Air-Fryer Egg Rolls

Crispy, golden egg rolls are about to become your new favorite homemade treat! These air-fryer beauties give you all that satisfying crunch without the mess of deep frying. Your family will absolutely love these as an appetizer, snack, or even a light dinner – and you’ll love how much healthier they are!

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Active Time: 20 minutes, Total Time: 35 minutes, Serves: 3 people

Nutrition Profile: Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, High-Fiber, High-Protein, Low-Calorie

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 315 Calories, 7g Fat, 43g Carbs, 19g Protein

Ingredients You’ll Need

Neutral oil: You’ll need 1 teaspoon of canola or avocado oil. Either one works perfectly for getting that pork nice and golden!

Ground pork: 5 ounces gives you just the right amount of protein. The pork adds amazing flavor and makes these egg rolls really satisfying.

Garlic: 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh garlic brings that aromatic punch. Fresh is best, but you can use jarred minced garlic if that’s what you have!

Green cabbage: 3 cups finely sliced (about 6 oz.) gives you that classic egg roll crunch. Make sure to slice it thin so it cooks evenly.

Scallions: ¼ cup chopped adds a mild onion flavor and pretty green color. Both the white and green parts work great here!

Lime juice: 1 tablespoon brings a bright, fresh taste that really makes the filling pop. Fresh squeezed is ideal!

Soy sauce: 1 teaspoon of reduced-sodium soy sauce adds that savory umami flavor we all love in Asian dishes.

Egg roll wrappers: 6 wrappers are perfect for this batch. You’ll find these in the refrigerated section near the tofu.

Egg: 1 large egg, well beaten, acts as your “glue” to seal the egg rolls shut. Don’t skip this step!

Cooking spray: This helps get that golden, crispy outside without adding extra oil.

How to Make Air-Fryer Egg Rolls

Step 1: Heat your oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork and garlic together. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring now and then, until the pork is nicely browned. Then add your cabbage and scallions. Keep cooking and stirring for another 3 minutes until the cabbage starts to get soft. Stir in the lime juice and soy sauce, then take it off the heat.

Step 2: Now for the fun part – rolling! Lay out 3 egg roll wrappers with one point facing away from you. Brush one side completely with your beaten egg. Put 3-4 tablespoons of filling right in the center of each wrapper. Roll the point closest to you over the filling first. Then bring both side points into the middle. Keep rolling away from you to make a tight seal. Do the same thing with your remaining 3 wrappers and filling.

Step 3: Place your beautiful egg rolls in your air fryer basket. Give them a good spray with cooking spray. Cook at 390°F for about 10 minutes until they’re golden brown and crispy. Make sure to flip them halfway through so both sides get evenly golden!

Easy and Quick Air-Fryer Egg Rolls Version

Want to make this even faster? You can totally use a bag of pre-shredded coleslaw mix instead of slicing your own cabbage! Just use about 3 cups and cook it the same way. You could also use pre-cooked ground pork from the deli section – just heat it up with the garlic for a minute, then add your veggies. This cuts your prep time down to just 10 minutes!

Serving Ideas

These crispy egg rolls make a perfect appetizer for your next party or game day! Serve them with sweet and sour sauce, duck sauce, or even sriracha mayo for dipping. They’re also great as a light dinner with some steamed rice and a simple cucumber salad. The kids love them in their lunch boxes too!

Storage

Store any leftover egg rolls in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. To reheat, just pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes until they’re crispy again. You can also freeze them! Wrap each one individually and freeze for up to 3 months. Cook frozen egg rolls straight from the freezer – just add 2-3 extra minutes to the cooking time.

Substitutions

No ground pork? No problem! Ground turkey, chicken, or lean beef work just as well. Want to make them vegetarian? Skip the meat and add julienned carrots or bean sprouts instead. If you can’t find egg roll wrappers, spring roll wrappers work too – just watch the cooking time since they’re thinner. You can even use wonton wrappers for mini egg rolls!

Pro Tips

• Don’t overfill: Less is more here! Too much filling makes them hard to seal and they might burst open.
• Keep wrappers covered: Cover unused wrappers with a damp towel so they don’t dry out while you work.
• Seal tight: Make sure your egg wash goes all the way to the edges for the best seal.
• Don’t skip the spray: That cooking spray is what gives you the golden, crispy outside!
• Make ahead friendly: Roll these up in the morning and keep them covered in the fridge until dinner time.

FAQs

How can I make this vegetarian?

These egg rolls can be made vegetarian by omitting the pork and adding julienned carrots with the cabbage to soften prior to filling the egg roll wrappers. You could also add bean sprouts to the filling during the last minute or two of cooking it. The vegetables give you that same great texture and flavor!

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Unfortunately, due to the egg roll wrappers, this recipe is not gluten-free. It’s pretty difficult to find premade gluten-free wrappers at most stores. Some companies do sell gluten-free egg roll and wonton mixes that you can make at home though!

What’s the benefit of air-frying rather than deep-frying?

The main benefit is way less oil! Since an air fryer can cook food using much less oil, you get that same crispy texture without all the extra fat. Plus, there’s no greasy splatter or hot oil mess to deal with. Your kitchen stays clean and your egg rolls stay delicious!

Can I use a different type of ground meat?

You bet! Ground turkey, ground chicken, or lean ground beef all work perfectly. Just cook them the same way as the pork. Each meat brings its own flavor, so feel free to use whatever you prefer or have on hand.

Can I use spring roll wrappers instead?

Sure! Spring roll wrappers are thinner than egg roll wrappers, so you’ll need to reduce the cooking time a bit. Just keep an eye on them and cook until they’re golden brown and crisp, flipping halfway through. They might be done in 7-8 minutes instead of 10.

Can I make the egg rolls ahead?

Absolutely! Prepare the recipe through Step 2, then cover with plastic wrap to prevent the wrappers from drying out. You can refrigerate them for up to 1 day. You can even freeze them! Arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, freeze overnight, then transfer to freezer bags for up to 3 months.

How long does it take to cook egg rolls in an air fryer?

Since the filling is already cooked, it only takes about 10 minutes at 390°F! Cook until they’re golden brown and crispy, and don’t forget to flip them halfway through. This ensures they get evenly browned on both sides for that perfect crunch.

Final Thoughts

I hope you love these air-fryer egg rolls as much as my family does! They’re such a fun way to get that restaurant taste at home without all the oil. Let me know how yours turn out – I’d love to hear about any creative variations you try!