These gluten-free jalapeño poppers are the perfect game day snack. Cheesy, creamy, and spicy, this easy appetizer can be baked in the oven or air fryer!
These easy homemade gluten-free jalapeño poppers are the ultimate game day snack. Spicy peppers filled with a creamy cheese filling, topped with breadcrumbs, bacon crumbles, and chives.
This recipe can be baked in the oven or air fryer for super easy prep. These jalapeño poppers are the perfect addition to your game day party food.
The great thing about this recipe is how simple it is. Feel free to customize these jalapeño poppers by making them dairy-free, vegan, or keto by reading my suggestions below.
Perfect for football game day, the super bowl, or a bbq get together, these gluten-free air fryer jalapeño poppers are sure to be a hit among your guests! Keep reading to learn how to make them.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Delicious and impressive. These jalapeño poppers are restaurant quality!
- Easy prep. These poppers are easy to make ahead of time and pop in the air fryer or oven when it's time to serve. No need to fuss around with messy oil and frying.
- Customizable and allergy-friendly. This recipe is gluten-free and nut-free, and can easily be made dairy-free, vegan, or keto. No one will ever guess it though!
Why Use an Air Fryer?
Air frying is one of the recommended cooking methods for this recipe.
An air fryer is a small countertop appliance that is basically a mini convection oven. It can cook food quickly and with minimal oil by circulating hot air. It often contains an inner basket with holes to allow for this circulation.
Air fryers are great for making healthier versions of your favourite foods, since less oil is needed to get that "crispiness". Use it to bake, toast, reheat, cook, etc. Basically if you can bake it in the oven, you can air fry it, and probably much faster.
I will say that it's worth it to get a larger size if you have space for it. Multiple batches are often required if you're doing larger quantities in an air fryer. This is the one I have and I love it! I highly recommend adding an air fryer to your kitchen appliance repertoire.
Try more of my air fryer recipes such as Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks, Air Fryer Potato Wedges, Gluten-Free Zucchini Fries, and more!
Note: Be careful with gluten cross-contamination in any small appliance like an air fryer. Air fryers have dozens of tiny holes for the hot air to circulate. That is the perfect place for gluten particles to hide. If you are celiac or have a severe gluten intolerance, please look into having your own dedicated gluten-free air fryer.
Ingredients
Here is everything you'll need to make these gluten-free jalapeño poppers:
- Jalapeño peppers: Choose the nicest ones you can find with minimal blemishes.
- Cream cheese: Ensure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature, or else warm it in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds. Use dairy-free if preferred.
- Shredded marble or cheddar cheese: Use dairy-free cheese if preferred.
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Onion powder
- Cayenne: Reduce or omit for less spice.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chives: I love the flavour that chives give the filling. If you can't find them, I recommend substituting chopped green onions.
- Gluten-free breadcrumbs: Aurora gluten-free breadcrumbs are my favourite.
- Melted butter: Use dairy-free if preferred. A little bit of butter mixed with the breadcrumbs makes them taste extra delicious and crispy.
- Pre-cooked bacon crumbles: Optional to use inside the filling and/or for garnish. I buy the crumbles pre-cooked for simplicity, but you can cook some bacon and chop it small.
Substitutions
While this recipe was developed with optimal ingredient pairings, here are a few substitution suggestions if required:
- Dairy-Free & Vegan: To make these jalapeño poppers dairy-free and vegan, feel free to omit the bacon and use dairy-free cream cheese, shredded cheese, and butter.
- Keto: To make these jalapeño poppers keto-friendly and low carb, simple omit the breadcrumbs on top.
- Vegetarian: To make these jalapeño poppers vegetarian, omit the bacon crumbles.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Be sure to read the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and instructions.
(Prep) If using an oven, preheat to 425ºF. If using an air fryer, preheat to 375ºF 5 minutes before baking.
(1) Begin by washing and drying all of the jalapeños. While wearing gloves, carefully cut the jalapeños in half lengthwise. Place the pepper on the counter to see where it will naturally sit, then cut horizontally to avoid wobbly poppers. Remove the stem if desired.
(2) Use a spoon or your gloved hands to remove the membrane and seeds. If you want your poppers extra spicy, save some of the seeds for the filing (¼ teaspoon recommended). Discard the rest.
(3) & (4) In a medium-size bowl, mix together the cream cheese, shredded cheese, all spices, 2 tablespoon of chives, bacon crumbles if desired, and reserved jalapeño seeds.
(5) Use a spoon or piping bag to spread the filling into each of the jalapeño halves. Place a few pieces of shredded cheese on the top.
(6) In a small bowl, stir together the gluten-free breadcrumbs and melted butter.
(7) Spoon on top of the filled jalapeño halves.
Air Fryer Instructions
(8) Place about 8-10 poppers in the air fryer basket and cook for 6-8 minutes at 375ºF until crisp on top. Repeat batches if necessary.
Oven Instructions
(9) Place the poppers on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 12-17 minutes at 425ºF until lightly crisp on top.
Once baked, remove poppers to a plate and serve immediately. Garnish with extra chives and bacon crumbles. Enjoy hot!
How to Serve
There are so many ways to enjoy these homemade gluten-free jalapeño poppers. Here are some suggestions for how to serve them:
- Plain. Enjoy hot jalapeño poppers on their own.
- Dip in ranch dressing. The coolness of the ranch tastes delicious with the warm poppers.
- Drizzle with buffalo sauce. Why not make these poppers a little more spicy? 🌶
- Alongside other game day apps. These gluten-free jalapeño poppers will be delicious alongside some other football apps such as Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks, Crispy Air Fryer Fried Pickles, Gluten-Free Onion Rings, or Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings. Check out all of my gluten-free appetizer recipes here!
Make Ahead
Cut and fill the peppers ahead of time for easy prep. Store in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 days before baking. Bake according to recipe instructions.
Storage
Leftover jalapeño poppers can be cooled and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. While you can freeze jalapeño poppers, I don't recommend it because I find they get very soggy.
To reheat, place poppers in the oven at 425ºF or air fryer fat 375ºF or a few minutes until hot and crisp again. Serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- Wear gloves when handling jalapeños. Trust me, it's a lot better than your hands stinging from the pepper oils all day. Ideally use some food safe vinyl gloves (latex-free).
- Before slicing the jalapeños, let them sit naturally. Seeing where the peppers naturally sit, and cutting parallel to that, will help avoid wobbly peppers.
- Remove the stems if desired. Although I don't normally eat the top of the stem, I leave them because I like the look. Cut the top of the pepper off if you wish.
- Use a piping bag to fill the peppers as an easier option. Use a spatula to transfer the filling mixture to a piping or thick ziplock bag. Cut a large hole and pipe the filling into the peppers for an even and less messy application.
- Watch the poppers while baking. Since air fryers often don't have a window to see inside, check the poppers periodically to ensure they're not over-baking.
- Serve HOT! Jalapeño poppers are best served hot immediately after cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any air fryer should be capable of making these gluten-free jalapeño poppers. The size of the machine will just determine how many batches you may have to do. I have this COSORI air fryer and love it!
Yes, you can technically freeze jalapeño poppers before or after cooking in an airtight, freezer-safe container. I don't recommend it though, as I find previously frozen poppers to be very soggy and difficult to eat.
Ranch dressing is great with these poppers because it's cooling when compared to the spicy peppers. Garlic aioli would also be delicious to dip. If you want extra heat, drizzle some buffalo sauce on the poppers or mix it into the filling.
Removing the seeds from the jalapeño is required to make room for the filling (be sure to wear gloves!). To make these poppers less hot, simply discard all of the seeds, and omit the cayenne from the filling.
There you have delicious and homemade gluten-free jalapeño poppers made in the air fryer! This recipe is quick, easy to prep, and most importantly, delicious. The perfect appetizer for a football game day or bbq get together. Find more gluten-free appetizer recipes below!
More Gluten-Free Appetizers:
- Dairy-Free Spinach & Artichoke Dip
- Mango Pico de Gallo
- Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks
- Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- Gluten-Free Air Fryer Fried Pickles
- Gluten-Free Onion Rings
Related Recipes
Have you made these gluten-free jalapeño poppers? I'd very much appreciate it if you leave a 5-star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below and tag me on instagram @livglutenfree!
Recipe
Easy Gluten-Free Jalapeño Poppers
Equipment
- Air Fryer optional
Ingredients
- 12 jalapeño peppers
- 8 oz (227g) block of cream cheese room temperature. Use dairy-free if preferred
- 1 cup shredded marble or cheddar cheese use dairy-free if preferred
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne reduce or omit for less spice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 4 tablespoon chives, divided
- ⅓ cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon melted butter use dairy-free if preferred
- ⅓ cup pre-cooked bacon crumbles optional to use inside the filling and/or for garnish
Instructions
- If using an oven, preheat to 425ºF. If using an air fryer, preheat to 375ºF 5 minutes before baking.
- Begin by washing and drying all of the jalapeños. While wearing gloves, carefully cut the jalapeños in half lengthwise. Place the pepper on the counter to see where it will naturally sit, then cut horizontally to avoid wobbly poppers. Remove the stem if desired. Use a spoon or your gloved hands to remove the membrane and seeds. If you want your poppers extra spicy, save some of the seeds for the filing (¼ teaspoon recommended). Discard the rest.
- In a medium-size bowl, mix together the cream cheese, shredded cheese, all spices, 2 tablespoon of chives, bacon crumbles if desired, and reserved jalapeño seeds. Use a spoon or piping bag to spread the filling into each of the jalapeño halves. Place a few pieces of shredded cheese on the top.
- In a small bowl, stir together the gluten-free breadcrumbs and melted butter. Spoon on top of the filled jalapeño halves.
- Oven Instructions: Place the poppers on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 12-17 minutes until lightly crisp on top.Air Fryer Instructions: Place about 8-10 poppers in the air fryer basket and cook for 6-8 minutes until crisp on top. Repeat batches if necessary.
- Once baked, remove poppers to a plate and serve immediately. Garnish with extra chives and bacon crumbles. Enjoy hot!
Notes
- Wear gloves while handling the jalapeños to protect your hands from the spicy oils.
- Dairy-Free & Vegan: Feel free to omit the bacon and use dairy-free cream cheese, shredded cheese, and butter.
- Keto: Omit the breadcrumbs on top.
- Vegetarian: Omit the bacon crumbles.
- Make Ahead: Cut and fill the peppers ahead of time. Store in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 days before baking. Bake according to above instructions.
- Storage: Leftover jalapeño poppers can be cooled and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Freezing is not recommended as poppers will become soggy.
- Reheat: Reheat poppers in the oven at 425ºF or air fryer fat 375ºF or a few minutes until hot and crisp again. Serve immediately.
Let us know what you think!