Name: Crispy Air Fryer Tortellini
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 9 ounces refrigerated tortellini (cheese or prosciutto); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan; Cooking spray

Jump to Recipe

Crispy air fryer tortellini is a fun and delicious snack that's ready in just 15 minutes. Make them with your favorite store-bought refrigerated tortellini and serve with marinara sauce for the perfect snack the entire family will love to nibble on.

For more super easy air fryer recipes, try my Air Fryer Steak Bites or these delicious Air Fryer Chicken Livers next!

Finding a snack or appetizer that will please the entire family is not the easiest task. Nobody can say no to these delicious air fryer tortellini, though.

Besides being such a tasty snack, these crispy tortellini are also incredibly easy to make. You don't need to mess around with eggs and breadcrumbs, and it only takes 15 minutes from start to finish to make them.

If you've been looking for a recipe for air-fried tortellini without breadcrumbs, this one will show you how to make a snack that will make it difficult to keep your hands out of the bowl.

Why you'll love air fryer tortellini

They're so quick to make - You don't even have to precook the tortellini. All you have to do is soak them for a couple of minutes in boiling water, toss them with herbs, salt, garlic powder, and Parmesan, and then fry them. It's that easy!
They're the perfect snack to nibble on - Whether it's game night or you're just looking for a quick snack to have near during a binging session on Netflix, these fried tortellini bites are incredibly crunchy and satisfying.
They're versatile - You can use any herbs and spices you want on these fried tortellini to truly make them your own.

Ingredients and substitutions

Tortellini - Use your favorite type of refrigerated tortellini. Cheese, prosciutto and spinach & ricotta are all excellent choices.

You can also use tortellini from the dry pasta shelf, but you'll have to cook them according to package instructions and drain them well before adding the rest of the ingredients.

Olive oil - You only need a bit of olive oil to stop the tortellini from sticking together. Since you're making them in the air fryer, they won't be oily at all but deliciously crunchy instead.

Garlic powder - Just a bit of garlic powder will infuse the tortellini with a delicious garlicky flavor. You can skip it if you don't like garlic or add more if you're a fan.

Parmesan cheese - Grated Parmesan makes these air-fried tortellini extra cheesy and also adds to the crunchiness. You can grate your own or use ready-grated Parmesan for extra convenience.

Italian seasoning - Use your favorite Italian seasoning mix. Classic blends include rosemary, thyme, basil, marjoram, oregano and sage.

Cooking spray - Spraying the air fryer basket with a bit of non-stick cooking spray is the secret to making appetizers like this crispy. You only need a couple of sprays, and you can use olive oil or canola oil cooking spray.

How do you make crispy tortellini in the air fryer?

Put the tortellini in a large bowl and pour boiling water to cover them. Allow them to soften for 3 minutes, then drain.

Return the tortellini to the bowl, then add the olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and grated Parmesan.
Use a spatula to toss the tortellini gently until coated.
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F.
Coat the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray.
Place the tortellini in the basket in a single layer (you may need to do it in batches.

Cook for 8-10 minutes, tossing the tortellini halfway.
Remove the tortellini from the air fryer and keep them warm in the oven at 200 degrees F if cooking in batches.
Continue to cook the rest of the tortellini.
Serve with your favorite marinara sauce.

air fryer tortellini cooking instructions

How to serve them?

The tortellini pair perfectly with classic marinara. The crunchy pasta and cheese taste even better when dipped in your favorite marinara.

You can also serve them with a creamy marinara, which is very easy to make by mixing 1 tablespoon whipping cream into 1 cup marinara sauce.

Extra recipe tips

Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket because the tortellini won't all get crispy.
You can easily double this recipe, but you'll have to cook the tortellini in batches for the best results.
Don't forget to spray the basket with cooking spray - you don't want your tortellini to stick!

FAQs

Can you reheat air-fried tortellini?

Yes, you can reheat the tortellini by preheating the air fryer to 375 degrees F for 5 minutes and then air frying the tortellini for 1 minute.

Can you air fry frozen tortellini?

Yes, you can air fry frozen tortellini, but you have to cook them first. It typically takes about 5 minutes to cook tortellini from frozen. Make sure you drain them well before stirring in the rest of the ingredients.

Can I bake tortellini in the oven instead?

If you don't have an air fryer, you can bake the tortellini in the oven instead. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and bake the tortellini for 8-10 minutes. Flip them halfway so they get crispy on both sides.

If you liked this crispy air fryer tortellini recipe, you might also like some of my other easy comfort recipes:

Looking for more cozy comfort food recipes? Follow Mighty Spatula on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest!