Description
Crispy and cheesy air fryer jalapeno poppers filled with chicken and wrapped in bacon, perfect for a party or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
- 7 large jalapeños
- 4 oz light cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (2%)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped cooked chicken
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp + 2 tsp Frank’s red hot sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp finely minced green onion or chive
- 14 pieces bacon (center cut or regular)
- toothpick for securing
Instructions
- Prepare the Filling: Start by mixing the cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, finely chopped cooked chicken, garlic powder, kosher salt, onion powder, Frank’s red hot sauce, and minced green onion or chive in a mixing bowl until it is creamy and smooth. It should look luscious and smell incredible as you combine them.
- Stuff the Jalapeños: Take a spoon and generously fill each jalapeño half with the cheesy mixture. The filling should be piled high and look inviting, but do not overstuff them to avoid spilling during cooking.
- Wrap with Bacon: Grab the bacon and wrap each stuffed jalapeño tightly, ensuring the sides are covered. You want to see a good amount of bacon peeking through for crispiness.
- Chill Before Cooking: Let the stuffed and wrapped jalapeños chill in the fridge for about an hour. This step helps to firm them up nicely and keeps the filling in place while cooking.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: While the jalapeños are chilling, preheat your air fryer. This step is key for achieving crispy bacon texture on the outside.
- Cook to Crispy Perfection: Place the jalapeños in the air fryer and cook for about 12 minutes or until the bacon is nicely crispy and the cheese is bubbling. Keep an eye on them, as overcooking could cause the filling to bubble over.
Notes
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 day.
- Use larger jalapeños for easier stuffing.
- Wear gloves when handling jalapeños to avoid irritation.
- For best results, chill the stuffed jalapeños for at least 1 hour to prevent filling bubbling over.
- If bacon is not staying wrapped, use toothpicks before cooking to hold it in place.
- Always preheat the air fryer to ensure even cooking of the bacon.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 375 degrees F for about 3-5 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.
- Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
- Pair with celery and carrot sticks for a complete spread.
- Offer with an array of hot sauces for added flavor.
- Substitute cream cheese with goat cheese for a tangy flavor.
- Use spicy sausage instead of chicken for a different protein.
- Top with a sprinkle of smoked paprika before air frying.
- Choose fresh, firm jalapeños for stuffing; larger jalapeños make the process easier.
- Consider panko topping instead of bacon for a different texture if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 popper
- Calories: 122
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 289mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 23mg