Air fryer egg rolls are crispy, golden, and packed with flavorful filling made from ground turkey or pork, garlic, ginger, and coleslaw mix. Wrapped in a crunchy egg roll wrapper and cooked with a light spray of olive oil, they’re healthier than deep-fried versions while staying just as delicious.
These were so crispy and flavorful. Honestly better than takeout and so easy to make in the air fryer.
- Megan R.
Bailey's Thoughts ...
There's something deeply satisfying about making air fryer egg rolls that come out perfectly crisp without a pot of bubbling oil in sight. I have a hard rule: no deep frying in my kitchen. It dates back to a slightly traumatic dinner for my in-laws that involved a small kitchen fire and a minor panic attack - let's just call it PTSD.
Each bite is a crunchy shell giving way to a savory mix of ground pork (or turkey, or chicken), garlic ginger, and cabbage. A splash of soy sauce and a drizzle of sesame oil makes them taste like your favorite takeout, only fresher and lighter. They sizzle up in the air fryer basket in minutes.
Want to make life easier? Grab a coleslaw mix - no cabbage shredding required. Seal the egg roll wrappers with an uncooked egg or cornstarch slurry so the filling stays put. Keep a close eye on cooking time since every air fryer is different. Start at six minutes, check, then add time until you hit crispy perfection.
-Bailey
P.S. If you love this, you should absolutely try my Asian turkey Burgers with Sriracha Mayo. Same bold flavor vibes, but in burger form.
Ingredients + Substitutions
Sesame Oil: Adds a nutty, toasty flavor that helps make the filling taste like takeout. Substitution: vegetable oil or canola oil can also work
Garlic: Gives filling bold flavor and depth. Substitution: ½ teaspoon garlic powder in place of 1 clove.
Ginger: Adds warmth and brightness to the filling. Substitution: ½ teaspoon ground ginger in place of 1 inch fresh.
Chinese Five-Spice: Brings classic sweet-spicy flavor. Substitution: Use ¼ teaspoon cinnamon plus ¼ teaspoon ground cloves if you don't have it.
Soy Sauce: Adds salty, savory depth. Substitution: Tamari or coconut aminos in the same amount.
Rice Vinegar: Balances the flavors with tang. Substitution: White vinegar or apple cider vinegar in the same amount.
Ground Pork: Makes up the base of the filling. Substitution: Ground chicken works too, but avoid beef sine the flavor is too heavy.
Coleslaw Mix: Adds crunch and cuts down on prep. Substitution: Shredded cabbage and carrots (about 4 cups total).
Egg Roll Wrappers: The crispy shell that holds it all together. Substitution: No substitute here. Look for them in the refrigerated section of the grocery store near the tofu and wonton wrappers.
Cornstarch Slurry: Helps seal the wrappers so they don't open while cooking. Substitution: 1 beaten uncooked egg brushed on the edges.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Make the filling. Heat a skillet. Add garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant. Stir in spices, soy sauce and ground meat. Cook until the meat is no longer pink, then add coleslaw mix and carrots and continue cooking until veggies are tender.
- Wrap the egg rolls. Place filling on the center of an egg roll wrapper, fold in the sides, and roll tightly to seal. repeat until all filling is used.
- Prepare the air fryer. Lightly spray the air fryer basket and egg rolls with olive oil spray to prevent sticking and promote crispiness.
- Air fry the egg rolls. Place rolls in a single layer in the basket and cook, flipping once halfway through, until golden and crisp.
Hint: Do NOT overcrowd the air-fryer basket. Cook in batches. The egg rolls need space to crisp up or the result will be soggy wrappers.
Variations
Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free egg roll wrappers (often found in speciality grocery stores) and substitute tamari for soy sauce.
Nut-Free: Already is!
Dairy-Free: Already is!
Vegetarian/Vegan: Use tofu or mushrooms in place of meat and seal the wrappers with a cornstarch slurry instead of uncooked egg.
Make Ahead: Assemble up to 1-day in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator and air fry just before serving.
Storage
Egg rolls freeze beautifully, and the process is quick and easy. Here's how to do it:
Freezing Egg Rolls:
Step 1: Cook and cool. Assemble and cook the egg rolls according to the recipe. Let them cool completely before freezing to prevent sogginess.
Step 2: Flash freeze. Arrange the cooled egg rolls in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Freeze for 2-3 hours, or until solid. The parchment prevents sticking.
Step 3: Store. Transfer the frozen egg rolls to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. If using a container, wrap the egg rolls in an extra layer of plastic to avoid freezer burn. If using a bag, press out as much air as possible before sealing.
Reheating Egg Rolls:
Air Fryer: Place frozen egg rolls in the air fryer basket and spray lightly with olive oil. Cook at 350°F until hot and crisp, about 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Oven: Arrange frozen egg rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 375°F until heated through and crips, about 15-18 minutes.
Refrigerator Option:
Cooked egg rolls can also be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven until hot and crisp. For longer storage, freezing is recommended.
FAQ's
Sweet Chile Sauce is our favorite! A quick google search will bring up some simple recipes OR you can purchase in the Interactional Aisle at your local grocery store.
If your egg roll wrappers look like they are burning, lower your heat to 350 degrees. You can also slice the egg rolls in half so that the filling heats more quickly.
They can! They will keep for 1-2 days. Follow recipe directions, allow egg rolls to cool and then store in an airtight container. To reheat, pop them back into the air fryer for 4-6 minutes or until crispy and heated through.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Quick Korean Beef Bowls
- Healthy Chicken Pad Thai (Easy Recipe)
- Healthy Orange Chicken and Rice Bowls (Easy Recipe)
- Asian-Style Turkey Burgers with Sriracha Lime Mayo
- Shrimp Egg Roll In A Bowl (Easy 20 Minute Recipe)
- 30 Minute Honey Dijon, Bacon, Chicken and Rice Bowls
- 20-Minute Bourbon Honey Chicken (Easy Recipe)
- Italian Sausage Flatbread Pizza (Air Fryer or Oven)
Recipe
Healthy Air Fryer Egg Rolls (with Oven Directions Too!)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 16 Egg Rolls
Description
Air fryer egg rolls are crispy, golden, and packed with flavorful filling made from ground turkey or pork, garlic, ginger, and coleslaw mix. Wrapped in a crunchy egg roll wrapper and cooked with a light spray of olive oil, they’re healthier than deep-fried versions while staying just as delicious.
Ingredients
- sesame oil (1 tbsp)
- garlic (3 cloves, minced)
- ginger (1 inch, grated)
- Chinese five-spice (1 tsp)
- soy sauce (2 ½ tbsp)
- rice vinegar (1 tsp)
- ground pork (1 lb)
- coleslaw mix (12 oz)
- egg roll wrappers (16, from refrigerated section of grocery store)
- cornstarch (1 tbsp, mixed with 1 tablespoon water for slurry)
- olive oil spray (for air fryer)
Instructions
- Heat sesame oil (1 tbsp) in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic (3 cloves, minced) and ginger (1 inch, grated) and sauté until fragrant.
- Stir in Chinese five-spice (1 tsp), soy sauce (2 ½ tbsp), rice vinegar (1 tsp), and ground pork (1 lb). Cook until the meat is no longer pink, breaking it apart with a spoon.
- Add coleslaw mix (12 oz) to the skillet and cook until the vegetables are tender. Remove from heat and let the filling cool slightly.
- Lay one egg roll wrapper (1 piece) on a clean surface. Place a small amount of filling diagonally in the center. Fold the bottom corner over the filling, fold in the sides, and roll tightly. Seal the final edge with the prepared cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water). Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket and the assembled egg rolls with olive oil spray to prevent sticking and promote crispiness.
- Arrange egg rolls in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 370°F for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crisp.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the basket. Arrange egg rolls in a single layer in the air fryer basket so the hot air can circulate and crisp evenly. Work in batches if needed.
Watch the cooking time. All air fryers cook differently, so start checking around the 6-minute mark to prevent over-browning. Flip halfway through for even crispiness.
Alternative proteins. Ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork all work well. Avoid beef as the flavor is too heavy.
Make-ahead tip. You can assemble egg rolls a few hours in advance and keep them covered with a damp towel in the fridge until ready to air fry.
Freezer-friendly. Cooked egg rolls can be cooled completely, flash frozen on a baking sheet, then stored in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Reheat in the air fryer or oven for best results.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 egg rolls
- Calories: 282
- Sugar: 1.6 g
- Sodium: 501.4 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Carbohydrates: 36.7 g
- Protein: 17.8 g
- Cholesterol: 44.2 mg
Kristy N
Hello. You have rice vinegar listed i your ingredients but nowhere in the instructions is it listed. Is this supposed to be in the recipe? Thank you!
Sarah
Made this for dinner tonight! So easy and both hubby and I loved it. He requested that I add it to our regular rotation. We'll for sure be having it again!
Mb
The recipe was good, easy to follow and make…I would cut down the amount of Chinese five spice though it was really strong.