This cream cheese jalapeno poppers recipe is about to become one of your families’ favorites! We are combining jalapenos, cream cheese, bacon, and cheddar cheese to create a super easy and tasty appetizer. Whether you are a fan of spicy food or not, you are going to want to try these keto jalapeno poppers.
Low carb, gluten-free, and keto eaters alike will all enjoy this quick and easy air fryer dish. And if you don’t have an air fryer don’t worry – oven directions are also included in this recipe!
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Be sure to check out additional appetizers on the site including spinach artichoke dip, air fryer chicken wings, pepperoni chips, and parmesan crisps, all of which are crowd pleasers!
Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers with Bacon
If you are like most people who don’t enjoy spicy foods you tend to steer clear of recipes that have jalapeno in the title because we all know that jalapenos are known for their ability to kick the heat up a notch or two – even just a little.
Peppers, however, are unique in their heat, and jalapenos are no different. The heat from all peppers comes from both the seeds and the oil inside the pepper. By removing the seeds and oil you are left with a pepper that is no longer spicy.
For me, this works out well because I am not a fan of spicy food myself. And once the seeds and oil are gone, the jalapeno transitions from a spicy pepper to a mild one.
Oh, and my son told me that other than the air fryer chicken wings, this cream cheese jalapeno popper recipe is his favorite appetizer! 😉
Why This Recipe Works
- Jalapeno poppers are the perfect appetizer whether you are feeding a crowd or just a few. This recipe makes 12 poppers, but you can easily adapt it to fit your guest list.
- Removing the seeds and oil will transform the jalapeno from a spicy pepper to a mild one; however, if you prefer a spicier popper, simply leave some of all of the insides.
- With two different kinds of cheese, your keto jalapeno poppers offer up more than enough fat and protein for low-carb and keto eaters.
Ingredients for Cream Cheese Jalapeno Poppers
For this keto jalapeno popper recipe, I first cook up my bacon. If you are in a rush, you could purchase pre-cooked, but the flavor may not be the same (and this bacon in the oven recipe is super easy for precooking bacon!). The cream cheese does need to be at room temperature, but if your cheese is too cold, you can cut it into cubes and microwave it for 15-20 seconds. And even though they are not listed on the ingredients list, I do recommend using gloves when working with the peppers.
Speaking of peppers, it is best if you use 12 jalapenos that are uniform in size.
- 4 slices bacon
- 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 12 jalapenos
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
How to Make Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
Making stuffed jalapeno poppers is easier than you think. We are going to simply get some bacon precooked, cut and clean the peppers, and prepare the filling. Easy!
Cook the Bacon
You can pre-cook your bacon as you prefer, but I do recommend cooking it slightly less than you normally would because it will be going in the over with the poppers. One of the best ways to cook your bacon for your poppers is to use either your air fryer or to cook the bacon in the oven.
Prep the Jalapenos
Here is where those gloves are going to come in real handy! Wearing a pair of clean, disposable gloves will keep the jalapeno oil off your skin. This is a good thing as the oil can burn your skin. Ouch!
To prepare your jalapenos first clean them off. Cut down the center of the pepper and through the stem. You can opt to remove the stem or leave it on (we choose to leave the stem on).
Pull out the white membrane and seeds located inside the peppers. I like to use a melon baller to clean out my peppers.
If you prefer your keto jalapeno poppers a little spicy, leave some of the insides, well, inside the pepper.
Mix the Filling
To make the filling, combine your softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl. Mix in the bacon as well.
Fill the Peppers
Fill your peppers with the cream cheese mixture and top with additional cheddar cheese and/or bacon.
Air Fry
Cook your air fryer jalapeno poppers in your 400F air fryer for 9 minutes. I made 2 batches, one in our small basket air fryer and one in our large Omni Plus fryer. Depending on the size of your fryer, you may need to cook the poppers in batches.
After cooking as finished, garnish with bacon if desired.
Oven-Baked Jalapeno Poppers
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can easily pop these in your oven! Simply bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes.
Jalapeno Poppers Recipe Tips
- If you aren’t a fan of bacon, or simply are looking to change things up, you can swap bacon for shredded chicken.
- Feel free to experiment with cheeses other than cheddar such as parmesan or Colby Jack.
- If jalapenos just aren’t a pepper for you, you can easily create poppers using baby bell peppers.
Are Jalapeno Poppers Keto?
Keto. It’s a word I’ve used a few times in this post and I want to pause for a second to explain how these jalapeno poppers can be considered keto.
First, there is no breading anywhere.
Second, full-fat cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and bacon are all low-carb, high-fat foods that also offer up liberal amounts of protein (a key component of keto).
Third, the peppers themselves are a low-carb vegetable.
Therefore, jalapeno poppers are a keto food. Tasty and full of protein and fat that a low-carb eater needs to consume.
How Many Carbs in Jalapeno Poppers?
jen will fill this out
More Keto Appetizer Recipes
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Cream Cheese Jalapeno Poppers Recipe with Bacon (Oven+Air Fryer)
An easy bacon cream cheese jalapeno poppers recipe for either your oven or your air fryer. These make the BEST appetizer idea for a crowd, plus they're gluten free, low carb, nut-free, and keto friendly.
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon
- 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 12 jalapenos
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
Cook the Bacon
You can pre-cook your bacon as you prefer, but I do recommend cooking it slightly less than you normally would because it will be going in the over with the poppers. One of the best ways to cook your bacon for your poppers is to use either your air fryer or to cook the bacon in the oven.
Prep the Jalapenos
Here is where those gloves are going to come in real handy! Wearing a pair of clean, disposable gloves will keep the jalapeno oil off your skin. This is a good thing as the oil can burn your skin. Ouch!
To prepare your jalapenos first clean them off. Cut down the center of the pepper and through the stem. You can opt to remove the stem or leave it on (we choose to leave the stem on).
Pull out the white membrane and seeds located inside the peppers. I like to use a melon baller to clean out my peppers.
If you prefer your keto jalapeno poppers a little spicy, leave some of the insides, well, inside the pepper.
Mix the Filling
To make the filling, combine your softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl. Mix in the bacon as well.
Fill the Peppers
Fill your peppers with the cream cheese mixture and top with additional cheddar cheese and/or bacon.
Air Fry
Cook your air fryer jalapeno poppers in your 400F air fryer for 9 minutes. I made 2 batches, one in our small basket air fryer and one in our large Omni Plus fryer. Depending on the size of your fryer, you may need to cook the poppers in batches.
After cooking as finished, garnish with bacon if desired.
Oven-Baked Jalapeno Poppers
If you don't have an air fryer, you can easily pop these in your oven! Simply bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes.
Notes
Swap the jalapenos for baby bell peppers if you don't like spicy
Using pre-cooked shredded chicken instead of bacon works great
Change up the cheeses, why not try 3 cheese blend, or Colby-Jack?
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information
Yield 12 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 127Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 32mgSodium 234mgCarbohydrates 2gNet Carbohydrates 2gFiber 0gSugar 1gProtein 5g
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