Jalapeño Poppers from the Air Fryer Are Faster and Lighter
Jalapeño poppers are one of my favourite game day snacks. They strike that perfect balance between rich, creamy cheese, bacon and spice! When you make them in the air fryer, they cook in just 7 minutes and come out lots lighter than the oven baked variety!
I love game day celebrations! Feasting, family, friends, camaraderie and fun. What more could you ask for?
Food, of course! And, top of my list of favourite game day foods is classic jalapeño poppers. Unsurprisingly, the traditional, oven-baked version — where the peppers are wrapped in streaky bacon strips — is pretty high in fat and calories.
So, I just had to develop a lighter version for my new favourite kitchen gadget — the air fryer. This recipe really delivers on flavour with a lot less fat. Best of all, it’s quick and easy.
It’s also a fun dish to assemble (like gyoza) with friends or family. While one person cuts and seeds the peppers, others can stuff them — which makes the job fun, rather than tedious. Why not dish out the beers, or the iced tea, and make a party of it?!
My friends and family really enjoy working this way. And, I’ve found that a group activity (like stuffing these delicious poppers) is a terrific ice breaker. As we work together, folks relax and get to know one another — which is a big part of game day fun!
About the recipe
Depending on growing conditions, jalapeño peppers can pack a bit of heat. Thus, as the pepper’s juices come into contact with your hands, they can irritate your skin.
Particularly if you have sensitive skin, I suggest wearing latex gloves when you work with large quantities of chilies. The gloves will protect your hands from any unpleasant side effects.
The recipe calls for medium fat cream cheese (such as Kiri) because it is readily available in South Africa and lower in fat and calories than standard cream cheese. However, if low fat cream cheese is available where you live, do feel free to make the substitution. It will produce equally good results.
Most of all, I hope your family enjoys these delicious jalapeño poppers as much as mine does. Bon appétit!
Jalapeño Poppers from the Air Fryer Are Faster and Lighter
Ingredients
- 20 jalapeño peppers, halved lengthwise, seeds & membranes removed
For the filling
- 200 g medium fat cream cheese (such as Kiri)
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, preferably homemade
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 slices streaky bacon, fried until crispy and crumbled
Optional garnishes
- Smoked paprika, to taste
- Coriander leaves, finely chopped, to taste
Instructions
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and arrange your pepper halves on the tray.
- Meanwhile, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, and Worcestershire sauce in a medium bowl. Once this mixture is thoroughly combined, stir through the shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon.
- Fill each pepper with a teaspoon or two of the cream cheese mixture. Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer at 180º C (350º F) for 3 minutes.
- When the poppers are ready, arrange them neatly in a single layer in the air fryer. (Depending on the size of your air fryer, these can be cooked in 3 or more batches.) Set the timer for 7 minutes at 180º C (350º F).;Garnish, if desired, and serve immediately with plenty of ice cold beer.
Notes
Be careful handling jalapeño peppers, as the oils can burn your hands. If you have sensitive skin, I recommend wearing gloves.
Use a small teaspoon to easily scoop out the jalapeño seeds and scrape out the membranes.
My family likes stuffed jalapenos and it is great appetizer for a party! I need to try out your recipe! I like to use a melon baller to deseed jalapenos, an inexpensive tool but very useful for this task. I wish I have an air fryer but it takes so much space in the kitchen… Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Thanks so much for this idea Gala. You’re right. A melon baller or a small spoon make easy work out of this task!
The air fryer certainly takes space in the kitchen — and it’s sometimes tough to make space for an additional appliance, no matter how wonderful it is. But, with kids still living at home, it’s a real lifesaver for me.
Thanks for your comment Gala and do let me know how you like the recipe!