These delicious 4-Ingredient Jalapeno Poppers are an easy appetizer for any party! Spicy peppers stuffed with creamy cheese are cooked until perfectly tender with the oven, air fryer, or grill!
Easy Jalapeno Popper Recipe
Jalapeno Poppers are a classic… Spicy peppers with creamy, cheesy filling?! Yes please! We love them so much, we stuff all that flavor into burgers, chicken, mushrooms, and more. For this appetizer, we decided to keep it simple and let the key ingredients shine through! This keto recipe is perfect for your next party or movie night.
Why you’ll love it:
- Quick & easy – The ingredient list is short, and it’s easy enough for beginner cooks to master quickly! Depending on the cooking method you choose, they’re ready in just 10-20 minutes.
- Meal prep friendly – These spicy bites can be prepped up to 3 days ahead of time or even frozen for an easy appetizer 1-2 months later! Double or triple the batch so you can enjoy some now and more another day.
- Low-Carb & Gluten-Free – We skipped the breading and kept these tasty jalapeno poppers keto-friendly! These are free of common allergens like nuts or eggs, and you can make them dairy free with plant based alternatives.
Keto Jalapeno Popper Ingredients
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for the recipe. Find exact measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Jalapenos – These should be sliced in half with seeds removed. Bright green, smooth jalapenos will have less spice while the spicier ones may be more red with striations. If possible, try to pick peppers that are the same size and shape for more even cooking.
- Cream cheese – Softened before cooking. You can use full- or low-fat cream cheese for this.
- Sharp cheddar – Shredded. You can swap this out with colby jack or another good melting cheese if you prefer.
- Garlic powder – General seasoning for a boost of flavor that will complement the peppers. Feel free to leave it out if you aren’t a garlic fan.
- OPTIONAL: Bacon bits, chives, green onions, sesame seeds, or everything bagel seasoning for garnish. These aren’t necessary, but they can add a little extra flavor and make the dish look nicer for parties!
How to Make Jalapeno Poppers
This simple appetizer is quick to throw together for any last minute party! Here’s an easy step-by-step guide for making these cheesy peppers.
Prep
Wash your jalapenos, then slice the peppers in half and discard the seeds. Anytime you’re working with peppers, it’s a good idea to wear nitrile gloves to protect yourself from the oil. You don’t want to rub your eyes after cutting the jalapenos!
Fill
In a mixing bowl, stir your softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and garlic powder. Spoon just enough of this creamy mixture to fill up each half jalapeno. At this point, you can freeze them for later (great meal prep appetizer) or move on to the cooking step.
Cook
If you need these super quickly, opt to cook these in the air fryer — Simply cook at 390 degrees F for 6-10 minutes! You need to keep them in a single layer for even cooking, so you may need to cook these in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
For tailgating, pool parties, and other outdoor celebrations, use the grill to cook these! Simply heat the grill to medium high heat (about 400 degrees F). Place the poppers on the grill, reduce heat to medium (between 350 and 375 degrees F) and cook for 10-15 minutes.
To cook several batches at once, turn to the oven. Preheat to 400 degrees F, then cook the jalapeno poppers on a baking sheet for 12-18 minutes. You may want to line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner for super easy cleanup.
**Remember, cooking times are estimates as fresh peppers can vary greatly in size and thickness. Keep an eye on the peppers and remove them from the oven when the pepper is tender and the filling is melted and bubbly.
What to Serve with Jalapeno Poppers
We love these easy keto jalapeno poppers with some ranch (this Chuy copycat is our favorite for an extra kick). Serve these poppers with happy hour favorites like Bacon Cheeseburgers or Garlic Parmesan Wings. Other sides like cauliflower tots or baked onion rings would work perfectly for an at-home pub night!
More easy apps for a party spread:
- Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
- 5-Ingredient Keto Sausage Balls
- Smoked Queso Dip
- Slow Cooker Corn Dip
- Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Store
These keep well in the fridge up to 2 days in an airtight container. Make sure you allow them to cool completely before closing them up–Any residual heat trapped in the container can turn the cream cheese filling very watery.
If you want to freeze these, do so before cooking. Simply prep your jalapenos, stuff with the filling, then freeze (not touching) on a baking sheet for 2 hours before transferring to a freezer bag. Within 2 months, cook from frozen, adding a few minutes to the cooking time.
Reheat
The key to reheating these is avoiding the sogginess! Overcooking, microwaving, or overcrowding will lead to mushy peppers. Here are the best ways to reheat jalapeno poppers:
- Oven – Preheat oven to 350 while you place leftover poppers on a baking sheet. Bake the stuffed jalapenos about 10 minutes or until warmed throughout. If using a toaster oven, they’ll likely be done sooner, closer to the 5 minute mark.
- Air Fryer – Preheat to 375, then reheat poppers in a single layer until warmed throughout. This will likely take about 5 minutes.
If you like this spicy appetizer, you’ve got to try these easy jalapeno recipes!
- Cheesy Jalapeno Chicken Soup – This extremely popular soup went viral for a reason! It’s super creamy, can be mild or super spicy, and is perfect for football season!
- Chuy’s Jalapeno Ranch Copycat – This is awesome drizzled on tacos or buffalo meatballs, but we also love to dunk carrot fries and collard chips into it!
- Jalapeno Cornbread – This buttery cornbread has a spicy twist that the family will love! It can be ready in just 30 minutes for an easy side.
- Cheesy Ham & Jalapeno Bites – You will LOVE these as a great meal prep breakfast or lunch option! They freeze and reheat well and are gluten-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly.
- Jalapeno Cheddar Chaffles – When you’re low-carb but need a great bread substitute, chaffles are the best! This one is slightly spicy and is amazing with chili or BBQ chicken.
Want more? Check out this list of AMAZING jalapeno recipes!
Jalapeno Poppers
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh jalapeño peppers sliced in half and seeded
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup cooked bacon bits optional for garnish
Instructions
- Carefully slice the peppers. Remove the seeds and membranes from the pepper and discard. Be careful not to touch your eyes while working with the peppers.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and garlic powder.
- Place a spoonful of the filling in each pepper slice.
Oven Method: Place on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees F for 12-18 minutes,
Air Fryer Method: Place in the basket of an air fryer and cook at 390 degrees F for 6-10 minutes. Depending on the size of the air fryer, you may need to do this in batches.
Grill: Heat a grill to medium high heat (about 400 degrees F). Place the poppers on the grill reduce the heat to medium (between 350-375 degrees F) and cook for 10-15 minutes. - **Remember, cooking times are estimates as fresh peppers can vary greatly in size and thickness. Keep an eye on the peppers and remove them from the oven when the pepper is tender and the filling is melted and bubbly.