Air Fryer Tortellini Bites (Print Version)
Golden, breaded tortellini bites air-fried to perfection and served with warm marinara sauce for an irresistible appetizer or snack.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Tortellini
01 - 14 oz refrigerated or frozen cheese or spinach tortellini
→ Breading Station
02 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 2 tablespoons milk
05 - 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
06 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
09 - ½ teaspoon salt
10 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ For Serving
11 - 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed
12 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional)
# Steps:
01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
02 - If using frozen tortellini, cook according to package instructions; drain and let cool slightly.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs and milk whisked together, and one with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper combined.
04 - Coat each tortellini in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into egg mixture, then press into breadcrumb mixture to coat evenly on all sides.
05 - Place breaded tortellini in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray with cooking oil.
06 - Cook for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy.
07 - Transfer to a serving platter and serve hot with warm marinara sauce. Garnish with chopped fresh herbs if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The air fryer gives you restaurant style crunch without the mess of hot oil
- These come together faster than delivery and taste infinitely better
02 -
- Crowding the basket leads to soggy spots instead of uniform crunch
- Letting breaded pieces sit for more than 15 minutes makes the coating gummy
03 -
- Use one hand for wet coating and one for dry to keep your fingers from becoming breaded themselves
- Let the fried tortellini rest on a wire rack for two minutes to maintain maximum crispiness