These Healthy homemade egg rolls in air fryer are crispy on the outside with a savory pork and vegetable filling inside. I like making them this way because you still get that golden, crunchy wrapper without soaking the egg rolls in oil, and the filling has plenty going on with cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, onion, ginger, and garlic.
They take a little prep because the filling is cooked before the rolls are assembled, but the actual air frying only takes 5–7 minutes. If you want another crispy air fryer snack, try these Air Fryer Tortilla Chips With Guacamole next. Keep reading to see how to make homemade egg rolls with that crisp shell without deep frying them.
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Video Tutorial
Try These Healthy Homemade Egg Rolls in Air Fryer
If you usually order egg rolls with takeout, homemade ones are definitely worth trying. I especially like being able to fill each wrapper properly with pork, cabbage, carrot, peppers, and onion rather than ending up with lots of wrapper and hardly any filling.
These air fryer egg rolls are also much less messy than frying them in a skillet. The wrapper still gets golden and crispy, while the pork and vegetables stay juicy and flavorful inside.
Why You’ll Love It
- Crispy without deep frying: The air fryer gives the wrappers a golden, crisp outside without having to submerge them in oil, making them healthier than the deep-fried version.
- Flavorful filling: Pork, cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sweet chili sauce give you plenty of flavor in every bite. Add some finely chopped mushrooms if you like.
- Quick air frying: Once assembled, the egg rolls only need about 5–7 minutes in the air fryer.
- Great for dipping: I love these with sweet and sour chili sauce, but soy sauce works just as well.
Ingredients
- Ground pork: I like marinating the pork with soy sauce, ginger, and garlic while I get the vegetables ready. It’s a simple extra step, but it means the pork itself has plenty of flavor rather than relying entirely on the sauce added later. You can also use ground chicken, ground turkey, or beef.
- Shredded cabbage: One cup is enough to bulk out the filling without making it feel like you’re eating a cabbage roll. I like how it softens during cooking but still gives the filling some texture.
- Egg roll wrappers: Keep these underneath a damp kitchen towel while you’re working. They can dry out surprisingly quickly, and I find they’re much easier to roll neatly when they stay soft and flexible.
- Sweet and sour chili sauce: This adds a little sweetness and heat to the pork mixture. I also like serving some alongside the finished egg rolls so you get even more of that sweet-spicy flavor when dipping.
How to Make Healthy Homemade Egg Rolls in Air Fryer
1. In a large bowl or container, place the ground pork and add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, half of the ginger, and half of the garlic. Mix well to ensure the pork is evenly coated. Allow the pork to marinate while you prepare the vegetable filling for the egg rolls.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Once the skillet is hot, add the onion and sauté for a moment before adding the carrot.
3. Sauté the vegetables for about three minutes, stirring constantly. Next, add the red bell pepper and continue sautéing for an additional 2 minutes, maintaining a constant stir.
4. Add the shredded cabbage to the skillet and sauté for about 3 more minutes, stirring constantly. Pour 2 tablespoons of soy sauce over the vegetables and continue sautéing, stirring constantly.
5. After 2 minutes, push the vegetables to the edge of the skillet. Add the marinated ground pork to the center of the hot skillet, allowing it to brown nicely without stirring for the first couple of minutes.
6. Once it has browned, stir the pork and mix in the remaining soy sauce, sesame oil, and sweet and sour chili sauce.
7. Combine the pork and veggies together, and continue cooking the egg roll filling. After 3 minutes, add the green onions, as well as the remaining garlic and ginger.
8. Sauté the filling, stirring for another 3 minutes, until the ground pork is thoroughly cooked and ready. This whole process should take approximately 8 minutes.
9. In a small bowl, beat the egg and set it aside. Keep the egg roll wrappers nearby, covering them with a damp kitchen towel to prevent them from drying out and help with wrapping.
10. Take a single sheet of egg roll wrapper and place it in front of you, resembling a diamond shape. Place about 2 tablespoons of the cooled filling onto the bottom corner of the wrapper.
11. Fold the side corners towards the center to create a roll. Seal the last corner of the wrapper with the beaten egg wash using a pastry brush, securing the roll. Repeat this process for all the egg roll wrappers and filling.
12. Preheat the air fryer (I'm using the Instant Vortex Plus XL) to 360ºF (180ºC). Carefully place the rolls on the bottom of the basket of your air fryer and cook for about 5-7 minutes until they become golden and crispy.
13. Two minutes before the cooking time ends, take out the air fryer basket and brush the remaining beaten egg over the rolls to achieve extra golden color and crispiness.
14. Once the egg rolls are cooked, transfer them to a serving plate. They can be served with soy sauce or the same sweet and sour chili sauce for dipping.
Recipe Tips
- Keep unused wrappers covered with a damp kitchen towel so they don’t dry out while you’re assembling the egg rolls.
- Don’t overfill the wrappers. Too much filling can make them difficult to seal and more likely to split.
- Let the filling cool before adding it to the wrappers.
- Arrange the egg rolls in a single layer so the hot air can circulate around them properly. Fry in batches if necessary.
- For a crispier shell, add another 2–3 minutes to the cooking time if needed.
- Brush the egg rolls with beaten egg during the final 2 minutes to help them become extra golden and crispy.
What Can You Serve With This?
- Sweet chili sauce
- Soy sauce
- Fresh cucumber salad
- Rice or noodles
FAQs
Typically, frozen egg rolls should be cooked in the air fryer for about 12-15 minutes. Always ensure they are heated through to the center.
Too much moisture in the filling can soften the wrappers, and overcrowding the air fryer can also interfere with crisping. Letting the cooked filling cool before wrapping and giving the rolls space in the basket helps.
While preference varies, many find that air fryer egg rolls offer a perfect crispy texture without the excessive grease of deep frying, making them a healthier and equally tasty alternative.
Recipe
Healthy Homemade Egg Rolls in Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Container or large bowl
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Tablespoon
- Fork
- Kitchen towel
- Skillet
- Silicone spatula
- Large plate
Ingredients
- 300 grams ground pork
- 1 medium onion
- 1 small carrot
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ red bell pepper
- 6 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon sweet and sour chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoon chopped green onions
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 10 sheets thin egg roll wrappers
Instructions
- In a large bowl or container, place the ground pork and add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, half of the ginger, and half of the garlic. Mix well to ensure the pork is evenly coated. Allow the pork to marinate while you prepare the vegetable filling for the egg rolls.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Once the skillet is hot, add the onion and sauté for a moment before adding the carrot. Sauté the vegetables for about three minutes, stirring constantly. Next, add the red bell pepper and continue sautéing for an additional 2 minutes, maintaining a constant stir.
- Add the shredded cabbage to the skillet and sauté for about 3 more minutes, stirring constantly. Pour 2 tablespoons of soy sauce over the vegetables and continue sautéing, stirring constantly. After 2 minutes, push the vegetables to the edge of the skillet.
- Add the marinated ground pork to the center of the hot skillet, allowing it to brown nicely without stirring for the first couple of minutes. Once it has browned, stir the pork and mix in the remaining soy sauce, sesame oil, and sweet and sour chili sauce.
- Combine the pork and vegetables together, and continue cooking the egg roll filling. After 3 minutes, add the green onions, as well as the remaining garlic and ginger.
- Sauté the filling, stirring for another 3 minutes, until the ground pork is thoroughly cooked and ready. This whole process should take approximately 8 minutes.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg and set it aside. Keep the egg roll wrappers nearby, covering them with a damp kitchen towel to prevent them from drying out and help with wrapping.
- Take a single sheet of egg roll wrapper and place it in front of you, resembling a diamond shape. Place about 2 tablespoons of the cooled filling onto the bottom corner of the wrapper. Fold the side corners towards the center to create a roll. Seal the last corner of the wrapper with the beaten egg, securing the roll. Repeat this process for all the egg roll wrappers and filling.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360ºF (180ºC). Carefully place the rolls on the bottom of the air fryer basket and cook for about 5-7 minutes until they become golden and crispy.
- Two minutes before the cooking time ends, take out the air fryer basket and brush the remaining beaten egg over the rolls to achieve extra golden color and crispiness.
- Once the egg rolls are cooked, transfer them to a serving plate. They can be served with soy sauce or the same sweet and sour chili sauce for dipping.
Notes
Cooking Time and Temperature
Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C) and cook the egg rolls for 5–7 minutes until golden and crispy.Taste & Texture
Golden and crispy on the outside with a juicy, savory pork and vegetable filling flavored with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and sweet chili sauce.Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Refrigerator: Let the egg rolls cool completely and store them in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Freeze them in a single layer until solid, then transfer to freezer bags. Keep frozen for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Reheat in the air fryer to help bring back the crispy texture.
Serving Recommendations
- I like serving these with sweet chili sauce or soy sauce because both work really well with the pork and vegetable filling.
- Add cucumber, lettuce, or coleslaw for something fresh, or serve them with rice or noodles when you want to make them part of a bigger meal.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Substitute the pork with chicken, shrimp, or tofu.
- Add bean sprouts, water chestnuts, jicama, or extra bell peppers.
- Add chopped chili peppers, crushed red pepper flakes, or hot sauce for more heat.
- Use gluten-free wrappers and gluten-free soy sauce if needed.
- Swap the white cabbage for kale or add quinoa.
Proper Storage Tips
- Let the egg rolls cool completely before storing them so they don’t become soggy.
- Keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- For longer storage, freeze them in a single layer before transferring them to freezer bags.
Pro Tips
- Don’t overstuff the wrappers or they can split during cooking.
- Seal each egg roll properly so the filling stays inside.
- Keep the egg rolls in a single layer in the air fryer.
- Turn them during cooking to help all sides become golden.
- The filling can be prepared a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
Video
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