If you love crispy, crunchy egg rolls but don’t love the mess (or oil splatter) of frying, this Air Fryer Egg Rolls recipe is about to become your new go-to. These homemade takeout-style egg rolls are golden, satisfying, and way easier to make than you’d think—no deep fryer required.
It’s one of those recipes that feels like a treat, but it’s practical enough to whip up on a weeknight. Bonus: They’re easy to customize with whatever you’ve got in the fridge.
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Egg Rolls
- Crispy without the deep fry: A light brush of oil is all you need to get that signature crunch.
- Quick and mess-free: No vats of oil, no splattering—just pop them in the air fryer and walk away.
- Totally customizable: Use pork, chicken, tofu, or leftovers from last night’s stir-fry. It’s a great fridge-cleaner recipe.
- Great for meal prep: Make a batch ahead, freeze some, and reheat whenever the craving hits.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need for the classic version. Feel free to mix it up based on your pantry or dietary needs.
- Ground pork – The base of most classic egg rolls.
- Garlic and ginger – For that signature aromatic flavor.
- Green onions – Adds a sharp, fresh bite.
- Carrot – Julienned or shredded.
- Cabbage – Napa or green cabbage both work.
- Soy sauce + rice vinegar – For seasoning and brightness.
- Egg roll wrappers – Found in the refrigerated section, near tofu or produce.
- Oil spray or brush of neutral oil – Just enough to help them crisp up.
How to Make the Filling
You’ll start by cooking the ground pork in a skillet until browned. Then stir in your aromatics (ginger and garlic), followed by cabbage, carrots, and scallions. Let it all cook down until the veggies are soft and everything’s well combined. Season it to taste with soy sauce and rice vinegar.
Pro tip: The filling should taste delicious before you even wrap it. Don’t be afraid to taste and adjust as you go.
Rolling the Egg Rolls
Think of it like a burrito, but with a square wrapper.
- Lay the wrapper with a corner facing you (diamond shape).
- Add about ¼ cup of filling to the center.
- Fold in the sides, then roll up tightly from the bottom.
- Seal the final edge with a dab of water.
You’ll get about 10–12 egg rolls from this batch.
How to Cook Egg Rolls in the Air Fryer
Step 1: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Lightly spray the basket with oil.
Step 2: Arrange egg rolls in a single layer in the air fryer. Make sure they’re not touching—you might need to do this in batches.
Step 3: Lightly brush or spray the tops of the egg rolls with oil. This step helps them brown and crisp nicely.
Step 4: Air fry for 6 minutes, then flip and cook another 5–6 minutes, or until golden and crisp all over.
Note: Air fryer models vary, so keep an eye on the first batch and adjust as needed.
No Air Fryer? No Problem!
You can pan-fry egg rolls with about ½ inch of oil in a skillet at 350°F for 4–5 minutes per side. They’ll be golden, crispy, and just as delicious—just not quite as hands-off.
Serving Suggestions
These egg rolls are a great appetizer or snack, but you can also make a full meal out of them. Try serving with:
- Sweet chili sauce
- Soy sauce with a splash of vinegar
- Garlic hoisin dip
- A side of stir-fried noodles or jasmine rice
Make-Ahead and Freezer Tips
Storing Leftovers:
Cooked egg rolls can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven at 350°F until crisp again.
Freezing:
Let cooked egg rolls cool completely, then wrap individually in foil or place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating from Frozen:
For best results, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven until hot and crispy. If you try to reheat frozen egg rolls directly in the air fryer, the outsides will brown too quickly before the inside heats through.
FAQs
Can I make these vegetarian?
Absolutely! Just skip the pork and add extra veggies like mushrooms, tofu, bean sprouts, or even cooked rice noodles.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes. You can prep and roll the egg rolls a day ahead. Keep them in the fridge covered with a damp paper towel and plastic wrap. Air fry right before serving.
What kind of wrappers should I use?
Look for egg roll wrappers in the refrigerated section of the store. Spring roll wrappers are different (and much thinner), so make sure you’re getting the kind meant for frying.
Final Thoughts
These Air Fryer Egg Rolls are one of those little kitchen wins—they taste like takeout, but you made them yourself in under 30 minutes with way less mess. Once you try them, you might never go back to the deep fryer again.
Crispy, golden, and endlessly adaptable—these egg rolls are a keeper. Let me know if you make a batch (and what you stuff them with)!
Air Fryer Egg Rolls Recipe
If you love crispy, crunchy egg rolls but don’t love the mess (or oil splatter) of frying, this Air Fryer Egg Rolls recipe is about to become your new go-to.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground pork or chicken
- 1 medium carrot, shredded
- 3 scallions, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 3 cups shredded green cabbage
- 12 egg roll wrappers
- Oil, for brushing
- Duck sauce
- Plum sauce
- Soy sauce
Instructions
- Cook the filling: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil along with the ground pork or chicken. Break apart the meat with a spatula or wooden spoon as it cooks.
- Cook until the meat is cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add garlic, ginger, carrot, scallions, and cabbage. Continue to cook until cabbage wilts down and is soft, another 3 to 4 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Season the filling with soy sauce and rice wine vinegar and take off the heat to cool. This filling can be made in advance.
- Assemble the egg rolls: Place a single egg roll wrapper on a dry surface with one point of the square facing you, like a diamond. Place about 1/4 cup of the egg roll filling mixture in the middle of the wrapper.
- Dip your fingers in water and run around the edges of the wrapper. Then fold the edges of the wrapper over the center and start rolling the egg roll away from you to form a tight cylinder.
- Place on a plate and repeat until you are out of filling. You should get at least a dozen egg rolls.
- Air fry the egg rolls: Place the egg rolls in the basket of your air fryer. Spray or brush them lightly with oil. Add as many as you can without stacking the egg rolls, making sure they don’t touch.
- Air needs to circulate around them. Brush the egg rolls lightly with oil.
- Place the basket in the air fryer and turn the air fryer to 350°F. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes, then flip the egg rolls, spray or brush with oil a second time on the bottom side, and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes.
- Finished egg rolls should be golden brown and crispy. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
Yield
12Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 265Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 45mgSodium 389mgCarbohydrates 24gFiber 2gSugar 2gProtein 15g
dinnerbytes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although dinnerbytes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
