Keto air fryer jalapeño poppers
June 29, 2026 · 1 min read
Jalapeño poppers are almost made for keto — a pepper stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon, no breading required. The air fryer is the ideal tool: it crisps the bacon while the cream cheese filling goes hot and bubbly, all in about ten minutes and with none of the grease of frying. Each popper lands around 2g net carbs, which makes them a guilt-free party snack or appetizer.
Seeding the jalapeños well controls the heat — leave a few seeds in if you like it spicier.
Ingredients
- 10 jalapeños, halved lengthwise and seeded
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 10 slices bacon, halved
- Salt and pepper
Steps
- Halve the jalapeños lengthwise and scrape out the seeds and membranes (wear gloves if you can).
- Mix the cream cheese, cheddar, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Fill each jalapeño half with the mixture.
- Wrap each filled half with a piece of bacon, securing with a toothpick if needed.
- Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket, cut-side up.
- Air fry at 370°F (185°C) for 10–12 minutes, until the bacon is crisp and the filling is bubbling. Cool a few minutes before serving.
Notes and swaps
Choose jalapeños that sit flat so the filling doesn't spill. Wear gloves while seeding, or wash your hands well before touching your eyes. Thin-cut bacon crisps faster and more evenly than thick. Add cooked sausage or shredded chicken to the filling to make them more of a meal. They reheat well in the air fryer for a couple of minutes.
Tell Copper Keto Companion "three bacon jalapeño poppers" and it works out the net carbs on your portion — no weighing, no database.