Description
These air fryer jalapeno poppers are crispy on the outside with a rich, creamy roasted red pepper and feta filling, finished with a sweet balsamic glaze, ready in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10–12 medium fresh jalapeno peppers (about 250g)
- 200g full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 60g crumbled feta cheese
- 70g roasted red bell pepper, drained well and finely diced
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder
- 0.5 tsp onion powder
- 0.25 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.25 tsp fine sea salt
- 0.125 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 cup (60g) all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup (100g) panko breadcrumbs
- 0.5 cup (120ml) balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp (15g) light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp (5g) fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Jalapenos: Thoroughly wash and dry all fresh jalapeno peppers. Carefully halve each pepper lengthwise and use a small spoon to scoop out the seeds and white membranes for a milder popper.
- Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, crumbled feta, finely diced roasted red pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, sea salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Fill and Bread the Poppers: Using a small spoon, generously fill each jalapeno half with the cream cheese mixture. Set up a breading station with three shallow dishes: one for flour, one for beaten eggs, and one for panko breadcrumbs. Dip each filled popper half first in flour, then in egg, then press firmly into panko until fully coated.
- Preheat Air Fryer and Cook: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for at least 5 minutes. Lightly coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange the breaded poppers in a single layer. Lightly spray the tops of the poppers with cooking spray.
- Air Fry to Perfection: Air fry for 10-15 minutes, flipping the poppers halfway through the cooking time. Cook until the breading is deeply golden brown and crispy, and the filling inside is hot and bubbly.
- Prepare the Balsamic Glaze: While the poppers cook, combine the balsamic vinegar and light brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the glaze thickens.
- Serve with Garnish: Arrange the warm, crispy poppers on a serving platter. Drizzle the sweet and tangy balsamic glaze generously over the poppers and finish with a sprinkling of fresh chopped parsley for color and extra freshness.
Notes
To avoid capsaicin burn, wear disposable gloves when handling the jalapenos. The cream cheese filling can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. The glaze will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 poppers (approx. 75g)
- Calories: 150 calories
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 260 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 42 mg
Keywords: air fryer recipe, jalapeno poppers, appetizer, game day snack, roasted red pepper, feta cheese, balsamic glaze, quick recipe, easy snack