Tinis Mac and Cheese Lumpia (Printer View)

Golden lumpia rolls filled with rich mac and cheese, air-fried for a crispy texture and savory taste.

# What you'll need:

→ Mac and Cheese Filling

01 - 7 oz elbow macaroni
02 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
04 - 1 cup whole milk
05 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
06 - ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
09 - ¼ tsp smoked paprika (optional)

→ Lumpia Rolls

10 - 16 lumpia wrappers or spring roll wrappers
11 - 1 egg, beaten (for sealing)
12 - Cooking spray or neutral oil for air-frying

# Method:

01 - Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
03 - Whisk in milk gradually and cook until slightly thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Stir in cheddar and mozzarella until melted and smooth.
05 - Add salt, pepper, and smoked paprika if using; stir well.
06 - Mix cooked macaroni with cheese sauce until fully coated; cool for 10 to 15 minutes until thick.
07 - Place wrapper on surface, spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling near bottom. Fold sides, roll tightly, and seal edge with beaten egg. Repeat for all.
08 - Set air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and preheat for 3 minutes.
09 - Lightly spray or brush rolls with oil and arrange in a single layer in air fryer basket.
10 - Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crispy.
11 - Serve warm with optional ketchup, sriracha, or cheese dipping sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're crispy on the outside, creamy and comforting inside, and ready in under 45 minutes from start to finish.
  • You can make them ahead and air-fry them fresh when guests arrive, which means less scrambling and more time to actually enjoy the party.
02 -
  • If your sauce is too thin when you fill the rolls, it will leak out during cooking and the wrappers won't crisp properly—let it cool fully and thicken until it's almost pudding-like.
  • Turning the rolls halfway through cooking is not optional; it's what creates even golden-brown color on all sides and prevents one side from crisping while the other stays pale.
03 -
  • Oil the wrappers lightly before frying—too much makes them greasy, but skipping it entirely means they won't crisp up the way you want them to.
  • If you don't have an air fryer, you can shallow-fry these in a skillet with about an inch of neutral oil, turning them carefully until both sides are golden, which takes about three minutes total and creates an even more shattering crust.
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