Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

Try crispy, creamy, and spicy air fryer jalapeño poppers for a nutritious appetizer that’s whipped up in minutes from start to finish. This vegan version is filled with dairy-free cream cheese, nutritional yeast, spices, and fresh herbs. Serve them for holiday gatherings, New Year’s Eve, and more!

What are air fryer jalapeño poppers?

Jalapeño poppers are a classic appetizer served at parties, holidays, and other gatherings. Air fryer jalapeño poppers are simply a quicker, easier way to make this addicting snack!

Sliced and cored jalapeños are stuffed with soft cheese and seasonings, then crisped up in the air fryer to make a creamy, savory, and spicy finger food. With an effortless prep and just 6 minutes of cook time, there’s no reason not to give this recipe a try!

Are jalapeño poppers vegan?

Jalapeño poppers are traditionally made with cream cheese, then topped with shredded cheese and sometimes bacon. Of course, these ingredients make typical recipes not vegan-friendly.

For my vegan jalapeño poppers, I left out the bacon, and I replaced the cheese with a dairy-free version to make a 100% plant-based rendition of this flavor-packed appetizer. You won’t miss the dairy or meat one bit!

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Vegan soft cheese: My personal favorite is from Kitehill; it's a vegan ricotta cheese. But you can use other vegan ricotta or cream cheese varieties with varied results. Just make sure they aren’t heavily oil-based as the mixture won’t hold up as well in the oven. Another good option is Tofutti or you try making your own vegan cream cheese.
• Jalapeños: For the spicy popper base, choose fresh, medium-large, fairly evenly sized jalapeño peppers. For even more heat, try this recipe with serrano peppers! For less spice, use mini bell peppers.
• Green onions: For a sharp, peppery, mildly spicy finish. If you don’t have green onions, try chives instead. 
• Cilantro: Paired with green onions to add a citrusy, herbaceous brightness. Feel free to leave the cilantro out if you don’t like the taste.
• Nutritional yeast: Combined with the vegan cream cheese for extra savory, umami, and cheesy flavors. If you don’t have nutritional yeast, use a touch of shredded vegan cheddar or omit it altogether.
• Seasonings: I love the savory and spicy combination of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. You can use cayenne pepper instead, but I highly recommend smoked paprika.
• Panko: Japanese-style bread crumbs are made from bread without crust, and they are generally coarser in texture. This makes them perfect for sprinkling on top of poppers for an added crunch. If you don’t have panko, try crushed tortilla chips or crackers.
• Avocado oil: To moist the panko with. I prefer avocado oil for a lighter taste, but you can also use vegan butter.

Instructions

• Step 1: Slice all the jalapeños lengthwise, removing the stem or keeping it intact is a personal preference (mainly for presentation). Use a spoon to scoop out the inner membranes and remove the seeds. If you prefer more heat, leave some seeds in the peppers. Chop cilantro and green onions as well.

• Step 2: To make the filling, add the vegan soft cheese, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, green onions, and cilantro to a mixing bowl. Use a small spatula or spoon to mix the filling ingredients together. In a separate bowl, mix the panko bread crumbs and oil until the breadcrumbs are moist.

• Step 3: Fill the jalapeños with the cheese mixture, smoothing it down against the sides of each jalapeño popper.
• Push down filling side of each jalapeño popper against the bread crumbs to evenly top the jalapeños with bread crumbs. Or simply sprinkle the bread crumbs on top of the halves.

• Step 4: Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees F, then air fry 10 at a time for 6 minutes each. Let your air fryer jalapeño poppers cool down for about 5 minutes before serving.

Dips for jalapeño poppers

You can absolutely serve these air fryer jalapeño poppers on their own, but they taste even better dunked in a creamy sauce like one of these:

• Southwest salad dressing
• Vegan Caesar dressing
• Sriracha aioli
• Vegan ranch dressing

Storage & Reheating

Whether you’re making air fryer jalepeño poppers ahead of time or storing the leftovers, follow these simple tips:

• Fridge: Air fryer jalapeño poppers can last in the fridge for up to 4-5 days in an airtight container.
• Freezer: Once fully cooled, freeze them on a baking sheet for about 1-2 hours, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
• Thaw: Thaw jalapeño poppers in the fridge overnight prior to heating them up again.
• Reheat: Reheat jalapeño poppers in the air fryer for 4-5 minutes, or until warmed through.

Variations

• Turn up the heat: For more spice, leave the ribs or a few seeds in the peppers. You can also try adding a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce on top.
• Bake instead: If you don’t own an air fryer, make baked vegan jalapeño poppers instead. Just add them to an oven at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.
• Cheese: Feel free to use any vegan cheese you prefer for this recipe. Shredded cheddar or mozzarella both work great in place of, or in addition to, nutritional yeast. 
• Breadcrumbs: If you can’t find panko, use crushed tortilla chips, crackers, cornflakes, potato chips, pretzels, or regular bread crumbs instead.

Top tips

• Wear gloves: When removing seeds from the jalapeños, be aware that it will leave spice on your hands. Remember to wear gloves or coat your hands with some oil before this process to avoid getting spice on your hands!
• Batch fry: If you have a smaller air fryer, work in batches. This will help consistently cook and crisp them up.
• Size matters: Try to buy consistently-sized jalapeños so they’re easier to stuff and cook evenly.
• Smooth the sides: To prevent the cream cheese filling from spilling over and making a mess in your air fryer, smooth the filling down so it is flush with the sides of the peppers.

FAQ

Similar Recipes

If you enjoyed making these air fryer jalapeño poppers, be sure to check out some more of my favorite snacks and appetizers like these:

• Truffle fries: Hand-cut French fries with vegan parmesan and savory truffle oil.
• Samosa chaat: Crispy samosas served over a warming, spice-infused chole masala.
• Turkish pide: Turkish bread featuring boat-shaped flatbreads stuffed with fillings like spinach, mozzarella, mushrooms, and sundried tomatoes.
• Punjabi chole: A traditional North Indian dish featuring soft and tender chickpeas bathed in a rich, dark, and complex gravy.