Video How to make fried ravioli with frozen ravioli

These delightful Fried Ravioli bites are crispy on the outside with a hot, cheesy filling. Toasted ravioli are a great make-ahead appetizer and can be fried in oil, baked in the oven, or air-fried. Instructions are included for all of these methods!

a plate of fried ravioli with marinara sauce

The first time I made this easy Fried Ravioli was 11 years ago, just after I first started this blog. If you’re a fellow food blogger, you might remember Foodbuzz; I served this easy recipe for one of their sponsored parties.

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Serving only appetizers is such a fun way to entertain. For that particular party, I made 4-ingredient Crispy Lemon Pepper Wings, Hot Ham and Cheese Party Sandwiches, Portobello Fries, and Beef Wellington Bites. What a party menu! It was a bit of work to put them all together, but most of the steps could be done in advance, and utilizing the help of my air fryer helped to cut down on the time spent on the day of the party.

Since then, I’ve made Fried Ravioli countless times with all different kinds of fillings. Spinach-artichoke is a favorite, but any of your favorite flavor combinations will work. I’ve fried them, baked them, even made them in our air fryer a few times. The toasted ravioli recipe below has instructions for all!

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Do you have to thaw frozen ravioli before cooking?

It depends on the recipe. For ravioli that will be boiled and simmered in water, then served with a sauce, it won’t need to be thawed first. For toasted, air-fried, or pan-fried ravioli, start with either fresh, refrigerated ravioli or thaw the amount of frozen ravioli you’ll need for the recipe.

Can you make Fried Ravioli without breadcrumbs?

You can easily make fried ravioli without breading! The process will be different as you’ll fry it in a pan versus the air fryer or baking them in the oven. (directions are included in the recipe for each of these methods). This fried ravioli recipe calls for breadcrumbs and I highly recommend using them, since they turn simple ravioli into a crunchy, delicious appetizer.

If you still opt for no breadcrumbs, simply fry thawed ravioli in a skillet with melted butter and a little oil for a few minutes until they’re browned on both sides and cooked through. If you’ve ever pan-fried pierogi, it’s basically the same process.

Once they’ve been fried to a golden brown, you can either toss them with a sauce, enjoy them on their own tossed with a little melted butter, grated parmesan, and a pinch of crushed red pepper, or dip them into anything you like. See the suggested dipping sauces a few paragraphs down.

a closeup of fried ravioli sprinkled with chopped parsley

Can you make Fried Ravioli ahead of time?

Yes! Make the fried ravioli as directed in the recipe at the bottom of this post. Allow them to cool completely, then place them in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and pop it into the freezer. As soon as they’re frozen, about 1 hour, place them in a resealable freezer bag and put them back into the freezer.

To cook them after they’ve been frozen, place them on a sheet pan lined with foil or parchment paper (lightly spray with cooking spray) and bake at 400F for about 15 minutes, or until they’re heated through and crispy. Give them a light coating with cooking spray halfway through baking to help get them extra crispy.

Toasted ravioli can also be made ahead of time by following the recipe through step 3 (just until they’ve been breaded), then placed in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, covered, for 3-4 hours. Then follow the directions as usual.

Dipping sauces for Fried Ravioli (Toasted Ravioli)

If I’m serving these at a party, I try to have at least two sauces for dipping. A good marinara sauce is the most common dipping sauce for toasted ravioli. Basil pesto is also a great choice. Try ranch dressing or even a little melted garlic butter! Add a little cream to either marinara sauce or basil pesto if you love those flavors but prefer a creamier sauce.

How to make Fried Ravioli in an Air Fryer

To cook these in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 350F. Prepare as directed then place the breaded ravioli in a single layer in the basket. Cook them for about 9 minutes or until they’re golden brown and crispy. Repeat the process until all the ravioli have been fried.

Have you made this Fried Ravioli recipe? If you share on social media, be sure to tag me @thewickednoodle on all social channels. I’d love to see your creation!