Air Fryer Frozen Jalapeno Poppers

Frozen jalapeño poppers are one of my favorite last-minute air fryer recipes because they turn out perfectly crispy on the outside with rich cream cheese filling on the inside. You don’t even have to thaw them first, which makes them the perfect poppers and ultimate no-fuss party food.

The air fryer gives the poppers that irresistible crunch in just minutes, and they pair perfectly with your favorite dipping sauces. Keep a box in the freezer and you’re always ready to whip up an easy, flavorful appetizer.

🥘 Ingredients

• Frozen Jalapeño Poppers - The Original Poppers brand, TGI Fridays jalapeno poppers, Costco, and Farm Rich all make a tasty version, but there are also some out there with bacon. Take your pick.
• Dipping Sauce - I like to serve these with my homemade ranch dressing, homemade blue cheese dressing, Cajun dipping sauce, or a side of sour cream to cool down the heat. For something sweet and spicy, try a little honey BBQ sauce or sweet chili sauce. Use whatever dips you have on hand, these poppers go with just about everything

🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Frozen Jalapeno Poppers

The only tools you’ll need for this tasty snack is an air fryer (either basket style or convection oven-style air fryers work wonderfully) and silicone kitchen tongs are a big plus.

This recipe is for 6 jalapeno poppers, but works for as many as you can fit in a single layer in the basket without them touching.

Step 1: Fill the basket. First, layer 6 frozen jalapeño poppers in your air fryer basket. Don’t let them overlap, and leave space in between.

Step 2: fry until golden. Slide in the drawer and air fry for 6 minutes at 360℉ (182℃). Then, shake the basket or flip the poppers and cook for another 2 to 4 minutes. Crust should be golden brown, and cheese should start to ooze out.

Step 3: Cool and serve. Pull out the poppers and let them cool for a few minutes. The cheese gets extremely hot and will burn your mouth if not careful. 

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

• Don’t thaw the jalapeño poppers. This recipe is designed with frozen poppers in mind. If you thaw them before cooking, they will be overcooked.
• Don’t overcrowd the basket. For the best crispy texture, make sure the poppers are in a single layer with a little space between each one. If they’re stacked or touching, they’ll steam instead of crisp.
• Watch for oozing cheese. Once the filling starts to bubble or ooze out, they’re usually done. Every air fryer cooks a little differently, so visual cues can be just as helpful as a timer.
• Add a spritz of oil for extra crispiness. If your poppers don’t have a lot of breading or seem a little dry, a light spray of oil can help them crisp up better without overcooking.
• Adjust cooking time. If you’re using an air fryer that is more than 6-quarts large, you may need to reduce the cooking time. With more space in the basket, things tend to cook faster. The time may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model.
• Later batches cook faster. The cooking time listed in the recipe is based on an air fryer that hasn’t been preheated. Once it’s hot, successive batches will cook faster. Reduce cook time by a few minutes.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

These really are best when they're served fresh and piping hot from the air fryer. However, if you have leftover jalapeno poppers, they can be wrapped up in foil or kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days.

I don’t recommend re-freezing the air fried jalapeños. They’ll get soggy upon cooking a second time.

Reheating

Just pop them back in the air fryer at the same temperature you originally cooked them, 360℉ (182℃) for 3 to 5 minutes, or until hot.

📖 Recipe Card