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Can you air fry frozen samosas? Yes! The samosa in air fryer time and temperature is 9-10 minutes in an air fryer preheated to 400F (200C), flipping halfway through. You can air fry Trader Joe’s samosas, mini samosas, veggie samosas, chicken samosas, beef samosas, or any other type! Just remember the cooking time and temperature for air fryer samosas, and say goodbye to using the deep fryer.
Did you know that you can get golden brown veggie samosas without making deep fried samosas? We don’t need to heat the house with the oven either. Yup, it’s another air fryer recipe!
You might want to start making all of your favorite Indian snacks and appetizers this way! You can microwave samosa a little faster than making air fryer samosa. However, then you don’t get that crispy, flaky outside that you get when you use an air fryer.
⭐ Samosa in Air Fryer Time and Temperature
What temp to air fry samosas? How long do you air fry samosas? Frozen samosas cook for a total of 9-10 minutes in an air fryer preheated at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200C). Flip them after 5 minutes of cooking time.
Get printable recipe card instructions at the end of the post!
You don’t need to defrost samosas before air frying. Make sure to put the samosas in a single layer in the air fryer basket or air fryer oven for good air circulation. I used the top rack position in my air fryer oven.
Check the internal temperature of your samosas after cooking, particularly if they contain meat or poultry. They should have reached a temperature of 165F (74C). You can extend the cooking time by a few minutes if needed.
Oven directions: Oven bake samosas by following the directions on the box. Whole Foods samosas bake for 12-14 minutes in an oven preheated to 400F (200C). Flip them halfway through baking time.
➕ Air Fryer Samosa
Here’s what you need to make air fryer samosas:
- Frozen samosas
- Your favorite samosa dip
You don’t even need spray oil for this recipe. The shell of samosas tends to contain a lot of oil already. They shouldn’t stick to the air fryer basket or tray.
There are a number of frozen samosa options available in the United States, such as from Chef Bombay and Sukhi brands. Some are labeled “mini samosa,” but they should all work in this recipe.
I used a box of Trader Joe’s Samosas and a box of Whole Foods Samosas. The Trader Joe’s samosas were a little spicy, with what I would consider a unique flavor. The Whole Foods Potato & Pea Samosas were flavored similar to samosas I’ve had in restaurants.
The “mini samosas” and regular frozen samosas were actually not so different in size. As a result, the air frying directions are the same.
Trader Joe’s mini veggie samosas are 2-2.25 inches (5-5.7 cm) per side, while the Whole Foods samosas are 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) per side. These are much smaller than the samosas I typically see in restaurants serving Indian cuisine.
To cook samosas in the air fryer, you’ll also need an air fryer and a meat thermometer. Some boxes of frozen samosas recommend cooking them to an internal temperature of 165F (74C). The best way to ensure your samosas are cooked adequately is to use the thermometer.
All air fryers cook a little differently. If you use a Ninja Foodi, Cosori, Pampered Chef Air Fryer, Actifry, Nuwave, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Philips, Power Air Fryer, or another air fryer, you may need to adjust the cooking times. There doesn’t seem to be as much consistency between brands as there is with regular ovens.
😋 What is a samosa?
I guess I should back up a minute and cover what exactly a samosa is for those who don’t know. Samosas are crispy dough pockets fried in oil. They are often shaped as a triangle, but you can also find half moon and cone-shaped samosas.
Samosas are usually associated with Indian cuisine, but you can find similar deep fried fritters in many parts of the world. Sambusa and samoosa are some alternative names for these savory pastries.
The best samosas contain a perfectly spiced filling of veggies, meat, and/or chicken. One common samosa filling in Indian restaurants in the U.S. is “aloo matar,” which is potatoes and green peas with curry spices.
🌡️ What is the best way to reheat samosas?
With frozen samosas, it’s best to only make what you need for the best texture. If you want to reheat refrigerated samosas, try air frying for 3-5 minutes at 350F (175C). Add more time if these samosa reheating directions haven’t crisped the samosas to your liking.
How to store samosas? Wrap your cooked samosas in paper towels to help absorb the oil and store in a food-safe airtight container. They will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, great for an easy meal prep snack.
Samosa chaat is an Indian dish that can be made with leftover samosas.
🥭 Samosa Dipping Sauce
What are the best dipping sauces for samosas? Here are some of my favorites:
- Mango Chutney
- Tamarind Chutney
- Green Chutney (made with mint and cilantro)
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Plain yogurt
Watch How to Make It!
Air Fryer Samosa (Samosa in Air Fryer Time and Temperature)
Ingredients
- 1 box frozen samosas (8-9 samosas that are 2-2½ inches/5-6.35 cm per side; mini samosas or regular)
- dipping sauce (mango chutney or green chutney)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Put the samosas in a single layer on a hot air fryer tray.
- If you have an air fryer oven, put the tray in the top rack position. Air fry for 9-10 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Flip samosas after 5 minutes of cooking time.
- Check the internal temperature of your samosas with a meat thermometer, particularly if they contain meat or poultry. They should have reached a temperature of 165°F (74°C). You can extend the cooking time by a few minutes if needed.
- Serve samosas with your favorite dipping sauce.
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Are air fryer samosas healthy? Frozen samosas are usually an ultra-processed food that contain lots of white flour and added oil. In general, I wouldn’t consider air fryer samosas to be the most health-promoting choice. (That said, it’s possible to make whole grain, low oil samosas from scratch that are more nutritious.) However, there are some definite benefits of samosa. Here are a few reasons to love this tasty snack:- They’re usually stuffed with nutritious protein and veggie fillings.
- It’s easy to find plant-based vegetarian and vegan frozen samosas, if that’s your diet preference.
- You can make delicious samosas lower in calories by air frying instead of frying them in additional oil.
- Air fryer frozen samosas make a quick appetizer for potlucks, parties, family gatherings.
- No utensils are needed for this easy finger food.
- This air fryer samosa recipe is a fun way to get picky eaters to eat more veggies (especially when served with a dip).
- Speaking of kids, air fried veggie samosas are a simple one-ingredient recipe that even children can make. (There’s no need to make samosa dough, or roll pastry, or fold dough!)
- Yummy! (Self-explanatory and important 🙂 )
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
FAQs
Why are the samosa not crispy?
Your samosas may not crisp properly if they were not air fried long enough or at a high enough temperature. Remember also that you need to air fry, deep fry, or oven bake samosas to get them crispy. Please don’t microwave samosas if you want them crisp!
What temperature should you fry samosas?
For deep fried samosas, most sources recommend heating the oil to 350-375°F (175-190°C). (I’d highly encourage you to try air frying samosas first though, since much less kitchen clean up is involved!)
Are samosas vegan?
Some frozen samosas are naturally vegan, for example, Trader Joe’s Vegetable Samosas are currently vegan. Be sure to check the nutrition label of the samosas before you buy, as ingredients in products can change.
Are samosas gluten free?
Frozen samosas are not usually gluten free (or keto) because they contain a wheat flour wrapper. You could try making homemade gluten free samosas using GF flour or rice paper wrappers as an alternative.
Are air fried samosas as tasty as deep fried?
Frozen samosas tend to contain a lot of added oil whether they are air fried or deep fried. IMVHO, there’s not a huge difference in taste when we air fry vs deep fry frozen samosas. There may be a bigger difference with homemade samosas, because air fried homemade samosas usually contain less oil.
👩🏻🍳 More Indian Food Recipes
Now that you know how long to cook samosas in air fryer, do you want more Indian-inspired recipes? As with U.S. cuisine, Indian cuisine varies across the nation. Though I can’t claim authenticity, here are some more recipes with Indian-inspired flavors:
- Best Air Fryer Indian Recipes
- Sugar Free Lassi
- Roasted Paneer
- Palak Paneer Instant Pot Recipe
- Egg Keema
- Gulab Jamun Cheesecake
And if you’re all about air frying frozen foods, don’t miss my post on the Best Frozen Foods for the Air Fryer. It contains all the best easy air fryer recipes!
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
What’s your favorite samosa filling—potato and peas, spicy chicken, or something unique?