Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
Chef Kelly Senyei, founder of the food site Just a Taste and host of The Sports & Forks Podcast, loves to host game-day parties and offer her guests winning appetizers like this one. “A creamy, cheesy, bacon-studded mixture stars in this quick-fix recipe for air fryer jalapeño poppers,” Kelly says. If you love the rich filling in poppers but not the added kick, it’s easy to dial back the heat—just scoop out all the seeds and white membrane, or pith, in the jalapeño halves. For a special treat, pair the poppers with buttermilk ranch dressing if you like. When you serve these savory poppers, your fans will cheer, no matter which team they’re rooting for!
Ingredients
- 6 bacon slices, cut into 1/2-inch (12-mm) pieces
- 3 scallions, green and white parts divided
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 oz. (125 g) cream cheese
- 1/2 cup (2 oz./60 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 large jalapeños
- 1/3 cup (1/2 oz./15 g) panko bread crumbs
- Cooking spray
Directions
In a large fry pan over medium-low heat, cook the bacon, stirring as needed, until the bacon is crispy and all the fat has rendered. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a medium bowl, leaving 2 Tbs. of the drippings in the pan.
Dice the white parts of the scallions and add them to the pan along with the garlic. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer the scallion mixture to the bowl with the bacon.
Preheat an air fryer to 325°F (165°C).
Add the cream cheese and cheddar cheese to the bowl with the bacon mixture and stir to combine.
Halve the jalapeños lengthwise, then scrape out the seeds. Divide the cream cheese mixture among the jalapeño halves.
Put the bread crumbs in a small shallow bowl, then dip the cream cheese side of the stuffed jalapeños into the bread crumbs, pressing them firmly to adhere.
Add half of the jalapeños to the air fryer, then spray them with cooking spray. Cook the poppers until the bread crumbs are toasted and the peppers are roasted, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the poppers from the air fryer and repeat to cook the remaining poppers.
Slice the green parts of the scallions, then sprinkle them atop the jalapeño poppers and serve. Serves 8.
Recipe courtesy of Kelly Senyei, founder of Just a Taste and host of The Sports & Forks Podcast