Creative Air-Fried Wonton Wrapper Snacks You'll Love

Wontons are a delicious Chinese dumpling that can be deep-fried or air-fried. The air-fried version is healthier and less messy, with less oil and fat. You can fill your wontons with a variety of savoury or sweet ingredients, such as pork, shrimp, cream cheese, chives, green onions, and pineapple. The key to successful air-fried wontons is to ensure they are sealed properly so that the filling doesn't leak, and to spray them with oil to get that golden brown crispiness.

Air-fried wontons with tofu and chive filling

Ingredients:

• 25 wonton wrappers (3” squares)
• 7 oz extra firm tofu, frozen overnight and then thawed
• 3.5 oz fresh garlic chives
• Neutral oil for cooking
• 1 tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce or stir-fry sauce
• 1/4 tsp Chinese five spice powder
• 1/4 tsp salt or to taste

Optional Chili Broth:

• 1/2 cup wonton broth (water used to cook wontons or hot water)
• 1/2 tbsp soy sauce or more to taste
• 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce, adjust according to desired heat
• 1 tsp doubanjiang or more chili sauce
• 1 tsp sugar, adjust according to taste
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar or distilled white vinegar, adjust according to taste
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Optional Dipping Sauce:

Sweet chilli sauce

Method:

• Finely chop the chives. Then crumble the tofu.
• Heat a large pan over medium heat. Once hot, add in the oil. Saute the chives and tofu for 3-4 minutes. Allow any excess liquid from the tofu to evaporate.
• Season the mixture with vegetarian oyster sauce/stir-fry sauce, five spice powder, and salt. Mix well.
• Add in the corn starch and mix well. This will help absorb any excess moisture and help bind the mixture together.
• Turn off the heat and transfer the filling to a bowl and leave to cool before using.
• Prepare a small bowl of water. Carefully separate the wrappers. It’s best to work with the wrappers at room temperature so they’re pliable and won’t easily break.
• Place 1 wrapper on a flat surface or on your palm.
• Dip your finger in the bowl of water and trace the edges of the wrapper.
• Add 1/2 - 1 tbsp of the filling (note that the amount of filling will depend on the size of your wrapper and type of fold you’re doing). Press down the filling to pack it tightly.
• Fold the wrapper in half to form a triangle.
• Carefully press down on the filling to remove any air pockets. Then seal the edges tight.
• Flip over the triangle. Carefully press down the centre of the triangle.
• Dab one bottom corner of the triangles with water. Afterwards, bring both ends together. Press down both tips to seal well. Repeat this for the rest of the wrappers until you have all your wontons.
• While you work on each wonton, cover your made wontons with a towel to prevent them from drying out.
• Preheat the air fryer to 370°F and spray the bottom of the basket with some oil.
• Place the wontons in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each one for air to circulate, and spray with cooking oil.
• Air fry the wontons for 8-10 minutes, flipping at 4 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.

Tips:

• Keep the sides/edges of the wrapper clean – try not to get any of the filling on it. This way, you’ll be able to seal the wontons well. When filling gets on the edges of the wrapper, some of the oil will make it slippery and hard to seal the wrapper together.
• The wontons are best enjoyed immediately but can be stored in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for 2 months.

Crispy crunchy wontons with pork and shrimp filling

These wontons are a perfect snack or appetiser for your next party. They are crispy, crunchy, and flavourful, and can be made in an air fryer with less oil and mess than the deep-fried version.

Ingredients:

• Wonton wrappers (square or round)
• Ground pork
• Shrimp, peeled and deveined, finely chopped
• Scallions, thinly sliced
• Soy sauce
• Toasted sesame oil
• Cornstarch
• Salt
• Ground white pepper
• Fresh ginger, minced
• Garlic, minced
• Cooking oil spray or brush for air fryer
• Thai sweet chilli sauce for dipping (optional)

Method:

• Combine the pork, shrimp, and other filling ingredients in a bowl. Mix well.
• Prepare a small bowl of water. Working with one wonton wrapper at a time, lightly brush the edges with water.
• Place about 1 teaspoon of the filling in the centre of the wrapper.
• Fold over one corner of the wrapper to create a triangle. Press the sides together to seal.
• Holding the corners of the long side of the triangle, bring them together to form a purse shape. Use a bit of water to seal the corners.
• Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
• Spray or brush the wontons with oil and place them in the air fryer. (You can use a perforated parchment sheet on the bottom to prevent sticking.)
• Air fry at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for about 7 minutes.
• Flip the wontons over and air fry for another 5 to 7 minutes, until golden brown and crisp.
• Serve immediately with a side of sweet chilli sauce if desired.

Tips:

• You can find wonton wrappers in the produce department of your regular supermarket.
• If you want to serve these wontons as a main dish, add a vegetable side like sauteed spinach with sesame dressing, steamed broccoli, or a salad with miso dressing.
• You can store leftover wontons in the fridge for up to a week.

Air-fried wonton chips

Ingredients

• Wonton wrappers
• Oil (vegetable, avocado, olive, peanut, or sesame oil)
• Salt
• Other seasonings (optional)

Method

• Cut the wonton wrappers into triangles or strips.
• Lightly coat both sides of the wrappers with oil.
• Sprinkle salt and any other desired seasonings on the wrappers.
• Place the wrappers in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-4 minutes.
• Shake the air fryer basket halfway through to prevent the wrappers from overlapping and ensure even cooking.
• Remove the wonton chips from the air fryer when they turn golden brown.

Tips

• Wonton wrappers can be found in most local grocery stores, typically in the produce section near refrigerated salad dressings or tofu.
• If you can't find wonton wrappers, egg roll wrappers can also be used. Cut them into smaller pieces as they are larger than wonton wrappers.
• The wonton chips can be served with dips, spreads, or salsas. They also go well with soups and salads.

Air-fried wontons with pineapple for a sweet twist

Ingredients

• Wonton wrappers (30)
• Cream cheese (8 oz)
• Pineapple, crushed or in chunks (1/4 cup)
• Green onion, diced (1/4 cup)
• Olive oil (2 tbsp)

Method

• Mix the cream cheese, pineapple, and green onions in a medium-sized bowl. Combine well.
• Spoon the filling into the centre of each wonton wrapper. Brush water around the perimeter to lightly moisten the wrapper.
• Fold the wrapper, creating a triangle shape. Pinch the edges together to seal in the filling.
• Lightly brush the exterior of each wonton with olive oil.
• Place the wontons in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each one.
• Air fry at 300°F for 7-9 minutes, until the wrappers are crisp and golden.

Tips

• Set the cream cheese out 15 minutes beforehand to soften, making it easier to mix with the pineapple and green onion.
• Grease the inside of the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking and help crisp the bottoms.
• Check the wontons after 6-7 minutes to ensure they don't burn.
• Serve with your favourite dipping sauce, such as sweet chilli sauce or plum sauce.

Air-fried wontons with a classic Chinese filling

Ingredients:

• Wonton wrappers (square or round)
• Ground pork
• Shrimp, peeled and chopped into small pieces
• Scallions, thinly sliced or minced
• Ginger, finely grated or minced
• Light soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• White pepper
• Cornstarch
• Cooking oil spray
• Dipping sauce of choice (e.g. Thai sweet chilli sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or creamy mayonnaise with sriracha)

Method:

• Prepare the filling by mixing the ground pork, shrimp, scallions, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, and cornstarch in a bowl. Stir well to create a sticky filling.
• Place a wonton wrapper on a flat surface or your palm.
• Dip your finger in a small bowl of water and trace the edges of the wrapper.
• Add 1-2 teaspoons of the filling to the centre of the wrapper. Press down on the filling to remove any air pockets and pack it tightly.
• Fold the wrapper into a triangle and seal the edges tightly.
• Bring the two sharp corners of the triangle towards each other and press them together to stick. This will create the classic wonton shape.
• Spray or brush the filled wontons with oil and place them in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overlapping.
• Air fry at 350-375°F for 5-10 minutes, flipping the wontons halfway through, until they are golden brown and crisp.
• Serve immediately with your chosen dipping sauce.

Tips:

• If you prefer a vegetarian option, replace the pork and shrimp filling with mushrooms and diced vegetables such as bell peppers, carrots, and cabbage.
• For an extra crunchy texture, add chopped water chestnuts to the filling.
• To shape the wontons into "cat's ears", fold them into a triangle and pull the two corners down so one overlaps the other.
• If sealing the wontons is difficult, use an egg wash instead of water to keep them closed.
• For a healthier option, use an air fryer instead of deep-frying. Air-fried wontons will be less crispy but are easier to prepare and still delicious.

Frequently asked questions