by Holly
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
Prep Time 45 minutes
Servings 60 wontons
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American, Asian, ChineseIngredients
- 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 sesame oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon fresh ginger grated
- 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.
