Air Fryer Crispy Tortellini (Printable)
Golden, cheesy tortellini air-fried to crispy perfection with Italian herbs and Parmesan breading.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Main Components
01 - 10 oz refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1/4 cup milk
→ Breading Mixture
04 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
05 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 1 tsp Italian seasoning
07 - 1/4 tsp garlic powder
08 - 1/4 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ For Serving
10 - 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed
11 - Fresh basil leaves
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
02 - If using frozen tortellini, cook according to package directions until just tender. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels.
03 - In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and milk until well combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
05 - Dip each tortellini into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Press into the breadcrumb mixture, coating evenly and pressing gently to adhere.
06 - Place coated tortellini in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
07 - Lightly spray tortellini with olive oil spray. Air fry for 7-9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy.
08 - Serve immediately with warm marinara sauce. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- That incredible crunch when you bite through the crispy coating into soft, cheesy tortellini inside
- They come together in just 20 minutes but taste like something from a restaurant appetizer menu
02 -
- Don't crowd the basket or they'll steam instead of crisp, so work in batches if needed
- That olive oil spray step isn't optional if you want restaurant level crunch instead of just dried breadcrumbs on pasta
03 -
- Use one hand for wet ingredients and one for dry to keep your fingers from getting completely covered in breading
- A chopstick makes it easy to flip tortellini in the air fryer without scratching the basket coating