Tuna Jalapeño Poppers (Air Fryer + Oven)

Everything jalapeño ALL THE TIME!! Tuna Jalapeño Poppers are even tastier than traditional jalapeño poppers. Somehow adding some canned tuna to the cheesy cream cheese mixture gives it a meatier, more delicious texture with a bit of that awesome tuna flavor. 

This tuna poppers recipe has instructions for oven roasting and air frying, and gives you a few different topping options, depending how you like your jalapeño poppers and whether you need gluten-free topping ideas.

Ingredients

• 8-10 fresh jalapeño peppers (depending on the size of peppers you have)
• 1 5-oz can tuna, drained (or 4 oz cooked flaked tuna, I recommend canned chunk lite tuna)
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature or microwaved for 15-20 seconds
• 2 tablespoons sour cream (or mayonnaise)
• ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus extra for topping if desired
• 1 tablespoon finely minced chives or scallions (or try fresh cilantro or dill)
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• Optional: salt and pepper (I usually skip these because the other ingredients add enough saltiness and spice)
• Optional topping: ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs + 1 tablespoon olive oil (omit for gluten-free tuna stuffed jalapeños), or top shredded cheese

Equipment

• Disposable kitchen gloves (this is a MUST when handling jalapeños!)
• Large baking pan
• Oven or air fryer

Step 1: Wearing disposable kitchen gloves, slice the jalapeños in half length-wise. Use a small paring knife to carefully remove all the seeds and pith without cutting through the bottom of the pepper. Rinse off any stubborn seeds. The more pith you remove, the less spicy your peppers will be.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheese, chives, garlic powder, paprika, and lime juice. Mix well, then stir in the tuna until well combined.

Step 3: Use a teaspoon to fill each jalapeño half with the tuna cream cheese mixture.

Step 4: Optional toppings (SKIP THIS if your air fryer blows shredded cheese around too much): You can top the tuna jalapeño poppers with a pinch of shredded cheese. Or combine the panko breadcrumbs and olive oil in a small bowl and mix well. Use your fingers to gently press some of the panko mixture onto the tuna. Now we're ready to bake!

Place the tuna stuffed jalapeño halves on the baking pan. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the jalapeños are cooked to your liking. I like them softened but not mushy, just starting to get a little charred.

Air fryer instructions for tuna poppers

Preheat air fryer to 375F. Place the stuffed jalapeños on your air fryer basket or try. Air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until the peppers are cooked to your liking. Every air fryer cooks differently, so yours might need more time, check on the poppers after 5 minutes.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR AIR FRYING: Some air fryers have a really strong blowing element that blows around loose shredded cheese or breadcrumbs. If yours does this, do not top the tuna stuffed jalapeños with shredded cheese or oiled bread crumbs. My Instant Pot Vortex does fine with both, so I can add those toppings, especially since the panko breadcrumbs are coated in olive oil to weigh them down a little.

Gluten-free toppings for tuna jalapeño poppers

As I mentioned above, you can simply skip the panko breadcrumbs and your tuna poppers will be gluten-free. Other options are:

• Shredded cheese that will melt all delicious and gooey over the tuna stuffing.
• Crushed pork rinds (crush them with your hand or pulse in a food processor).