Fried Jalapenos are crispy, golden-brown slices of jalapenos that are seasoned and fried to perfection. They are the ultimate appetizer for game day, parties, or just when you’re craving something crunchy.
Deep-fried jalapenos are the perfect combination of spicy and crunchy, just like these jalapeno fries. They’re a fun little crowd-pleaser that always gets rave reviews. Whether you serve them for game day snacks or as a side with burgers and pulled pork sliders, these jalapeno bottle caps never last long on the table.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tons of flavor: The mixture of spicy peppers and bold seasonings in the breading gives these jalapeno slices a burst of savory flavor.
- Simple ingredients: All the ingredients are pantry staples, which means you most likely won’t even have to leave the house to make them.
- Super versatile: Fried jalapeno slices make a great appetizer when paired with ranch or sour cream for dipping, but they also make great toppings for sandwiches.
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Jalapenos: Look for firm jalapenos with a bright color without blemishes for the best results.
- Flour: Plain all-purpose flour helps the egg wash stick to your jalapeno slices.
- Buttermilk: Don’t want to buy buttermilk? Make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 cup of buttermilk and letting it sit for 10 minutes.
- Breadcrumbs: I recommend using plain breadcrumbs, as you will be adding your own seasonings.
- Oil: Vegetable oil or canola oil is best for deep frying. Use whichever you have on hand. I typically deep fry in vegetable oil.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Cheesy: Make this fried jalapeno recipe extra cheesy by adding ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese to the breadcrumb mixture.
- Extra crunchy: Looking for more crunch? Swap out the bread crumbs and use Panko instead.
- Poppers: Leave the jalapenos whole, and stuff them with a filling similar to these jalapeno popper bites before battering and frying them.
How to Make Fried Jalapenos
Ready to make these crispy jalapeno chips? Grab a frying pan, fill it with oil, and preheat it to 375°F. While it’s heating, follow these step-by-step instructions to finish your prep work.
- Step 1: Make the dredging station. Fill three shallow bowls. The first is made with flour, the second with buttermilk and egg, and lastly, with tempura, breadcrumbs, and seasonings.
- Step 2: Coat the slices with flour. Coat each slice in flour on both sides, and shake off the excess.
- Step 3: Dip in egg wash. Dip the floured slices in the buttermilk mixture.
- Step 4: Bread. For the final layer, bread each slice in the breadcrumb mixture.
- Step 5: Deep fry. Fry the slices in hot oil until they are crispy.
- Step 6: Drain and season. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle with salt while still hot.
- Step 7: Serve. Serve with ranch dressing or jalapeno salsa.
Expert Tips
- Hot oil: For the crispiest texture, it’s essential to check that your oil temperature is hot before cooking. A candy thermometer will work great to check that it’s 375°F before starting cooking.
- Dry the peppers: Pat the jalapeno slices dry with paper towels or a clean towel so that the batter sticks well to them.
- Don’t overcrowd: When deep-frying, don’t add too many peppers to the oil at once. A handful is enough. Adding too many at once will give you soggy peppers.
- Shake off the excess: Carefully shake off the excess coating at each dredging bowl to avoid too much batter on the jalapenos.
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can also freeze the cooked slices on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer them to a freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to three months. You can reheat them straight from frozen.
Serving Suggestions
- This fried jalapenos recipe makes a great snack or appetizer when served alongside your favorite dipping sauce.
- They also work well as a topping for beef street tacos and steak nachos. They add just a great crunch.
- If you are in the mood for something creative, these jalapeno chips also add a delicious touch and hint of spice to chicken bacon ranch pizza.
Fried Jalapenos Recipe FAQs
Yes, batter and bread the slices as directed, and then preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Cook them in the air fryer basket for 3-6 minutes, shaking halfway through.
Not a fan of heat? Remove the seeds and ribs from inside the slices before breaded and fried. This will remove a significant amount of heat from the peppers.
If your breading is not sticking, either your peppers are wet when you started the dredging process, or your oil is not hot enough. Make sure to dry the peppers, and check the temperature of your oil.
The best way to reheat jalapeno chips is in the air fryer or oven. Air fry them at 400 degrees for about 3 minutes. You can also reheat them in the oven at 350°F for 6-8 minutes on a baking sheet. If they’re frozen you can reheat them straight from the freezer and add a few extra minutes.
Try This Delicious Fried Jalapenos Recipe Today
This easy, delicious fried jalapeno slices recipe is so easy and so full of flavor. It’s a great recipe for an appetizer, snack, or side, and everyone always wants more! With something so easy and so delicious, you have to give it a try! Make them just once, and I know you’ll find yourself looking for reasons to make these fried jalapeno slices again and again.
More Delicious Jalapeno Recipes
Here are some Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers from Great Grub, Delicious Treats, that you will enjoy as well.
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Crispy Fried Jalapenos
Ingredients
- 7 jalapenos, stem removed, sliced ¼ inch thick
- 1 cup flour
- 1 ½ cups bread crumbs
- 1 cup tempura
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama® seasoning
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon crushed red peppers
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1-2 cups vegetable oil
Instructions
- Heat oil to 375° in a frying pan or an electric skillet.
- Using 3 shallow containers: place flour in the first one; buttermilk and egg whisked together in the second; bread crumbs, tempura, garlic salt, Cajun seasoning, pepper and crushed red peppers in the third.
- Take a small handful of sliced jalapeños and place in flour. Coat with flour, shake off excess and then place in buttermilk mixture.
- Next, using a slotted spoon, take jalapeños from buttermilk mixture and transfer to bread crumb mixture to coat.
- Carefully place sliced jalapeños into hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy on both sides.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and place jalapeños on a plate lined with paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Repeat the process until all jalapeños have been deep fried.
- Enjoy with Ranch dressing, barbecue sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Hot oil: Keep the oil at a steady temperature. It should be around 375°F. A candy thermometer makes this easy.
- Don’t overcrowd: Fry in small batches. A handful at a time is perfect. Dumping too many in at once drops the oil temperature and leaves you with soggy peppers.
