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How to make bacon-wrapped sweet peppers in the air fryer: Skip the deep fryer and the oven – here’s a quick and healthy way to create an easy appetizer or delicious snack. We’re talking crispy bacon wrapped around vibrant mini sweet peppers, all cooked to perfection in your air fryer. This is one of my favorite easy air fryer recipes and delicious bacon recipes. 

This recipe combines the salty goodness of bacon with the sweetness of mini bell peppers, stuffed with a dairy-free cream cheese filling all cooked to crispy perfection in your air fryer. It’s a healthier alternative to deep-frying, and it’s ready in a fraction of the time it takes to bake in the oven.

Air fryers might have “fry” in their name, but they don’t actually use oil in the same way a deep fryer does. Instead, they rely on a clever trick using hot air circulation to achieve a crispy, golden-brown finish on your food. The bacon cooks around the peppers evenly thanks to the hot air circulation and powerful fan. 

Ingredients to Make Bacon-Wrapped Poppers in the Air Fryer

​This easy recipe is made with only three simple ingredients, a few toothpicks and an air fryer. 

• 5 mini peppers
• 10 bacon slices
• 1 pkg cream cheese

Ingredient Tips and Swaps

For the stuffed peppers, this recipe is meant for sweet mini peppers, but you can certainly use jalapenos or simply check out my Ninja Foodi jalapeno poppers recipe. 

I am using a dairy-free cashew-based cream cheese mixture. This is perfect for anyone who is dairy-free or looking to remove dairy from their diet. But if you tolerate dairy, you can absolutely use any plain cream cheese of your choice. 

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When choosing bacon keep in mind that regular or thin bacon may cook in less time but it could also tear when you wrap it around the peppers. Whereas thick-cut bacon may take a few more minutes of cooking time but it is less likely to tear. Also, opt for quality bacon. We love to order quality bacon and other meat online from Crowd Cow.

​This recipe is designed for the air fryer. I am using the Ninja Foodi all-in-one air fryer, but you can use any size or type of air fryer to create these bacon-wrapped sweet peppers stuffed with cream cheese. See more delicious Ninja Foodi Recipes.

How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Peppers on the Air Fryer

First, preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F for a few minutes while you prepare the poppers. To do this, close the lid, select Air Crisp, set the temperature to 375, and press start.

Then with a sharp knife and cutting board, slice each of the peppers in half lengthwise. Next, remove the vein and seeds.

Next, fill each mini pepper with cream cheese (appx 1-2 Tbsp each). Then wrap one slice of bacon around the pepper. Tuck the bacon under itself at the start and secure the end with a toothpick to make sure that the bacon does not curl away from the popper during the cooking process. Do this for all of the sweet mini pepper halves. 

How Long to Cook Bacon Wrapped Peppers in the Air Fryer

Once the poppers are prepared place them in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer. Be sure to avoid overcrowding the basket. If all of the peppers don’t fit you might have to work in batches.

Between the natural fat content of bacon and the air fryer’s hot air circulation, you get a delicious and healthy appetizer without needing any olive or avocado oil.  It’s a win-win for flavor and convenience.

Set the cooking time for 13 minutes and press start. Begin to check on the air fryer cream cheese stuffed peppers around the 10-12 minutes mark. Make sure that the poppers are cooking evenly and that the bacon does not burn. 

Remove the bacon-wrapped sweet peppers from the air fryer when the bacon is fully cooked, the peppers are tender, and the cream cheese has a slight golden brown. 

Cooking times are flexible! This recipe works with various air fryer models and bacon thicknesses. Just keep an eye on those poppers for perfect crispiness.

Easy Three Ingredient Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Sweet Peppers

Make sure to remove the toothpicks from these tasty treats before serving. 

This recipe for how to make bacon-wrapped sweet peppers in the air fryer is your MVP for a stress-free, crowd-pleasing appetizer.

Unlike my fiery air fryer jalapeno poppers (perfect for those who love spicy foods!) this recipe offers a delightful balance of sweet and salty that caters to everyone. It’s a guaranteed hit for family gatherings, potlucks, game day, your next party, or whenever you need a quick and delicious finger food to impress your guests.

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven to maintain the same texture. If you reheat in the microwave you will most likely end up with chewy bacon. 

More Air Fryer Recipes You Should Try

• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
• Easy Healthy Ninja Air Fryer Recipes
• Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

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