Easy Gluten-Free Jalapeño Poppers (Air Fryer Option)

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.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Why Use an Air Fryer?
• Ingredients
• Substitutions
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• How to Serve
• Make Ahead
• Storage
• Expert Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Related Recipes
• Recipe
• Reviews

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

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