If you love the crispy, creamy appetizers served at Chinese-American restaurants, these Crab and Cream Cheese Wontons are a delicious treat to make at home. With a savory crab and cream cheese filling tucked inside delicate wonton wrappers, these bite-sized appetizers bring together contrasting textures and flavors in every bite.
The combination of crab and cream cheese is what makes these wontons so appealing. The cream cheese provides a rich, smooth base, while the crab adds a mild seafood flavor that complements the filling. Once the wrappers are cooked until golden and crisp, each wonton delivers a satisfying crunch followed by a warm, creamy center.
These homemade wontons are perfect for entertaining. Arrange them on a platter for game day, serve them as a starter for an Asian-inspired dinner, or prepare a batch for a family movie night. They’re easy to pick up and enjoy, making them especially convenient for parties and casual gatherings.
When preparing the wontons, keep the wrappers covered with a slightly damp kitchen towel so they don’t dry out while you work. Place a small portion of filling in the center of each wrapper, moisten the edges with water, and press firmly to seal. Avoid overfilling, which can cause the wrappers to split or leak during cooking.
A small cookie scoop can help portion the filling consistently, making assembly easier and helping the wontons cook more evenly. Follow the recipe card’s instructions for cooking the wontons until the wrappers are crisp and the filling is thoroughly heated.
Serve Crab and Cream Cheese Wontons warm with your favorite dipping sauce. Sweet chili sauce, sweet-and-sour sauce, or a simple soy-based dipping sauce can complement the rich filling.
Whether you’re preparing appetizers for a celebration or recreating a favorite restaurant-style snack, these homemade crab and cream cheese wontons are a flavorful addition to your recipe collection.
Related Recipes: Appetizer Recipes and Asian Recipes categories. Two particularly relevant recipes are Air Fryer Crab Rangoons and Rangoons
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Crab and Cream Cheese Wontons
Crab and Cream Cheese Wontons – Creamy, crunchy wontons with a tangy, tart, and perfect lemon dipping sauce!
- Total Time: :20
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
Wonton Ingredients
- Wonton wrappers
- Water
- Oil for frying
- Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3 green onions
- 1 lb imitation crab
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 1/2 tbsp milk
Lemon Dipping Sauce
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 1 tbs soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- zest of one lemon
- water for cooking
Instructions
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Put the cream cheese, onions, garlic salt, milk, and half the crab in your blender and hit the “dips” button to blend.
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Then add in the rest of the crab, and pulse it a few times so it blends and shreds the crab meat, but does not totally decimate it.
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Note: This is a personal preference for texture. I like the inside to have a little bit of the meat in a “chunk” form, but if you do not care, you can just blend it all so it is a smooth, creamy texture.
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Dip your finger into some water and wet the edges of your wonton wrapper. Place ½–1 tbsp of the filling in the center, and crimp the edges together.
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Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer to about 375°F.
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Fry at 375°F until the wonton wrapper is golden brown (2-3 minutes)
Lemon Dipping Sauce
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Put eggs and sugar in blender and blend until eggs are fluffy and light yellow
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Add in lemon juice and zest, seasonings, and soy sauce and blend for a few more seconds to incorporate
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Fill a saucepan about 2-3 inches of water, and bring to a simmer
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Pour lemon mixture into a heat safe bowl, and place over sauce pan
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Cook, whisking intermittently, until the sauce thickens and is custard like (about 15 minutes)
Notes
Make sure no air remains inside the wonton. As you fry the wontons, any air inside will turn into steam and break open the wonton leaving the oil covered with the filling.
- Prep Time: :10
- Cook Time: :10
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying