These air fryer spring rolls are one of our favorite ways to enjoy a crispy, takeout style appetizer at home, with a fraction of the oil. For us that lighter, homemade twist on a favorite is what real food for real life is all about. It is the kind of appetizer that brings the crunch of takeout to your own kitchen with a fraction of the oil, which makes a big batch feel both fun and a little lighter.
Packed with a savory mix of cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, and mushrooms, these vegetable air fryer spring rolls turn shatteringly crisp in the basket with just a thin brush of oil. They make a perfect party appetizer or a fun, hands on side, ready in about thirty minutes. They make a perfect party appetizer or a fun, hands on side, and a big batch comes together with surprisingly little fuss.
A thin brush of oil is all these air fryer spring rolls need to turn deeply golden and crisp, with a savory vegetable filling tucked inside each one.
Why You Will Love These Air Fryer Spring Rolls
- Crispy with little oil. The air fryer gives a deep golden crunch using just a thin brush of oil instead of a deep fry.
- Savory vegetable filling. Cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, and mushrooms make a flavorful, satisfying center.
- Great for parties. They are an easy, crowd pleasing appetizer that everyone can dip and share.
- Make ahead friendly. Roll them in advance and air fry just before serving for fresh, hot rolls.
- Lighter than fried. All the crunch of the classic with far less oil and mess.
What Makes These Air Fryer Spring Rolls So Good
The secret to great air fryer spring rolls is a filling that is cooked and cooled first. Quickly stir frying the vegetables drives off excess moisture and seasons them, so the wrappers stay crisp instead of turning soggy from the inside. Quickly stir frying the vegetables first drives off excess moisture and seasons them, so the wrappers stay crisp instead of turning soggy from within.
Rolling them tightly and sealing the edge with a little cornstarch slurry keeps the filling tucked in and the shape neat. A thin, even brush of oil on the outside is what lets the wrappers blister and crisp in the hot air.
Cooking these air fryer spring rolls in a single layer and flipping them halfway gives every side direct heat, so they brown evenly all over. The result is a roll that shatters at the first bite with a tender, savory center. Cooking them in a single layer and flipping them halfway gives every side direct heat, so they brown evenly and shatter at the first bite.
Optional Pro Tip: Do Not Overfill
It is tempting to load up each wrapper, but overfilling makes the rolls hard to seal and prone to bursting. Use about three tablespoons of filling per roll, and roll them snug. For the best air fryer spring rolls, make sure the filling is cooled so it does not steam the wrapper from within.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Spring Rolls
Cook and cool the filling before rolling so the air fryer spring rolls stay crisp, and seal each roll with a little cornstarch and water so it does not open up. Brushing a thin, even coat of oil over each roll is what lets the wrappers blister and crisp in the hot air.
Brush a thin, even coat of oil over each roll and cook in a single layer. Flip them halfway so both sides turn golden and crisp. Cooking them in a single layer with space between gives every side direct heat for an even, golden crunch.
Variations and Add Ins
- Spicy. Add a little sriracha or chili flakes to the filling.
- Protein packed. Stir in cooked ground turkey or shredded chicken.
- Extra veggies. Add shredded bell pepper or snow peas to the mix.
- Sweet chili dip. Serve with a sweet chili sauce for dipping.
- Ginger garlic. Add fresh ginger and garlic to the filling for more aroma.
How to Store and Make Ahead
Store cooked air fryer spring rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. They are best fresh, since the wrappers soften as they sit. Kept airtight, they remain a tasty snack, and a quick turn in the air fryer brings their crispness right back.
Reheat in the air fryer at 375 F for three to four minutes to crisp them back up. You can also freeze uncooked rolls and air fry them straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.
Serving Suggestions for Air Fryer Spring Rolls
Serve these with a dipping sauce like sweet chili, soy, or a peanut sauce, alongside a simple salad or a bowl of rice. They make a great appetizer, side, or light meal. Served with a dipping sauce like sweet chili, soy, or peanut, alongside a simple salad or a bowl of rice, they make a great appetizer, side, or light meal.
Spring rolls are a popular rolled appetizer across many Asian cuisines, with fillings and wrappers that vary by region, as described in this overview of the spring roll. These vegetable air fryer spring rolls are a crisp, lighter take on that classic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make air fryer spring rolls without deep frying?
Yes, that is the whole idea. A thin brush of oil and the hot air of the fryer give you a crisp, golden roll with far less oil than deep frying. A thin brush of oil and the hot air of the fryer give you a crisp, golden roll with far less oil than deep frying, which is the whole appeal.
What temperature is best for spring rolls?
Around 400 F works well. It crisps the wrappers and heats the filling through in about twelve to fifteen minutes. A high temperature crisps the wrappers and heats the filling through, giving you that deeply golden, crunchy shell.
Why are my spring rolls soggy?
Soggy rolls usually come from a wet filling. Cook and cool the vegetables first to drive off moisture before rolling. Soggy rolls usually come from a wet filling, so cooking and cooling the vegetables first to drive off moisture is what keeps the wrappers crisp.
How do I keep the wrappers from opening?
Seal the edge with a little cornstarch mixed with water, and roll them snug so the seam stays closed during cooking. Sealing the edge with a little cornstarch mixed with water and rolling them snug keeps the seam closed so they do not open during cooking.
Can I freeze spring rolls?
Yes. Freeze the uncooked, rolled spring rolls and air fry them straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes. They freeze well uncooked, so roll a big batch, freeze them, and air fry straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.
Do I need to flip them?
A flip halfway through helps both sides brown evenly. Turn them gently so the wrappers stay intact. A flip halfway through helps both sides brown evenly, so turn them gently to keep the wrappers intact.
What wrappers should I use?
Use spring roll wrappers, which crisp up well in the air fryer. Brush them lightly with oil for the best color. Spring roll wrappers crisp up beautifully in the air fryer, and a light brush of oil gives them the best golden color.
How full should I fill each roll?
About three tablespoons of filling per roll is plenty. Overfilling makes them hard to seal and prone to bursting. About three tablespoons of filling per roll is plenty, since overfilling makes them hard to seal and prone to bursting as they cook.
What dipping sauces go well?
Sweet chili, soy sauce, and peanut sauce are all popular. A squeeze of lime adds brightness. Sweet chili, soy sauce, and peanut sauce are all popular, and a squeeze of lime adds a bright, fresh finish.
Can I add meat to the filling?
Yes. Cooked ground turkey or shredded chicken stir well into the vegetable filling for a heartier roll. Cooked ground turkey or shredded chicken stir well into the vegetable filling for a heartier roll, so add some if you like.
Crispy Rolls Worth Sharing
These air fryer spring rolls bring all the crunch of a takeout favorite to your own kitchen, with a savory vegetable filling and far less oil. Crisp on the outside and tender within, they are hard to stop eating. Crisp on the outside and tender within, they bring all the crunch of a takeout favorite to your own kitchen.
Roll them ahead and air fry just before serving, then set out a few dipping sauces and let everyone dig in. They are a fun, flexible appetizer for parties or an easy weeknight treat.
If you enjoy crisp, flavorful dishes like this, you will also love our healthy orange chicken, another easy favorite from our kitchen.
Results vary by ingredients, equipment, and cooking conditions. Always taste and adjust seasoning as you go.
Air Fryer Spring Rolls
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Make sure the veggies are finely shredded or chopped.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat and add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the napa cabbage, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, and mushrooms. Stir constantly until the vegetables start to soften, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add green onion, cornstarch mixture, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. The vegetables should be cooked down while having a slight crunch. Remove the vegetable mixture from the heat and set it aside.
- Lay out a single spring roll wrapper, oriented in a diamond shape with a corner facing you. Brush some of the second cornstarch slurry mixture along the corner in the top half of the wrapper.
- Scoop about 3 tablespoons of the filling into the center of the wrapper. Do not overfill the wrappers. Fold the lower third of the wrapper over the filling, then fold in both the left and right corners over the filling. It should resemble an envelope at this point.
- Continue to roll it from the bottom up. Press down along the seam gently to seal, brushing on more of the cornstarch mixture if needed. Repeat until the filling is gone.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 F for 3 minutes.
- While it preheats, brush each side of the spring rolls with a thin layer of oil and place in a single layer in your air fryer basket, leaving about 1/2 inch of space between them. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry at 400 F for 12 to 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
Nutrition
Notes
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