Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Mummy

If using shrimp, beef, chicken, sausage or BACON

1. If using shrimp, sauté in skillet in 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil until pink on both sides. Set aside until ready to use.
2. If using ½ pound ground beef or sausage use a skillet to brown it, then place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Allow meat to totally cool before blending with cheese mixture.
3. Cook diced bacon in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until crispy, 8 to 9 minutes. Transfer to paper towel–lined plate. Set aside.

Making Your Poppers

1. Mix cheddar, Monterey Jack, cream cheese, bacon, garlic powder, scallions, cilantro or parsley, panko, egg yolk, lime juice, seasoning of choice, bacon and any extra options you want to include together in bowl until incorporated and nice and creamy.

Optional Step to Reduce Heat in Peppers

1. Adjust your oven rack to upper-middle position and preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Prepare your rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack lightly coated with cooking spray.
2. Season jalapeños with sprinkles of salt and place cut side down on top of your wire rack. Bake until just starting to become tender, between 4 and 5 minutes.
3. Remove jalapeños from oven and set aside to cool.

Making your Poppers

1. Set your oven's temperature to 450 degrees.
2. Once jalapenos are cool enough to handle, flip them over so the cut side is facing up.
3. Divide cheese mixture among each of your jalapeños, carefully pressing into each. Fill each jalapeño about ⅔ full with cheese mixture and do not overfill them.
4. Wrap each jalapeño half with bacon and secure with wooden toothpick, if desired.
5. Prepare to place inside air fryer.
6. Place inside air fryer basket. You will likely have to cook these in batches.
7. If not wrapped in bacon only 10 minutes at 325 degrees is needed.
8. Cook at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes and bacon is cooked. It could take up to 5 minutes longer depending on the size of your peppers.
9. Next, once cool enough to handle, wrap in crescent dough strips. Remember to leave a space for the eyes to go. Return to air fryer for 5 more minutes at 325 degrees.
10. Once golden brown remove from air fryer and place on rack. Get out your eyeballs and some mustard, barbecue sauce or ketchup. You will not need much.
11. One at a time place a tiny speck of ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce where the eyeballs should go. Place eyeballs directly on top of the sauce.
12. Continue until all jalapeno poppers are done.
13. Place on serving plate.
14. Serve with barbecue sauce for dip or whatever you desire.
15. Enjoy every bite.

Oven

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place poppers on parchment lined pan.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes and bacon is cooked. If not wrapping in bacon only bake for about 10 minutes or filling is staring to brown.
4. Let sit until cool enough to handle and wrap in crescent strips, leaving room for the eyes.
5. Bake for an additional 5-7 minutes and crescent strips are golden brown.
6. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.