Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

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Inspiration: One of my favorite appetizers of all time are jalapeno poppers. When football season comes around, if my husband and I aren't ordering them at a restaurant, we're whipping them up in the air fryer at home while we watch the game.

My twist: I double the bacon flavor by adding bacon bits to the cream cheese mixture as well as wrapping the whole pepper with a slice of bacon. To include my love of easy air fryer recipes, I cook jalapeno poppers with bacon in the air fryer to get that extra crispy crunch!

Taste: Spicy, creamy, cheesy, and wrapped in crispy bacon? Yes, please. These will disappear fast!

My love of this bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers recipe runs deep! I even created a jalapeno popper roasted potato salad that has all the same flavors.

You can see the full list of ingredients and exact measurements in the recipe, but these are my notes on the main ingredients:

Jalapeno peppers: Choose firm, medium-sized peppers that are easy to slice and stuff.

Cream cheese: Softening the cream cheese ahead of time will help make it easier to mix. Take it out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about one hour before making these.

Bacon bits: I use crunchy bacon bits to give the filling a salty, smoky bite and add texture.

Dipping sauce: Cool things down by dipping these air fryer jalapeno poppers in ranch dressing or add extra heat with a drizzle of creamy jalapeno dip.

Step 1: In a mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, bacon bits, green onions, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.

Step 2: Stir the cream cheese mixture until its smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Slice jalapeno peppers in half lengthwise.

Step 4: Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and membrane from each jalapeno.

Step 5: Using a spoon, fill each jalapeno half with 1-2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture.

Take care not to overstuff the peppers as too much filling can cause overflow in the air fryer.

Step 6: Wrap a slice of bacon around each stuffed jalapeño. If your bacon is too long, cut it in half to avoid soggy overlapping.

Step 7: Place bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Leaving space between each popper allows the air to circulate, which helps the bacon get extra crispy.

Step 8: Air fry bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers for 12-14 minutes or until bacon is cooked through and crispy. You may need to cook in batches.

If you don't have time to soften the cream cheese, use a hand mixer to get a smooth filling-it saves time and your wrist.

Wear gloves when prepping jalapenos, or wash hands thoroughly after. And take it from my personal experience, avoid touching your eyes.

Hosting a party? You can stuff and wrap jalapeno poppers with bacon ahead of time and store them covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking in the air fryer.

Tuck the bacon ends under each popper before air frying to keep them snug. No toothpicks required.

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If you try this recipe or any recipe from Happy Honey Kitchen, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! Enjoy!