Game Day is just around the corner and that means one thing...tailgating! While you can grill up some burgers or dogs, a true fan knows how to bring the heat with some delicious bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers. The problem is, however, that no one wants to stand around grilling poppers when there are beers to be drunk and games played. Today's recipe, Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers, allows the fan to party while the food is cooked hands-free! You can prepare a large batch the night before and simply re-warm them on the grill. Are you ready to learn how to make the ultimate tailgate appetizer? Let's Get Cooking!
Begin by finding the biggest damn jalapeños you can find this side of the Mississippi. Slice them in half lengthwise and remove the seeds if you want a milder popper or leave them be and feel the burn!
In a small mixing bowl, microwave the cream cheese for 30 seconds or so to soften it. Once softened, add 1 cup of your cheese of choice. Cheddar is typically used for jalapeno poppers, but I decided to use a queso quesadilla cheese that worked wonderfully so you do you. Honestly, pepper jack or a cheese blend would also work quite well in these poppers. Add a cup or so of crumbled bacon to the bowl and stir to combine well. Make sure everything is equally dispersed throughout the mixture or one pepper will end up with no bacon while another is overloaded. You could choose to wrap the jalapeños with the bacon instead, but no one has time for that so adding the crumbles is just easier, in my opinion.
Once your mixture is ready, spoon it into each of the pepper halves. Be sure to use some force and really press it into the peppers so everything stays in place while cooking. This process is a bit tedious and takes a few minutes, but that's why we do it ahead of time so we can enjoy the big game with no worries or stress.
Arrange the poppers in your Air Fryer being sure to leave a bit of space between each one for proper air flow. You will probably have to cook your poppers in two or three batches, so don't fret if they all don't fit in a single go. Once arranged, top each popper with some of the remaining cheese to double down and makes these extra tasty!
Be sure to spray a little cooking oil over all the poppers and Air Fry them at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for about 8 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and slightly browned for optimal flavor. Once all your poppers have cooked, transfer them to a serving dish to enjoy right away or container to take to the game. Those disposable aluminum pans work great to hold a ton of Jalapeno Poppers and you can drop it right on the grill to re-warm everything the next day.
These Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers can also be made well ahead of time and frozen, but cooking times will need to be adjusted, obviously. Of course, you don't have to tailgate or only enjoy them around the game, these can be eaten year-round at barbecues or family dinners. Cooking the peppers really tames the heat of most jalapenos so if you usually tend to avoid peppers these will satisfy you without that burn so many others love. No matter how or when you choose to enjoy these Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers, get in the kitchen and experiment with different cheeses and mixtures to make your next batch the best ever...Just Keep Cooking!
AIR FRYER JALAPENO POPPERS
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