Air Fryer Egg Rolls
These irresistibly crispy air fryer egg rolls taste totally deep-fried! With loads of colorful veggies, umami flavors, and heat coming from all sides in the air fryer, the result is a truly restaurant-worthy dish. A satisfying, savory, classic recipe for pork egg rolls in the air fryer (with the option to use ground chicken instead). Learn how to air fry egg rolls to perfection in just 12 minutes!
If you love classic pork egg rolls with cabbage filling and their umami goodness, this air fryer egg roll recipe is a must-try. And, if you haven’t tried cooking egg rolls in an air fryer yet, NOW is the time. Although this crave-able dish seems complicated, it’s actually so easy to make. Simply cook the filling mixture, wrap into egg roll wrappers, and pop in the air fryer. That’s it!
Honestly, if I hadn’t made this air fryer egg rolls recipe myself, I would’ve believed they were deep-fried… The egg roll wrappers turn out amazingly crispy, golden brown, and bubbling around the edges. No pot of oil needed! Just egg wash and a dash of cooking spray does the trick. Learn how to make egg rolls in an air fryer for a comforting dinner or party snack!
Why are eggrolls called eggrolls?
Traditionally, the dough for egg rolls is made of flour and eggs, hence the name egg rolls or eggrolls. Nowadays, particularly with premade wrappers, egg often isn’t involved in the dough at all. Still, it’s common to use egg to seal egg rolls—as I did in this air fryer egg rolls recipe—so the name still fits! Some food historians trace the name to a Chinese-American cookbook recipe for “Dan Gun,” or “egg roll,” which wrapped meat and veggies in a thin egg omelet.
What is the difference between egg rolls and spring rolls?
Egg rolls are typically wrapped in a thicker, sturdier dough made of flour and eggs. They’re often filled with cooked meat and vegetables, then deep fried to a bubbly crisp. In contrast, spring rolls are wrapped in rice paper or a lighter, crisper dough without eggs. These are often filled with vegetables but no meat, and can be served deep-fried, pan-fried, or cold.
Can you air fry egg rolls?
Yes, you can air fry egg rolls of all kinds! As a cooking method, deep frying just involves heating oil, so the hot liquid fat can deliver heat to the food’s surface. When making egg rolls in the air fryer, the hot air circulating through the basket delivers the heat instead. For more air fryer egg roll recipes, check out my Cheeseburger Egg Rolls and Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls!
What is a pork egg roll made of?
Classic pork egg rolls are filled with cooked pork, cabbage and carrots, other veggies like onion or bamboo shoots, and savory seasonings like soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. For this air fryer pork egg rolls recipe, I’ve kept the ingredients classic, simple, and light! I chose to use ground pork, but you can easily substitute ground chicken to make chicken egg rolls instead.
Air Fryer Pork Egg Rolls Ingredients
- Onion & Celery. Sauteing some aromatic veggies before cooking your meat is a simple way to add flavor. Feel free to use just onion or just celery if you don’t have both.
- Pork. Ground pork has a comforting, savory flavor that’s perfect for air fryer egg rolls, and it’s easy and quick to cook. If you’re not a fan of pork egg rolls, feel free to use ground chicken, turkey, or beef instead!
- Garlic & Ginger. This duo adds a serious flavor kick that makes these egg rolls even tastier. Be sure to use fresh garlic and ginger for the most flavor! If you don’t have both garlic and ginger, just use whichever you have.
- Carrot & Cabbage. Shredded cabbage and carrot are a classic combo in a pork egg rolls recipe! I like to use a pre-shredded coleslaw mix with green and purple cabbage for convenience.
- Seasonings. Soy sauce and sesame oil create the crave-able umami flavor that egg rolls are known for! I also like to add some sesame seeds and a dash of sriracha for an added kick, but these are optional. If preferred, you can substitute for soy sauce with coconut aminos. Since soy sauce is already salty, there’s no need to add any salt—but do add salt to taste if you use coconut aminos.
- Egg Roll Wrappers. A must-have ingredient for any air fryer egg roll recipe! I used a brand called Dynasty Egg Roll/Spring Roll Wrappers, which are very sturdy and reliable for preparing homemade egg rolls easily. There are some other brands you can find in grocery stores, although I haven’t encountered a gluten free option yet.
- Egg. Whisked egg is the ideal ingredient for sealing your pork egg rolls so they don’t fall apart in the air fryer. Be generous when brushing it onto your egg roll wrappers! Some people replace it with oil, or with a mixture of cornstarch and water, although I don’t think these work as well as egg wash.
What is an egg roll wrapper?
As mentioned, egg rolls are often wrapped in a thicker dough made of flour, eggs, and water. You can also find pre-made egg roll wrappers, which are just pre-cut square sheets of dough made from wheat flour. For these air fryer egg rolls and homemade egg rolls in general, I recommend using pre-made wrappers! I used a brand called Dynasty Egg Roll Wrappers.
How to Make Air Fryer Pork Egg Rolls
- First, make the pork filling (or chicken filling, for air fryer chicken egg rolls). Saute onions and celery, then add ground pork and cook through. Add garlic, ginger, shredded cabbage and carrots, covering the pan to wilt. Finally, season to taste with soy sauce, sesame oil, and any additional desired seasonings.
- Allow filling mixture to cool before assembling pork egg rolls for the air fryer.
- Assemble and wrap egg rolls tightly, using egg wash to seal. Repeat until all air fryer egg rolls are assembled, keeping sealed rolls and unused wrappers covered with damp cloths. (Yields ~16 egg rolls.)
- Cook pork egg rolls in air fryer at 380°F (195°C) for 10-12 minutes, until brown and crispy. For best results, cook in batches of 6-8 egg rolls at a time.
- Serve pork egg rolls with sesame soy mayo or your favorite dipping sauce.
How do you wrap and seal an egg roll?
- Place an egg roll wrapper on a flat surface, oriented in a diamond shape.
- Add ~3 Tbsp of filling near the top corner, fold the top corner over the filling, and then press the sides of the fold down tightly.
- Fold in each of the side corners, keeping the mixture tightly contained, then roll down towards the bottom corner.
- With 3-4 inches left, brush the bottom corner generously with egg wash, then complete the roll.
- Seal the outer edge with additional egg wash.
How to Cook Egg Rolls in Air Fryer
How long should you preheat an air fryer?
Yes, you need to preheat your air fryer before cooking homemade egg rolls. Many air fryers, like mine, automatically preheat once you select the cooking temperature. My machine has a light that changes color when it’s fully preheated and ready. If your air fryer does not preheat automatically, set the temperature for your recipe and wait at least 3-5 minutes for it to heat.
Can you use cooking spray in an air fryer?
Yes, you can use oil and some cooking sprays in an air fryer. For this air fryer egg rolls recipe, I used a 100% avocado oil cooking spray that’s propellant-free. However, it’s not a good idea to use aerosol sprays like PAM in an air fryer because they contain harsh propellants that can damage the coating of your air fryer basket. I recommend using a propellant-free cooking spray, or an oil mister bottle that you fill yourself.
How do you make egg rolls crispy?
For air fryer egg rolls that turn out truly crispy, it’s best to cook them in batches of 6-8 at a time. Yes, this takes longer, but they’ll turn out much crispier if they have some space between them for the heat to circulate. Also, I recommend that you spray the tops of your pork egg rolls with cooking spray (or brush with oil)before cooking for maximum browning and crispiness!
How Long to Air Fry Egg Rolls
I love that air fried egg rolls cook quickly, and you don’t even need to flip halfway through! In my machine, the ideal air fryer egg rolls time and temp is 10-12 minutes at 380°F (195°C). It’s best to check in the last few minutes to see if they’re browned and crispy to your liking. These pork egg rolls will be HOT when they’re done, so give them a minute to cool, and then devour while they’re warm!
Can I reheat egg rolls in the air fryer?
Yes, the air fryer is the perfect tool for reheating! If you have pork egg rolls leftover, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days. When ready to enjoy, simply pop them into the air fryer (or oven/toaster oven) at 350°F (180°) for 3-5 minutes, until warmed through.
What do you serve with pork egg rolls?
I love these air fryer pork egg rolls served with a simple sesame soy mayo dip, but you can try all kinds of dipping sauces. Sweet and sour sauce, chili sauce, teriyaki sauce, sriracha—whatever you enjoy! To turn your air fryer egg rolls into a meal or serve as part of a party spread, try some of these ideas:
- Cheeseburger Egg Rolls
- Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
- Citrus Sesame Ginger Salad
- Pork Fried Cauliflower Rice
- Simple Paleo Coleslaw
- Stir Fry Garlic Chicken Rice Bowl
Watch how to make pork egg rolls in my Air Fryer Egg Rolls video!
Air Fryer Pork Egg Rolls
Ingredients
Pork Egg Rolls
- 1-2 tsp oil
- ⅓ cup onion (white or green), diced
- ⅓ cup celery, diced
- 16 oz ground pork, (or chicken)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 carrot, shredded
- 2 cups shredded cabbage, (coleslaw mix)
- 1½ Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp sesame seeds, (optional)
- 1 tsp sriracha, (optional)
- 16-20 egg roll wrappers
- 1 egg, beaten, (for sealing)
Sesame Soy Mayo Dipping Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce, (or coconut aminos)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Instructions
Pork Filling
- In a saucepan over medium heat, saute onions and celery in oil for 4-5 minutes.
- Add ground pork, letting larger chunks brown then crumbling meat as it cooks.
- Once cooked through, add garlic and ginger, cooking for 30 seconds.
- Add shredded carrots and cabbage, then cover pan with a lid and cook until wilted, 3-4 minutes.
- Add soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and sriracha, stirring to integrate.
- Remove pan from heat and allow pork filling mixture to cool before assembling egg rolls.
Air Fryer Egg Rolls
- Preheat air fryer to 380°F (195°C).
- Place one egg roll wrapper in a diamond shape on a clean, flat surface. (Keep unused wrappers covered with a damp towel to prevent them drying out.)
- Spoon about 3 Tbsp pork filling onto egg roll wrapper, near the top corner.
- Fold top corner over the mixture, pressing the sides of the fold down to make the seal stronger.
- Fold in both side corners, keeping the folds tight.
- Then, begin to roll down towards the bottom corner, forming a cigar shape and keeping the mixture tightly contained.
- Before completing the roll, brush remainder of wrapper with beaten egg to seal. (Like sealing an envelope flap.) Brush sealed outer edge with additional egg wash.
- Transfer sealed egg roll to a plate and cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap to prevent drying.
- Repeat to assemble all pork egg rolls. (Yields ~16.)
- Spray basket of preheated air fryer with cooking spray. Place 6-8 egg rolls into basket. (Air fryer egg rolls are best cooked in batches, with space between them.)
- Spray tops of rolls with cooking spray (or brush with oil) to help them crisp up and brown.
- Cook 10-12 minutes (no need to flip), until brown and crispy.
- Serve warm with sesame soy mayo or your favorite dipping sauce!
Storage & Reheating
- Air fryer egg rolls are best enjoyed fresh. If needed, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.
- Reheat in air fryer (or oven/toaster oven) at 350°F(180°) for 3-5 minutes, until warmed through.
