This Air Fryer Crispy Crab Rangoon recipe makes me feel like I have died and gone to heaven. My mouth is salivating as I write up this post! If I told you that you could enjoy 3 pieces of crab rangoon for less than 100 calories total, would you believe me? Well, pull up a chair. This recipe does just that! Thank you so much, Air Fryer.
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This post was originally published in 2018. It has since been updated.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love This Recipe
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This was my first time ever making crab Rangoon and I was nervous to try. The recipe was so easy to follow and they came out perfectly! I baked them in two batches as suggested and they were crispy and perfect. I really like the fact that they are in the air fryer and not as oily as a typical crab rangoon you would get from take out. I am ready to make these again!
~Julie
If you know me well then you know I am very fond of traditional Asian cuisine. I often frequent a local Vietnamese restaurant a couple of blocks from my house. Yes, I know crab rangoon is NOT an authentic Asian appetizer, but that will not stop me from enjoying it! I make my rounds and enjoy authentic Asian meals a lot. So, I deserve to indulge in this un-authentic treat from time to time!
I have become obsessed with my Air Fryer! Growing up, my family ate fried food a lot. My mom fried chicken, pork chops, fish, and other dishes quite a bit. These meals were certainly tasty but obviously are not good overall. Times have changed so much!
We now have a device that can fry food without using all of that grease. That is simply astonishing. As such, you will probably find me in the kitchen every single weekend experimenting with the Air Fryer. I feel like I owe it to my childhood.
Key Ingredients
- Cream Cheese
- Crab Meat
- Green Onions
- Garlic
- Worcestershire sauce
- Wonton Wrappers
What Type of Crab to Use/Imitation Crab vs Lump Crab
I use lump crab meat. You can find it in the refrigerated meat section of the grocery store. This recipe is commonly made with imitation crab meat, sometimes called krab meat. You can use that if you wish, it's also sometimes easier to find.
Imitation crab is processed fish meat. It is seafood and comes from surimi that has been deboned and minced into paste. It does not contain crab. Crab extract is sometimes added for flavor.
Use whichever you wish. You can read more about What Imitation Crab Is here.
A lot of restaurants that serve crab rangoon use imitation crab meat. If you prefer imitation crab meat, substitute that for the lump crab used in this recipe. There is a difference in taste. If you are looking to replicate your favorite, that may be the best option for you.
Wonton Wrappers
I have learned from experience of making these, all wrappers aren't equal. You may have to try a couple of different brands before you land on your favorite. Some rip and tear pretty easily, which means you will have to double wrap them if needed. Keep this in mind.
When shopping for wonton wrappers look for thin, square-shaped wrappers typically found in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores, near tofu or fresh noodles. The placement of these in the grocery store will vary.
Choose wrappers labeled “thin” or “super-thin” for the crispiest texture in the air fryer. If possible, opt for fresh over frozen, as they’re easier to handle and less likely to crack. If using frozen wrappers, let them thaw in the fridge before use. Also, check the ingredient list—simple ingredients like wheat, water, and salt yield the best results without unwanted additives.
How to Make Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Combine cream cheese, green onions, crab meat, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic in a small bowl. Stir to mix well.
- Lay out the wonton wrappers on a working surface.
- Load about a teaspoon and a half of filling onto each wrapper. Be careful not to overfill.
- Fold each wrapper diagonally across to form a triangle. From there bring up the two opposite corners toward each other. Don't close the wrapper yet. Bring up the other two opposite sides, pushing out any air. Squeeze each of the edges together.
- Load the crab rangoon into the Air Fryer.
- Air fry.
Air Fryer Temperature
I recommend 370 degrees.
How Long to Cook/Cook Time
Cook for 10 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.
How to Keep them Crispy
Reheating them in the air fryer does the trick. After being sealed away and stored, they will soften some. You can reheat them in the air fryer, maybe add a spritz of oil if necessary.
I used the sweet and sour dipping sauce from Frank's Red Hot. You can purchase it here.
If you are looking for wonton wrappers you can find them here.
Pair With These Recipes
Pair these with my other recipes: Orange Chicken Seafood Shrimp Pho Soup, Pad Thai, Air Fryer French Fries, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, and Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders.
More Crab Recipes
Shrimp and Crab Quiche
Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Seafood Crab Salad
Crab Stuffed Salmon
Crab Rangoon Dip
Hot Baked Crab Dip
Baked Crab Legs
Air Fryer Crab Legs
Pin this recipe for later here.
Air Fryer Crispy Crab Rangoon
Ingredients
- 4 or 6 oz cream cheese, softened If you prefer really creamy crab rangoon use 6 oz
- 4 or 6 oz lump crab meat If you prefer your crab rangoon to have more cream cheese and less crab, use 4 oz. Seafood lovers may want to go for 6 oz
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- 21 wonton wrappers
- cooking oil I use olive oil.
Instructions
- You can soften your cream cheese by heating it in the microwave for 20 seconds.4 or 6 oz cream cheese, softened
- Combine the cream cheese, green onions, crab meat, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic in a small bowl. Stir to mix well.4 or 6 oz lump crab meat, 2 green onions, chopped, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to taste
- Lay out the wonton wrappers on a working surface. I used a large, bamboo cutting board. Moisten each of the wrappers with water. I use a cooking brush, and brush it along all of the edges.21 wonton wrappers
- Load about a teaspoon and a half of filling onto each wrapper. Be careful not to overfill.
- Fold each wrapper diagonally across to form a triangle. From there bring up the two opposite corners toward each other. Don't close the wrapper yet. Bring up the other two opposite sides, pushing out any air. Squeeze each of the edges together.
- Spritz the air fryer basket with cooking oil.cooking oil
- Load the crab rangoon into the air fryer basket. Do not stack or overfill. Cook in batches if needed.
- Spritz with oil.
- Place the Air Fryer on 370 degrees. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Open and flip the crab rangoon. Cook for an additional 2-5 minutes until they have reached your desired level of golden brown and crisp.
- Remove the crab rangoon from the air fryer and serve with your desired dipping sauce.
Video
Notes
- Your cook time may vary depending on the Air Fryer brand that you use. I recommend a temperature of at least 370 degrees. You should cook the crab rangoon until they have reached your desired level of crunchiness. Check in on them while they air fry to be sure the crab rangoon does not overcook.
- I have made this recipe and have stacked in all of the crab rangoon and I have made it in two batches. I believe making it in batches works best. If you stack them, you may have a few that are really soft to touch and break apart when you go to flip them over.
- All wrappers aren't equal. You may have to try a couple of different brands before you land on your favorite. Some rip and tear pretty easily, which means you will have to double wrap them if needed. Keep this in mind.
Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)
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Marjory says
If crab ragoons are on the menu, then I order them! Love them and these sound delicious! And, I really need an air fryer!
Sues says
wow, I haven't had any desire for an air fryer (I have wayy too many appliances!) until I saw these! They look so crispy and delicious and like the perfect crab rangoon!
Kristine says
Can you make a ton of these and freeze some to putt out for a later snack?
staysnatched says
I have not done any freezing. Anytime you reheat items that are air-fried you will need to put them back into the Air Fryer to get them crispy again.
Sheri says
Mine exploded out to bottom. The stuffing was all over the rack and bottom of my af. I will try again.
staysnatched says
Oh no! What Air Fryer brand do you use? What temperature and how long did you cook them?
Anonymous says
@Sheri,
I had several burst out the bottom too. Maybe my wrapping skills were to blame
🙁
staysnatched says
Yep or you over stuffed them. You can’t put tons of filling in them or they won’t fit when they cook.
BakerIsBaked says
@Sheri, Why are you giving a low review for something that is your fault?
Ann Gouvan says
I just got done making them.. Not easy. By the time I got done, it was a lot easier.
Cooked 10 minutes in air fryer 375 Degrees. They are brown and crispy and very good. Will make again. Thank You
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Tiffany says
I don't see the video that is mentioned?
staysnatched says
Are you on desktop or mobile? I just checked both and it's there. If you are on desktop the video starts at the very top of the post and as you scroll the video continues to play on the right side of the screen. On mobile, the video is right below the words to check out the video above the recipe card.
Stacia says
Tasty and good recipe that makes me think of other possibilities. For our tastes, i wish I had added 8 oz of cream cheese (or cut the amt of tasty crab). In my air fryer, preheating was not a good idea as 10 minutes was too much cooking time. Next time we will use more cream cheese (and no preheat). But we are liking your method and trying with cranberry sauce and turkey. Great base recipe!
Celeste says
The video didn't really show the turning over over after 10 minutes, they looked the same with the folds creased on top just like they went in the first time?
staysnatched says
I turned them. I didn't show the physical process of me turning them because the video is limited to one minute. I can't show every single step in detail, it's typed in the video and listed within the printed instructions.
Anonymous says
@Celeste,
Donna says
Can I use Shrimp instead of crab
staysnatched says
Yes. I would slice up the shrimp first.
Chryssy | WellRoundedMom.com says
Could you prep these up ahead of time, or will the wontons get soggy or fall apart?
staysnatched says
I haven't tried making them ahead. This is something you will have to test to find out.
Kristin says
These are amazing ????. I also had a tiny bit of spill out in the brand of wonton wrappers I used next time I will use just a teaspoon of filling, also i found they were done in about 5-7 min rather then 10.
staysnatched says
Im glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for your feedback!
Justin says
I just made these tonight, I was a bit worried they might be too different from the Krab or just cheese wontons we usually order, but they came out great, different, but how they are meant to be. My favorite part was err "not wasting" the filling that overflowed from a few. My air fryer has 3 shelves and I found that the farther from the heating element the less bubbling over there was.
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed them!
Kenneth Winke says
I made these today and I must say they are delicious. I dipped in Franks Stingin Honey Garlic. Was good but the Sweet Chili would of been better if I had some. 🙂 Thanks for the great recipe!
staysnatched says
You’re welcome! I’m glad you loved it.
Donna says
I'm slightly confused with the instructions! If I don't crowd then and make them in batches, are you saying to bake them for 10 minutes, flip them, and bake for another 5 to 8 minutes?
staysnatched says
Yes, but exercise judgement as well. Cook them until they are golden brown and appear done.
Julie says
This was my first time ever making crab Rangoon and I was nervous to try. The recipe was so easy to follow and they came out perfectly! I baked them in two batches as suggested and they were crispy and perfect. I really like the fact that they are in the air fryer and not as oily as a typical crab rangoon you would get from take out. I am ready to make these again!
staysnatched says
This is a good one! Glad you enjoyed it!
Rebekah says
I love that these use real ingredients. Never getting takeout again
staysnatched says
haha that's what I like to hear!
Shauna says
Simple. Easy. Delicious. I will be making again next time I am craving takeout. Might actually make them again today!
staysnatched says
Haha yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed them.
Patti says
This hit the spot for our fake out take out night! I love the flexibility of the recipe and will definitely be playing with ratios to make the perfect crab rangoon for our house. Wrapping wontons has always been intimidating, but these were super easy to do. And absolutely recommend the wonton wrapper brand mentioned in the recipe: great quality, didn't tear, easy to work with.
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm glad that brand worked for you!
Bri says
I had no intentions on making crab rangoon but I was on instagram and I saw this recipe on her page. At this point, I don't even question her recipes anymore. If I see it, I just go ahead an add the ingredients to my cart and plan my meals off her page. This crab rangoon recipe is amazing. The filling was good before I even air fried it. Just make it y'all!
staysnatched says
haha! I love your reviews.
Katie says
Made these tonight so amazing! Way better than imitation crab! Thank you for the recipe!
staysnatched says
You're welcome. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Christi says
Follow the recipe....more crab does NOT necessarily make it better. Way overdid it on the crab meat bc my husband likes the crabbier rangoons but I took it too far, lesson learned. I also used the fake crab chunks because the real crab looked sketch at the grocery store and didn't break it up nearly enough before using. Other than my own error and using subpar ingredients the recipe was great, perfected done in my IP Vortex Plus. I will definitely be making this one again and following Brandi's recipe a little more on the nose!
staysnatched says
I hope it works out better the next time!
Allison says
I’m loving my air fryer and once I found out about this recipe I was so eager to try! I made them with much success after following Brandi’s instructions which were extremely helpful for someone like me who tends to relate to pictures and videos for directions. These crab rangoons are delicious and oh so flavorful! Thank you so much for the opportunity to make one of my favorite appetizers all by myself!
staysnatched says
Yay! Wonderful! Glad to hear.
Shawna says
Finally had a chance to make these and they were amazing! I am obsessed with these and have been craving them so much since not going to restaurants and these tasted just as good as any restaurant. The whole family enjoyed them and wished I had made more - I’ll have to double the recipe next time.
staysnatched says
Yes! There are never enough of these!
Amanda says
Recipe was simple to follow, and they tasted great! Will definitely make again!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Jennifer says
Delicious!! Easy to understand instructions and to the point! My husband thinks he prefers intimidation crab vs real 🙃
staysnatched says
haha well now you know what he likes.
Hazel says
Quick and easy to follow recipe! Loving Brandi’s recipes! Delicious 😋 paired mine with sweet and sour sauce!
staysnatched says
Yum! That sounds so good.
Amber B. says
I'm a huge fan of asian cuisine, and these are a go to in my household. Oftentimes, with takeout, different restaurants have drastically different recipes for their crab rangoon. I hate the guesswork when trying different restaurants. With these, I'm able to get the recipe I love whether I cook dinner or order take out. They're very easy to make and taste delicious!
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm so happy you made them.
Nicolina Gueriera says
Thank you for inspiring me to buy an air fryer! This was the first recipe I made in it and they were crispy af and delicious. My first time having crab Rangoon with real crab meat and it did not disappoint!
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed these.
Shannon says
Fast, easy and delicious! Perfect for a quick snack or to add to an Asian influenced spread. I did not add the green onions since my husband has the same palate as my 4 year old and it was still tasty!
staysnatched says
Yes! I make these all of the time even when I don't have green onions.
Alex says
Easy and fun to make, and very tasty!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm so glad you enjoyed these.
Ariel says
I cannot wait to try these! I love crab rangoons!! Thanks so much for this recipe
staysnatched says
I hope you enjoy them!
Heather says
Another delicious air fryer recipe from Brandi! I need to work with the temp/time next time I make them as some were bursting but still SO good. This does make a ton of wontons!
staysnatched says
Glad you enjoyed them. Them busting is due to overstuffing them, not the cook time and temperature.
Lyndzie Sterling says
Delicious! Perfect crab to cream cheese ratio and perfect amount of filling. Will definitely be making this easy recipe for sides with our favorite beef and broccoli!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Kate K says
These are better than anything I’ve ever had at a restaurant! I made these as an appetizer and paired it with your Orange Chicken! Way better than takeout. Thank you!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! Glad to hear they are better than takeout.
Leah says
Thank you Brandi for an amazing recipe! These were delicious! I can see this becoming a weekly treat in our house and can't wait to experiment with other fillings
staysnatched says
You're welcome! They are so good with many fillings.
Emily says
These are the absolute best, much better than take-out and with real ingredients. These will be a regular in our house. Thanks, Brandi!
staysnatched says
Better than takeout for sure!
Monica Gamble says
This recipe was absolutely delicious! Quick and easy, and no guilt involved! These also freeze really well! I just take a few out when I want them and throw them in the air fryer for a couple of extra minutes. I’ll never order Rangoon from a restaurant ever again!
staysnatched says
Yes! I love to freeze these.
Moni A. says
@staysnatched, did you freeze them before or after cooking? I have some that I made a while back and froze(uncooked). I cooked those by frying them on the stovetop. I am going to attempt them in the air fryer, but I'm wondering how that changes when the product is the frozen version..
Add more time? Should I spray them with cooking oil? 🤔
staysnatched says
After cooking. Reheat the frozen ones at 350 degrees until warm.
Anne says
Thanks for sharing the recipe! I just made them. Not ideal, but that's not the recipe or technnique, that's the cook. I have a Ninja Foodi. My closest temp settings are 360 F and 375 F. Which would you recommend? I tried the 375 and they seemed a bit over done. I forgot to spritz them with oil -- big mistake, but still yummy. Anyway is 360 F hot enough? Thanks!
staysnatched says
I often cook these on 400 with success. It sounds more like a timing issue than temperature. Watch them closely.
Kathryn says
Great! My husband isn't a big seafood person and he still loved these. Thank you for the specific instructions, Brandi!
staysnatched says
You're welcome. I'm glad they are helpful.
Kristin Walker-Smith says
Easy! Delicious! Let me get my fix without takeout order or being deep fried! First time I’ve made them but won’t be the last!
staysnatched says
Great to add to the rotation.
Ebony Shelby says
These were perfect with the shrimp fried rice!! I definitely have to continue practicing on my form. I love how quick they cook in the air fryer!!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed them!
Amanda G. says
Hi Brandi! I made these as part of our Valentine’s Day dinner and they did not disappoint! So much better than takeout!!!! Thank you!
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm so glad to hear that.
Keli says
I really enjoy making your recipes and this one did not disappoint. Absolutely perfect.
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you think so!
Erin Garcia says
These were so easy and delicious to make! Even my picky daughter loved them! And how you knew it would make exactly 21 is just magical! Thank you for another great recipe!
staysnatched says
Glad I could impress the picky daughter!
Diana S. says
Simple recipe and easy to follow! She's right. If you want a flavor more reminiscent of your local Asian restaurant than consider using imitation crab meat. It's a bit sweeter. I used lump crab because that's what I had on hand. It has a mature flavor. I have a Ninja AF and 370 was the perfect temperature.
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Missy MacGuire says
These turned out perfectly. Yum! My family was thrilled!
staysnatched says
So wonderful to hear!
Shari says
I have always been intimidated by wonton wrappers for some reason. I saw you post this recipe and decided to go for it. So quick, easy and delicious. We have had them twice this week. I love the attention to detail in all your recipes. Always read the whole recipe for tips and substitutions!
staysnatched says
Love to hear you aren't intimidated anymore!
Natalie says
These are so tasty and easy to make once you get the hang of it. Love takeout crab rangoon but now I don’t need to order takeout to have them!
staysnatched says
Yes! Takeout at home.
Brandi says
My boyfriend made these last night and they were delicious! We used the lump crab meat and I think that made them so yummy. I have not made anything from this site that wasn't amazing!
staysnatched says
Yay! So glad to hear that!
Rochelle says
I just made these crab rangoons and they were amazing! I used imitation crab meat because that was what I was used to at Chinese carry outs and the taste was amazing. The recipe was very easy to follow and I will definitely try more recipes!
staysnatched says
I hope you enjoy the recipes!