Air Fryer Crispy Tortellini Bites (Printable)

Golden tortellini bites, perfectly crispy outside and tender inside.

# 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

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes to ensure proper crisping.
02 - If using frozen tortellini, cook according to package instructions; drain and let cool slightly. For refrigerated tortellini, use directly.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls: first with flour, second with beaten eggs and milk whisked together, third with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper combined.
04 - Dredge 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, ensuring pieces do not overlap. Lightly spray with cooking oil.
06 - Cook at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking, until tortellini are golden brown and crispy.
07 - Transfer to serving platter and serve hot with warm marinara sauce. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The breading gets impossibly crispy while the inside stays creamy and soft
  • They cook faster than you can preheat your oven
  • Everyone assumes you spent hours on something that took twenty minutes
02 -
  • Crowding the basket is the fastest way to soggy tortellini. Work in batches if you need to.
  • The coating must be completely dry before it hits the air fryer or it will not crisp properly.
  • These are best eaten right away. They lose their crunch as they sit.
03 -
  • Use one hand for wet ingredients and one for dry to keep your fingers from becoming a breading mess
  • Let the breaded tortellini sit for 10 minutes before air frying. This helps the coating set and prevents it from falling off during cooking.

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