Low Carb Air Fryer Shrimp Pepper Poppers (WITH OVEN OPTION)

This step by step recipe for preparing low carb air fryer shrimp pepper poppers is super easy and yummy.  I promise you won’t miss the ‘breading’ found in many of our pepper popper recipes! No Air Fryer? No worries! We discuss how to prepare in the oven!

Before scrolling down to the recipe, be sure to read my easy tips for making your recipes low carb, keto friendly and delicious.

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Question Time: Who loves a pepper popper?

Crunch. Spice. 2 words that make my heart (and stomach) sing. 

The ever-popular pepper poppers are delicious and pretty much on every appetizer menu. From bacon wrapped, to deep-fried, the pepper popper was everything I loved (by now you all know I don’t love green shakes), but the carbs made me run away!

My family is ‘ok’ with pepper poppers, but didn’t share the love eyes I have when I view the words ‘pepper poppers’ on an appetizer menu. 

This popular appetizer dish threw me a bit of a curve ball – most poppers are either fried or topped with some type of breadcrumb combined with my family thoughts of this dish being ‘ho-hum.’ Truthfully, my kids do not care for the heat of the jalapeno, and of course, no frying or use bread crumbs in the Skinny Louisiana house. For the final touch, I had to add a Louisiana twist to the pepper popper. 

It was time take the popular poppers (say that 3 times fast) recipe to the Skinny Louisiana drawing board. Using the Air Fryer, a few simple ingredients, and a Louisiana super food we have an amazing Low Carb Shrimp Pepper Popper the entire family will love. 

Where to Shop for Low Carb Ingredients

Before I go over ingredients, know the items used in this recipe can be found at many of your local supermarkets and Drug Emporium. Many of you know my love of Drug Emporium stores. Not only does Drug Emporium have amazing prices (often the cheapest in town), I work with this amazing company in putting on Low Carb Food Demonstrations and product selection for shelves. Many of my items (with the exception of the shrimp and mini peppers) in this recipe are from Drug Emporium. For a full list of Drug Emporium store locations, click here.  No Drug Emporium in your town? No worries, you will be able to find these ingredients at your local supermarket.

Where to Shop for Seafood

While supermarkets do have a selection of seafood, make sure you are purchasing Gulf Coast and/or Louisiana Gulf Coast seafood. Do not purchase seafood from foreign countries since often it is treated with salt solutions to prevent formation of ice crystals. 

What Air Fryer Do I Use?

I love my Air Fryer! Many of you have posed the questions, ‘What Air Fryer do you have?’ ‘What is your favorite brand of Air Fryer?’ I have a basic Phillips Air Fryer and love it. I encourage folks to shop around and see what Air Fryer fits their needs. 

For more Air Fryer recipes, check out my Air Fryer Dill Pickle recipe.

Equipment Needed in our Low Carb Air Fryer Shrimp Pepper Poppers 

• Knife x 2
• Cutting board
• Measuring spoons – 1 tsp
• Dry measuring cup – 1 cup
• Liquid Measuring cup – 1/2 cup
• Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
• Air Fryer

Equipment Needed in our Low Carb Shrimp Pepper Poppers – OVEN OPTION

• Knife x 2
• Cutting board
• Measuring spoons – 1 tsp
• Dry measuring cup – 1 cup
• Measure cup – 1/2 cup
• Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
• Baking Sheet
• Non Stick Aluminum foil

Low Carb Air Fryer Shrimp Pepper Poppers Ingredients:

• Shrimp
• Light cream cheese
• Greek yogurt, plain
• 2% shredded cheddar cheese
• Tony Chachere’s BOLD Creole Seasoning
• Sweet mini peppers

Low Carb Ingredient Substitutions in our Low Carb Air Fryer Shrimp Pepper Poppers 

Mini Peppers

• Peppers (mainly jalapeno) are the basis of any pepper popper recipe. We used our mini peppers in this recipe with a serving (6 halves) yielding approximately 5 grams of carbs and 2 grams of fiber (depending on size). 

Shrimp

• While many of us recognize shrimp as a protein and not a high carb meat, many question, ‘Is this an ok meat?’ Shrimp is an amazing source of protein with three ounces of shrimp yielding 0 carbs and 20 grams of protein. While it is tempting to look in our supermarket freezer section for shrimp, make sure the product is raw and from the coast. Often, shrimp imported from foreign countries have been treated with a salt solution to prevent ice crystal formation. 

Tony Chachere’s BOLD Creole Seasoning

• I need SPICE! Containing zero carbs AND a whole lot of kick, Tony Chachere’s BOLD Creole Seasoning gives this dish a POW without hiking up the sodium content. 

2% Shredded Cheddar Cheese

• While my keto friends will opt for the full fat version of this cheese, I do enjoy saving calories by using a 2% version. 

Light Cream Cheese

• While my fabulous keto friends will keep the full-fat versions of cream cheese (please do if you are following keto), I used a light cream cheese to keep the calories down in this dish (yes, I look at calories). No fear, light cream cheese does not have any added sugar. Light cream cheese is a healthy alternative to cream cheese with 35 calories tablespoon compared to 51 calories in 1 tablespoon of cream cheese.

Greek Yogurt

• I love to punch up the protein in my recipes and Greek yogurt is my answer. Depending on brands, some Greek yogurts offer up to 15 grams of protein per 5 ounce container. Be sure to select plain AND make sure sugar content is zero. Keto friends, be sure to use a full fat Greek yogurt. I used a 2% version.

How to Store Low Carb Air Fryer Shrimp Pepper Poppers 

I highly doubt you will have any leftovers, but you can store in the refrigerator in any reusable plastic container with a lid. 

How to Reheat our Low Carb Air Fryer Shrimp Pepper Poppers 

Since this recipe contains shrimp, be very careful reheating. Overcooked shrimp can become very rubbery. I would heat for a very short period of time. 

How to Make Low Carb Air Fryer Shrimp Pepper Poppers 

ORGANIZE your equipment. 

PREP your shrimp and peppers.

• Make sure shrimp is peeled and deveined. Chop shrimp using a sharp knife and place aside. Using a NEW cutting board, cut peppers longwise. Clean out all seeds. Place aside.

MAKE your filling.

• In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, Greek yogurt, shredded cheddar cheese, and seasoning. Using a rubber spatula, combine all ingredients.

STUFF those peppers.

• Using a tablespoon, scoop cheese mixture and ‘stuff’ pepper half. When all peppers are stuffed, line in Air Fryer.

Let the Air Fryer do its MAGIC

• Cook at 360 degrees for 8-10 minutes. 

SERVE.

How to Make Low Carb Shrimp Peppers in the Oven.

ORGANIZE your equipment. 

PREP your shrimp and peppers.

Make sure shrimp is peeled and deveined. Chop using a sharp knife and place aside. 

ROAST peppers. 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil.

Using a NEW cutting board, cut peppers longwise. Clean out all seeds. Place peppers on baking sheet. Spray peppers with non-stick cooking spray.

Roast in oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

MAKE your filling.

• In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, Greek yogurt, shredded cheddar cheese, and seasoning. Using a rubber spatula, combine all ingredients.

STUFF those peppers.

• Using a tablespoon, scoop cheese mixture and ‘stuff’ pepper half. When all peppers are stuffed, line on baking sheet.

BAKE those peppers.

• Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Low Carb Air Fryer Shrimp Pepper Poppers Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. shrimp, raw, peeled, deveined, chopped
• 4 oz (1/2 of 8 oz pkg.) of light cream cheese
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 cup 2% shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 tsp. Tony’s Bold Cajun Seasoning 
• 1 pkg. sweet peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded (we used 9)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine shrimp, light cream cheese, Greek yogurt and Tony’s lite Cajun Seasoning.
2. Scoop mixture by tablespoon full into pepper half.
3. Spray Air Fryer basket with non stick cooking spray.
4. Line peppers in Air Fryer.
5. Air Fry at 360 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Low Carb Shrimp Pepper Poppers (OVEN RECIPE)

If you don’t have an Air Fryer, no worries, follow these simple directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil.
2. Place halved peppers on baking sheet. Spray TOP with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Roast in oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and place aside.
4. In a small bowl, combine shrimp, light cream cheese, Greek yogurt and Tony’s Bold Cajun Seasoning*. Place aside.
5. Scoop mixture by tablespoon fulls into pepper half.
6. Place on baking sheet. 
7. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes.

*Note we did sprinkle our peppers in the oven with a 1/2 tsp of almond flour. 

Yield: 18 poppers, 3 per serving.

Nutrition Facts per Serving: Calories: 180, Total fat: 8g, Saturated fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 105 mg, Sodium: 520 mg, Total carbs: 6g, Fiber: <1g, Sugar: 3g, Protein: 20g.

NET CARBS: 6g.

You can purchase our fabulous cookbook, Skinny Louisiana…in the Kitchen at the following link.

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This recipe was developed and copyright by culinary dietitian Shelly Marie Redmond. She is the author of Skinny Louisiana…in the Kitchen and upcoming Skinny Louisiana…in the Slow Cooker. She practices out of Eberhardt Physical Therapy which she co-owns with her husband Greg.