A creamy, cheesy, and spicy jalapeno popper filling wrapped in a crispy wonton. These air fryer jalapeno wontons are quick, easy, and made with simple ingredients. The air fryer makes these wontons extra crispy, complementing the spicy jalapeno cream cheese filling. These little wontons are perfect as an appetizer or snack. Serve them up on a platter with your favourite dip and dig in.
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Why We Love Jalapeno Popper Wontons
These crispy little wontons are the perfect appetizer. Crispy on the outside, hot and cheesy in the middle, with a spicy kick from the fresh jalapenos.
They are made with simple ingredients and are easy to prepare.
Jalapeno popper wontons make a delicious addition to any appetizer platter. They can be served as is or alongside a selection of dips such as sweet chilli sauce or ranch dip.
Because these are made with fresh jalapeno peppers, the spice level can vary. Jalapenos range in heat depending on the season, where they are grown, or the variety of pepper. You can make these extra spicy by leaving the seeds in the peppers or removing them for a milder snack.
Taking only about eight minutes to cook in the air fryer, these cream cheese and jalapeno wontons are perfect when you need a quick snack or appetizer.
You can prepare these ahead of time and freeze them so that you can cook a whole batch or just a few at a time.
And if you like these wontons, you will also love the super easy Jalapeno Cream Cheese Pinwheels or for a delicious side dish, try our Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Potatoes.
Ingredients
For a full list of ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
These tasty little jalapeno wontons come together with just a few ingredients.
Wonton wrappers – Wonton wrappers can be purchased in most grocery stores. Often they are sold in the fresh produce department. I can usually find them near the bean sprouts and hot peppers. You may find them in the frozen aisle if you can’t find them there.
Cream cheese – You can use full-fat or light cream cheese. I usually use the soft, spreadable kind, but you can also use the blocks, allowing them to soften first, so it is easier to mix.
Jalapeno peppers – Choose fresh jalapenos for the best flavour. Look for peppers that are firm and bright green. Jalapenos will vary in heat depending on where they are grown, the season, and the variety. For milder flavour make sure you remove the spicy ribs and seeds. For spicer wonton cups, you can leave the seeds in the peppers before dicing.
Bacon – This recipe calls for pre-cooked bacon. I always have some bacon slices cooked and in the fridge for use throughout the week, but if you don’t, you can cook some before assembling the wontons or use store-bought crumbled bacon. You will need 3-4 slices of cooked bacon to equal half a cup of crumbled or chopped bacon.
Cheese – I like using aged cheddar cheese for these jalapeno popper wontons, but you can use any cheese you like. Monterey Jack and Pepper Jack work well, or you can use a pre-shredded blend.
You will also need fresh chopped green onion and a clove of garlic.
Step by Step Instructions
Step One – Begin by seeding and dicing the jalapenos, slicing the onions, and shredding the cheese. Then add the cream cheese, chopped vegetables, bacon, cheese, and garlic to a medium-sized bowl.
Step 2 – Mix the ingredients until well combined.
Step 3 – Separate the wonton wrappers, then place one wrapper on the counter or cutting board. Place approximately one tablespoon of filling in the middle of the wrapper.
Step 4 – Dip your finger in a bit of water and run it around the edge of the wonton wrapper. Next, fold the wonton over the filling, forming a triangle. Gently press the edges together to seal them.
Pro Tip: Gently dampening the edge of the wontons makes the dough sticky and allows the edges to seal. You want to just slightly moisten them; if they are too wet, they will become soggy and harder to handle.
Step 5 – Now fold the two points along the long edge of the triangle over the filling to meet in the middle.
Step 6 – Place the wontons in a single layer in the air fryer basket and generously spray with olive oil. This is going to help give the wontons their bubbly, crispy shell.
Set the air fryer to 380°F and cook the wontons for 7-9 minutes, turning halfway through. The wontons are done when they are golden brown and crispy. You may notice small bits of filling bubbling out. This is normal.
Serving Suggestions
We like to serve these air-fried wontons as finger food on an appetizer platter.
You can add a selection of dips, such as ranch dressing or sweet chilli sauce or simply eat them as is.
They go great with other appetizers such as meatball sub skewers, firecracker shrimp, or buffalo chicken taquitos.
Storage
Leftover wontons can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator or freezer. They will keep a few days in the fridge or several months in the freezer.
Leftovers can be reheated by popping them in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes, or you can reheat them in the oven or microwave.
You can also make these ahead of time and freeze them before cooking. Store them in an airtight container or freezer bag.
They can be air fried from frozen in the same way as fresh, but you will need to add an extra minute or two to the cooking time.
Top Tips & FAQS
You can cook wontons in the air fryer from frozen. Just spray them with olive oil, just as you would with fresh wontons. Then cook them at 380°F until crisp and golden. You may need to add a minute or two longer to the cooking time to ensure they are heated all the way through. Generally, they will be fully cooked at 8-10 minutes.
The heat level of jalapeno wontons will vary depending on the peppers. Fresh jalapenos range in spice depending on various factors, including the season they are grown, where they are grown, and the individual pepper variety. You can tone down the heat using fewer peppers or by removing the seeds and ribs.
More Recipes
Printable Recipe
Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Wontons
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup (2.5 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup crumbled, cooked bacon 3-4 slices
- 3-4 jalapenos seeded and diced
- 3 tablespoon green onions sliced
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 24 wonton wrappers
- small dish of water
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Mix the cream cheese, shredded cheese, crumbled bacon, diced jalapenos, green onions, and garlic in a medium-sized bowl until well combined.
- Separate the wonton wrappers, then place one in front of you on the counter or a cutting board.
- Place approximately one tablespoon of the filling in the middle of the wonton wrapper.
- Dip your finger in a bit of water and slightly moisten the edges of the wonton, then fold the wonton in half, over the filling to form a triangle. Gently press the edges together to seal them.
- Next, fold the two points of the triangle along the long edge over the filling to meet in the middle and gently press them together. You will end up with a little pillow.
- Place the wontons in a single layer in your air fryer basket, and generously spray with olive oil, then set the air fryer to 380°F and cook the wontons for 7-9 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are crispy and golden.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.