FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• You’ll Make These Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers on Repeat
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Jalapeno Poppers In The Air Fryer
• My Recipe Tips
• Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers (5 Ingredients) Recipe card
• More Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes
• Recipe Reviews

You’ll Make These Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers on Repeat

These air fryer jalapeno poppers came out of a last-minute game day panic 😅 I’ve made classic jalapeno poppers and jalapeno popper hasselback chicken before, but I needed something quicker, easier, and still super satisfying. So I started experimenting with bacon-wrapped jalapenos in the air fryer. One bite in, and I was hooked. The crispy bacon, creamy cheese, and spicy kick all hit just right. Here’s why I love them:

• Cheesy, crispy, spicy goodness – The air fryer makes the bacon super crispy while the filling stays creamy and melty. You get all the classic jalapeño popper flavors with none of the breadcrumbs.
• Quick and simple – Just five ingredients, 10 minutes of prep, and a short air fryer cook time. I can make a batch even when I’m short on time.
• Perfect party food – These jalapeno poppers always disappear fast. I love making them for game days, parties, or anytime I want a fun, healthy snack .

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fryer jalapeno poppers recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Jalapeño Peppers – Look for bright green ones with smooth skin. I try to pick peppers that are all about the same size so they cook evenly.
• Cheeses – I use a combination of cream cheese (full fat for that rich creamy texture) and cheddar cheese. You could also use neufchatel or any kind of preshredded cheese you want.
• Spices – Just a little garlic powder and black pepper is all you need for flavor.
• Bacon – You’ll need 24 strips of raw bacon. I skip the thick-cut stuff since it takes longer to cook and doesn’t wrap as nicely.

VARIATION: Want more flavor?

Try adding some grated parmesan, a pinch of onion powder, or a few sliced scallions or green onions to the cream cheese filling for extra flavor.

How To Make Jalapeno Poppers In The Air Fryer

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Prep. Preheat your air fryer. Slice the jalapeños in half and scoop out the seeds and white stuff. I usually use a small spoon for this part.
2. Mix. Stir together the cheeses and spices in a small bowl until it’s nice and creamy.

1. Fill. Add about a tablespoon of the cream cheese filling to each jalapeño half. Just eyeball it–they don’t have to be perfect.
2. Wrap. Wrap the stuffed jalapenos with a slice of bacon and pop in a toothpick to hold it all together. I usually tuck the ends underneath to help it stay in place.
3. Air fry. Place them in the air fryer basket, and cook your air fryer jalapeno poppers until the bacon is nice and crispy.

My Recipe Tips

• Wear gloves. Trust me, handling spicy peppers without gloves can come back to haunt you. I always wash my hands after, just to be safe.
• Precook the bacon if you have time. It’s not required, but I like to air fry it for about 6 minutes at 370°F before wrapping the peppers. It gets way crispier that way.
• Give the poppers plenty of space. I use this air fryer which is the perfect size for this recipe, but if yours is smaller, cook in batches.
• Want to bake them instead? Just follow my regular jalapeno poppers recipe for oven directions.
• Use toothpicks. They help keep the bacon in place and stop the cheese from leaking out. I never skip them.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 12 medium Jalapenos (sliced in half, seeds and membranes removed, stem preserved) ▢
• 1 cup Cream cheese (softened at room temperature) ▢
• 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper ▢
• 1/4 tsp Garlic powder ▢
• 24 slices Bacon ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 325 degrees F (163 degrees C).
2. In a mixing bowl, stir together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, black pepper, and garlic powder.
3. Fill each jalapeño halve with about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture.
4. Wrap a slice of bacon tightly around each jalapeño half and secure horizontally with a toothpick. Repeat with all the peppers.
5. Place jalapeño poppers in the air fryer and cook for 10-14 minutes , until the bacon is cooked through and crisp to your liking.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 jalapeno poppers

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you make the prep easier, get perfectly crispy bacon, and keep your jalapeno poppers cheesy and intact.
• Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Meal prep: Prepare cheese filling in advance. You can also assemble the poppers and just cook them when ready.
• Reheat: Warm the poppers in the air fryer at 325 degrees F, until warmed through.
• Freeze: To avoid mushy peppers, I like to air fry the jalapeno poppers for a few minutes before freezing. Let them cool, flash freeze on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag. You can reheat or finish cooking them right from frozen in the air fryer.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle and my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

More Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes

Air fryers make the best quick bites. If you loved these air fryer jalapeño poppers, you’ve got to try these other easy air fryer snacks next:

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

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The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers (5 Ingredients)

My air fryer jalapeno poppers are stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon, and perfectly crispy. The easiest way to make this classic snack!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/air-fryer-jalapeno-poppers/

Ingredients

• 12 medium Jalapenos (sliced in half, seeds and membranes removed, stem preserved)
• 1 cup Cream cheese (softened at room temperature)
• 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded)
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper
• 1/4 tsp Garlic powder
• 24 slices Bacon

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 325 degrees F (163 degrees C).
2. In a mixing bowl, stir together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, black pepper, and garlic powder.
3. Fill each jalapeño halve with about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture.
4. Wrap a slice of bacon tightly around each jalapeño half and secure horizontally with a toothpick. Repeat with all the peppers.
5. Place jalapeño poppers in the air fryer and cook for 10-14 minutes , until the bacon is cooked through and crisp to your liking.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 jalapeno poppers

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you make the prep easier, get perfectly crispy bacon, and keep your jalapeno poppers cheesy and intact.
• Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Meal prep: Prepare cheese filling in advance. You can also assemble the poppers and just cook them when ready.
• Reheat: Warm the poppers in the air fryer at 325 degrees F, until warmed through.
• Freeze: To avoid mushy peppers, I like to air fry the jalapeno poppers for a few minutes before freezing. Let them cool, flash freeze on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag. You can reheat or finish cooking them right from frozen in the air fryer.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle and my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)