Bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers are crispy on the outside, creamy and cheesy inside, loaded with spicy flavor throughout, and best of all —wrapped in bacon. These delicious appetizers are quick and easy to make with minimal prep and can be cooked in the air fryer or oven. Ready in under 30 minutes, air fryer jalapeno poppers are perfect for an evening of entertaining, a date night appetizer, or a game day snack for one or more. Plus, they can be made ahead and are freezer-friendly too!
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
- They are quick and easy. When you are looking for a quick and easy recipe for game day that satisfies all the cravings, this is it. It looks like it was hard to make, but the prep is minimal and it comes in under 15 minutes in the air fryer (or bake in the oven).
- The flavorful creamy and cheesy filling. The filling for these air fryer bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers is made of cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions, and seasonings which creates the perfect balance between creaminess and savory flavor.
- It gets the perfect crispiness from the air fryer. While you can make these just as delicious and crispy in the oven, using an air fryer helps them crisp up that much quickly. Seriously, when you bite into one of these air fryer bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers, you’ll experience all the textures in your mouth — crispy bacon, a tender jalapeno, and melt-in-your-mouth cheese filling.
- Bacon makes everything better. Jalapeño Poppers are an amazing appetizer on their own, but wrapping them in bacon takes them to the next level. Everything is better with bacon, and these air fryer jalapeño poppers are no exception.
Ingredient Notes
To make these delicious bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in the recipe card below):
- jalapeño peppers - made with five fresh jalapeños, cut in half lengthwise, so you can make ten poppers total. Using these fresh, spicy peppers is essential for this recipe.
- cream cheese
- salt
- garlic powder
- paprika
- cheese - use shredded cheddar cheese (white cheddar or yellow), Monterey Jack cheese, or substitute with Tex Mex Mexican cheese blend.
- green onions - feel free to substitute with chives.
- bacon strips
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, and an air fryer (or half sheet baking pan if cooking in the oven).
How to Make the Best Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers in the Air Fryer
- Prep jalapeños. Prepare the jalapeños by slicing them in half lengthwise and remove all the seeds and membranes. I recommend wearing gloves during the preparation and do not touch your eyes or nose until you take the gloves off.
- Make filling. In a small mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, salt, garlic powder, paprika, shredded cheese, and green onions. Mix well until smooth and set aside.
- Assemble. Fill each halved jalapeño with 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture. Wrap each with a slice of bacon.
- Air fry. Place the wrapped jalapeño poppers evenly in an air fryer basket. You may have to do this in 2 batches or 2 layers, depending on the size of your air fryer. Air fry at 375 F for 12-14 minutes until the cheese turns golden brown and bacon becomes crispy. Let cool for 5 minutes, then serve.
How to Cook Jalapeño Poppers in the Oven
Once stuffed and wrapped with bacon, place the jalapeño poppers evenly on a large half sheet baking pan and bake in a 400F preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Optionally, you can broil for another 3-5 minutes to make the bacon extra crispy (but keep a close eye on the poppers to make sure they don't burn). Let cool for 5-10 minutes and serve.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Use gloves: I recommend using gloves to prepare these jalapeño poppers. The last thing you want is to have some jalapeño residue on your fingers and then touch your face.
- Make ahead instructions: You can prep these jalapeno poppers up to one day ahead of time, store covered in the refrigerator, and pop them into the air fryer and serve fresh at your party or dinner.
- How to store: Allow air fryer bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers to cool completely before storing in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- How to reheat: These jalapeño poppers taste best when reheated in the air fryer for 10 minutes at 350F. You can also reheat them in a 350F preheated oven for 10-15 minutes until warm and crispy.
- How to freeze jalapeño poppers: You can freeze these poppers for up to 3-4 months. To freeze, place them on a baking tray and ensure that none of the poppers are touching each other. Once flash frozen (about 1-2 hours), transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. When ready to reheat, heat directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to the reheat time.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- 25 Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Short Ribs
- Miso Garlic Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Mexican Shrimp
- Crispy Air Fryer French Fries
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more recipe updates.
Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers (Air Fryer)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 poppers
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers are crispy on the outside, creamy and cheesy inside, spicy, and wrapped in bacon. Easy to make in the air fryer or oven.
Ingredients
- 5 jalapeño peppers, about 3-4 inches long
- 4 ounces cream cheese (½ block), softened
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ½ cup cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon green onions, finely chopped
- 10 strips bacon
Instructions
- Prepare the jalapeños by slicing them in half lengthwise and remove all the seeds and membranes. I recommend wearing gloves during the preparation and do not touch your eyes or nose until you take the gloves off.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, salt, garlic powder, paprika, shredded cheese, and green onions. Mix well until smooth and set aside.
- Fill each halved jalapeño with 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture. Wrap each with a slice of bacon.
- You can cook these in the air fryer or in the oven:
- Air Fryer instructions: Place the wrapped jalapeño poppers evenly in an air fryer basket. You may have to do this in 2 batches or 2 layers, depending on the size of your air fryer. Air fry at 375 F for 12-14 minutes until the cheese turns golden brown and bacon becomes crispy.
- Oven bake instructions: Place the jalapeño poppers evenly on a large half sheet baking pan and bake in a 400F preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Optionally, you can broil for another 3-5 minutes to make the bacon extra crispy (but keep a close eye on the poppers to make sure they don't burn).
- Let cool for 5 minutes, then serve.
Notes
Use gloves: I recommend using gloves to prepare these jalapeño poppers. The last thing you want is to have some jalapeño residue on your fingers and then touch your face.
Make ahead instructions: You can prep these jalapeno poppers up to one day ahead of time, store covered in the refrigerator, and pop them into the air fryer and serve fresh at your party or dinner.
How to store: Allow air fryer bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers to cool completely before storing in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
How to reheat: These jalapeño poppers taste best when reheated in the air fryer for 10 minutes at 350F. You can also reheat them in a 350F preheated oven for 10-15 minutes until warm and crispy.
How to freeze jalapeño poppers: You can freeze these poppers for up to 3-4 months. To freeze, place them on a baking tray and ensure that none of the poppers are touching each other. Once flash frozen (about 1-2 hours), transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. When ready to reheat, heat directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to the reheat time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetzier
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Food Blogger Business School
A step-by-step program that teaches food bloggers how to grow and scale their blogs into a full-time business
in less time and without posting endless content until you burn out.
Kadie Embury says
Absolutely LOVED this recipe! Definitely making again.
Cynthia says
These were delicious!
Linda says
These are very good. I cooked them in the oven then the broiler as directed and they were the hit of the party. Thanks, these will be made again for future gatherings. There were several things to choose from and this was the first to go.
Deb says
These poppers are excellent, great flavor and they reheat in the air fryer perfectly, maybe even better that the first air fry!
Deb says
This is an easy excellent recipe. I believe I will make the filling into a tube shape and freeze them so hopefully the cheese filling will not run out, although the over run is delicious!!