If you’re never tried tteokbokki, they’re a Korean style street food of rice cakes formed into a cylindrical shape. Trader Joe’s makes a frozen version, so you can try this fun snack right at home! I make air fryer tteokbokki so that I get the perfect amount of crisp outside the chewy center.
What Is Tteokbokki?
Tteokbokki is a popular Korean dish made from chewy rice cakes, typically stir-fried in a spicy, sweet, and savory sauce. The main ingredients include cylindrical rice cakes (tteok), gochujang (Korean red chili paste), and various additions like fish cakes, boiled eggs, and scallions.
Cooking it in the air fryer instead gives you a slightly crispier exterior, while maintaining the chewy interior that are iconic to the cakes.
Tteokbokki is known for its bold flavors and is often enjoyed as street food or comfort food in Korea.
Common Alternative Names
- Ddeokbokki: An alternate spelling that reflects the same pronunciation
- Topokki: Another romanization of the word, often used in various Asian markets
- Spicy Rice Cakes: A descriptive English name sometimes used to refer to the dish
- Rabokki: A variation that includes ramen noodles alongside the rice cakes
Tteokbokki is beloved for its versatility, with variations ranging from mild to extremely spicy. It’s usually enjoyed as an appetizer or snack, though it can be made into a meal by incorporating cheese, seafood, or other ingredients to enhance the dish.
It has a long history in Korea, originally served in royal courts, but it has evolved into the spicy dish we know today during the mid-20th century.
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What You Need
- 16 ounce package Trader Joe’s frozen tteok bok ki
- Toppings as desired (I use green onions and a hard boiled egg)
Ingredient Tips and Notes
- You can use other brands of prepared tteokbokki as well (doesn’t have to be Trader Joe’s). If yours are not frozen, reduce cooking time by 2-3 minutes to compensate
- Other popular topping options include onions, fish cakes, ramen, sausages, dumplings, and cheese
Trader Joe’s Tteokbokki Air Fryer Instructions
- Remove the rice cakes from all packaging and place into your air fryer’s basket or rack in a single layer (a little overlap is alright)
- Cook on the air fry setting at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, pausing halfway through to flip them, until puffed and crisped to your liking (the crispy parts will turn a more opaque white color so you can visually check)
- While the tteokbokki is cooking, add the sauce packet to a glass or bowl with hot water to defrost it
- Remove the rice cakes from the air fryer and toss with the sauce
- Add any toppings desired, and enjoy!
What to Serve With Tteokbokki
- Dumplings (mandu)
- Odeng soup
- Edamame
- Fried tofu
- Kimbap
- Radish salad
- Cucumber salad
- Bean sprouts
- Fried noodles
- Scallion pancakes
- Fried rice
- Korean fried chicken
- Kimchi
- Korean beef short ribs
- Hard boiled eggs
- Tempura
- Sausages
There are a large variety of dishes you can serve with tteokbokki to complete your meal, whether you want to keep it light or make an entire spread to serve a crowd.
Try air fryer tteokbokki with my spicy garlic Air Fryer Frozen Edamame, quick Korean Air Fryer Frozen Fried Rice, crispy Air Fryer Korean Fried Chicken, or other Trader Joe’s Korean favorites like Air Fryer Frozen Korean Short Ribs and Air Fryer Pa Jeon scallion pancakes.
Recipe FAQs
Can Tteokbokki Be Made In An Air Fryer?
Yes, tteokbokki can be made in an air fryer.
Although traditionally stir-fried or simmered in a pan, air-frying can provide a unique twist by giving the rice cakes a crispy texture on the outside while keeping them chewy inside.
Can I Use Frozen Tteok For Air Fryer Tteokbokki?
Yes, you can use frozen tteok for air fryer tteokbokki.
However, it’s important to thaw or soak the frozen rice cakes in water before placing them in the air fryer to ensure even cooking.
What Is The Difference Between Air Fryer Tteokbokki And Traditional Tteokbokki?
The main difference is the texture. Traditional tteokbokki is simmered in a sauce, making the rice cakes soft and chewy.
Air fryer tteokbokki, on the other hand, tends to have a slightly crispy exterior, giving it a different mouthfeel while still being chewy inside.
Can I Make A Spicy Version Of Air Fryer Tteokbokki?
Absolutely! You can add gochujang (Korean chili paste) and other spices to the tteok before air frying, or toss the crispy tteok in a spicy sauce after cooking for a bold and flavorful dish.
Chili crisp is also a good addition to add heat, as well as an extra level of crunch to the texture.
What Are Some Common Additions To Tteokbokki?
Common additions include fish cakes, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and vegetables like onions and scallions.
Simply cook your tteok, toss in sauce, then add the toppings as desired before serving. If you want to melt the cheese, make sure to add that first and stir to allow the residual heat to melt it.
How Long Should Tteokbokki Be Cooked In An Air Fryer?
Tteokbokki typically needs about 10-12 minutes in the air fryer at 380°F – 400°F, but this can vary depending on the size and thickness of the rice cakes.
It’s important to check on them halfway through so you can rotate them in the basket, and check for doneness at that time so you can adjust cooking times accordingly.
Can I Make A Non-Spicy Version Of Air Fryer Tteokbokki?
Yes, you can make your own sauce to better control the heat using soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar as a base instead of gochujang. This will give the dish a savory-sweet flavor without the heat.
If you are using a frozen tteokbokki that comes with a sauce, check it for spice levels and adjust according to personal tastes (cheese can help cool it down a bit)!
Recipe Pro Tips For the Best Air Fryer Tteokbokki
- A common serving option is to thread the sauced tteokbokki onto skewers, alternating with small cooked sausages or chunks of cheese!
- You do not need to add any oil before cooking, but you can if desired. If you want a more chewy, traditional tteokbokki feel, skip it, but if you want a nice crispy exterior, feel free to add a mist!
- It’s very common for the tteokbokki to stick together. You can spray your air fryer’s basket with oil to prevent sticking if you like, and just use tongs or something similar to carefully pry the rice cakes apart after cooking
Storage and Reheating of Tteokbokki
- Tteokbokki is best enjoyed fresh. However, you can refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days
- To reheat tteokbokki, the best method is pan frying over medium heat with about 2 Tbsp water. You can also use the microwave (add water here as well) for about 1 minute, but they tend to dry out more
- Trader Joe’s Potstickers in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Kung Pao Chicken
Trader Joe’s Tteokbokki Review
I made my Trader Joe’s tteok bok ki in my Ninja air fryer, cooking it for a total of 8 minutes (I stirred it once). The edges of the rice cakes were crispy, but the centers were nice and chewy like I associate with tteokbokki!
This was a really easy preparation method that I’d definitely do again, as it yielded a great result (and you can definitely add oil or cook it longer if you want an even crispier version).
TJ’s sauce is very heavy on the gochujang. It’s a mix of sweet and spicy, and I’d put it around a medium heat level (but I understand that is highly subjective to personal tastes). After eating a few, I don’t really even notice the heat anymore!
It pairs really nicely with a hard boiled egg or melted cheese if you want to cut the heat a little bit, assuming you’re OK with the dairy. But, since tteokbokki are naturally vegan, that may not be an option for you (though you could try a vegan-friendly substitute).
I also enjoy adding these rice cakes to my ramen for additional texture and bulk, and to add a little spice as well if I don’t have a spicy flavor of ramen.
Overall, I really enjoy Trader Joe’s tteokbokki. They’re versatile as a snack or meal, the flavor is sweet, spicy, and delicious, and the chewy texture is unique and satisfying. Though, if you’ve had recent dental work or braces, you may want to pass!
This is an item I love to keep a few bags of on hand for quick meals, and highly recommend them if you like Korean spice blends, especially gochujang.
Final Thoughts
Making frozen tteokbokki in the air fryer delivers perfect Korean rice cakes that are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Add in a slightly spicy gochujang based sauce, and you’ve got a delicious appetizer or snack option!
Trader Joe’s makes it easy, with prepared tteok that takes just minutes to cook, so you can dive in that much sooner! I love the chewy texture and crispy edges, and it’s perfect for scooping up all that great gochujang sauce.
Katie’s tip
Looking for more inspiration or to try something new? Check out my entire collection of Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Recipes to see all the great foods you can make!
Air Fryer Frozen Tteokbokki (Trader Joe’s)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounce package Trader Joe’s frozen tteok bok ki
- Toppings as desired (I use green onions and a hard boiled egg)
Instructions
- Remove the rice cakes from all packaging and place into your air fryer’s basket or rack in a single layer (a little overlap is alright)16 ounce package Trader Joe’s frozen tteok bok ki
- Cook on the air fry setting at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, pausing halfway through to flip them, until puffed and crisped to your liking (the crispy parts will turn a more opaque white color so you can visually check)
- While the tteokbokki is cooking, add the sauce packet to a glass or bowl with hot water to defrost it
- Remove the rice cakes from the air fryer and toss with the sauce
- Add any toppings desired, and enjoy!Toppings as desired
Notes
- You can use other brands of prepared tteokbokki as well (doesn’t have to be Trader Joe’s). If yours are not frozen, reduce cooking time by 2-3 minutes to compensate
- Other popular topping options include onions, fish cakes, ramen, sausages, dumplings, and cheese
- You do not need to add any oil before cooking, but you can if desired. If you want a more chewy, traditional tteokbokki feel, skip it, but if you want a nice crispy exterior, feel free to add a mist!
- It’s very common for the tteokbokki to stick together. You can spray your air fryer’s basket with oil to prevent sticking if you like, and just use tongs or something similar to carefully pry the rice cakes apart after cooking
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on any sauces or sides added, and actual quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
