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Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
Recipe Snapshot
PREP + COOK TIME: 25 minutes
METHOD: Air fryer
OTHER TOOLS: knife, cutting board, mixing bowl
TOTAL INGREDIENTS: 9
You might need to plan a party as an excuse for bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers. But if you can’t wait until then, go ahead and see how easy it is to make this tasty snack in the air fryer. Stuff them with cheesy corn, wrap with bacon, and enjoy perfectly crisp poppers every time!
What’s To Love About This Recipe
- Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers are perfect for parties, game days, or spur-of-the-moment get-togethers. They don’t require a lot of prep, and the air fryer makes it so easy to “pop” them right in.
- I probably don’t need to explain how the bacon wrap makes these irresistible. Seriously, the air fryer cooks the bacon with just the right amount of crisp with minimal mess to clean up later.
- With the ribs and seeds removed, these poppers are neutral enough for most palettes. The creamy, cheesy corn makes this a fun way to get some extra veggies! As an added bonus, jalapeños are also a great source of vitamins and minerals.
- This is an excellent starter recipe for aspiring cooks and party planners. If you love to host, you must have a few foolproof snacks you can make in a pinch! Jalapeño poppers are very easy to assemble, and the air fryer takes care of the cooking to perfection.
Ingredients Needed
- Jalapeño peppers – Look for jalapeño peppers that are firm and fresh, with no soft spots or wrinkled skin. This recipe uses 6 peppers to make 12 poppers.
- Cream cheese – Set out the cream cheese to soften to room temperature. It makes the mixing that much easier. If you want to save a step, go for whipped cream cheese since you won’t need to soften it!
- Frozen corn – You can use different styles of frozen corn (sweet, extra-crisp, etc.), but be sure to thaw it first so it fully cooks in the air fryer. The sweetness and texture of the corn is an excellent balance to the spicy peppers!
- Mayo – Choose your preferred mayo to mix up the filling and make it extra smooth.
- Goat cheese – A small amount of goat cheese makes a flavorful impact! This provides a nice amount of tanginess and enhances the texture of the filling.
- Chili powder – Chili powder brings a bit of smokiness.
- Dried cilantro – For ease, I’ve used dried cilantro in the recipe, but feel free to use fresh! Finely chop it and mix it in well.
- Salt – Add just a bit of salt for balance.
- Bacon – I prefer bacon without any added sugar (such as Coleman) since it cooks better and is healthier for you! Use thin-sliced or even precooked bacon to ensure it gets crispy. (Soggy bacon on jalapeño poppers is not as enjoyable!)
How To Make Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers In The Air Fryer
- Spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil spray.
- Cut jalapeños in half lengthwise and remove ribs and seeds.
- In a small bowl, mix together corn, cream cheese, mayo, goat cheese, and seasonings.
- Fill each jalapeño half with the corn filling.
- Cut each slice of bacon in half and then cut each half lengthwise.
- Wrap each jalapeño with a slice of bacon and arrange the poppers in a single layer in the air fryer basket. (Depending on the size of the air fryer basket, you may need to cook in batches.)
- Cook at 380 ℉ for 10-12 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the pepper is tender.
Pro Tips
- Use gloves when cutting jalapeños! The pepper juice has a tendency to stay on your skin all day – no matter how many times you wash your hands. Trust me, you don’t want to forget and rub your eyes later!
- Set out the frozen corn to thaw for a bit at room temperature (or place in the fridge overnight) before assembling with the filling. You can also use the defrost mode on the microwave, checking it every minute until it has defrosted but not heated through.
- You do not need to flip the peppers in the air fryer since the air will circulate and cook them from all sides – plus, you’ll lose some filling!
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- A jalapeño will inevitably have some spice, but to reduce the spice level, be sure to remove all ribs and seeds. Alternatively, you can increase the spice by leaving some of the ribs and seeds intact.
- We recently started growing sriracha peppers in our garden and have used them in a bacon-wrapped popper as well!
- For another less-spicy option, you could use baby sweet peppers.
How To Serve Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
When I think of bacon-wrapped poppers, I imagine even more tempting appetizers! Whether it’s a game day, grill night, or just a snack party, you can’t go wrong with poppers, Instant Pot Spinach Dip and chips, and Easy Air Fryer Chicken Wings.
Enjoy the poppers before a meal such as Instant Pot Chicken Chili or Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas. They’re a unique and fun addition that you can’t resist!
Storing and Reheating
Store leftover poppers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat by adding them back to the air fryer for just a few minutes to get a little bit of crispiness. The leftovers are also super tasty if you want to eat them cold!
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
You might need to plan a party as an excuse for bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers. But if you can’t wait until then, go ahead and see how easy it is to make this tasty snack in the air fryer. Stuff them with cheesy corn, wrap with bacon, and enjoy perfectly crisp poppers every time!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 jalapeño peppers
- 2 oz cream cheese softened to room temp
- 1 cup frozen corn thawed
- 1 tablespoon mayo
- 1 tablespoon goat cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried cilantro
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3 slices bacon
Instructions
- Spray air fryer basket with avocado oil spray
- Cut jalapeños in half lengthwise and remove ribs and seeds
- In a small bowl, mix together corn, cream cheese, mayo, goat cheese, and seasonings
- Fill each jalapeño half with corn filling
- Cut each slice of bacon in half and then cut each half lengthwise
- Wrap each jalapeño with a slice of bacon and arrange the poppers in a single layer in air fryer basket
- Cook at 380 ℉ for 10-12 minutes until bacon is crispy and pepper is tender
Notes
- Store remaining poppers in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in the air fryer.
- Depending on your air fryer capacity, you may need to cook the poppers in batches.
- Use gloves when cutting jalapeños.
- Whipped cream cheese is a great option for easier prep.
- Thaw the corn before assembling the poppers. Set it out to reach room temperature, or place it in the fridge overnight.
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers FAQs
- What’s the best way to cut a jalapeño? When you’re making poppers, cut the pepper lengthwise. Other ways to cut the jalapeño will depend on the recipe and usage (such as stuffed peppers, diced jalapeño, etc.).
- Are you supposed to flip jalapeño poppers in the air fryer? No, do not flip the peppers since you will lose some filling. The air fryer will circulate enough heat to cook them evenly from all sides.
- How many jalapeño poppers can be air-fried at one time? The number of poppers in one batch depends on the size of the air fryer. Make sure to place them in a single layer with some space around each so the bacon will get crispy.
