These easy Air Fryer Armadillo Eggs are such a fun and delicious low-carb appetizer! Jalapeno peppers are stuffed with a cream cheese mixture, covered in seasoned sausage meat, and wrapped in bacon. Then, they are cooked to crispy perfection in your air fryer. These are sure to be a hit at your next party or gathering!
I’m really excited to share this air fryer armadillo eggs recipe with you! It’s a fun and easy way to make a great-tasting and hearty appetizer!
This recipe was inspired by my Smoked Jalapeño Poppers, also wrapped in crispy bacon.
I'm a big fan of jalapeno peppers, and I love finding new ways to cook them. I had a surplus of jalapenos in my greenhouse this year, so I've been trying out new recipes.
This recipe is surprisingly simple. It comes together quickly and cooks quickly in the air fryer.
The final result is nothing short of fantastic. The flavors together make for a delicious appetizer you will want to add to the best appetizer list.
The combination of the creamy cheese mixture, crispy bacon, and spicy jalapeños is irresistible.
Love this recipe? Try my Smoked Shotgun Shells recipe next!
More delicious appetizers
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🧡 Why you will love this recipe
- The armadillo eggs are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
- This dish is versatile. It is perfect as a spicy appetizer, or can be served as a main course or as a side dish.
- It can be made ahead of time and reheated later.
- This appetizer is simply delicious. The combination of spices and flavors in the armadillo eggs is mouth-watering.
- The recipe is simple and straightforward.
- Only simple ingredients are used that are easy to find.
- The air fryer cooks these bacon-wrapped armadillo eggs quickly and efficiently.
- It is a fun and unique dish that will impress your guests.
- This appetizer is low-carb and can easily be made keto-friendly by using a sugar substitute instead of brown sugar.
❓ What are armadillo eggs?
Armadillo eggs are a delicious appetizer that likely originated in Texas. Spicy jalapenos are stuffed with a cheese mixture, covered in sausage meat, and wrapped in bacon.
When the armadillo eggs are cut in half, they resemble an egg. The cheesy center resembles the yolk, and the bacon resembles the armadillo's tough outer shell.
I serve this appetizer whenever I have company over, and they always disappear fast.
🌶️ Ingredient notes and substitutions
The ingredients for this recipe are easy to find at your local grocery store.
- Jalapeño peppers. I used medium to large size jalapeno peppers.
- Cream cheese. I used full-fat cream cheese, but you can use reduced-fat cream cheese if you'd rather.
- Cheddar cheese. I used white cheddar cheese, but you can use any kind of cheese that you'd like.
- Pork rub seasoning. This homemade pork rub contains brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, dry mustard powder, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Pork sausage. I used uncooked sausage. Any ground sausage will work, including Italian sausage or breakfast sausage.
- Bacon slices. I used regular-cut slices of bacon. Thick-cut bacon would also work, but it might take longer to cook.
- Red pepper flakes. This adds a little extra heat to this dish.
- Barbecue sauce, optional. This adds another layer of flavor.
See the printable recipe card for quantities.
🔪Instructions
First, prepare homemade sweet bbq rub. Mix brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, dry mustard powder, kosher salt, and black pepper together in a small bowl. You will have 2 tablespoons of rub.
In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and 1 tablespoon of the bbq rub. Mix well.
In another bowl, mix together the sausage meat and the remaining 1 tablespoon of sweet rub.
Divide meat into 6 balls. Form each ball into a patty.
Next, put on gloves. Slice jalapeno peppers in half, and remove the seeds and inner membrane.
Stuff the jalapeno pepper to the top with cheese mixture. Press the filling in with the back of the spoon.
Put two jalapeno halves together. Wrap a sausage patty around each stuffed jalapeno. Form it into an egg shape.
Next, wrap a slice of bacon around the outside of the meat and secure it with toothpicks if needed.
Add another strip of bacon so that the entire egg is completely covered in bacon.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
Place the armadillo eggs into the preheated basket of an air fryer in a single layer.
Air fry for 25 minutes, flipping over at the halfway mark.
The armadillo eggs are cooked when the bacon is crispy on the outside. Also, the internal temperature of the sausage needs to be 160 degrees F when measured with a digital meat thermometer.
If they are not quite done, air fry for another 2-3 minutes.
Brush with bbq sauce if desired, and air fry for 1 minute more.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy!
🌶️ Variations
- Spicy: For extra spicy armadillo eggs, take the seeds and add them to the cheese mixture. You could also add chili powder or cayenne pepper to the cheese mixture.
- Deluxe: Serve bacon-wrapped jalapenos with sour cream.
🥣 EQUIPMENT
- Mixing bowl
- Electric mixer
- Small spoon
- Air fryer
I used my Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer, which I love. It has a large basket so I can easily make enough food quickly for my family, and it lets me know when it is preheated and when it is time to flip the food.
I also have a dual-drawer Ninja Foodi Air Fryer. I like to use it when cooking for fewer people or when I want to cook different foods simultaneously.
Remember that there are many different models of air fryers, and they all cook differently. For example, some are hotter and cook faster than others.
The cooking time may need to be adjusted depending on your air fryer model and the size of your air fryer.
🌡️ Storage
These armadillo eggs are best eaten immediately after cooking.
However, if you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the air fryer until warm and crisp.
To freeze, place on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze them for about 2 hours. Once frozen, wrap them individually in plastic wrap, transfer them to a plastic bag or container, and place them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
When ready to enjoy them again, thaw them in the fridge overnight.
💭 Top tips
- Thick-cut bacon will take longer to cook than regular bacon.
- Make sure there is space between the armadillo eggs in the air fryer basket.
- If you want extra heat, add some of the jalapeno seeds to the cream cheese mixture.
- The total cook time will depend on the size of your armadillo eggs. Larger eggs will take longer to cook than smaller eggs.
❓ FAQ
The dish is called an armadillo egg because it resembles an armadillo's egg.
Armadillo eggs are made with jalapeno peppers, cream cheese filling, sausage, and bacon.
Yes, you can freeze armadillo eggs. Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze them for about 2 hours. Once frozen, wrap them individually in plastic wrap, transfer them to a plastic bag or container, and place them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
There is about 345 kcal in one armadillo egg.
🥗 What to eat with armadillo eggs?
Some of my favorite dishes to eat with these armadillo eggs are Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Smoked Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer Squash, Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms, and Air Fryer Zucchini Rounds.
I also like to serve them with Instant Pot Rice, Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower, and a green salad.
If you tried these Air Fryer Armadillo Eggs recipe, please take a moment to leave a star rating or comment letting me know how you liked it! I love hearing from you!
📋 Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Armadillo Eggs
Equipment
- electric mixer
- Small spoon
Ingredients
- 6 jalapeno peppers
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoon sweet pork rub seasoning divided
- 1 pound pork sausage
- 16 bacon slices regular cut
- red pepper flakes optional
- barbecue sauce optional
Sweet Pork Rub Ingredients
- 1⅓ teaspoon brown sugar
- ⅔ teaspoon paprika
- ⅓ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅓ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ teaspoon chili powder
- ⅓ teaspoon dry mustard powder
- ⅓ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare homemade sweet bbq rub. Mix brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, dry mustard powder, kosher salt, and black pepper together in a small bowl. You will have 2 tablespoon of rub.
- Slice jalapeno peppers in half, remove the seeds and inner membrane.
- Combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and 1 tablespoon of bbq rub. Mix. Stuff jalapeno to the top. Press filling in with the back of a spoon.
- Mix together sausage and 1 tablespoon of sweet rub. Divide meat into 6 balls. Form each ball into a patty. Wrap the patty around each stuffed jalapeno. Form it into an egg shape.
- Wrap two slices of bacon around the outside of the meat and secure with toothpicks if needed.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Air fry for 25 minutes, flipping over halfway. The internal temp of the sausage needs to be 160 degrees F.
- Brush with bbq sauce if desired, and air fry for 1 minute more.
- Serve immediately.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Thick-cut bacon will take longer to cook than regular bacon.
- Make sure there is space between the armadillo eggs in the air fryer basket.
- If you want extra heat, add some of the jalapeno seeds to the cream cheese mixture.
- The total cook time will depend on the size of your armadillo eggs. Larger eggs will take longer to cook than smaller eggs.
Nutrition
📑 Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 160°F
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
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