With a creamy crab filling, these crisp crab wontons are one of my favorite things to order at Chinese restaurants. Doused in spicy sweet chili sauce, I could literally make a meal of this appetizer. In fact, that’s exactly what my niece does. How long it takes: 21 minutes Equipment you’ll need: air fryer, bowl, spoon, tongs Servings: 20 In all fairness, she’s only five. The waiter doesn’t even ask. He just brings her a plate of crab Rangoon with a little paper umbrella stuck into the middle of one. Isn’t that sweet? Of course, since I love my air fryer so much, I had to try making crab Rangoon. I love my Air Fryer Egg Rolls. Once again, air frying is a winner. The crab Rangoon turn out so well: crisp on the outside, creamy on the inside. Hurray!
About this recipe
These crab Rangoon really taste just like the ones you get in restaurants. You’re going to love them. The filling is easy to make. The most time consuming part is filling and sealing the wonton wrappers. It isn’t difficult but 40 wontons is a lot of wontons! Since the wontons have to be cooked in batches, you can get the first batch started right away and keep filling and cooking as you go. Keep reading for make ahead ideas. If you’re really not in the mood for making individual crab rangoon, this crab rangoon dip with crisp homemade wonton chips is easy and very, very popular. Here’s a quick look at how it’s done:
What you need
Crab meat: Imitation crab meat is fine, too, and is usually what I use. Cream Cheese: Full fat cream cheese is best but lower fat is okay, too. Don’t use fat-free. Let it soften at room temp for an hour or two. Green Onion, Worcestershire Sauce, and Garlic: This trio adds lots of flavor to your wontons. Wonton Wrappers: These little goodies are easy to use and inexpensive. Find them in the refrigerated produce section of your grocery store. Egg: A little beaten egg is the glue that holds the wrappers together. Olive Oil Spray: Because the wontons are air fried, not deep-fried, a little olive oil spray helps them get golden brown and crisp. Sweet Chili Sauce: A tangy sweet sauce with just the right amount of heat, it perfectly complements the crab rangoon. You need this sauce!
How to make it
You’ll need a good-sized bowl to mix the filling. Prep the green onions and garlic. Get your air fryer out. In a small bowl, lightly beat an egg. Open up the package of wonton wrappers. Cover them with a damp towel so they don’t dry out. Put all the filling ingredients into the large bowl. Stir it all together, mashing the crab with a fork to break up any large chunks. You’ll be glad you softened the cream cheese. Ready to fill the wonton wrappers? Put a rounded teaspoon of filling in the center of a wrapper. Brush all four edges with the beaten egg. Bring the corners up diagonally and press together firmly. It’s really kind of fun especially if you have a wonton buddy to help. Spray the rangoon lightly with olive oil or another oil of your choice. Air fry for about six minutes. That’s all it takes! Remember to time them because they brown quickly. Still good, but not as pretty. Serve them immediately with the sweet chili sauce. Bet you can’t eat just one!
How to make Baked crab Rangoon
No air fryer? You can bake crab rangoon in the oven. They aren’t quite as good as their air fried cousins though. Here’s how: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place wontons on wire rack sprayed with nonstick spray, set inside of baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
Make Ahead Ideas
Make the crab ranoon ahead but don’t cook them. Put them between parchment paper in a single layer in a sealable container. Refrigerate overnight. Air fry as directed. Or, freeze in a single layer on parchment paper after wonton wrappers are filled. Once frozen, put the rangoons into an airtight container for up to 3 months. To air fry, remove desired amount from freezer. There’s no need to thaw them first. Spray lightly with olive oil or avocado oil spray, and cook at 350ºF in preheated air fryer for 6 minutes.
Storage & Reheating Suggestions
Air fryer crab rangoon are really best eaten right away. If you have leftovers, store them in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat, air fry them a couple of minutes or put them in your toaster oven to bake for 5 minutes or until heated through.
More Asian style recipes
While you could probably make a meal of crab Rangoon, you may want to check out these recipes, too:
Chicken Lettuce Wraps – restaurant copycat! Asian Chicken Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry Sweet and Sour Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Chicken Stir-Fry with Ginger and Basil Easy Beef and Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry Instant Pot Jasmine Rice Recipe Instant Pot Honey Sriracha Chicken
