Air Fryer Spring Rolls

These homemade air fryer spring rolls are crispy, crunchy, and packed with umami flavors! Each bite features fresh vegetables, mung bean noodles, mushrooms, and vegan oyster sauce. Enjoy them as-is or with a drizzle of chili garlic sauce for a delicious snack.

What are air fryer spring rolls?

Spring rolls are a Chinese invention consisting of stuffed and rolled rice paper wraps. Typical filling options include various meats and vegetables. Spring rolls can be served either fresh or fried, and they are commonly eaten alongside meals or as an appetizer.

Although deep-frying spring rolls result in an incredibly crispy, crunchy, and flaky exterior, you’ll be surprised at how similar the results are in the air fryer! Using this handy appliance provides you with that same quintessential crunchy factor while providing you with more health benefits.

Are spring rolls vegan?

Spring rolls can be made with vegan or non-vegan ingredients. In Chinese cuisine, you’ll typically find them with a little bit of meat inside. However, spring rolls are one of the most popular vegan foods around since they’re so easy to stuff full of vibrant veggies.

The only thing to watch out for is oyster sauce, which is a typical ingredient in almost all spring rolls. I’ve opted for a mushroom oyster sauce and umami seasoning to emulate the flavor. You won’t miss the oyster sauce one bit!

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Rice paper: To wrap the filling in, resulting in a light and crispy exterior once air fried.
• Glass noodles: Also known as Korean vermicelli, cellophane noodles, or mung bean noodles, glass noodles provide a deliciously chewy texture to the filling. You can also use rice vermicelli or mung bean sprouts.
• Wood ear mushrooms: Add a savory flavor and a meaty texture. These can be replaced with shiitake, brown, enoki, or oyster mushrooms.
• Water chestnuts: Provide the perfect crunch and nutty taste. You can find them whole canned or sliced in cans in the international or canned vegetable aisle of most grocery stores.
• Carrots: Add a slightly sweet element and a pop of color. No carrots on hand? Try red or orange bell peppers, celery, or cabbage instead.
• Green onions: Provide savory, garden-fresh notes. You can also use thinly sliced white onion for a sharper flavor.
• Ground flaxseeds: To bind the filling ingredients together.
• Mushroom oyster sauce & umami seasoning: Both impart savory, umami-rich notes. Soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos all work as well.
• Salt & pepper: To enhance the flavor of the other ingredients.

How to make spring rolls in the air fryer

• Step 1: Before starting your spring rolls, cook the wood ear mushrooms in boiling water for a few minutes. Drain them with a kitchen towel, then finely slice them.

• Step 2: Cook mung bean noodles according to the package instructions, but you’ll know they are done when they appear translucent and clear. Rinse and drain them under cold water, then cut the noodles with a pair of kitchen shears into bite-size pieces.

• Step 3: Thinly slice the rest of the veggies into small pieces, then toss them together in a big mixing bowl along with the seasonings, vegan oyster sauce, and ground flaxseed.

• Step 4: Place one piece of rice paper at a time on a clean surface. Dip a kitchen towel in cold water and gently rub the rice paper on each side to dampen it.

• Step 5: Place 2 tablespoons of filling close to the edge of the rice paper and roll until you reach the center. Fold the sides in, then finish rolling (similar to making burritos). Repeat this step until the filling is all gone.

• Step 6: Using clean hands, rub a little cooking oil on the spring rolls. Place a single layer of spring rolls into the air fryer basket, making sure they aren’t touching each other.

• Note: Depending on the size of the basket, you will likely need to cook the spring rolls in batches if you are air-frying the entire recipe.

• Step 7: Set it to 350°F and cook the spring rolls in the air fryer for 10 minutes. Make sure to stop at the halfway mark to turn them.

• Step 8: Drizzle over some homemade chili garlic sauce before serving, or simply serve with your favorite dip.

How to serve air fryer spring rolls

Once your air fryer spring rolls are crispy, serve them alongside sweet, sour, savory, and spicy sauces like these:

• Sweet chili sauce
• Sweet and sour sauce
• Chinese hot mustard 
• Spicy peanut sauce
• Hoisin sauce

Storage & Reheating

To keep your air fryer spring rolls fresh, follow these storage instructions:

• Fridge: Wrap the rolls in aluminum foil, transfer them to an airtight container, and keep them in the fridge for 2-3 days. They will lose crispiness, but they’ll still taste delicious. 
• Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing cooked spring rolls, but you can definitely freeze uncooked spring rolls for later. Just follow the recipe instructions accordingly and instead of cooking them, transfer them to a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
• Reheat: Reheat your spring rolls in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees F, or until warmed through. If cooking them from frozen, add a few more minutes to the total time.

Top tips

• Don’t overfill: Only use about 2-3 tablespoons of filling so you don’t break the wraps. 
• Cook in batches: If you’re making a large number of spring rolls, you may need to cook them in batches to prevent overcrowding the air fryer basket. If it’s overcrowded, the air won’t circulate properly, resulting in steamed air fryer spring rolls.
• Cut small veggies: Make sure you cut the vegetables small enough so they cook quickly in the air fryer.
• Brush with oil: If you forget to brush the spring rolls with oil, they won’t turn out quite as crispy and golden brown. Don’t skip the oil!

FAQ

Similar Recipes

If you enjoyed these air fryer spring rolls, be sure to check out some more of my favorite snacks and sides like these:

• Spicy cucumber salad: A 10-minute recipe that requires just 5 ingredients.
• Kani salad: A unique twist on a popular Japanese dish featuring hearts of palm.
• Stir-fried glass noodles: A quick and easy dish filled with vegetables, protein, and glass noodles.
• Vegan tuna: A simple tuna replacement made from chickpeas.