APPETIZERS/ CUISINES/ ITALIAN

Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli

Hello and Welcome! On the heels of yesterday’s Ingredient Spotlight on Italian Pasta, today we are trying our hand at Toasted Ravioli. I never knew about Toasted Ravioli until I lived in St. Louis, which is where it originated. Lou Oldani Sr. is credited with inventing the deep-fried ravioli in the 1940’s, at his restaurant Oldani’s in St. Louis’s Italian neighborhood, The Hill. There is always contention when it comes to recipe origins and Toasted Ravioli is no different. In addition to Oldani’s (now Mama’s on The Hill), Angelo’s (now Charlie Gitto’s) also boasted the invention of Toasted Ravioli. Whoever actually came up with it, I am sure glad they did because Toasted Ravioli is genius. Let’s do this Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli!

I wanted to pull out the Air Fryer for this recipe, just to see how it would turn out. I am happy to report that it’s currently my favorite Air Fryer recipe. Honestly, it worked out so well, it seems like store-bought fresh ravioli was made for breading and air frying. Use your favorite ravioli type for this, though the more filling the better. I used chicken and four cheese ravioli from Trader Joe’s, which were pretty skimpy on the filling.

Air Fryer

Set up your air fryer and preheat to 350 degrees. When I set up my air fryer, I like to place it on a sheet tray set on my stove top. My dredging station is set up directly to the left of the air fryer set up.

I have two eggs lightly beaten in a pie plate. In a second pie plate I have 1 cup of seasoned bread crumbs with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 2 teaspoons of dried basil. Whisk or stir the cheese and dried basil into the breadcrumbs until the cheese is evenly distributed.

Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli ingredients

Dredge the Ravioli

Dredge the ravioli, two or three at a time in the eggs with one hand. Then drop the egg-coated ravioli in the breadcrumbs. And with your other hand, dredge the ravioli in the breadcrumbs, making sure every part of the ravioli is coated in breadcrumbs. Repeat with rest of the ravioli. Place each breaded ravioli in a single layer on a separate sheet tray.

I was able to fit nine breaded ravioli in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray the breaded ravioli with cooking spray. Slide the basket into the air fryer and set the temperature for 350 and the timer for 4 minutes.

Air Frying breaded Ravioli

At the end of the 4 minutes, remove the basket, flip the ravioli over and spray again with cooking spray. Then re-place the basket in the air fryer, set the temperature to 350 and set the timer for another 4 minutes.

After the second four minutes, the ravioli will look more toasted on both sides and the centers will have puffed up. Repeat the process for the remaining ravioli until all are air-fried and toasty.

Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli!

Transfer the Toasted Ravioli to a serving dish and top with more grated parmesan and fresh basil. Serve with warm marinara sauce. I like to serve with pesto too. Toasted Ravioli are a ubiquitous appetizer in St. Louis and I am sure their popularity stretches to other parts of the country. They’re a perfect appetizer or bar snack. Crunchy, chewy, cheesy – they really cover all the bases.

If you don’t have an Air Fryer, you can deep fry these too. Heat about an inch of vegetable oil in a Dutch oven to 350 degrees and fry the breaded ravioli in 2 batches until the ravioli are golden brown. Transfer each batch to a paper towel-lined plate or wire rack. Be sure to let the oil come back up to 350 degrees before frying the second batch.

Thank you so much for joining me today for Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli. I do hope you give these a try; they’re a real St. Louis treat! Take care and be well, everyone. xo Kelly

Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli

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Appetizer Italian/American
By Kelly Djalali Serves: 2-4
Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 15 Minutes Total Time: 25 Minutes

Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli are a perfect appetizer. Crunchy, chewy, cheesy – they cover all the bases. Serve with warm marinara or pesto.

Ingredients

  • 2 Large Eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup Seasoned Breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese, plus more for topping Air Fried Ravioli
  • 2 tsp. Dried Basil
  • 1 8-oz. Package of Fresh Ravioli
  • Vegetable Cooking Spray
  • Fresh Basil, for garnish
  • Marinara Sauce, for dipping
  • Pesto, for dipping

Instructions

1

In a shallow dish or pie plate, lightly beat eggs.

2

In a separate shallow dish, whisk or stir the cheese and dried basil into the breadcrumbs until the cheese is evenly distributed.

3

Dredge the ravioli, two or three at a time in the eggs.

4

Then drop the egg-coated ravioli in the breadcrumbs. Dredge the ravioli in the breadcrumbs, making sure every part of the ravioli is coated in breadcrumbs. Repeat with rest of the ravioli. Place each breaded ravioli in a single layer on a separate sheet tray.

5

Place as many breaded ravioli as will fit in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer.

6

Spray the breaded ravioli with cooking spray. Slide the basket into the air fryer and set the temperature for 350 and the time for 4 minutes.

7

At the end of the 4 minutes, remove the basket, flip the ravioli over and spray again with cooking spray. Then re-place the basket in the air fryer, set the temperature to 350 and set the timer for another 4 minutes.

8

After the second four minutes, the ravioli will look more toasted on both sides and the centers will have puffed up. Repeat the process for the remaining ravioli until all are air-fried and toasty.

9

Transfer the Toasted Ravioli to a serving dish and top with more grated parmesan and fresh basil. Serve with warm marinara sauce.

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  • Barbara
    November 18, 2021 at 8:43 am

    I don’t have an air fryer and don’t like to deep fry. Do you think you could make these in a convection oven? They sound delish!

    • Kelly Djalali
      November 18, 2021 at 10:46 am

      Hi Barbara, I haven’t tried that but you could certainly give it a go. Maybe bake them on a wire rack set inside a sheet tray so the bottoms will get heat circulation. I suppose I’d go for 375 degrees. If you try it, let me know how it goes and I can update the post with a convection oven alternative. Thanks so much for writing in! xo Kelly

  • Mari
    November 18, 2021 at 9:16 am

    Stop me before I say that looks amazing again, but that looks Aaaaamazing! I had one of the old air fryers for years, which I used frequently, but as time passed, not so much. Fast forward twenty years, and I have one of the new air fryers. Nothing fancy, but it’s big and gets the job done. I had no idea how creative people would get with them until the recipes came flooding out. This one certainly gets points for originality and eye appeal. They look absolutely delicious, and boo Trader Joe’s for going skimpy on the filling, since the whole point of filled ravioli is that it is filled! I will have to search out the stores and see what I can find. These would make a great entrée or even a great snack, but I can see them being served with drinks and cocktails as well, and these would be a nice addition to the appetizer table on Thanksgiving. People are always grazing so this would satisfy them until the big meal begins, although I imagine some people might eat a few too many. St. Louis doesn’t get enough love for their food scene. Hello Provel cheese, I’m talking to you. I don’t think that spread much further than Missouri in general, but it certainly is popular. It’s hard to find outside of Missouri, so I just slap some slices or shreds of provolone on pizzas when I’m missing St. Louis. Happy Thursday Kelly, Alex, Terry and blog sisters everywhere. ❤️???

    • Kelly Djalali
      November 18, 2021 at 10:50 am

      Hi Mari! You might the only person I know who likes Provel! Lol! But you are so right, St. Louis gets no attention for its food scene. Which by the way, is robust and amazing. These would be a great appetizer for the Thanksgiving table. Let me know if you make them! Have a great day, xo Kelly

  • Terry
    November 18, 2021 at 9:50 am

    This looks great I’m thinking for dinner this weekend. Going to the store today I will try it and let you know have a great Thursday ???mom

    • Kelly Djalali
      November 18, 2021 at 10:52 am

      Hi Mom, Toasted Ravioli alongside a big salad would be a great dinner! Let me know how you like them. xo Kelly

  • Taylor Cleland
    November 18, 2021 at 10:10 am

    I’m so excited to make these!

    • Kelly Djalali
      November 18, 2021 at 10:51 am

      Hello Taylor, let me know how you like them – they have become our newest addictive treat! Thanks so much for stopping by today, xo Kelly

  • Linda Miller
    November 18, 2021 at 10:57 am

    Perfect timing! I’ve resisted purchasing an air fryer, but finally ordered one yesterday, perfect recipe for my husband who was raised in Kirkwood, Mo

    • Kelly Djalali
      November 18, 2021 at 2:23 pm

      Hello Linda, that is perfect timing! Kirkwood is a really cute little suburb. I went to Webster University in Webster Groves, so I used to go over to Kirkwood quite often. Make these Toasted Ravioli for your husband and let me know how y’all like it! Take care, xo Kelly