I absolutely love fried ravioli, and my air fryer ravioli mimics it perfectly with way less oil! My entire family goes crazy every time I make this super easy recipe.

My Crispy Recipe for Fried Ravioli in the Air Fryer

I used to think it couldn’t get any better than deep-fried ravioli, but then I tried making air fryer ravioli, and my mind was blown! This was one of those happy kitchen experiments that started when my kids wanted a fun dinner and it became an instant family favorite.

When I coated frozen ravioli in breadcrumbs and threw them in the air fryer, I really couldn’t believe how tasty they turned out. But I had a feeling they could be even better. So, I decided to test the recipe a few different ways to see how close I could get to that deep-fried goodness.

My family was more than happy to be my taste testers! My son Connor even helped me bread each ravioli and sat there while I was air frying the frozen ravioli every single time. It was incredibly cute. He devoured all the test versions, but this last one was made with a little extra spritz of oil. When I saw his eyes light up with each bite, I knew I nailed it.

My husband Ben even thought this version was actually fried and that I was messing with him. But, I wasn’t and these still had way less oil than those!

And, if you love a good air fryer appetizer, try my recipes for air fryer jalapeno poppers, air fryer shrimp, air fryer onion rings, air fryer chicken wings, and an air fryer quesadilla.

Air Fried Ravioli Ingredients

• Frozen ravioli – Any store-bought brand like Louisa Toasted Ravioli works great
• Buttermilk – This helps the breadcrumbs stick and adds a little creaminess and flavor
• Italian breadcrumbs – panko breadcrumbs will work too, but I like the seasoning Italian breadcrumbs give
• Oil – to spritz on the breading to mimic deep frying
• Marinara – or other sauce for dipping

How to Make Air Fryer Ravioli

STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.

STEP TWO: Place the buttermilk in one bowl and the breadcrumbs in another bowl. One by one, dip each frozen ravioli into the buttermilk and then the breadcrumbs, making sure to coat as much of the ravioli as possible.

STEP THREE: Place the breaded ravioli in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray, making sure they do not touch. Air fry them for 7 to 8 minutes, spritzing both sides generously with oil halfway through cooking.

STEP FOUR: Remove them from the air fryer and serve with marinara sauce, alfredo, pesto sauce, or any other preferred dipping sauce.

Tips for the Best Toasted Ravioli in the Air Fryer

• Coat the ravioli really well. The breading adds the most amazing crunch, so I make sure every piece is fully coated!
• Lay the breaded ravioli in a single layer in the air fryer basket. I leave space between each one so the hot air can properly circulate when air frying. Cook them in batches if needed.
• Halfway through the cooking time, I spritz the tops of the ravioli in the air fryer with my oil sprayer. I’ve had the same one for years, and it’s the only one that still works great!
• Cook until golden on top. I check on the ravioli after 6-7 minutes of cooking to make sure they’re getting brown and crispy without burning.
• Serve immediately so the ravioli are hot and crispy! I always have marinara in a bowl ready to go for dipping so I can dive right in.

Air Fryer Ravioli Recipe Variations and Substitutions

• Sprinkle some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper into the breadcrumbs for a spicy kick. My husband loves this version!
• I sometimes use Panko breadcrumbs instead of Italian for extra crunchy breading.
• Try different ravioli fillings for a tasty twist on the flavor. My kids love regular cheese ravioli, but my favorite is spinach and cheese.
• If I don’t have buttermilk, I’ll add 2 teaspoons of white vinegar to ½ cup of milk, stir to combine, and let it sit for 5 minutes. It will thicken up and curdle slightly for homemade buttermilk! I’ve used egg in place of the buttermilk, but the buttermilk works so much better.
• Serve the ravioli with something different than marinara. I’ve also dipped them in alfredo sauce or pesto sauce, sprinkled them with parmesan cheese, and even drizzled them with Mike’s Hot Honey and a sprinkle of salt, and they were delicious!

What to Serve with Fried Ravioli

I love having toasted ravioli bites with marinara sauce, alfredo, or a drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey as appetizers or snacks.

But my kids love it when I make this as a fun dinner. When I do that, I pair it with air fryer garlic bread, air fryer asparagus, air fryer carrots, or air fryer roasted broccoli for a delicious meal!

Air Fryer Ravioli FAQs

How should I store leftover air fried ravioli?

If I have extra air fryer ravioli, I let them fully cool before transferring the pasta to an airtight container. I store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days!

How to reheat fried ravioli in the air fryer

To reheat my leftover air fried ravioli, I start by preheating the air fryer to 380 degrees F. Once hot, I add the ravioli to the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through and crispy on the outside!

What if my air fryer ravioli looks dry?

If the ravioli is dried out, it means there wasn’t quite enough oil on the breading. 

I tested this recipe a bunch of times to find that perfect balance where the breading doesn’t taste oily but also doesn’t dry out. My trick is to spritz the the ravioli with cooking spray on top halfway through the cooking time for crispy but moist fried ravioli!

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

• Air fryer boneless pork chops
• Air fryer fried chicken
• Air fryer fish sticks
• Air fryer chicken tenders
• Air fryer pork chops