If you’re looking for a delicious appetizer, crispy fried wontons are a favorite! These little bites can either be deep-fried or air-fried!
Both methods are included below! Easy to find and easy to use, wonton wrappers are sturdy enough to hold a savory filling but delicate enough to be served as an appetizer or a light side dish with a sauce.
What are Fried Wontons?
Fried wontons are a Chinese dumpling filled with meat or other savory ingredients. While they are commonly made into wonton soup, wontons can also be cooked nice and crisp as an appetizer.
The preparation is not difficult and it does take some time (but can be done well ahead of time or even frozen). Once you have them prepared, they take just minutes to fry and are always a crowd favorite.
To save time you can even freeze before cooking and pop into the air fryer while frozen!
Ingredients & Variations
PORK FILLING This recipe uses pork, but feel free to make a vegetarian version with diced veggies or rice! Or substitute the ground pork for ground chicken, beef, or turkey.
WONTON WRAPPERS Wonton wrappers are perfect for a delicious bite-sized appetizer.
In a pinch, you can use dumpling wrappers, egg roll wrappers, or spring roll wrappers. Try cutting them down to size to keep them as bite-sized portions. But keep in mind, spring roll wrappers are much thinner so they will get much crispier and may tear easier.
Wonton wrappers are often found near the produce or where the tofu is located in your grocery store. If you don’t see them, just ask the grocer.
When working with wonton wrappers, keep them covered with plastic and work with just a few at a time so they don’t dry out.
How to Make Fried Wontons
The basic preparation of wontons is always the same, but this recipe will show two variations of cooking; a deep-fried version and an air fryer version.
First, combine all the fillings in a small bowl.
How to Fold Wontons
Folding wontons is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Place filling in the center of each wrapper
- Fold one end of the wrapper over and moisten the bottom edge.
- Crimp the top part of the wrapper to the moistened edges to seal.
To Deep Fry Wontons
Now, to deep fry them!
- Fry wontons in a pan of oil heated to 350°F.
- Cook both sides until they are crispy brown, being sure not to overcrowd the pan.
To Air Fry Wontons
Air frying is even easier, and uses less oil!
- Brush each prepared wonton with oil or spray with cooking oil.
- Place wontons in a single layer in the air fryer and cook until crisp.
Best Dipping Sauce
Chinese food is famous for its variety of sauces, and wontons go great with so many kinds, especially pork and seafood. Here are some ideas to try:
- Chinese garlic sauce
- Honey mustard sauce
- Sweet and sour sauce
- Hoisin Sauce
- Sesame Ginger Sauce
- Peanut Dressing
Did you love these Fried Wontons? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Fried Wontons
Ingredients
- 60 wonton wrappers
- vegetable oil frying or air frying
Filling:
- 12 ounces ground pork
- 3 green onions finely chopped
- 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons grated fresh ginger
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Combine all filling ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
- Place 1 teaspoon filling in the middle of a wonton wrapper. Brush the edges with a little bit of water and fold the wonton over the filling to create a triangle.
- Using your fingers, form the wrapper over the filling and press any air out.
To Fry
- Fill a pan with 2” of oil and heat to 350°F.
- Place wontons, a few at a time, into the hot oil and fry 2-3 minutes or until crisp and browned.
To Air Fry
- Brush the outside of the wontons with oil as needed (or spray with cooking spray).
- Add a single layer of wontons and cook 3-5 minutes at 375°F or just until crisp.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American, Asian, Chinese© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Can you make them ahead of time and freeze before cooking ?
Absolutely Jeannie, these freeze well!
I am collecting air fryer recipes and I love wontons…but this air fry recipe does not help. “Fry until crisp”…that does not help me. Do you have a “ball park” idea on temperature and time? This recipe for air fry is incomplete. The deep fry one, I understand you just watch the product as it cooks and take it out when the color is right.
Hi Maria, this information can be found in the recipe under instructions in the final step of air fry: Add a single layer of wontons and cook 3-5 minutes at 375°F. I hope this helps!
Love this idea with the pork instead of crabmeat …
LOVE it….
Can you make them ahead, fully cooked, and reheat in an oven?
Need them for a large group and won’t have time to fry at the last minute!
Hi Karen, we have never tried but it sounds like it should work well. I would pop them back in the air fryer for a few minutes to reheat them or in the oven to warm them up. We would love to hear how it turns out for you!
Love the reciepts looking. To see which one i make first
Happy to see you here Betty!
My won tons got a hole in the top and the filling came out. Why did this happen?
Hey CarolAnn, sorry that happened. Some tips to help are to make sure you are only working with a few at a time so they don’t dry out and crack when folding over, be careful not to overfill them, and handle gently to ensure they don’t tear.
Love Holly’s reciepes, her page, her look. Whenever I see Jump On It, I do. So easy to follow and few ingredients. Thank you, Holly.
You are so very welcome Paula! Thank YOU!
I made these over the weekend and everyone loved them!!
Do you have a fried chinese chicken recipe by chance? The type that are fried and served with a sweet n sour sauce.
You could try Sweet and Sour Chicken, or Take Out Style Sweet and Sour Chicken Carrie. Enjoy!
Great recipe. Thanks
These sound amazing! Do I pre-cook the meat?
The meat is raw. Since it’s only a teaspoon, it cooks very quickly.
Thanks for the quick reply. They sound amazing!! Off to buy wonton wrappers now! I think my Sweet red chili sauce will be great with these!
Oh, Holly. I made these in my air fryer last night. I used ground turkey because that is what I had on hand. I used a fork to crimp the wontons because of the arthritis in my hands. These are amazing. I froze a bunch to have as one of my appetizers on Christmas Eve! A bit time-consuming but delicious! Thanks for the great recipe. Merry Christmas!
I’m so glad you loved them Abby! Merry Christmas to you and your family too.
This recipe was great! These were GONE! My dad and his girlfriend are in their 80s and as such, don’t have huge appetites. Well…they surprised even themselves by devouring these! I’ve made other wontons in the past, but these are my favorite! I used raw, chopped shrimp for the filling, and that worked just perfectly! Thank you!!
Sounds perfect Andrea!
Do you cook the pork first or put it in wrapper raw?
It goes into the wrapper raw.
How can you be sure it is fully cooked?
It’s only 1 teaspoon of meat so it cooks very quickly.