Air fryer jalapeno fries are crispy, crunchy, and baked to a beautiful golden brown in under 10 minutes. These fries have the right amount of kick without being overwhelmingly spicy.
Why this recipe works
Making jalapeno fries in the air fryer is really easy, and much healthier than deep fried jalapeno slices (even though we love them both). Forget the greasy oily mess of the deep fryer, you can make these air fryer jalapeno fries in a snap as an appetizer for parties and football games.
If you’re not huge on spiciness, you can remedy that by removing more of the pith and rib when slicing. Whether you leave them really spicy or tone down the heat level, this is a fun way to dress up jalapenos!
RELATED: you might also like this recipe – Blooming Onion or Baked French Fries
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
JALAPENOS – Find nice large jalapenos and cut them into long strips that are about the thickness of small fries. You could also slice the jalapeno into rounds and cook them this way sort of like air fryer fried pickles.
BUTTERMILK – If you don’t have buttermilk, you can add a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of milk then let it sit for 5 minutes.
PANKO – We use regular panko but you can certainly sub it out for a seasoned panko or even opt for pork panko for those on a low carb diet.
How to Make Air Fryer Jalapeno Fries
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Set up your dredging station beginning with 4 medium bowls. In the first bowl add the buttermilk, in the second add the flour, garlic salt, and pepper mixed together, in the third bowl add the whipped egg whites, and in the fourth add the panko.
- Drop a few jalapeno strips into the buttermilk and coat well, then add them to the flour bowl covering entirely and shaking off any excess.
- Next, place them into the egg whites being sure to coat completely. Lastly, press them firmly in the panko, covering well.
- Place fries in the air fryer basket, covering the bottom, and making sure not to overcrowd.
- Spray all the fries with nonstick cooking spray, then place the basket into the air fryer.
- Set the air fryer to 360F for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, flip the fries using tongs and spray again with nonstick cooking spray. Cook another 5 minutes.
- Remove and repeat the process for the next batch of jalapeño fries.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Jalapeno fries are best served right away, but if you have leftovers, store them in an air-tight container or zip-top baggie in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. To reheat, place them back in the air fryer for a couple of minutes until crispy and warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
Serve jalapeno fries hot and fresh from the air fryer with dipping sauces like ranch, chipotle or southwest ranch and bleu cheese. You could slice your jalapenos into circles, remove the seeds, and dredge in the coatings for crispy jalapeno rounds as well, but you will need to keep an eye on the cook time as these are smaller and will cook up quicker!
Air fryer jalapeno fries are a tasty appetizer for all occasions, but also make a delicious snack any time of the day. Enjoy!
More Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes
- Air Fryer Apple Fries
- Air Fryer Fried Pickles
- Air Fryer Green Bean Fries
- Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- Air Fryer Crab Cakes
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Air Fryer Jalapeno Fries
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 8 large jalapenos deseeded and cut into fry strips
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 4 egg whites
- 1 ½ cup panko
- non stick cooking spray
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in the air fryer to crisp them back up.
Instructions
- Set up your dredging station beginning with 4 medium bowls. In the first bowl add the buttermilk, in the second add the flour, garlic salt, and pepper mixed together, in the third bowl add the whipped egg whites, and in the fourth add the panko.
- Drop a few jalapeno strips into the buttermilk and coat well, then add them to the flour bowl covering entirely and shaking off any excess.
- Next, place them into the egg whites being sure to coat completely. Lastly, press them firmly in the panko, covering well.
- Place fries in the air fryer basket, covering the bottom, and making sure not to overcrowd.
- Spray all the fries with nonstick cooking spray, then place the basket into the air fryer.
- Set the air fryer to 360F for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, flip the fries using tongs and spray again with nonstick cooking spray. Cook another 5 minutes.
- Remove and repeat the process for the next batch of jalapeño fries.
- Serve with a side of ranch.
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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CHRISTINE ROPPEL says
hi Amanda!
Can these be done in a regular oven?
ginger gregory says
on the Jalapeno fries if you don’t have an air fryer cold one do them in a oven???
Amanda Formaro says
We have not tested that, but I’m sure you could, you would probably need a longer bake time and to turn them halfway through baking.