Name: Air Fryer Crab Rangoons
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 6 ounces whipped cream cheese; 1/4 cup tartar sauce; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon hot sauce; 1-2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1/2 pound lump crab or jumbo lump crab meat*, (liquid drained); 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese; 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 12 oz pack of wonton wrappers, (about 45)

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Crispy Air Fryer Crab Rangoons aka wontons made with cream cheese and crab, are crispy and delicious. They’re so easy to make at home you’ll never order takeout again!

This homemade Crab Rangoon recipe is one you won’t want to miss. These Crab Rangoons are filled with jumbo lump crab meat, whipped cream cheese, Old Bay seasoning, and more, all wrapped in a crispy wonton for the perfect bite.

air fryer crab rangoons on a white plate

Looking for other delicious crab recipes? Check out this Maryland Crab Dip and Maryland Crab Cake Recipe next.

Easy Air Fryer Crab Rangoon Recipe

What if I told those delicious crab rangoons that everyone loves so much could be made at home in under 25 minutes? Did your eyes widen and your mouth start watering? Ok, good!

Now what if I told you that making them at home would taste EVEN BETTER while also containing less calories? I know you’re excited now!

Crab rangoons are little pockets of crispy perfection typically found in Asian cuisine. If you are familiar with Asian dining you may know that crab rangoons aren’t “authentic” Asian delicacies. Crab rangoons are an Asian-American inspired dish, but that doesn’t stop me from loving them!

overhead photo of crab rangoons, parsley, crab dip, and lemon wedges

The one flaw when ordering crab rangoons is the inconsistency in the crab rangoon filling. Some Chinese pack rangoons an artificial crab flavoring with tons of creme cheese.

My recipe changes all that! With delicious lumps of crab and the perfect balance of ingredients, this Air Fryer Crab Rangoon recipe is going to have you saying goodbye (forever) to Chinese restaurant rangoons, and hello to homemade!

Air Fryer Crab Rangoon Filling Recipe

Crab: you’ll need either lump crab or jumbo lump crab meat.

Cheese: for the crab rangoon filling you’ll need cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and mozzarella cheese.

Wet ingredients: tartar sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and lemon juice.

Seasoning: every great crab recipe needs a dash of Old Bay Seasoning!

Wonton: for this recipe you will need a pack of wonton wrappers (aka egg roll wrappers). This will give you about 45 crab rangoons.

*For a detailed list of ingredients and measurements, please reference the recipe card down below.

Can I Use Imitation Crab?

As a Maryland girl, I don’t recommend using imitation crab meat. The real deal, jumbo lump crab meat is where it’s at. However, if you don’t have access to real crab meat or are looking for a more affordable option, you can substitute for imitation crab meat.

How to make Air Fryer Crab Rangoons

Unlike the deep fried crab rangoons you’re probably used to at your local Chinese restaurant, these little guys are air fried and have way less calories!

I used my Ninja Foodi to make these, but you can use any brand of air fryer you have at home. Just make sure you preheat the air fryer before placing food in it. If yours doesn’t have a preheat setting, you can turn it on for 5-7 minutes before placing food in the basket.

1. Make the crab rangoon filling. In a large bowl, combine the whipped cream cheese, tartar sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, Old Bay, and lemon juice.

Next fold in the crab meat, Monterey Jack cheese, and mozzarella cheese with a rubber spatula. Careful not to break up the crab meat!

2. Fill the wonton wrappers. Add 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture to the center of the wrapper. Dip your finger in water and gently wet the edges of the wonton wrapper. Fold at the corners to make a star-like shape. Try to seal the wrapper completely around the filling to keep it from spilling out.

3. Air fry the crab rangoons. Preheat the air fryer to 350° F. Spritz the basket with a little bit of olive oil and place the crab wontons in a single layer (my air fryer holds about 9). Lightly spritz the rangoons with olive oil spray and air fry for 5-6 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.

Garnish your rangoons with fresh parsley or green onions.

How do you keep crab rangoons from exploding?

Make sure to pinch the edges of the wrapper as much as possible. Any air pockets will want to escape and break your rangoons while cooking.

Also make sure the filling is either chilled or at least at room temperature before placing in the wonton wrappers. This will help keep it from melting too quickly before the wontons crisp.

How to Reheat Crab Rangoons in the Air Fryer

Reheating these crispy rangoons is easy! Just preheat the air fryer to 325 F, then place the Crab Rangoons in the air fryer basket. Heat for 1-2 minutes or until the center is heated through.

What to Do With Leftover Crab Dip

Leftover crab dip from these delicious Air Fryer Crab Rangoons will never go to waste! The best (and my personal favorite) use for the leftover dip is to make my melt in your mouth Crab Pretzels.

If you have any leftover crab meat from your recipe, you can also make Maryland Crab Cakes.

How do you cook frozen crab Rangoons?

The great thing about having frozen crab rangoons is that you can cook them using your preferred method. Freezing or chilling your crab rangoons will also help prevent the rangoons from exploding from the oils of the cream cheese.

Reheat them in your air fryer by thawing and frying at 300° F for about 5 minutes, until crisp.

You can also bake the crab rangoons in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes at 450° F, until they’re golden.

crab rangoons on an oval plate with lemon

What is the difference between crab rangoons and fried wontons?

While they might seem the same they couldn’t be more different. Crab rangoons are filled with crab and cream cheese; however, wontons are filled with meat such as ground pork, chicken, or shrimp.

Tips For Making Crab Rangoons

Matching up the edges perfectly will help the rangoons keep their shape while cooking.
Don’t overfill the wonton wrappers or they will be hard to close and filling will spill out while cooking.
Chilling the filling before making the rangoons will help keep it from spilling out in the air fryer.
If you’re looking for something to dip your crab rangoons in, try making a quick and easy Crab Cake Sauce or remoulade. You can also dip them in soy sauce or sweet chili sauce.

More Crab Recipes

Easy Air Fryer Appetizers

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