For a homemade take out inspired meal, pair these egg rolls with the Best Fried Rice and Teriyaki Chicken!
Air Fryer Egg Rolls
Air Fryer Egg Rolls offer all of the flavor of take out, but are so much healthier! I loaded these egg rolls with tons of veggies and air fried the egg rolls versus the typical deep fry. Let me tell you these do not disappoint! If you follow me on instagram you will see we’ve already made these about 4 times since then. We made a breakfast egg roll and a ham and cheese egg roll all in the air fryer. We can’t stop making these they are that good! The trick to CRISPY egg rolls is turning the air fryer all the way up and spraying both sides of the egg rolls with nonstick cooking spray. The cooking spray acts almost like an egg wash and helps to brown and crisp up the outside. I am telling you no one would know these weren’t deep fried! The other great thing about these egg rolls is that they are actually super easy to make! My toddler had fun rolling up the egg rolls and brushing water onto the edges. Once you get the hang of rolling them it actually goes pretty fast!
The Secret Ingredient for Authentic Egg Rolls
Chinese 5 Spice Powder! If this isn’t in your spice cabinet yet you have to add it! It will make your egg rolls taste like they’ve come straight from the restaurant! Chinese 5 spice powder is made up of star anise, fennel seeds, Szechuan peppercorns, cloves, and cinnamon. It’s a distinctive flavor that is always added to authentic egg rolls. Learn more about the origins of Chinese 5 Spice Powder here. You can make your own Chinese 5 spice powder by combining these ingredients or buy it already made here.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Egg Rolls
For the Egg Rolls
Egg Roll Wrappers- Typically, you can find these in the produce section near the tofu in the refrigerated section/ Coleslaw Mix- I used a coleslaw mix that has green cabbage, red cabbage, and shredded carrots. You can replace this with finely chopped cabbage and shredded fresh carrot! Celery- Finely chopped celery adds the perfect crunch. Green Onions- I add both the white and green parts of the green onions. Mushrooms- You can use your favorite type of mushrooms here, and slice them into thin strips. Garlic & Ginger- Garlic and ginger are your aromatics for this recipe and add a savory and fresh flavor to the egg roll filling!
For the Sauce
Chinese 5 Spice Powder- This is my secret ingredient for egg rolls! It will make your egg rolls taste like they’ve come straight from the restaurant! Soy Sauce- I use low sodium soy sauce to control the saltiness. Honey- Adds a hint of sweetness and rounds out the flavors. Oyster Sauce– Oyster sauce is packed with umami flavor! Fish sauce would also work as a replacement. Sesame Oil– Adds a nutty flavor to your sauce.
How to Make Air Fryer Egg Rolls
Make the Sauce: Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk well. Set aside. Make the Filling: Heat oil over medium heat. Add the coleslaw and celery and sauté for 3-4 minutes. Then add the green onions, mushrooms, garlic, and ginger and sauté for 2-3 more minutes or until all of the veggies are tender. Stir in the sauce making sure to coat all of the vegetables.
Assemble: To assemble egg rolls start by wetting the edges of the egg roll wrapper with water making sure to get all of the sides (not just the corners). Add about 2-3 tablespoons of filling in the center of each egg roll.
Fold: Fold each side of the wrapper over the filling then roll egg roll away from you. Seal: Before rolling all the way to the end brush more water on the edge of the wrapper to help seal the edges.
Air Fry: Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees. Spray the air fryer rack with nonstick cooking spray. Once preheated add in the egg rolls and spray with non stick cooking spray.
Cook & Flip: Let the egg rolls cook for 6 minutes, then flip the egg rolls and spray again with cooking spray. Cook for another 6 minutes. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Kelley’s Tips
Luckily, these air fryer egg rolls are pretty hard to mess up. But in order to ensure the best egg rolls, make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer with egg rolls. You want each egg roll to have some space around it in other to really crisp up. If you need to cook them in batches, that is totally fine. Make sure to properly seal the egg rolls. By brushing the edges with water and then brushing the final edge again with water, you will ensure that the filling doesn’t come spilling out of the egg rolls! For added protein, add some ground chicken or turkey to the filling! You can also add shrimp or even tofu to make the filling more protein packed.
What To Serve With Egg Rolls
Beef Fried Rice Chicken Chow Mein Honey Soy Chicken Stir Fry Fried Rice Recipe Mongolian Beef Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Chicken Lo Mein Crockpot General Tso’s Chicken Pepper Steak Air Fryer Crab Rangoon Korean Beef Rice Bowls
Where can I buy egg roll wrappers?
If you have never looked for egg roll wrappers at the store, you are not alone. These wrappers are in a refrigerated section, usually close to the tofu. They are pretty widely available and shouldn’t be too difficult to find!
What should I dip my egg rolls in?
One of the best parts of eating egg rolls is deciding what sauce to dip them in. Our favorites are sweet Thai chili or hot mustard. You could also try a sweet and sour or Gyoza dipping sauce!
Best Way To Store Egg Rolls
To store, place in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To reheat, pop them in the air fryer or the oven until heated through so that the outside stays crispy! To freeze, you can double the recipe and have these on hand for later on! Place the prepped but not yet cooked egg rolls on a baking sheet and freeze for about 1 hour. This will prevent them from sticking together in the freezer. Then, transfer them to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. To cook, place the frozen egg rolls in the air fryer and spray with cooking spray. Air fry at 400 degrees F for about 8 minutes, then flip and cook for another 8 minutes. Add additional minutes if the egg rolls are not heated through.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Fried Rice Air Fryer Gochujang Salmon Air Fryer Chickpeas Air Fryer Vegetables Air Fryer Chicken Wings
title: “Air Fryer Egg Rolls” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-03” author: “Frank Felton”
The best part? You can prep the filling ahead of time and chill it until you’re ready to assemble and cook the egg rolls, making this a great recipe for a weeknight meal alongside your favorite stir-fry. Next time you’re craving a golden brown, flaky, delicious appetizer, this foolproof recipe for air-fried egg rolls has you covered. Just don’t forget the sweet chili garlic dipping sauce! For more easy appetizer recipes, check out my Air Fried Chicken Wings, Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, and Stuffed Mushrooms next!
What You Need To Make This Recipe
Olive oil — just your normal cooking oil is perfect here. If you’re out of olive oil, swap in a high smoke point, neutral-flavored oil like avocado or canola instead. Ground pork — tender ground pork is a classic filling for egg rolls, but you’re welcome to swap in ground turkey or ground chicken instead! Cole slaw mix — I love buying the pre-bagged kind for convenience. You can also swap in an equal mix of shredded cabbage and carrots. If you’re making it yourself, a food processor outfitted with a shredding blade will be your best friend. Green onions — for a touch of color and mild onion flavor. Make sure to use both the pale green/white parts and the dark green tops for the best mix of taste and appearance. Garlic cloves — fresh is best, but you can swap in ½ teaspoon of garlic powder to cut back on prep time if you’d like. Ginger — while freshly grated ginger is preferred, you can also use ½ teaspoon dried ground ginger in a pinch. Soy sauce — for umami-rch depth of flavor and just the right amount of saltiness. Feel free to swap in tamari for a gluten-free alternative. Toasted sesame oil — for a deliciously nutty undertone that I can’t get enough of. Egg roll wrappers — using store-bought wrappers makes these crispy egg rolls a snap to throw together. Feel free to use a gluten-free version if needed. Most packages also include a helpful illustration on how to roll the filled wrappers!
How To Make Air Fryer Egg Rolls
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet (preferably nonstick) over high-medium heat. Add the pork and cook, stirring often, until only a few pink pieces remain, about 4 minutes. Add the cole slaw mix, green onions, garlic, and ginger. Cook, stirring often, until the cabbage is tender, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the soy sauce and sesame oil.
- Working one wrapper at a time, position it so it makes a diamond shape on your work surface. Lightly dab the top corner with water.
- Spoon 3 to 4 tablespoons of pork mixture in the center of the wrapper. Fold the bottom corner up over the filling, then the two side corners, and roll up to the top corner. Gently press to seal the edges of the wrapper. Place egg rolls in the air fryer basket, and spray lightly with cooking spray or brush with more olive oil. Air fry, in batches, at 350°F, flipping after 7 minutes, until golden brown and crispy, about 12 minutes total.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
Don’t Overfill: It can be tempting to stuff your egg rolls with as much filling as possible, but overfilling can lead to tearing and leaking. Stick with no more than a quarter cup of filling per wrapper. I rolled my egg rolls like a burrito: folding one long edge over the filling, then folding the short edges in, and rolling to close. Spray or Brush with Oil: Lightly brushing the egg rolls with oil or spritzing them with cooking spray before air frying will give them a more even golden color and enhance their crispiness. Avoid Overcrowding: Cook the egg rolls in batches to ensure they’re not overcrowded in the air fryer. Cooking them in a single layer allows for better air circulation and more even cooking. Shake or Turn Halfway: For even browning and crispiness, shake the air fryer basket or turn the egg rolls halfway through the cooking time. Adjust as Needed: Depending on your air fryer model and the size of your egg rolls, you might need to adjust the cooking time. Keep an eye on them the first time you make the recipe to find the perfect timing. Serve Immediately: Egg rolls are best enjoyed fresh from the air fryer while they’re still crispy and warm. Serve them with duck sauce or your favorite dipping sauce for an added flavor boost!
If you’ve tried this Air Fryer Egg Roll recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
