Panda Express Cream Cheese Rangoon made with a creamy center and crispy exterior, these are the perfect appetizer for your next Chinese takeout meal.
Cream Cheese Wontons Vs. Cream Cheese Rangoon
Panda Express Cream Cheese Rangoon may seem like a Chinese restaurant favorite, but it is actually not the crab (or Krab) wontons you’re used to. In this version, the flavor is mostly made up of cream cheese and crispy delicious wontons.
The hardest part of making cream cheese wontons really just lies in making the same shape. If you remember playing the fortune teller paper game as a kid, that’s what your hand looks like when making these. You have to fold into the center from the center of each side so you make little wings that you can seal together. While it isn’t necessary or add to the flavor, it is definitely cute and adds to the copycat nature of the recipe. You can also just fold the wonton in half into a triangle and fry them up!
Panda Express Copycats E-Cookbook
Also, I am shooting for the Panda Express E-Cookbook to be released in the next month, so you guys will just be able to download the whole set of recipes instead of having to collect all the links together.
Keeping track of all the Panda Express copycat recipes here on the blog?
- Panda Express Orange Chicken
- Panda Express Mushroom Chicken
- Panda Express Firecracker Chicken Breast
- Panda Express Chow Mein
- Panda Express Fried Rice
- Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken
- Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken
- Panda Express Beijing Beef
- Panda Express Mandarin Teriyaki Chicken
- Panda Express Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast
- Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp
- Panda Express Cream Cheese Rangoon (you’re here!)
- Panda Express Beef and Broccoli
- Panda Express Sweetfire Chicken Breast
WONTON STRIPS ARE GREAT TOO!
You’re also going to want to serve the Panda Express Cream Cheese Wontons with some sweet and sour sauce. If you don’t want to have dairy, or you have friends coming over who may not tolerate/like cream cheese, you can also cut the wontons into strips and fry them up to dip into some sweet and sour sauce too.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 2 tablespoons scallions , minced
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 24 wonton wrappers
- Oil
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix the cream cheese, scallions and garlic powder together.
- Preheat oil in a heavy bottomed pot, a couple inches high to 350 degrees.
- Put 1 tablespoon in a middle of a wonton wrapper and with your finger add water to the edges.
- Push the four centers of each side into the middle and press them together.
- Once the middle is connected from all four sides connect the little wings coming out from the middle
- Let sit while you make all the wontons and when you start to fry, begin with the wontons you made first, they'll be the driest.
- You aren't cooking anything to a specific temperature for food safety reasons, so just cook until golden brown
Nutrition
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I have a frying question. We’ve made these before – love them! The last batch I made were folded in triangles, which I’ve done before. This time they puffed up and looked ready to burst. It was a little frightening tbh. Did we seal them too tightly? I’m ready to try the “Panda” fold next time, but wanted to avoid the puffiness and resulting leaked cream cheese next time. Advice? THANKS!
Either they were too filled or too much liquid in the mixture which was boiling from the inside and causing it to burst. OR you had air trapped inside. I would use less filling, make sure it isn’t too liquidy and be absolutely sure there isn’t air inside it.
Ive tried other recipes that weren’t the same until this one and its so simple!!!
Thanks for the 5 stars, Kaitlyn!
They tasted just like the ones from Panda Express. My family and I enjoyed them!
Yay!! Thanks for coming back to let me know, Mikala.
Can you use egg roll wrappers
Sure, just know that they’ll be bigger in size that when using wonton wraps. Enjoy!
Gonna try and make it tonight along with your cream cheese wontons
Hi your recipe says to heat oil to 350 then put 1 tablespoon inside every wonton wrapper, I guess I’m just wondering what’s the purpose of that? Does it cook the inside of the wrap?
The mixture goes inside of the wrapper and gets fried. Enjoy!
Consider updating the recipe to clarify this (“Put 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture in the middle…”). I too read it at first as putting a tablespoon of oil in the wonton wrapper, because the step immediately before this talks about oil, not the cream cheese mixture. I got more context from reading the next steps, but someone following the recipe without looking ahead might also think they need to drop a bunch of hot oil in their wonton!
Wow. If you’re going to have a jump to recipe button make sure it actually jumps to recipe. When I have to scroll and scroll just to find the recipe it is extremely frustrating.
I just tested it and it takes me right to the recipe. Sorry if you were having issues with it. Were you on desktop or mobile?
These were perfect. Spot on in flavor to those from Panda. Thanks!
A good start for a simple recipe! The filling is simple but it needs a kick. I would reccomend only 1 Teaspoon for the filling because even 1/2 Tablespoon was exploding out of them in the fryer no matter how careful I tried to be. Could also depend on the size of the wrappers! Will add less green onion and something with a bit of spice next time I make it!
Thanks for the suggestions.
I love the Panda Express Rangoons, but not the price of them. I had saved your recipe a month ago and finally got around to making them tonight. They were awesome! The recipe is super easy to follow, very quick to make and it made about 18 Rangoons (I may have overfilled mine?). The cost was not much more than the 3 pack at Panda Express is and I still have enough won ton wrappers to make at least another batch of them. I do have a question about freezing them… when you get ready to cook them do you thaw them out first or fry them from frozen? Thanks for the great recipe!
You want to leave them frozen before frying. Glad you enjoyed them and get more bang out of your buck (and get to enjoy them more often ;))
tried it. if you have even an inkling of a desire to try this recipe, *do it*. it is delicious.
Thanks so much! So glad you loved it.
I have not made YET. But love rangoons! These dont come out greasy? Or the cream cheese center doesnt come out or become greasy? Im nervous to fry things right.
I didn’t feel as though they were greasy. You’ve got to try them and let me know what you think.
Can these be made ahead and frozen before frying?
Yes 🙂
Could you bake these too?
They won’t be as crispy but it’ll still work. Spray them down lightly with cooking spray to help them crisp up. Bake them at 400 degrees for 7-12 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. Good luck!
Can I make these a few hours ahead and stick them in the fridge before frying them? Can’t wait to try!
Yes 🙂
What recipe do you use for the wrappers?
They were store bought to make this recipe easier. 🙂
Can you add a link to the won ton wrappers you used?
I used the Twin Dragon brand of wonton wrappers, they never tear on me when frying.
So good! Like another commenter I added a little sugar to the filling. Very easy to make and a good “frying project” for those who are not used to frying at home because you don’t have any food safety issues to worry about. I wish these were not so yummy and easy to make because now I want to eat them all the time!
Thanks for the 5 stars, Erica!
I so, so appreciate this recipe AND the nutrition information. My dad is a T1DM and having accurate carb counts is essential. I am making these for dinner tomorrow and wonder what qualifies as a serving for the purposes of the nutrition information? Thank you very much!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the site. The serving size is one rangoon. I know that sounds funny but I wanted it to be simple so you can figure out it easier by how many you decide to eat.
For a very brief period Panda EXPRESS. had a wonderful fish on the menu. Can you get that recipe?
Sorry, I’m not familiar with that one.
Do you fry them when you make ahead and freeze them, or do you wait to fry them when you’re ready to serve?
You’ll want to wait to fry them after they’ve been frozen.
Super Easy and Delicious. Made this along with orange chicken and Chow Mein. I got the wonton Wraps from Walmart next to the bags of Salad in fresh produce section. I didn’t make out 24 but then again i used Man-ly TBS scoops lol. Can see myself making these monthly. Also this is a fun cook if you have a date night. You can certainly get creative with the folding and have fun with it. Recipe is straight forward you won’t screw this up. I Chopped the whole green onion up and and bought a Walmart branded C.Cheese for like a buck. Enjoy! Thanks Sabrina!
You’re welcome Quentin!
How could these be made in the oven instead of a fryer? What temp and how long?
I haven’t tried it but I’m sure you could. They won’t be as crispy but if you spray them with cooking spray or brush them with oil before baking. I would suggest 400 degrees and they would probably need 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Let me know how they turn out!
Can these be done in an actifry?
I haven’t tested it so I’m not comfortable giving a recommendation, sorry.
The new five flavor shrimp copycat recipe from this past summer would be ABOLOSUTELY AWESOME!! Could you please try it????
I didn’t get to try it but I’ll keep my eye out for it!
I am making crab Rangoon this evening. I was hoping to not fry but they taste better that way. I will use your recipe but add crab. I know this recipe will be delicious.
Also to Karen, I have made a crab dip for years to put on top of crackers or triscuits. I use:
1 can crab or shrimp meat (lg can)
1 8oz. Philly cream cheese
1 2cup bag mozzarella
1 tsp Worcestershire
Green onions to your liking
Flavor to taste with Old Bay seasoning, Creole seasoning or salt and pepper. Which ever suits your palate.
I also like to top with a mix of seafood sauce (horseradish, ketchup and Worcestershire) Yum!
You could even put them on bread and pop in the oven.
Hi Sabrina! UPDATE (again!)
You are just so awesome! Love your recipes! So user friendly, anyone can do it! Can’t wait to try this recipe.. Always a fave! A few questions ~ How would I modify to create a dip? Also, if I wanted to add crab meat, how much do you suggest? If I don’t have wonton wraps, do you think crescent rolls are a good substitute? Reviewing your Panda Express copycat recipes, I noticed there’s not a lot mein recipe… Did I miss it? Would love to have a Chicken and Shrimp (respectively) lo mein recipe! YuM! YuM! ??
Thanks, you’re a baby doll!
Thank you so much, Karen!! I’m so glad you’re loving all the recipes. I am working on making this a dip option so stay tuned for that but if you’re needing one now, I would recommend this one (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/hot-crab-rangoon-dip-with-won-ton-chips-recipe-1950475). If you’re going to use crescent rolls, I would suggest putting them in a muffin tin and filling it that way to bake. As for the lo mein recipe, that will be coming soon as well 🙂 We seem to be on the same recipe wave length, haha! I look forward to seeing you around the site!
I am definitely going to try some of these recipes! One of my favorite sides is the spring rolls. Do you have the recipe for them? That would be awesome!
Not yet, but I’ll add it to my list! Thanks!
Do you know a way to bake these instead of frying?
You can definitely bake them instead of frying but it will alter the taste. My suggestion would be to at least spray them with canola oil before putting them in the oven.
These were good but I felt it was missing something. I added a tiny bit of sugar to the mixture and that was exactly what it needed. Will definitely be making this again with the added tweak. Thank you for the recipe.
So glad you loved it and came back to let me know!
I adore rangoons and hate all seafood, so these are perfect for me. One thing you can do if you want it to look like more traditional crabby goons, or if you want to health it up like 1/8 of a point, is to mix some microplaned carrot into the cream cheese. The orange bits resemble crab. 🙂
That is such an awesome idea!!
These are my favorite “treats” when I go to Panda. Making them at home is so much better.
These are great! I never realized how easy it would be to make my own! Probably a smidge heathier too!
Just a bit! 😉
Wowza ! Those look amazing and I’m craving cream cheese rangoon now. Can you bring me some ? I tip well haha
Haha, you’re outside my delivery area. 😉
This recipe looks like a delicious and easy meal to make. I think my family will love it.
Thank you!
I love trying copy cat recipes. I will have to get the ingredients i need to make this recipe on the weekend.
I love copycat recipes too! (As if you couldn’t tell just by looking at the blog.)
My kids are crazy about Panda Express. They’d love it if I could make their favorite recipes at home. This sounds like an awesome recipe.
I’ve got a whole assortment of Panda recipes for them to choose from 🙂
I agree, it is cute! And adds to the copy cat nature. These look so yummy. I just love rangoon. Give me anything fried and I am a fat, happy camper.
Thanks, Rachael! I love rangoon too!
I absolutely adore Rangoon! It’s something I never really thought about making at home before so this gives me a recipe to try. I’m sure my family will appreciate it. There’s never enough to go around when we get take out.
A lot of people don’t realize how easy it can be to fry at home! I hope you like them!
I had no idea Panda Express offered rangoons but they are definitely a must when it comes to ordering Chinese. I look forward to downloading the full ebook too.
Thanks, Marcie! I love to get rangoons when I order Chinese too!
Rangoon’s are the BEST! I’m super excited to try this recipe! Thanks!
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy them!
I am embarrassed to say I have never heard of this before, but I really want to try them! They look like something I would LOVE!
You can’t go wrong with fried dough and cream cheese in my book! 🙂
Oh my gosh these Rangoons look amazing!!! I have had them before and love them, I never thought to make them at home like this before.
Thanks, Vera! A lot of people are intimidated by home frying, but just be careful and practice your cooking times and they’ll be coming out perfect in no time!
I absolutely love crab Rangoon. After looking at the pictures and reading the recipe, I am craving them!
Thanks! I was craving them as I wrote this post, and I had just eaten them!
I love anything stuffed with cream cheese. I’ve had rangoons with out the crab and I love them, I wish more places had them.
I agree! These are really tasty appetizers!
We are big fans of Chinese food in our house. This sounds super delish.
Thanks!
These are favorite of mine and I’ve always wondered how to make them. So glad you shared this because I’ll being trying it this weekend.
Thanks! I hope you come back and let me know how they turn out!
Yum! These are one of my favorite appetizers. I can’t wait to try them at home!
Mine too! I hope you like them!
Those are so good in house, but being able to making them myself is starting to make me laugh maniacally. They are just too good!
It really should be illegal to make these in your own house – I might never stop eating them!
Crab Rangoon is one of my favorite apps! I make a similar version but gluten free.
Rangoons are a guilty pleasure of mine and these are amazing!
Thanks, Rahul! I really like them too!