Air Fryer Cream Cheese Wontons
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Air Fryer Cream Cheese Wontons are a popular appetizer at many Asian restaurants, and it’s easy to see why! These crunchy little packages are stuffed with creamy, tangy filling, and they’re even better dipped in sweet and sour sauce. Make a double batch of these easy appetizers at home because everyone will be fighting for the last one!
Air Fryer Cream Cheese Wontons
Crispy, creamy, and perfectly snackable, you can make this popular appetizer at home in just 20 minutes!
Plus, you’ll use far less oil to make this cream cheese wonton recipe for the air fryer than you would if deep frying.
I’ve started keeping a package or two of wonton wrappers on hand to make chicken wonton tacos, crispy eggrolls, or Cheesecake Factory Buffalo Blasts. They guarantee a deliciously crunchy wrapping for any type of filling!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Wonton Wrappers – You should be able to find these in the international aisle, but an Asian market will definitely have plenty of options to choose from!
- Cream Cheese – Full-fat block cream cheese will have the best flavor and texture, but you could get away with a reduced-fat version if you prefer. Be sure to soften it before getting started.
- Sugar – This helps mellow out the tang of the cream cheese, but you can omit it if you’d like.
- Green Onions – Only use the white bulbs at the bottom for this cream cheese wontons air fryer recipe, then save the green part for another dish.
- Seasonings – All you need is some onion powder, garlic powder, and kosher salt to flavor your air fryer cream cheese wontons.
- Avocado Oil – A neutral flavor and high smoke point makes this an excellent choice for making cream cheese wontons in the air fryer. It helps them get crispy and golden brown.
Or, spritz them with your favorite cooking spray instead. - Sweet and Sour Sauce – This is easy to make yourself, and most of the ingredients are pantry staples.
I highly recommend buying the small cans of pineapple juice instead of a larger carton. You can use just what you need — and have more on hand for pina colada cocktails or ice pops!
Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Cream Cheese Wontons with an Air Fryer
- Be careful not to overfill the wrappers.
About 2 teaspoons of filling is the perfect amount for a burst of that creamy filling in each bite without causing the wrapper to explode.
That said, you may need to adjust the amount of filling up or down depending on your wrappers and they can sometimes vary in size.
- Keep wrappers covered as you assemble.
They tend to dry out quickly, so remove one from the package at a time or keep them covered with a damp paper towel.
- Cook in batches.
It’s important to air fry cream cheese wontons in a single layer with space in between each so they cook evenly and crisp on all sides.
- Get creative with fillings!
If you love crab rangoon, you can easily use cream cheese wonton recipe for the air fryer as your base. Simply mix some real or imitation crab meat into the filling.
Note: you’ll end up with more wontons this way since it will increase the amount of total filling.
Or, mix in cooked and crumbled bacon pieces and chopped jalapenos. Some hot sauce would be perfect for spicy food lovers!
You can also leave out the savory seasonings and add some fruit (think crushed pineapple or chopped strawberries) for a sweet version!
There are so many possibilities!
Prep Ahead
- Soften cream cheese
- Make sweet and sour sauce
- Preheat air fryer
- Mix wonton filling
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Air Fryer – Different brands and sizes may require different cooking times, so be familiar with your model and make adjustments as needed.
- Saucepan – Heats evenly and is easy to clean too.
- Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
- Basting Brush – I like this one over the silicone ones.
- Tongs – I love this set of 3, and I use every pair of them. They are so handy and grip amazingly well!
Serving Suggestions
Pair air fryer cream cheese wontons with sweet and sour sauce for dipping. Thai sweet chili sauce is another popular option, while this copycat Cheddar’s Painkiller Sauce or my Strawberry Habanero Everything Spread would add a fruity twist!
They make the perfect snack or appetizer, no matter the occasion. Serve with teriyaki meatballs and chicken lettuce wraps for a break from the typical game-day spread.
Or, enjoy crispy wontons with bang bang shrimp for an Asian-inspired meal!
Storage and Reheating Cream Cheese Wontons in Air Fryer
Transfer cooled leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerator for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, arrange air fryer cream cheese wontons in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze until firm. Then, transfer to a storage bag and freeze for up to 1 month.
Reheat in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes at 350°F or until warm and crispy again. Increase the time if frozen.
Cream Cheese Wonton Recipe Air Fryer FAQ
Don’t add too much filling and make sure to seal them properly. Sealing is not hard to do, but there is a slight learning curve to the process.
All you need is a little water around the edges — I like to use a pastry brush, but you can use your finger. However, too much water will make the wrappers soggy and prevent them from staying shut.
You could also create an egg wash to really make sure they’re sealed! Whisk one egg with one tablespoon of water and use that in place of the water.
As far as folding goes, you can pinch the ends together as shown in the pictures, or simply fold the wrapper in half to form a triangle.
Yes, you can assemble the wontons the day before and refrigerate until you’re ready to cook them. Or, freeze uncooked cream cheese wontons for up to 2 months.
Place cream cheese wontons in air fryer and cook as directed — and don’t forget to brush them with oil first! Air fry frozen, uncooked wontons for 8-10 minutes at 400°F.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Air Fryer Cream Cheese Wontons
Equipment
- Food based red dye
Ingredients
Wonton Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons finely sliced green onions, white parts
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon white granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 20 wonton wrappers
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
Sweet and Sour Sauce Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame seed oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoons water
- food-based red dye
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 350° F.
- In a bowl add the cream cheese, green onions, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, and salt. Mix until combined.
- Use a pastry brush to brush the edges of the wonton wrapper with the water.
- Place 2 teaspoons of the cream cheese mixture onto the middle of a wonton wrapper.
- Fold the wontons in half to create a triangle. Seal only the top corner.
- Bring the sides up to the top corner. Seal all four edges and the top corner. Make sure while you are sealing you are removing any excess air. You can dip your clean fingers in the water to seal all the edges.
- Repeat until all the wontons are made.
- With the pastry brush coat the wontons with avocado oil.
- Cook the wontons for 5-7 minutes or until the wontons are golden brown.
- Keep an eye on the wontons so they don’t burst.
- While the wontons are cooking in a pot place the pineapple juice, honey, vinegar, soy sauce, ketchup, and sesame oil.
- Over medium heat cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until simmering. Taste to make sure the sauce is sweet enough for you. Be very careful as the sauce will be extremely hot.
- Mix the cornstarch and water together to make a slurry. Add the cornstarch slurry to the pot. Mix until combined.
- Add 3-5 drops of dye until you reach the color you are seeking.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published October 2024
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