Panda Express Cream Cheese Rangoon Recipe

There’s something irresistible about biting into a perfectly crispy cream cheese Rangoon, hearing that satisfying crunch before discovering the warm, creamy center inside. Panda Express has perfected this beloved appetizer that combines the best Chinese-American cuisine: crispy wonton wrappers embracing a rich mixture of cream cheese, fresh scallions, and aromatic garlic powder.

Whether you’re craving these golden treasures for game day or want an impressive yet simple appetizer for unexpected guests, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal effort.

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Why This Recipe Works

The secret to perfect Rangoon lies in three key elements: properly softened cream cheese that mixes smoothly, the right oil temperature for crispy exteriors without greasy interiors, and the fold-and-twist technique that creates an attractive presentation while sealing in the filling. The minimal seasoning allows the cream cheese to shine while fresh scallions add color and mild onion flavor.

What Makes the Panda Express Cream Cheese Rangoon the Best? 

These crispy wonton apps are stuffed with a mixture of cream cheese, scallions, and garlic powder. They make satisfying finger food for game day, or you can dress them up to make casual cocktail appetizers.

The best part of rangoons may be that you can easily make them your own by adding your favorite ingredients to the filling or switching up the sauces you serve alongside. 

Panda Express Cream Cheese Rangoon Ingredients

Creamy Filling

• Cream cheese – Provides rich, tangy base that becomes perfectly creamy when warmed
• Scallions – Adds fresh, mild onion flavor and attractive green color throughout the filling
• Garlic powder – Optional enhancement that adds aromatic depth without overpowering

Assembly and Frying

• Wonton wrappers – Creates crispy, golden exterior that contrasts beautifully with the creamy interior
• Vegetable oil or shortening – Enables high-temperature frying for perfect texture

Ingredient Notes

You can find wonton wrappers in most supermarkets’ refrigerated section. If you can’t see them locally, you can always buy them online. Spring roll or egg roll wrappers also work, but your rangoons will be bigger, which is fine. 

What type of cooking oil is best for rangoons?

Shortening will produce crispier rangoons. Plain vegetable oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, or canola oil will work well.

How To Make Cream Cheese Rangoons

To form the rangoons:

1. Add softened cream cheese, scallions, and onion powder (if using) to a bowl. Mix well to combine.
2. Make 48 rangoons filled with the cream cheese mixture. See below to learn how to fold them. 

To fry the cream cheese rangoons:

1. Place a heavy-bottom rondeau or Dutch oven over medium-high. If you have a deep fryer, use it to make things much easier. 
2. Add the vegetable oil or shorting and heat. Use a thermometer to check that the oil reaches 350 degrees F. 
3. Once the oil is hot enough, gently place four to five rangoons into the oil. 
4. Fry the rangoons for about a minute, flipping midway through if necessary.
5. When the rangoons are golden brown, drain them on a paper towel, and place them on a wire rack over a baking tray.
6. Repeat deep frying with the other cream cheese wontons.
7. Serve at room temperature.

Ways You Can Modify the Rangoons

Add whatever you like to the cream cheese mixture to make this Panda Express Cream Cheese Rangoon recipe your own. Here are a few suggestions for variations:

• Cooked crab meat to make crab rangoons
• Crispy bacon or pancetta bits
• Minced hot peppers
• Grated cheese
• Roasted garlic

How Panda Express Folds Their Rangoons 

1. Lay out the wonton wrappers on your work surface.
2. Spoon about a teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture onto the center of each wrapper. If you are using larger egg roll or spring roll wrappers, you can adjust the filling accordingly.
3. Use a pastry brush to brush the edges of the wrappers with water.
4. Fold all four corners to the center and squeeze out any excess air.

5. Twist the corners to make a tiny bindle bundle.
6. Place the prepared rangoons on a wire rack and repeat the process with the other 24 wrappers. 

What To Serve With the Panda Express Rangoons 

Rangoons make ideal small bites for any occasion. They work with both Asian-themed at non-Asian entrees. Serve them with at least one sauce and your favorite beer or cocktail.

What Types of Sauce To Serve With Your Cream Cheese Rangoons

One sauce is a must, but the more options you have, the better. Feel free to get as creative as you want when pairing rangoons with dipping sauces, but here are a few options:

• Chinese Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Thai peanut sauce
• Ginger-soy sauce
• Campfire sauce
• Apricot chutney
• Yum Yum sauce

How To Store the Extra Rangoons 

It is best to throw away any uneaten rangoons you serve, but you can keep any extras that didn’t make it out of the kitchen.

1. Let the rangoons come down to room temperature. 
2. Place them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to two days. If you are using crab or other seafood, you should probably eat any leftovers the next day.

You can freeze rangoons for up to two months:

1. Place the rangoons in a single layer on a baking sheet.
2. Put the uncovered tray in the freezer until the rangoons are frozen.
3. Transfer the frozen rangoons to a freezer bag, and place them in the back of your freezer. 

What’s the Best Way to Reheat the Cheese Rangoons 

The best way to reheat rangoons is in the air fryer. You can reheat frozen or thawed rangoons, but you will have to readjust the time:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F.
2. Reheat frozen rangoons for 8 to 10 minutes. Cook thawed rangoons for about 5 minutes. 

If you don’t have an air fryer, try reheating the rangoons in an oven. It is best to thaw the frozen rangoons when using this method:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Place the rangoons on a baking tray without touching each other or the sides of the tray.
3. Cover the tray with aluminum foil and reheat for about 5 minutes. 
4. Remove the aluminum foil and spray the rangoons with a little cooking spray. 
5. Put the rangoons back in the oven until they start to sizzle. 

Panda Express Cream Cheese Rangoon – Crispy & Creamy

erfect copycat of Panda Express cream cheese rangoons with creamy filling, crispy wonton wrapper, and simple fold-and-twist technique. Party perfect!

5 from 5 votes

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Panda Express Recipes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 638kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

• Vegetable shortening or oil, for frying
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 1 1/2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions
• garlic powder optional
• 48 wonton wrappers

Instructions

• Heat the vegetable shortening or oil to 350°F in a medium pot or electric fryer. The shortening or oil should be 2 to 3 inches deep.
• In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese and scallions. If desired, add a touch of garlic powder for additional flavor.
• Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture onto a wonton wrapper.
• Brush a little water over the edges of the wonton skin. Fold the wonton diagonally into a triangle. Be sure to seal all of the edges completely to prevent the filling from leaking out of the wonton as it cooks. Take the two opposite corners and press and twist them together. You may need to tack them together by brushing them with a little water.
• Use a thermometer or a small piece of wonton wrapper to make sure that the shortening or oil has reached 350°F. If the wonton wrapper bubbles immediately when dropped into the hot fat, it is ready.
• Drop only 4 or 5 wontons at a time into the hot fat. After about 1 minute, the wontons will begin to brown. Then they will brown rapidly, so be careful to remove them when they are lightly browned. If your oil is shallow, you may need to flip the wonton over so that it cooks evenly.
• Briefly drain the wontons on paper towels before serving.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 638kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 785IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 2.5mg

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