There’s something undeniably addictive about those crispy, cheesy little bites filled with creamy crab and cream cheese. The Crab Rangoon Wonton Cups Recipe takes the classic crab rangoon to a new level of fun finger food that’s perfect for parties or easy weeknight snacking. Trust me, once you bake these golden cups, you’ll want to make them again and again!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve made plenty of crab rangoons over the years, but turning them into wonton cups is hands-down my favorite way to enjoy this flavor combo. They’re perfectly crisp, easy to eat, and look so cute on a platter. Whether you’re hosting friends or just treating yourself, these are guaranteed crowd-pleasers.
- Crunchy Wonton Cups: Provides the perfect crispy shell that holds all that creamy filling without getting soggy.
- Easy to Make: No deep-frying required—just bake for a perfectly golden bite.
- Flavor-Packed Filling: Cream cheese, garlic, crab, and mozzarella combine for that signature creamy umami taste.
- Customizable & Shareable: Make a whole batch for a quick snack or serve at your next gathering to wow the crowd!
Ingredients & Why They Work
The mix of creamy, tangy, and savory ingredients in this Crab Rangoon Wonton Cups Recipe is what makes it so deliciously addictive. Choosing good-quality crab and properly softened cream cheese gives your filling that smooth texture that’s easy to scoop and melts beautifully when baked. Plus, the fresh green onions add a mild bite that balances richness.
- Crab Meat: You can use imitation crab, canned lump crab, or fresh crab—just make sure it’s well drained so your filling isn’t watery.
- Cream Cheese: Room temperature cream cheese is key for mixing; it blends everything evenly without lumps.
- Sour Cream: Adds a subtle tang that cuts through the richness and keeps the filling light.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic infuses the filling with just the right amount of aromatic flavor.
- Green Onions: Thinly sliced, these bring a fresh, slightly sharp contrast to the creamy base.
- Soy Sauce: A little saltiness and umami that ties all the flavors together.
- Sugar: Balances the savory with a hint of sweetness, perfect for that classic crab rangoon profile.
- Mozzarella Cheese: A melty addition that adds gooey texture and mild flavor inside each cup.
- Wonton Wrappers: These form the crisp, golden cups—find them in the refrigerated section near tofu or Asian ingredients.
- Cooking Spray or Oil: To give those wonton cups a beautiful golden finish without deep-frying.
- Garnishes (Green Onion, Dipping Sauces): For an extra pop of color and flavor when serving.
Make It Your Way
What I love most about the Crab Rangoon Wonton Cups Recipe is how easy it is to tweak based on your mood or what you have in the fridge. Sometimes, I like to add a little extra cheese on top before reheating for that stringy, melty goodness. You can absolutely adjust ingredients to suit your taste or dietary needs.
- Variation: I’ve swapped crab meat for cooked shrimp or diced cooked chicken when I didn’t have crab on hand, and it still turned out amazing—perfect for mixing things up.
- Spicy Twist: Add a pinch of cayenne or some minced jalapeño into the filling for a little heat that wakes up the savory flavors.
- Dairy-Free Option: Try replacing cream cheese and sour cream with vegan alternatives to make this recipe friendly for dairy-free diets without losing creaminess.
- Baking Alternative: If you don’t have a mini muffin tin, you can make these in a regular muffin tin using two wonton wrappers per cup for a larger serving size.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Crab Rangoon Wonton Cups Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Wonton Cups
First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F and get your mini muffin tin ready. Lightly spray or brush the tin with oil so your wonton wrappers don’t stick. Press a wonton wrapper into each cup, gently pressing down to shape it into a cup shape. Don’t worry if the edges overlap a bit—this just makes the cups sturdier after baking. A little tip: spray or brush the tops of the wrappers before baking; this helps them crisp up beautifully. Bake for about 6-8 minutes, but keep an eye on them so they don’t burn. When they’re golden brown and firm to the touch, you’re good to go!
Step 2: Mix the Crab Rangoon Filling
While the wonton cups are baking, soften your cream cheese if it’s not already room temperature — just 10 seconds in the microwave will do. In a medium bowl, combine the crab meat, softened cream cheese, sour cream, minced garlic, sliced green onions, soy sauce, sugar, and mozzarella cheese. Stir gently until everything is evenly mixed but still nice and chunky. This mixture is the heart of your crab rangoon and should be creamy with little bits of crab and green onion bursting through.
Step 3: Fill and Bake Again
Spoon heaping tablespoons of the crab filling into each baked wonton cup—you want them generously filled for that perfect balance of filling to crisp. Cover the entire muffin tin with foil to help the filling heat evenly without drying out. Bake again at 350°F for about 10-12 minutes, until filling is warmed through and bubbling slightly. If you want a little extra golden top, you can remove the foil for the last 2 minutes of baking.
Step 4: Garnish and Serve
As soon as they come out of the oven, carefully remove the wonton cups from the muffin tin and place them on a wire rack or paper towels to keep crispy. Sprinkle with a little more fresh green onion for color and freshness. Serve these scrumptious crab rangoon wonton cups with your favorite Thai sweet chili sauce or spicy mayo dip—it really takes the flavor up a notch.
Top Tip
After making this recipe a few times, I learned some tricks to get the perfect crab rangoon wonton cups every time. These little tips can really elevate your results, especially if you’re making them for the first time or prepping for a crowd.
- Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese: It mixes so much easier with the other ingredients. No one wants lumps of cold cream cheese in their filling!
- Watch the Baking Time: Wonton wrappers can burn quickly, so set your timer and check often during that first bake. You want a light golden color, not dark brown.
- Drain Your Crab Well: Excess moisture will make your filling runny and soggy. Press it gently with paper towel to remove any watery spots.
- Don’t Overfill the Cups: Filling them too high will lead to spilling and uneven cooking. A heaping tablespoon is just right for 24 mini cups.
How to Serve Crab Rangoon Wonton Cups Recipe
Garnishes
I usually garnish mine with thinly sliced green onions—they add a lovely crunch and a fresh, mild onion bite that balances the creamy richness perfectly. Sometimes, I sprinkle on a few toasted sesame seeds for a subtle nuttiness and extra flair.
Side Dishes
When I’m serving these for a party, I like pairing them with crunchy Asian slaw or a simple cucumber salad—it adds a refreshing contrast. A bowl of miso soup or steamed edamame is also great if you want a light but satisfying side.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I like arranging the wonton cups on a decorative platter with small bowls of Thai sweet chili sauce and spicy mayo on the side. Adding edible flowers or fresh herbs like cilantro can really dress them up visually. Kids love these at birthday parties because they’re easy to grab and fun to eat!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover crab rangoon wonton cups can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. I like to place a paper towel at the bottom of the container to help absorb any moisture and keep the cups crispier.
Freezing
These freeze surprisingly well! I recommend assembling and baking the wonton cups shells first, then letting them cool completely. Fill them with the crab mixture, place in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze, and then transfer to a freezer-safe container. That way, you can bake fresh-filled cups right from frozen later—just add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Reheating
To keep the wonton cups crispy, I reheat leftovers in a 350°F oven for about 5-7 minutes until warmed through. Microwaving tends to make them soggy, so the oven or an air fryer is your best bet for maintaining that crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! Just be sure to thaw it completely and drain thoroughly to avoid excess moisture in the filling. Pressing the crab with paper towels helps keep your filling nice and creamy without being watery.
No worries—use a regular muffin tin and layer two wonton wrappers in each cup, offsetting the corners to create a sturdy shell. This will make larger cups, so use more filling, but the baking times and steps remain the same. You’ll get 12 cups instead of 24.
You can prepare the wonton cups and filling separately ahead of time. Bake the cups, let them cool, and store in an airtight container. The filling can be made and refrigerated. When ready to serve, fill and bake together to keep them crispy and fresh.
Thai Sweet Chili Sauce and Spicy Mayo are classic favorites that complement the creamy, savory filling perfectly. You can also try a soy-ginger dipping sauce or even a simple sriracha aioli for a different flavor twist.
Final Thoughts
This Crab Rangoon Wonton Cups Recipe has quickly become one of my go-tos when I want something that’s easy to make but still feels special. It’s hard to beat the combination of creamy crab filling wrapped in a satisfying crispy wonton cup. Give it a try—you might just find it becomes a regular on your appetizer or snack rotation. Plus, it’s fun to put together and always gets compliments. Happy baking, friend!
Print
Crab Rangoon Wonton Cups Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delicious and crispy Crab Rangoon Wonton Cups make a perfect appetizer or snack. These bite-sized treats combine creamy crab meat filling with crunchy baked wonton wrappers, garnished with green onions and served with flavorful dipping sauces.
Ingredients
Crab Rangoon Filling
- 1 cup crab meat (imitation or canned lump crab meat, well drained)
- 8 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 4 green onions (thinly sliced, white and green parts)
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
Wonton Cups
- 24 wonton wrappers
- Cooking spray or cooking oil of choice
For Serving
- 1 green onion (thinly sliced, for garnish)
- Thai Sweet Chili Sauce (for dipping)
- Spicy Mayo (for dipping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 24-count mini muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray or brush with cooking oil.
- Form Wonton Cups: Press one wonton wrapper into each muffin tin space, spray or brush the tops with cooking spray or oil, then bake for 8 minutes until golden and crispy, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Prepare Filling: Soften cream cheese by heating for 10 seconds in microwave if needed. In a medium bowl, combine crab meat, cream cheese, sour cream, minced garlic, green onions, soy sauce, sugar, and mozzarella cheese; mix evenly.
- Fill Wonton Cups: Spoon a heaping tablespoon of filling into each baked wonton cup, cover the muffin tin with foil, and bake for 12 minutes until the filling is warmed through and bubbly.
- Cool and Garnish: Remove wonton cups from the muffin tin immediately and transfer to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to keep them crispy. Garnish each cup with sliced green onions.
- Serve: Serve the crab rangoon wonton cups with Thai Sweet Chili Sauce and Spicy Mayo for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
- Wonton wrappers can be found in the refrigerated section near tofu and salad dressings; egg roll or spring roll wrappers can be used as substitutes.
- If you do not have a 24-count mini muffin tin, use a 12-count regular muffin tin by placing two wonton wrappers offset to create cups and increase filling to 2 tablespoons per cup; this will yield 12 wonton cups.
- Watch the wonton wrappers closely during initial baking to prevent burning since baking times may vary slightly by oven.
- To ensure cream cheese mixes smoothly, make sure it is at room temperature before combining.
- Leftover wonton cups are best eaten immediately to maintain crispiness but can be reheated briefly in the oven if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 wonton cup
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
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