Air Fryer Pork Egg Rolls

These air fryer pork egg rolls taste like the ones you get at your favorite Chinese food restaurant. They’re super simple to make and ready in less than 30 minutes.

The outside is crispy like the deep fried version, and the inside is filled with a delicious mix of ground pork, shredded cabbage and signature spices. Perfect for an appetizer, light lunch or dinner.

This is our new favorite egg roll recipe to make at home. They’re not just filling but budget friendly, too, especially when compared to getting them at your local Chinese restaurant. And it’s fun to make something different every once in a while, right? 

You can serve these tasty appetizers with any dipping sauce, but I suggest trying my homemade sweet and sour sauce that we serve with crab rangoon. 

Lots of egg roll lovers also like summer rolls (I know I do!). They’re made with rice wrappers, which are different than traditional egg roll wrappers, and served with a homemade peanut sauce. It’s a great choice for a delicious and refreshing meal during the warmer months.

What’s the difference between egg rolls and spring rolls? 

Even though they look very similar you may be wondering what the difference is between these two popular dishes.

Spring rolls are made with a thinner wrapper, like rice paper, and can be served fresh without cooking. They are usually stuffed with raw or slightly cooked veggies for a light and fresh roll.

Egg rolls are heartier and crunchier with a wheat-based wrapper and usually fried in oil or air fried. They typically have some sort of ground meat like pork or chicken, but they can be made vegetarian if preferred.

Air Fryer Pork Egg Roll Ingredients

• olive oil – for more flavor use sesame oil or vegetable oil if that’s what you have on hand.
• sesame seeds – toasting them brings out the nutty flavor of the seeds.
• ground pork – look for a spicy blend if you like a little heat. 
• green onions – adds freshness but you can use finely chopped white or yellow onion in a pinch.
• spices: onion powder, ground ginger, minced garlic, black pepper bring the flavors and warmth. 
• rice wine vinegar – cuts through the richness of the pork and balances the flavors.
• soy sauce – I like to use low-sodium so the rolls aren’t overly salty.
• store-bought coleslaw mix – using pre-shredded coleslaw makes this recipe easy. Alternatively you could shred your own cabbage. 
• egg roll wrappers – these can be found in most grocery stores in the refrigerated produce section (near the dressings, tofu, and pre-chopped veggies).

How to Make Pork Egg Rolls in the Air Fryer 

Recipe Substitutions and Variations 

Spicy: add a bit of sriracha or crushed red pepper flakes to the filling for a little heat. 

Swap proteins: you can use ground turkey, beef, chicken, or shrimp in place of the pork. 

Vegetarian: omit the meat and double or triple the coleslaw mix.

Deep fryer cooking: follow the recipe as directed, but skip spraying the outside of the rolls with oil. Heat the oil to 370 degrees F in a deep pan and fry for a couple of minutes until the rolls are golden brown. 

Can you freeze homemade egg rolls? 

Yes! Once the egg rolls have cooled to room temperature, place them on a baking sheet and into the freezer for 1-2 hours. You can also assemble the rolls, uncooked, and follow the remaining instructions to freeze and reheat.

Transfer to a freezer bag and store for 2-3 months in the freezer. You can also use a vacuum sealer to extend the freshness if you have one. 

When ready, cook the frozen egg rolls (directly from the freezer) for 8 minutes at 380 degrees F, flipping halfway through.