Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers with Bacon
Crispy and spicy appetizer, perfect for parties.
Steps
- 1
Cut jalapenos in half lengthwise, remove seeds and white membranes.
- 2
In a bowl, mix cream cheese, cheddar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Fill each jalapeno half with the mixture.
- 3
Wrap each filled jalapeno with half a bacon slice and secure with a toothpick.
- 4
Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Arrange poppers in a single layer in the basket.
- 5
Cook for 10–12 minutes until bacon is crispy and filling is hot. Serve immediately.
Shopping list
8 large jalapenos, 225g cream cheese, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 tsp garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste, 8 slices bacon
Recipe story
Jalapeño poppers were created in Texas, USA, in the 1970s, combining spicy peppers with cheese and bacon. The recipe quickly became popular in Tex-Mex cuisine.
Ingredient Secrets
Black pepper
Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.
Sea salt
Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.
Garlic
Native to Central Asia, garlic was already known in ancient Egypt, where it was given to slaves to boost their strength. In ancient Greece, athletes consumed it before competitions, and in Rome, legionaries considered it essential for courage. During the Middle Ages, it was used to ward off vampires and the plague.
