Don't let these air fryer vegetable egg rolls fool you! They're a delicious combination of tender, flavorful vegetables all wrapped in light, crispy wrappers. And they're super easy to make too!
All you need are packaged broccoli carrot slaw, some fresh ginger, soy sauce, and store-bought egg roll wrappers. And the air fryer makes them without all the oil in less than 10 minutes! Dip them in an easy sweet chili sauce for the perfect party appetizer or a side for your favorite Asian meal.
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Table of Contents
- Quick and Easy Asian Recipes
- Why You'll Love This Vegetable Egg Roll Recipe
- Vegetable Egg Rolls Ingredients
- Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- How to Make Veggie Egg Rolls
- How to Wrap an Egg Roll
- How to Air Fry Egg Rolls
- Recipe Tips
- Recipe Variations
- What to Serve with Vegetable Egg Rolls
- Make Ahead
- How to Store and Freeze Leftover Egg Rolls
- How to Reheat Egg Rolls
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes
Quick and Easy Asian Recipes
One great thing about many Asian recipes is they are quick and easy to make. There are lots of stir-fried ones and now air-fried is taking its place in the speedy meal category.
I love Asian recipes and how simple, flavorful, and satisfying they are. The trick is prepping ahead of time and in minutes you can have delicious dishes like pork tenderloin stir fry, plum chicken, Mongolian beef, and these air fryer vegetable egg rolls. They're packed with flavor and offer a healthy meal for busy weeknights.
Why You'll Love This Vegetable Egg Roll Recipe
I always thought egg rolls would be difficult to make as they are such perfect little packets of goodness and fried to a golden brown but it turned out that these air fryer vegetable egg rolls are easier than they look.
Healthier than a deep-fried egg roll and just as crispy! With easier cleanup!
These little beauties are perfect for vegetarian diets or just for those wanting a veggie appetizer before a meaty meal.
They can also be served as a party appetizer by cutting them into 1-inch bite-sized pieces or making mini egg rolls using wonton wrappers.
Vegetable Egg Rolls Ingredients
- Fresh ginger root
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Green onions
- Red/Orange bell pepper
- Chicken broth
- Soy sauce
- White granulated sugar
- Toasted sesame oil
- Broccoli/carrot slaw mix - you can also opt for a basic cole slaw cabbage mixture
- Egg roll wrappers
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Egg roll wrappers are found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. They are usually in either the dairy section or the produce section.
For vegetarian egg rolls, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
If opting for vegan egg rolls, use vegetable broth and spring roll wrappers instead of egg roll wrappers.
For the soy sauce, you can use regular, low-sodium, or gluten-free i.e. Tamari sauce.
Toasted sesame oil has a complex, nutty sesame flavor which is an essential flavor component in egg rolls and other dishes. Do not substitute it with regular sesame oil.
How to Make Veggie Egg Rolls
There are two parts to making vegetable egg rolls - preparing the filling and rolling them.
- In a large skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add ginger and garlic and stir fry for a few seconds.
- Add green onion and red or orange bell pepper strips, stir frying for 2 more minutes.
- In a medium bowl, combine broccoli/carrot slaw with soy sauce and sugar.
- Pour in chicken broth.
- Mix well.
- Add the slaw mixture to the skillet and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Stir in seame oil, remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes.
- Strain to remove excess liquid from the vegetable filling.
How to Wrap an Egg Roll
- Place an egg roll wrapper on a flat surface in front of you so that it looks like a diamond. Fill the lower third of the diamond with about ¼ cup of vegetable filling.
- Fold the corner nearest to you over the filling and tuck it underneath.
- Turn in both sides.
- Moisten the top edge of the wrapper with a little water.
- Roll it the rest of the way up so that it looks like a log. Press lightly to seal the edge that you moistened with water.
- Repeat with remaining egg roll wrappers.
Tip: Keep the egg roll wrappers and uncooked egg rolls covered with a damp towel to prevent drying out.
How to Air Fry Egg Rolls
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F-375°F depending on your air fryer. Spray the basket with avocado or olive oil. Place the egg rolls in the basket and spray the tops with more oil. NOTE: Make sure not to overcrowd so the air can circulate and cook them evenly.
- Air fry for 7 minutes then flip and spray with oil again.
- Air fry for another 2 minutes or until the egg rolls are brown and crispy.
Serve these crispy air fryer egg rolls while they're hot with your favorite sauce. Great as an appetizer or as a side for your favorite Asian meal. See below for more sauce and serving suggestions.
Recipe Tips
- Cover egg roll wrappers with a damp towel to prevent them from drying out.
- Don’t put too much filling in the egg roll wrappers or it will be difficult to fold them.
- Place the egg rolls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, without touching, in order for the air can flow around the sides to get them crispy all over.
- When you flip your egg rolls halfway through air frying, spray the other side with oil if needed.
- Keep air-fried egg rolls warm in a 250°F oven for up to 30 minutes.
Recipe Variations
Add meat or protein to the egg rolls. Be sure to cook it before adding it to the filling mixture. Here are some ideas:
- Beef - use ground beef or finely chopped leftover steak or roast beef.
- Chicken - use ground chicken or finely chopped chicken.
- Crab - use canned crab or chopped crab meat.
- Pork - use ground pork, sausage, or shredded pulled pork.
- Shrimp - use finely chopped shrimp.
- Tofu - use extra-firm tofu and crumble it into tiny pieces.
Air Fryer Mini Egg Rolls - Use wonton wrappers instead of egg roll wrappers. Cut the air fry time in half, or until they are browned and crispy on the outside.
What to Serve with Vegetable Egg Rolls
There are many sauces you can serve with egg rolls:
- Hoisin Sauce
- Orange Sauce
- Plum Sauce
- Ponzu Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce - see the recipe card below for a homemade version
- Teriyaki Sauce
Make Ahead
One Day in Advance: Prepare the egg rolls except for air frying. Wrap them with moist paper towels or cover them with a lightly damp rag. Then cover them with plastic wrap. Keep them in the refrigerator.
Well in Advance: Prepare the egg rolls except for air frying. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze them. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag. Freeze for up to 4 months. You do not need to thaw them before air frying, just add 2 to 3 minutes to the air fryer time.
How to Store and Freeze Leftover Egg Rolls
Storing: Let the egg rolls cool completely. Place them in an airtight container or plastic zip-top bag. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Let the egg rolls cool completely. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze them. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag. They will last up to 4 months in the freezer. You do not need to tham them before reheating.
How to Reheat Egg Rolls
Reheating Refrigerated Leftovers: In the air fryer at 350°F for about 6 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Reheating Frozen Egg Rolls: In the air fryer at 350°F for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Egg rolls cook wonderfully in an air fryer, both freshly made and frozen.
Despite their name, egg rolls do not typically contain egg in the filling. The name "egg roll" refers to the type of dough used to wrap the filling, which includes egg.
While vegetable egg rolls might seem like they would be vegan, that's not always the case. The filling, which often contains various types of vegetables, can be vegan. However, the wrapper might contain egg, which is not suitable for vegans.
The length of time to air fry egg rolls can vary depending on many factors, the size of the egg roll, whether they are homemade or store-bought, and whether they are freshly made of frozen. Generally, air frying egg rolls takes between 7 to 10 minutes.
More Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
- Air Fryer Ravioli
- Air Fryer Southwest Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Taquitos
Find lots of delicious and easy air fryer recipes right here on 2CM!
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Air Fryer Vegetable Egg Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
Vegetable Egg Rolls
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 inch fresh ginger grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 green onions sliced thin
- 1 small red pepper julienned
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 2 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 ½ cup broccoli/carrot slaw
- 1-2 Tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 10 egg roll wrappers (If you fill them more you will get around 8) (cover with damp kitchen towel to keep flexible)
Sweet Chili Sauce (optional)
- 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic or 3 large garlic cloves
- 2 Serrano peppers with or without seeds depending on how hot you like it
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ¾ cup + 2 Tablespoons water
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
Vegetable Egg Rolls
- In a large skillet over high heat, heat oil and stir fry ginger and garlic for a few seconds. Add green onion and red pepper cooking for 2 more minutes.
- Combine chicken broth, soy sauce, sugar, and broccoli/carrot slaw. Add to skillet and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Stir in sesame oil, remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes. Strain to remove excess liquid.
- Arrange an egg roll wrapper in front of you so that it looks like a diamond. Fill the lower third with about ¼ cup of vegetable mixture. Roll the corner nearest you in one turn then turn in the sides. Roll the rest of the way so that it looks like a log. Place a little water on the edge and press to seal. Cover with damp towel. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370-375°F. Spray the basket with olive oil or avocado oil spray.
- Lay the egg rolls in the basket leaving room around the sides for even cooking. It may take 2 batches. Spray the top of egg rolls with oil.
- Air fry for 7 minutes, flip, spray again with oil, then cook another 2 minutes or until crispy.
- Be very careful as the inside contents will be extremely hot. Serve with your favorite Asian sauce on the side for dipping.
Sweet Chili Sauce (optional)
- Puree garlic, peppers, vinegar, sugar , salt and ¾ cup water in blender.
- Pour into small saucepan and bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer for 3-5 minutes.
- Mix cornstarch with remaining 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Whisk into blended mixture and simmer for 1-2 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken.
- Let cool and store in resealable glass jar in refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated to an air fryer recipe that is better than the original! It was first published on November 21, 2014.
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