Air Fryer Wontons
Air fryer wontons come out golden and crunchy on the outside with a juicy filling inside, without a pot of hot oil. Whether you fold your own pork wontons or cook a bag of frozen ones, the basket does the work in about 8 minutes. This recipe covers a simple pork and cabbage filling, folding, the right temperature and the fixes for wrappers that turn tough.
- Temperature
- 375°F190 °C
- Total time
- 46min
- Prep time
- 30min
- Servings
- 4
- Internal temp
- 160°F71 °C
- Per serving
- 240kcal
Why the air fryer works for wontons
A wonton wrapper is a thin sheet of wheat dough, and it only needs a little fat and strong, dry heat to turn crisp. Deep frying does this with a lot of oil. In the air fryer, hot air moves around each wonton, so the surface dries and browns while the filling steams inside the wrapper. A light coat of oil is enough to get a blistered, crunchy shell.
Because the wrapper is so thin, timing matters more than temperature. Eight minutes at 375 °F gives a golden surface and a fully cooked pork filling. Go much hotter and the folded corners burn before the center is done; go lower and the wrapper dries out without browning.
How to make wontons in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Mix the filling In a bowl, combine the ground pork, cabbage, scallions, garlic, ginger, 1 tbsp soy sauce, sesame oil and pepper. Stir with a fork for about until the mixture looks sticky and evenly mixed.
- Fill and fold Place a wrapper on the counter with one corner pointing toward you. Put 2 level teaspoons of filling in the center, wet the edges with a fingertip of water and fold the wrapper into a triangle. Press out the air, seal firmly, then pull the two long corners together and pinch them. Keep unfilled wrappers under a damp paper towel so they do not dry out.
- Oil and preheat Preheat the air fryer to 375 °F for . Brush or mist the wontons lightly with oil on both sides. Oil is what turns the wrapper crisp instead of dry.
- Cook in batches Arrange 12 wontons in a single layer without touching. Cook for , flipping after , until the wrappers are deep golden. Repeat with the second batch.
- Check the center Cut one open or insert an instant-read thermometer into the filling. The pork must reach 160 °F. Frozen store-bought wontons should reach 165 °F.
- Serve Mix the dipping soy sauce with the rice vinegar and serve the wontons hot while the wrappers are still crisp.
Times and temperatures
| Air Fryer Wontons | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade pork wontonsFlip after 4 min | 375 °F (190 °C) | 8 min |
| Mini wontons | 375 °F (190 °C) | 5–6 min |
| Frozen, store-boughtShake halfway, no thawing | 375 °F (190 °C) | 10–12 min |
| Wonton chips | 350 °F (180 °C) | 3–4 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size and wattage of your air fryer. Done at 160 °F (71 °C) in the center. See also air fryer cooking times for all foods.
Tips
- Use a small amount of filling. Two level teaspoons per wonton seals easily and cooks through at the same speed as the wrapper browns.
- Keep wrappers covered. Dry wrappers crack when you fold them and bake up brittle. A damp paper towel over the stack solves it.
- Do not crowd the basket. Wontons that touch steam each other and stay pale. A single layer with a little space gives even color on all sides.
What to serve with wontons
Serve air fryer wontons as an appetizer with soy dipping sauce or sweet chili sauce, or make a meal of them next to steamed rice and a simple vegetable such as broccoli or green beans. They also sit well on a party platter next to spring rolls for game day.
Storing and reheating
Cooked wontons keep for 3 to 4 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Uncooked folded wontons freeze well on a tray, then in a freezer bag for up to 2 months, and can go straight into the basket. Reheat cooked wontons in the air fryer at 350 °F for 3–4 minutes, until they are crisp and the center reaches 165 °F.
Variations
- Cream cheese wontons: Fill each wrapper with 1 teaspoon of softened cream cheese and a few chopped scallions. Cook at 350 °F for 5–6 minutes (not meat, so no thermometer needed).
- Chicken wontons: Swap the pork for ground chicken and cook until the filling reaches 165 °F.
- Crab or shrimp: Use finely chopped cooked shrimp or crab with scallion and a little cream cheese for a mild seafood filling.
- Wonton chips: Cut wrappers into triangles, mist with oil and cook at 350 °F for 3–4 minutes, shaking once.
If it does not turn out right
- The wrappers are tough and dry instead of crisp
- They had no oil or sat out too long before cooking. Brush or spray both sides lightly and keep unfilled wrappers covered while you work.
- The wontons burst open
- Too much filling or air trapped inside. Use 2 teaspoons per wonton, press out the air and seal the edges with a little water.
- The wontons stick to the basket
- Lightly oil the basket or the wontons, leave space between them, and wait until they are golden before moving them.
Questions and answers
How long do you cook wontons in the air fryer?
Fresh homemade wontons need about 8 minutes at 375 °F, flipped halfway. Mini wontons take 5–6 minutes. Always check that a pork filling has reached 160 °F.
Can you cook frozen wontons in the air fryer?
Yes, and you do not need to thaw them. Cook store-bought frozen wontons at 375 °F for 10–12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway, until they are hot and crisp. The center should reach 165 °F.
How do you make air fryer wonton chips?
Cut plain wrappers into triangles, mist them with oil, season with a pinch of salt and cook at 350 °F for 3–4 minutes, shaking once. Watch closely, because they brown fast.
Can you reheat wontons in the air fryer?
Yes. Reheat cooked wontons at 350 °F for 3–4 minutes, until crisp and hot all the way through.
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