A staple at sporting parties, holiday get together, and other home hosting events, jalapeno poppers are delightfully crunchy, creamy, and spicy all in one. They can be whipped up in an air fryer, but how long does that take?
Frozen jalapeno poppers can be cooked in an air fryer in less than ten minutes, though the exact time may vary depending on the number of poppers and their ingredients. You can also make them from scratch in about 15 total minutes.
Here’s what you need to know about how to cook jalapeno poppers in an air fryer, from scratch, and from frozen store bought packaging.
How to Cook Frozen Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
To cook frozen air fryer jalapeno poppers, you will need one packet of frozen poppers and either one teaspoon of neutral oil (as well as a pastry brush or spoon) or neutral oil spray.
Preheat your air fryer according to the package instructions for your frozen jalapeno poppers. You can do this by running it at the appropriate temperature for about five minutes.
During those five minutes, remove your frozen jalapeno poppers from their packaging and brush or spray them lightly with a neutral flavored cooking oil such as vegetable or canola oil.
Don’t use olive oil for this – its smoke point is far too low and may cause burning.
Once your air fryer is heated, spready your poppers in an even single layer in the basket. Air fry them for around six to eight minutes (depending on the temperature, size of the poppers, and number of poppers).
Remove the poppers from the air fryer carefully and serve immediately.
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Nutrition Facts per Serving
Though the exact nutrition information per serving will change depending on the brand of jalapeno popper you choose, generally, you will be getting
- Around 80 calories
- Around 6g carbohydrates
- Around 1g of protein
- Around 5g fat (2g saturated fat, 1g polyunsaturated fat, 1g monosaturated fat, 1g trans fat)
- Around 5mg cholesterol
- Around 140mg of sodium
- Around 1g of sugar
These are the estimates per popper, assuming a serving is a single breaded jalapeno popper with a cream cheese filling.
How to Cook Home Made Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
At their base, jalapeno poppers are halved jalapenos that have been stuffed with cream cheese. That being said, their exact fillings, toppings, and textures can vary wildly depending on how they’re prepared.
Most store bought jalapeno poppers will have the same general texture and ingredients; they’re often fully breaded, which may not be everyone’s preference.
They may also pose allergy risks if the facility in which they’re prepared shares its space with other product production.
If you want to control the ingredients and nutrition of your jalapeno poppers, you may choose to make them at home.
This is especially a good plan if you are avoiding a particular allergen or if you have specific dietary restrictions.
Ingredients
To make home made jalapeno poppers, you will need
- Jalapeno peppers
- Cream cheese (softened)
- Seasoning (we recommend salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika)
- Additional filling mix-ins like cheese (sharp cheddar works well) and bacon
- Optionally, panko breadcrumbs
You will also need a small kitchen knife, cutting board, mixing bowl, mixing spoon, and a normal table spoon, as well as the neutral cooking oil of your choice.
Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Recipe
Preheat your air fryer as before, to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice the jalapenos in half lengthwise. Using the table spoon, scrape out the seeds and ribs to discard.
In the mixing bowl, mix together the cream cheese and whatever additional filling pieces you’ve decided on as well as the spices. You may also choose to use another bowl and mix together the breadcrumbs and some spices.
Fill your jalapeno halves with your filling mix. If you’ve made a breadcrumb mix, sprinkle that across the tops of the poppers evenly. Brush or spray the neutral oil over the top.
Set the poppers evenly in one layer in the basket of your air fryer. If you have a lot of poppers, you may have to cook them in batches to avoid uneven cooking.
Cook for 5-8 minutes, until the tops are browned and the cheese is melting.
Remove the poppers from the air fryer and serve immediately. If you need to keep poppers warm between batches, you can store them in a 200-degree Fahrenheit oven.
What To Serve Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers With
Because jalapeno poppers tend to have some spice to them, they pair well with creamy dips like ranch or aioli (typically a combination of mayonnaise, garlic, and olive oil).
They can also be served with a sweet sauce like a chutney, jam, sweet chili sauce, or even simple ketchup.
The sweetness tends to balance and complement the spice and savory elements of cheese and bacon.
Of course, if you want to turn up the heat or tang, then a spicy chili sauce, horseradish, or spicy peanut sauce works very well to complement the flavor of the poppers.
To get the best mileage out of your poppers, or if you’re making them for a large group, it’s a good idea to offer a range of sauces to match preferences.
Alongside the poppers, you may want to serve other finger foods like wings, tater tots, nachos, and sliders. You might also opt to serve them alongside larger dishes like mac and cheese, burgers, or pizza.
Try to balance different textures; if you have crunchy peppers, you might choose a softer side or something sweet to follow the spice they offer.
How To Store Leftovers
Ideally, you’ll want to let any leftover jalapeno poppers, whether they’re homemade or store bought, come down to room temperature before you store them.
Once they’re cooled, transfer them to an airtight container or sealed bag and refrigerate them.
Fresh jalapeno poppers can be safely store in the fridge for up to three days. It’s not recommended to freeze them as that can cause the cooked peppers to fall apart upon reheating.
Store bought jalapeno poppers may keep for up to three days, but it’s best to eat them as soon as possible once they’ve been cooked.
Frozen Jalapeno Poppers In Air Fryer FAQs
Here are some more questions to consider when making jalapeno poppers in an air fryer.
Should you boil jalapenos before making poppers?
If you like crunchy jalapenos in your poppers, then no, you should not boil them. If you want them to be softer, however, then parboiling them before they go in the air fryer can help soften their texture.
Should you remove the seeds from jalapeno poppers?
Whether or not you remove the seeds is a matter of personal preference. Just know that leaving the seeds in the jalapeno poppers will make them much spicier.
Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer?
You can safely use parchment as a basket liner in an air fryer up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit. That being said, avoid leaving the paper in the basket while the fryer is preheating, and make sure that it is cut to the appropriate dimensions so that no edges get burned.
Why are my jalapeno poppers not spicy?
As mentioned, jalapeno peppers themselves have some mild spice, but the actual heat comes from the seeds in the pepper.
If you want your poppers to be spicy, leave the seeds in or add chopped jalapenos with seeds to the filling mixture.
You can also add heat with cayenne pepper.
Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers | How To Cook Frozen Jalapeno Poppers >> Check out the video below:
Conclusion
Jalapeno peppers can be a great, easy party food for any occasion, and starting from frozen makes them even easier to cook up.
As long as you follow packaging directions and the usual safety precautions of using an air fryer, you can make a healthier version of this classic snack quickly and simply.
References
https://alwaysusebutter.com/frozen-jalapeno-poppers-in-air-fryer