touch your eyes. Gloves make it easier.
- For milder poppers, remove every bit of the white ribs. For hotter ones, leave a few in.
- A perforated parchment liner catches any filling that melts over the edges.
Nutrition is an estimate calculated from typical ingredient values and will vary by brand and portion.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you cook jalapeño poppers in the air fryer?
Homemade stuffed jalapeño halves take 8–12 minutes at 370°F190°C, until the peppers are tender and the filling is bubbly. Bacon-wrapped poppers take 12–15 minutes at 380°F195°C, and frozen breaded poppers take 6–9 minutes at 380°F195°C.
What temperature do you air fry jalapeño poppers at?
370°F190°C for homemade poppers. It softens the peppers and melts the filling without burning the cheese. Use 380°F195°C for frozen poppers and bacon-wrapped poppers, which need a little more heat to crisp.
Do you flip jalapeño poppers in the air fryer?
Not stuffed halves. Keep them filling side up so the cheese stays inside. Breaded poppers and frozen poppers can be flipped or shaken halfway for even browning.
How do you cook frozen jalapeño poppers in the air fryer?
Put them in the basket straight from the freezer in a single layer, with no thawing. Air fry at 380°F195°C for 6–9 minutes, shaking halfway, until golden and hot in the center. Let them rest for a minute, because the filling gets very hot.
How do you keep the cheese from melting out?
Don't overfill the halves, keep them filling side up, and don't cook them longer than needed. Softened cream cheese mixed with shredded cheese holds together better than shredded cheese alone.
How do you make jalapeño poppers less spicy?
Scrape out all of the seeds and the white ribs, where most of the heat is. Larger jalapeños also tend to be milder. The cream cheese filling cools them down too.
Can you make jalapeño poppers ahead of time?
Yes. Stuff the peppers, cover and refrigerate them for up to a day, then air fry when you're ready. Add 1–2 minutes if they go in cold from the fridge.
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