Air Fried Ravioli: Your Next Awesome Culinary Obsession

When I got my air fryer for Christmas last year, I had no idea how much this nifty appliance would change my life. Seriously, I thought there was a *chance* I would go through a phase of using it and then it would end up collecting dust in my pantry. I could not have been more wrong. It has quickly become one of my favorite kitchen appliances. I started with the usual suspects: air fried chicken wings, air fried tortilla chips... Before I knew it, I started going out of my way to create air fryer recipes. And this recipe, my friends, is one of my favorites. Air Fried Ravioli.

Yes, crispy little pockets of cheese, meat, spinach - whatever your heart desires. Not only is air fryer ravioli delicious, but it could not be more easy to make! And it is a whole lot better for you than deep fried ravioli. Let's dive in!

Please note, this post contains affiliate links which means I will receive a small commission on the sale of these items at no cost to you. 

Can You Air Fry Ravioli?!

YES! Sometimes, we come up with ideas that seem a little wacky. Air fryer ravioli is one of these ideas, imo. Let's take an already amazing food and see what happens if we air fry it! The result: amazingly crisp little cheese pillows that are only improved if you serve them with a side of marinara sauce.

My favorite thing about this recipe is that you don't have to use any breading. Simply cook fresh ravioli in salted water (per package instructions). Drain and toss with a little olive oil, pepper, and oregano. Air fry in small batches (based on the type of air fryer you have) for 5 minutes per batch. Sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese and serve with a side of marinara sauce. It could not be any easier!

Ways To Serve Air Fryer Ravioli

I love how versatile air fried ravioli is!

You can serve it alongside your favorite game day party foods, such as hot honey chicken wings, buffalo chicken dip, bacon-wrapped shrimp, or 4-ingredient guacamole.

Serve it as an appetizer before a meal, such as Pasta al Forno or Tomato Bisque.

You can even serve it as an entrée, with a side of roasted vegetables, salad, or asparagus amandine. The possibilities are endless!

Can You Bread The Ravioli Before Air Frying It?

Air fried ravioli without breading is very crisp and crunchy. It develops what I can only describe as a chip-like texture around the edges. The pouch of filling remains tender, however. I prefer my ravioli to be air fried without breading because breading takes longer and adds unnecessary calories.

If you are looking for even more crunch, you can definitely adapt this recipe by adding a breading step. After you cook/drain/cool the ravioli, you can bread the pieces. Here's how you would do it:

• In a shallow dish, whisk 1 large egg with 1 TB of water.
• In another shallow dish, pour 1 cup of seasoned breadcrumbs.
• Working in batches, dip the ravioli pieces (or raviolos) first into the egg mixture, then into the breadcrumb dish.
• When the ravioli is breaded, proceed by following the air frying directions in the recipe below.

Can You Air Fry Frozen Ravioli?

This recipe recommends that you air fry fresh ravioli. However, you can absolutely air fry frozen ravioli. Be sure to thaw the ravioli completely before cooking it. Otherwise, the recipe is exactly the same.

Tips For Air Frying Ravioli

• Be sure to boil the ravioli per the package instructions. Fresh ravioli usually takes about 3-4 minutes to boil.

• Salt the pasta water. I usually add about 1-2 tablespoons of salt to my pasta water. This will impart flavor into the noodles.

• Make sure your cooked ravioli is dried completely before tossing it in olive oil and seasonings. If there's a lot of water, the ravioli will not come out as crispy.

• You don't need a ton of olive oil. Ravioli that is overly saturated with olive oil will not crisp up as nicely.

• If you don't have dried oregano, you can also use a dried Italian herb seasoning.

• Don't use fresh herbs on the ravioli before air frying. If all you have is fresh basil or oregano, sprinkle them on the ravioli after the air frying process. Fresh herbs will burn in the air fryer.

• Air fryer ravioli freezes nicely. Allow the ravioli to cool completely after air frying. Place cooled ravioli into a gallon zipper bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat the frozen ravioli, remove it from the freezer, defrost it, and then pop it back into your air fryer at 390 degrees for about 3 minutes (or until it reaches your preferred crispiness).

Highly Rated Air Fryer Brands

I love my Ninja air fryer. It is small - only 4 quart - but it is exactly what I need for my small family. It also doesn't take up much space on my counter, which I love. However, I know not everyone is the same, when it comes to family size and culinary needs.

Below are some of the most highly rated air fryers, along with some helpful information that will help inform your decision if you are looking to buy an air fryer.