Jalapeño Popper Bites in the Air Fryer
The combination of spicy jalapenos, creamy cheese, and crunchy bacon make jalapeño poppers a delicious appetizer to enjoy at any get-together. But whether your jalapeño poppers are fried or baked, they're not always easy to eat. With this simple jalapeño popper bites recipe, you can enjoy all the flavors of the classic party appetizer in bite-sized pieces. And when you use your air fryer to cook them, they couldn't be simpler to make!
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What Do I Need to Make Jalapeño Popper Bites?
You won't believe how much flavor is packed into one jalapeno popper bite. That's because they're made with a combination of delicious ingredients. To make your own jalapeño bites in the air fryer, you'll need:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Cream cheese
- Fresh jalapeños
- Cooked bacon
- Minced garlic
- All-purpose flour
- Cornstarch
- Kosher salt
- Pepper
- Onion powder
- Eggs
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne pepper
Looking for more delicious air fryer appetizer recipes? Give these reader favorites a try!
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How Do I Make Jalapeño Popper Bites?
On top of being delicious, these air fryer jalapeño popper bites are so simple to make. And since you use your air fryer to cook them, they're ready in a matter of minutes. Here's how to prepare your own jalapeño appetizers at home:
Step One: Prepare the Filling
Add the shredded cheddar cheese, cream cheese, chopped jalapeños, bacon, and garlic to a large bowl. Stir the ingredients until they're well combined and the mixture is smooth and creamy. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop out the cream cheese mixture into 18 portions. After scooping, roll the filling between your hands to form a ball, then place each ball on a cookie sheet. Place the balls in the freezer for one hour, until they're frozen solid.
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Step Two: Make the Batter
While you're waiting for your cream cheese balls to freeze, prepare the batter for your jalapeño popper bites by whisking the eggs lightly in one bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. In a third bowl, add the panko breadcrumbs.
Step Three: Dredge the Jalapeño Popper Bites
When the cream cheese balls are frozen, remove them from the freezer and start coating each ball in batter. Start by dipping the ball in the flour mixture. After that, dip it in the egg. And finally coat the ball in the panko breadcrumbs. Continue dipping until all the balls are fully coated.
Step Four: Air Fry the Poppers
Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and place the coated jalapeño bites in the basket. Spray each bite with more nonstick cooking spray, then cook them at 340 degrees for 7 minutes, until the crust is golden brown. Continue cooking in batches until all the jalapeno popper bites have been cooked. Allow the bites to cool for five minutes, then enjoy.
Note: Cooked in a Gourmia GAF265 Digital Air Fryer - Oil-Free Healthy Cooking - 4-Quart Capacity
Jalapeño Popper Bites Tips & Tricks
Once you prepare this recipe, you'll see how easy it is to make. That means it's probably going to be your go-to appetizer recipe for every party! And with these tips and tricks, you'll be able to whip up these flavorful snacks with out any issues at all.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket: The best way to ensure that all your popper bites are evenly cooked is to leave plenty of space between each bite inside the air fryer basket. As you're filling your basket, make sure the bites aren't touching each other to help the air flow properly through the basket as they cook. Cook the jalapeno bites in batches until all the appetizers have been cooked.
- Serve with dipping sauce: Once your jalapeño popper bites are finished cooking, you're going to need something to dip them in! Ranch or blue cheese dressing both make great options for serving alongside your spicy appetizers.
How Do You Dice Jalapeños?
Since these jalapeño popper bites are made with diced jalapeños, you might be wondering what the best method for cutting hot peppers is. Luckily, getting your peppers ready for this delicious appetizer is easier than you might think. Just follow these instructions for dicing jalapenos:
- Wear gloves: To keep the spicy juices inside the pepper from getting on your hands and burning your skin, it's always a good idea to wear gloves while you're chopping your peppers. Plastic food prep gloves are a great option because you can toss them right in the trash when you're finished chopping.
- Slice the pepper in half: After you have your hands protected, start by slicing each pepper in half lengthwise. This will help make removing the seeds and dicing the peppers easier.
- Remove the seeds: Use a spoon or the side of your knife the scrape the seeds out of the pepper. Removing the seeds will reduce the heat of the jalapeño, so if you want spicy jalapeno popper bites, you can leave some of the sides intact.
- Dice the jalapeños: To finely chop the peppers, start by slicing the pepper halves in long, thin strips. Then, turn the peppers around clockwise and chop the peppers in thin strips in the other direction.
Jalapeno Popper Bites in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 3 medium jalapeños seeds removed, diced
- 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup corn-starch
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup panko
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
Step One: Prepare the Filling
- Add the shredded cheddar cheese, cream cheese, chopped jalapeños, bacon, and garlic to a large bowl. Stir the ingredients until they’re well combined and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop out the cream cheese mixture into 18 portions. After scooping, roll the filling between your hands to form a ball, then place each ball on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Place the balls in the freezer for at least one hour, or until they’re frozen solid.
Step Two: Make the Batter
- While you’re waiting for your cream cheese balls to freeze, prepare the batter by whisking the eggs lightly in one bowl.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
- In a third bowl, add the panko breadcrumbs.
Step Three: Dredge the Jalapeño Popper Bites
- When the cream cheese balls are frozen, remove them from the freezer and start coating each ball in batter.
- Start by dipping the ball in the flour mixture. After that, dip it in the egg. And finally coat the ball in the panko breadcrumbs. Continue dipping until all the balls are fully coated.
Step Four: Air Fryer the Poppers
- Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and place the coated jalapeno bites in the basket.
- Spray each bite with more nonstick cooking spray, then cook them at 340 degrees for 7 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.
- Continue cooking in batches until all the jalapeño popper bites have been cooked.
- Allow the bites to cool for five minutes, then enjoy.
