Air Fryer Rattlesnake Bites
Published
Published
Creamy, cheesy, tangy and spicy, these Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites are a great starter to any meal or party appetizer. And this version is made in the air fryer instead of deep fried, so no oil needed!
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Easy Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites
I’ve only been to a Texas Roadhouse a couple times, but both times I practically ate my weight in their rolls with cinnamon butter and their rattlesnake bites.
Rattlesnake bites are delicious cheese and jalapeno filled balls, coated in a seasoned breadcrumb mixture that are battered and deep-fried until golden gooey perfection. While I love eating deep fried food though, I don’t love making it, so I converted them for the air fryer!
Serve dipped in ranch dressing and you have the perfect combination of tangy and spicy flavors – and one irresistible appetizer.
Why You’ll Love This Rattlesnake Bites Recipe
- Quick and easy. These rattlesnake bites take just a few minutes to prep and about 6 minutes in the air fryer. Do note that they need to chill for 45 minutes before air frying.
- Just the right amount of heat. Similar to jalapeno poppers, the jalapenos give these rattlesnake bites just the right amount of heat that’s balanced by the cream cheese.
- Great party appetizer. These rattlesnake bites can be served as a dinner appetizer, as they would be at Texas Roadhouse, but they’re also perfect for game day and parties.
Ingredients Needed
Texas Roadhouse rattlesnake bites are made with just a handful of ingredients.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Jalapeños – I recommend using fresh jalapeños, not pickled jalapeños, for better texture and taste. However, you can use pickled jalapeños; you will need about 1/3 cup of drained and diced.
- Cheese – I used Monterey Jack but a similar blend would work. Pepper jack would add a bit more heat to these as well.
- Cream cheese – Room temperature so it combines easier.
- Eggs – Helps the breadcrumbs stick to the cheese mixture.
- Milk – To thin the egg mixture.
- Seasonings – Garlic powder and pepper are all you’ll need.
- Italian breadcrumbs – If you use plain breadcrumbs, you’ll want to add more seasonings.
- Nonstick spray – Important so that the rattlesnake bites do not stick to the air fryer.
How to Make Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites
Here’s a quick overview of how to make air fryer rattlesnake bites.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Form the balls. Blend the Monterey Jack cheese, cream cheese, and jalapeños in a bowl. Form into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Chill. Freeze the cheese balls for 45 minutes.
- Dip into breadcrumbs. Combine the eggs, milk, garlic powder, and pepper in one bowl. Place the breadcrumbs in another. Dip the cheeseballs into the egg mixture then roll into breadcrumbs.
- Air fry. Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray. Then place the rattlesnake bites in the air fryer and spray the tops with cooking spray. Air fry at 350F for 6 minutes.
- Cool in the basket. Let cool for 4 to 5 minutes in the basket, then gently remove with a spoon.
- Enjoy. Serve with a side of ranch dressing.
Tips & Variations
Due to the nature of cooking rattlesnake bites in the air fryer, some cheese will leak out. Here are a few things to help with that:
- Completely coat in breadcrumbs. This will help create a seal around the outside.
- Do not skip on the freezing time. Otherwise, they will be just a big melted mess.
- Do not move them around once you place them into the air fryer. Some of the breading can stick to the basket of the air fryer, and if you move them around, it will create a hole where the cheese will leak out.
- How do I remove them from the air fryer basket? Since they are just a big ball of melted cheese, it can be difficult to remove a few of them from the basket. I like to scoop them out with a spoon after allowing them to cool for about 4 minutes. This is why you must spray the air fryer basket with the nonstick spray before you put the rattlesnake bites into the air fryer.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your rattlesnake bites warm with ranch dressing for dipping. I do recommend letting them cool for a few minutes as the melted cheese will be HOT but do enjoy them relatively warm. These make a great party appetizer, especially for game day. You can also serve them as a starter to dishes like steak and baked chicken breast.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge. Store leftover rattlesnake bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat. Reheat in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes, until hot and melty.
- Freezer. You can also freeze these for 3 months. I recommend flash freezing on a baking sheet until solid and then transferring them to an airtight freezer-safe container. Reheat in the air fryer from frozen.
More Air Fryer Appetizers:
- Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
- Crab Rangon
- Tandoori Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Air Fryer Rattlesnake Bites
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, , room temperature
- 6 jalapeños, , seeded and finely diced
- 3 eggs
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- Nonstick spray
- Ranch dressing, , for dipping
Instructions
- Blend Monterey Jack cheese, cream cheese, and jalapeños in a medium mixing bowl.
- Scoop the cheese mixture into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment paper lined sheet pan. Place the balls into the freezer for 45 minutes.
- Whisk together eggs, milk, garlic powder, and pepper in a small mixing bowl. Place breadcrumbs into another small bowl.
- Dip the cheese balls into the egg mixture, then roll into the bread crumbs so the balls are completely coated.
- Preheat the air fryer for a few minutes to 350°F.
- Spray the air fryer basket with the nonstick spray. Place the balls into the basket and spray the tops with cooking spray.
- Set the air fryer to 6 minutes and cook until golden brown. Let cool 4 to 5 minutes in the basket, then gently remove with a spoon. Serve with a side of ranch.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!
Would it matter if you dipped the cheese balls in the egg and bread crumbs and then freeze for 45 minutes? Instead of freezing the cheese balls 45 minutes with out the egg and bread crumbs.
HI Diana – You could do that, sure. The problem you might run into is that the cheese mixture is pretty soft and a bit sticky when first formed into balls. Freezing first makes them easier to roll in the egg.