Looking for crowd-pleasing party appetizers? These Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers with a buttery breadcrumb topping are the perfect blend of creamy, cheesy goodness with a touch of heat! A must-try for fans of fresh jalapeño recipes, the recipe come together in minutes and is ideal for Mexican-themed parties like Cinco de Mayo, game day, or anytime you're craving an irresistible spicy snack or savoury finger food!
More Mexican party appetizers: chicken pinwheels, Mexican deviled eggs, and 7 layer dip.
About Jalapeño Poppers
These homemade jalapeño poppers are just about the most happening Tex-Mex appetizers out there! Spicy jalapeño peppers are stuffed with cream cheese and cheddar, topped with crispy Panko breadcrumbs and air fried.
The jalapeños soften up in the air fryer and get such lovely charred edges, and the breadcrumbs turn brown and crispy, preserving the gooey cheese layers within. You can keep eating these and never stop.. they are such an explosion of flavour and textures in your mouth!
Interested in quick air fryer snacks? Check out honey garlic wings, garlic bread and smashed potatoes.
Ingredients
INGREDIENT NOTES
1. Jalapeño Peppers: Choose similar-sized, plump peppers. If the produce is fresh, the final result will always delicious!
2. Cheddar Cheese: You can go for medium or sharp cheddar depending on what you like (I used sharp/aged cheddar in this recipe). But do buy a block of cheese and grate it by hand; don't settle for the pre-grated cheese that comes in a bag. It doesn't have the same taste.
3. Panko Breadcrumbs: Why Panko, you might ask? The reason is that Panko breadcrumbs are more crispy compared to regular breadcrumbs, and because they are bigger in size, they brown up really well. If you don't have Panko breadcrumbs, you can use regular breadcrumbs. It's not a deal breaker.
Instructions
1. Slice the jalapeños lengthwise into two equal halves and scoop out the pith and seeds with the help of a small metal spoon. This will make space for the filling and reduce the spiciness.
Note: Do wear gloves while doing anything with jalapeños. They can cause a burning sensation in your hands if handled without gloves.
2. Grate the cheddar cheese and mince the garlic clove.
3. Mix the cream cheese with the cheddar and add the minced garlic, onion powder, sea salt and pepper. Combine to make a smooth paste.
4. Fill each jalapeño half with the paste, taking care not to over fill.
5. Put the breadcrumbs in a small bowl. Melt the butter and add it to the breadcrumbs, making sure that all the breadcrumbs are covered in the butter.
Spread the buttered breadcrumbs all over the peppers and press them in with a light hand, so they don't fall out.
6. Preheat your air fryer to 380 Fahrenheit and spray the inside with some cooking oil. Place the stuffed jalapeños in it and air fry for 6-7 minutes. Take care that they don't touch each other, and there is plenty of breathing space between them.
If you have a small air fryer, cook the jalapeños in two batches rather than overcrowding them in the fryer.
7. Take the poppers out carefully and sprinkle with chopped green onions. Serve while they're still hot.
Top Tips
1. Remove the white pith and seeds from the jalapeño halves if you don't want very spicy poppers. They'll still be spicy, but not intolerably so.
2. Don't overstuff the jalapeños with the cheese mixture or they will topple over during air frying and the cheese will leak out. To prevent this, leave a little space at the top while filling and press the cheese firmly into the jalapeños.
3. Do spray your air fryer basket lightly with oil before placing the peppers so they don't stick to it.
4. To make crispy poppers, make sure you're air frying them at a high enough temperature, usually between 375°F to 400°F. Another tip for crispy poppers is to lay out the jalapeños in a single layer in the air fryer with space in between. Cook in two batches if you need to.
Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
Equipment
- Kitchen gloves
- Cutting board and sharp knife
- Grater
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 6 jalapeños
- 1.9 oz cheddar cheese medium or sharp block
- 2.9 oz cream cheese
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp onion powder optional
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 2 tsp butter
- ⅓ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 stalk green onions
Instructions
- Using a sharp knife, slice each jalapeño lengthwise into two equal halves. Remove the pith and seeds with a small spoon.
- Grate cheddar cheese and mince the garlic.
- Put the cheddar, cream cheese, garlic, black pepper, onion powder, and sea salt in a bowl and mix until you get a smooth paste.
- Fill each jalapeño half with the paste, taking care not to over fill.
- Melt the butter and add it to the breadcrumbs. Mix well.
- Sprinkle the breadcrumbs generously all over the filling, pressing them in with a light hand to make them stick to the cheese.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380° F and spray the basket with a light layer of oil. Arrange the jalapeños in a single layer and air fry for 6-7 minutes.
- When the timer beeps, take out the jalapeños carefully and top with finely sliced green onion. Serve while the poppers are still hot.
Notes
- Wear a pair of gloves while handling the jalapeños.
- Try and use a block of cheddar rather than pre-grated cheddar for maximum flavour. Besides being less flavourful, pre-grated cheese does not melt as easily as a block of cheese.
- Don't overfill the jalapeños or the filling might leak during cooking.
- If need be, air fry the peppers in two batches. Don't overcrowd the basket.
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