Tinis Mac Cheese Lumpia Rolls (Printable)

Crispy lumpia wrappers with creamy mac and cheese filling, air-fried for a golden, crowd-pleasing snack.

# 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

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
02 - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stir in flour, and cook for 1 minute to form a roux.
03 - Gradually whisk in milk, cooking until slightly thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Stir in cheddar and mozzarella until melted and smooth; season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika if desired.
05 - Fold cooked macaroni into cheese sauce until fully coated; cool mixture for 10 to 15 minutes until thick enough to handle.
06 - Place one wrapper on a clean surface, spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling near bottom edge, fold sides, then roll tightly and seal edge with beaten egg; repeat for remaining wrappers.
07 - Set air fryer to 400°F and preheat for 3 minutes.
08 - Lightly spray or brush rolls with oil and arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
09 - Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through, until rolls are golden and crisp.
10 - Serve warm, optionally accompanied by ketchup, sriracha, or cheese dipping sauce.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and impossible to eat just one of.
  • Air-frying means less oil mess than deep-frying, but you still get that perfect golden crunch.
  • This is comfort food in a bite-sized package, so you can justify eating several.
02 -
  • Cool the mac and cheese filling completely before rolling, or it will tear through the wrapper and leak out during cooking.
  • Seal every edge with egg wash—even a tiny opening means the wrapper doesn't crisp evenly and the filling escapes.
  • Don't skip the halfway shake in the air fryer; it's what gets them golden on both sides.
03 -
  • Make sure your air fryer is fully preheated or the bottoms won't crisp evenly; a 3-minute preheat is your baseline.
  • If you notice the edges browning too fast, lower the temperature to 190°C (375°F) and add 2 minutes—better a slow golden cook than charred corners.
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