Emilie Meyer
Bacon-wrapped jalapeños are a delicious snack and a perfect party appetizer. They are easy to make and can be served hot or at room temperature. The jalapeños are filled with a mixture of cream cheese, cheddar, garlic powder, and onion powder, and then wrapped in bacon. They are then cooked in an air fryer for 10-20 minutes, depending on the desired crispiness of the bacon. The air fryer should be preheated to 350-390 degrees Fahrenheit. This tasty treat is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and can be served with a variety of dips, such as ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or even raspberry preserves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 350-400°F (177°C) |
| Cook time | 10-20 minutes |
| Preheat time | 3 minutes |
| Number of jalapeños | 4-6 |
| Filling | Cream cheese, cheddar cheese, chorizo, ranch seasoning, honey |
| Fridge life | 1-2 days-3 days |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is not mandatory when cooking bacon-wrapped jalapeños, but it is recommended. Preheating your air fryer helps the food cook faster and taste better. To preheat your air fryer, turn it to 350°F (177°C) for 3 minutes. Then, spray the basket with non-stick spray to prevent the food from sticking.
When preheating, it is important to ensure that your air fryer is set to the correct temperature. Most recipes recommend cooking bacon-wrapped jalapeños at 350°F (177°C), so preheating at this temperature is a good idea. However, some recipes call for higher temperatures of 370°F or 375°F, so you may need to adjust the temperature up slightly after preheating if following one of these recipes.
In addition to setting the correct temperature, it is crucial to allow your air fryer adequate time to preheat. Three minutes should be sufficient for most air fryers, but if you are using a larger air fryer, you may need to preheat for slightly longer. Conversely, if you are using a smaller air fryer, you may need to preheat for less time. Checking the temperature of your air fryer with an oven thermometer can help you determine if it has preheated sufficiently.
Finally, when preheating your air fryer, it is a good idea to place the basket inside. This helps the basket get hot, which can improve the cooking process and prevent the food from sticking. If you are using an air fryer with a removable basket, simply place the basket inside the unit during the preheating process. For air fryers with a built-in basket, you may need to place a small pot or pan inside to act as a basket.
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Prepare the jalapeños
Preparing the jalapeños is a simple process, but it's important to be careful when handling the peppers. It's recommended to wear gloves when preparing the jalapeños to protect your hands from the pepper oils, which can be irritating to the skin. If you don't have gloves, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling the peppers.
To start, cut off the stems of the jalapeños, staying as close to the stem as possible. This will create a boat-like shape that will help contain the filling. Then, cut each jalapeño in half lengthwise.
Once the jalapeños are halved, use a small spoon to carefully scoop out and discard the seeds and membranes. If you prefer your jalapeño poppers on the spicier side, you can leave some of the membranes intact, as this is the spiciest part of the pepper. Removing the membranes will reduce the spiciness of the final dish.
After the seeds and membranes have been removed, it's time to fill the jalapeños. In a small bowl, prepare your filling by mixing together softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and your choice of seasonings. You can add garlic powder and onion powder, or even a bit of honey for a sweet and spicy kick. Stir the mixture until it's well combined.
Now, it's time to stuff the jalapeños. Use a small spoon to fill each jalapeño half with the cream cheese mixture. Be careful not to overfill the peppers, as this can cause the filling to spill out when wrapping them with bacon. A teaspoon or two of filling per pepper should be sufficient, depending on the size of the jalapeño.
Once the jalapeños are stuffed, wrap each one with a slice of bacon. Cut the bacon slices in half and tightly wrap each jalapeño, minimizing any gaps on top. This will ensure that the filling stays inside during the cooking process.
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Make the filling
To make the filling for your bacon-wrapped jalapeños, you will need jalapeños, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and seasonings. You can also add green onions, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
First, cut the tops off the jalapeños and slice them in half lengthwise. Then, use a spoon to carefully scoop out the seeds and membranes. Removing the white pith will reduce the spiciness of the jalapeños. Be sure to wear gloves during this step to avoid getting jalapeño residue on your hands.
Next, prepare the filling by mixing the cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and seasonings in a bowl. You can also add green onions to the mixture if desired. Stir until everything is well combined.
Now, you're ready to fill the jalapeños. Using a small spoon, scoop the cream cheese mixture into each jalapeño half, filling it just to the top. Be careful not to overfill, as this can cause the filling to spill out when you wrap the jalapeños with bacon.
At this point, your jalapeños are stuffed and ready for wrapping. However, if you prefer, you can add a slice of cheddar cheese on top of the cream cheese filling before wrapping, or even sprinkle brown sugar on top of the bacon before air-frying.
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Wrap the jalapeños in bacon
To make bacon-wrapped jalapeños, you'll want to start by preparing the jalapeños. It's a good idea to use gloves when handling jalapeños to avoid getting any of the spice in your eyes or on your skin. Cut the tops off the jalapeños and slice them in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to carefully scoop out the seeds and white pith (if you want less spice). You can also soak the seeded jalapeños in milk for half an hour before stuffing them to reduce the spice further.
Next, prepare your filling. A classic option is a blend of cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and ranch seasoning. You can also add green onions and other herbs or spices to taste. If you're not a fan of cream cheese, you can substitute it with ricotta cheese or sour cream. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even try a chorizo and cream cheese filling. Simply cook the chorizo in a skillet, remove it from the heat, and mix in the cream cheese and honey.
Once your filling is ready, use a small spoon to fill the jalapeño halves, being careful not to overfill them. Overfilling can cause the filling to spill out when you wrap the bacon around them. Now you're ready to wrap the jalapeños in bacon! Cut the bacon slices in half and wrap each piece around a stuffed jalapeño. Use toothpicks to secure the bacon in place and prevent it from falling off during cooking.
Finally, it's time to cook your bacon-wrapped jalapeños in the air fryer! Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (some recipes suggest a higher temperature of 370°F or 375°F). Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick spray or cooking spray. Place the wrapped jalapeños in the basket, making sure they don't touch and leaving room around each one for airflow. Air fry for 10-16 minutes, depending on your preferred level of crispiness. If you like your bacon extra crispy, you can increase the temperature to 400°F for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.
Your bacon-wrapped jalapeños are now ready to serve! Enjoy the contrast of crispy bacon, tender jalapeño, and melty cheese filling.
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Cook and serve
To cook bacon-wrapped jalapeños in an air fryer, first prepare the jalapeños by cutting off the stems and slicing them in half lengthwise. It is recommended to wear gloves when handling jalapeños to prevent the oils from the peppers from burning your skin. Use a small spoon to carefully scrape out the seeds and membranes, discarding them. If you prefer spicier jalapeño poppers, you can leave some of the membranes inside the peppers.
Next, prepare the filling by combining softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or Ranch seasoning in a small bowl. You can also add other ingredients like chorizo, honey, or Cajun seasoning to the cream cheese mixture for a sweet and spicy kick. Stir the filling until well combined.
Now, it's time to fill the jalapeños. Use a small spoon to fill each jalapeño half with the cream cheese mixture, being careful not to overfill. You may also add slices of cheddar cheese on top of the cream cheese filling.
For the bacon wrapping, cut the bacon slices in half. You can cook the bacon slightly before wrapping to reduce grease and achieve crispier bacon. Wrap each jalapeño half with a half slice of bacon, ensuring the bacon is tightly wrapped around the pepper. Secure the bacon with a toothpick if needed.
Preheat your air fryer to 350-390 degrees Fahrenheit (some recipes suggest an initial temperature of 370 degrees Fahrenheit, then increasing to 400 degrees Fahrenheit). Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush the basket with oil. Place the bacon-wrapped jalapeños in a single layer, ensuring they don't touch each other to allow even cooking.
Cook the jalapeño poppers for 10-20 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispness and the size of your air fryer. Keep an eye on them during cooking, as different air fryers may vary in cooking speed. If you notice the filling or jalapeños browning too quickly, reduce the temperature by 20 degrees and continue cooking.
Once the bacon is fully cooked and crispy, remove the jalapeño poppers from the air fryer and serve immediately. They can be served hot or at room temperature as a delicious appetizer or snack. You can also serve them with a side of BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or raspberry preserves for dipping. Enjoy!
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that you cook bacon-wrapped jalapeños in an air fryer for 14-16 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cut the tops off 6 jalapeños and cut each in half. Carefully scoop out the seeds and fill each jalapeño with your desired filling.
Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
