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Cream Cheese Wontons

These crispy cream cheese wontons are an easy homemade version of your favorite Panda Express takeout item. They’re the perfect appetizer for parties and family movie nights served with a side of sweet and sour sauce!

Cream cheese wontons with sweet and sour sauce.
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Panda Express Cream Cheese Rangoon

If you’re a frequent flyer on the Panda Express you probably know cream cheese wontons as cream cheese Rangoon. If you’re not familiar, allow me to introduce you to these golden bite-size appetizers that you’ve been missing out on!

They’re made from wonton wrappers filled with a delicious cream cheese mixture that gets folded and then fried to a golden crisp. Serving them with a dipping sauce like sweet and sour sauce or teriyaki sauce just takes it up a notch.

Ingredients for Easy Cream Cheese Wontons

With only six easy ingredients, these cream cheese wontons or crab rangoons are simple to make as a quick appetizer.

Cream cheese and green onions on bowl.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Cream cheese: The main event ingredient is the cream cheese! Soften the cream cheese ahead of time to help it blend and make a softer mixture with ingredients. Cream cheese gives it a creamy and flavorful mixture with every bite!
  • Green onions: These are completely optional. They are easy to slice and add in for a bit of heat. It is a fresh, mild heat of onion!
  • Garlic powder: This is a subtle hint of garlic distributed evenly overtop the mixture.
  • Wonton wrappers: You can find these in the refrigerator section at a grocery store. They come in square or round sheets. It is a thin dough that holds the cream cheese mixture together.
  • Egg: Whisk together the egg until it is beaten. This will be used as an egg wash for the wontons. The eggs will hold the wonton wrappers together like glue.
  • Vegetable oil: This is only for frying. You will need a few inches of vegetable oil in the pan in order to fry the wontons properly.

How to Make Cheese Wonton

Mix together the cream cheese combination with seasoning and green onions. Wrap it up in a wonton wrapper for a crispy, creamy, delicious, and flavorful appetizer.

Showing how to make cream cheese wontons in a 4 step collage.
  1. Mix together. Combine filling ingredients in a small bowl.
  2. Prepare. Place a spoonful of the mixture into the center of the wonton wrapper.
  3. Egg wash. Brush the edges of the uncooked wontons wrappers with an egg wash.
  4. Pinch together. Fold by pinching the two corners together first to meet in the middle. Then pinch the other two corners so that all four corners meet in the middle like a satchel.
  5. Cook and serve. Fry in the preheated oil until golden brown. Allow them to cool slightly before enjoying them.

Leftover Wonton Wrappers?

Use any leftover wonton wrappers to make these crab rangoon or make these crispy wonton strips to add to your soups and salads for a little extra crunch!

Wontons on paper towels.

Cooking Tips

Choosing quality ingredients and taking care of wonton wrappers will make these cream cheese wontons even better!

  • The best oil to use. Use an oil with a high smoke point like vegetable, peanut oil, avocado, or canola oil.
  • Wonton wrappers. Fry the wontons you assembled first. Wonton wrappers can dry out quite quickly.
  • Don’t let them dry out. Placing a damp paper towel on top of the wonton wrappers can help keep them from drying out as you work.
  • Dips. Serve with sweet and sour sauce, teriyaki sauce, or Thai sweet chili sauce for dipping.

Variations

Try different batches of cream cheese wontons with various flavors! Variations can include crab, adding spice, and using different sauces, and seasonings. The variations are endless with this cream cheese wonton recipe!

  • Adding imitation crab. Another popular version of these little gems is crab rangoons. Add 4 ounces of imitation or real crab meat to the cream cheese filling.
  • Make it spicy. Add a splash of sriracha or another type of hot sauce for a kick.
  • Sauce. Use Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce for a little extra flavor.
  • Seasoning. Switch up the seasoning a bit and use onion powder along with or instead of garlic powder.

Recipe FAQs

What are cream cheese wontons?

They are a popular Chinese-American appetizer that has a creamy and savory filling made out of cream cheese and various seasonings. It is wrapped in a wonton wrapper and then deep-fried until it is crispy on the outside.

Can I make cream cheese wontons with different fillings?

Yes! We love making variations for my recipes. Cream cheese wontons are customizable and can make several variations. We love crab, garlic, ginger, or adding in sliced and chopped veggies. Make it just the way you love them!

How do I prevent cream cheese wontons from getting soggy?

Make sure before storing the cream cheese wontons, that they are completely cooled off and not warm. The heat will create a sweat on the inside of the airtight container leaving them soggy if they are not cooled before storing.

What is the best method for folding cream cheese wontons?

For this cream cheese wonton recipe, I use an easy triangle or square fold that holds the cream cheese mixture in the middle and seals the edges tight.

Cream cheese wontons on a plate.

Ways to Serve Them

When we order Chinese takeout, Panda Express is one of our go-to places, so recreating our favorite menu items like kung pao chicken and Instant Pot orange chicken, as well as loads of other Asian cuisine recipes at home is so much fun!

Serve as part of a platter of starters alongside Asian stuffed mushrooms and teriyaki meatballs. It’s a safe bet that everyone will love them!

Dipping cream cheese wontons in sweet and sour sauce.

5 star review

“These are really perfect!! My family loved these!”

-Toni

Storing

We love to have these cream cheese rangoons stored for a quick appetizer and easy to reheat. Make sure to let the rangoons cool before storing them. They will become soggy if you store them sooner. These taste amazing each time you reheat them!

  • To store: Keep covered in an airtight container and place a paper towel on top of the wontons to help absorb the moisture. Keep stored in the fridge for up to two days.
  • To reheat: Use the air fryer or the oven at 300 degrees until heated through.
  • Freeze: You can freeze uncooked cream cheese wontons on a baking sheet, then add them to a ziplock freezer bag to store for a long period of time.

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Cream cheese wontons with sweet and sour sauce.

Cream Cheese Wontons

5 from 12 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
These cream cheese wontons are a time and money-saving homemade version of your favorite Panda Express takeout item! They're the perfect appetizer for parties and family movie nights served with a side of sweet and sour sauce!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 24

Video

Ingredients 

  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese , softened
  • 2 Tablespoons minced green onions , optional
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • dash of soy sauce , optional
  • 24 wonton wrappers
  • 1 large egg , beaten
  • Vegetable oil , for frying

Instructions

  • In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat about 1 to 2 inches of oil over medium heat to 350°F.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, green onions, and garlic powder until smooth.
  • Lay a wonton wrapper flat on a work surface. Add 1 Tablespoon cream cheese mixture to the center of the wrapper. Brush the egg around the sides. Bring 2 opposite corners into the center and pinch together. Pinch the remaining 2 corners together in the center. Repeat with all wontons.
  • Fry 3 to 5 wontons at a time, turning as needed, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn down the heat if browning too fast. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to cool slightly. Fry remaining wontons.

Notes

Variations:
  • Another popular version of these little gems is crab rangoons. Add 4 oz of imitation or real crab meat to the cream cheese filling.
  • Add a splash of sriracha or another type of hot sauce for a kick.
  • Use Worcestershire sauce for a little extra flavor.
  • Switch up the seasoning a bit and use onion powder along with or instead of garlic powder.
Dipping sauces: Serve with sweet and sour sauce, teriyaki sauce, or Thai sweet chili sauce for dipping
Storage: Store in a covered container with a paper towel for up to 2 days. Reheat in an air fryer or the oven at 300°F for 3 to 5 minutes or until warm. 

Nutrition

Calories: 25kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 46mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.02g | Vitamin A: 18IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Asian

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

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