One of my favorite appetizers are these Trader Joe’s pastry bites in the air fryer. These little puff pastry cups are filled with caramelized onion and creamy feta cheese, and cook up browned and delicious in under 10 minutes. They are a fabulous frozen option for any occasion!
Trader Joe’s has done it again with these delicious pastry bites. Found in the frozen section, they’re small puff pastry cups filled with perfectly browned caramelized onions, cream cheese, and salty feta cheese, making for the perfect bite.
Since all the prep work of caramelizing the onions and filling the cups is done for you, all you have to do is heat them up to reap the rewards! Your air fryer is the perfect tool for the task, delivering warm, browned bites in under 10 minutes.
These bite sized pastry puffs are perfect as an appetizer or snack for nearly any occasion. Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s appetizers, game day or the Super Bowl, or even Easter are all great times to enjoy these flaky, creamy bites.
Ingredients List
Trader Joe’s frozen pastry bites (with caramelized onion and feta)
Trader Joe’s Pastry Bites Air Fryer Cooking Instructions
Remove the pastry bites from all packaging (the box, plastic wrap and the tray). Push from the bottom of the tray to release them easily
Place bites in your air fryer’s basket or tray in a single layer, allowing air space between them for even cooking. You don’t need to add nonstick spray unless your air fryer is not nonstick; I had no problem with sticking at all
Cook on the air fry setting at 400°F for 7-10 minutes, until the edges of the puff pastry are golden brown
Let them sit for a minute or two to cool in the air fryer to make transfer easier (they will firm as they cool). If any cheese has overflowed, you can gently push it back into the pastry crust while it’s still warm
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Recipe FAQs
How Do You Cook Trader Joe’s Pastry Bites in an Air Fryer?
You cook Trader Joe’s pastry bites in an air fryer at 400°F for about 7-10 minutes. Exact times will vary based on your specific air fryer, but the bites should be golden brown and heated through.
They should also be cooked without any of the packaging, including the tray. While safe for oven use, it is not recommended for the high heat circulation in the air fryer.
Are Trader Joe’s Pastry Bites Suitable for Different Air Fryer Brands?
Yes, Trader Joe’s pastry bites can be air fried with nearly any air fryer brand and model. You may need to cook in batches for smaller units to ensure even cooking.
Note that exact cooking times will vary between air fryers based on their size and wattage. Start with the minimum recommended time, then add additional time in small increments to adjust for your specific air fryer.
How Long Should I Air Fry Trader Joe’s Pastry Bites?
Air fry Trader Joe’s pastry bites at 400°F for approximately 7-10 minutes.
Start with the lowest end of cooking time, then add additional time in 1-minute increments until golden brown. Time will vary between different brands and models of air fryer.
Are There Any Alternative Cooking Methods for Trader Joe’s Pastry Bites Besides Air Frying?
While air frying is a popular choice, Trader Joe’s Pastry Bites can also be baked in a conventional oven. Bake on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 400°F for 20-25 minutes.
Trader Joe’s does not recommend microwave or toaster oven cooking for pastry bites.
Can You Cook Trader Joe’s Pastry Bites From Frozen?
Yes, you can cook Trader Joe’s pastry bites directly from frozen, with no defrosting required.
They maintain their flaky pastry and moisture in the filling using this cooking method.
Can I Use the Air Fryer to Reheat Leftover Trader Joe’s Pastry Bites?
Absolutely! Reheat leftover Trader Joe’s pastry bites in the air fryer at a lower temperature (around 350°F) for around 2-3 minutes to restore their crispy exterior.
Make sure to store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to reheat. They generally keep for 3-4 days after the initial preparation.
Recipe Pro Tips
While the included tray is technically safe for baking, it doesn’t fit in most air fryers, so I choose to discard it. I’ve also tried cutting it down to fit and it gets very borderline melted during cooking so I don’t trust it!
That said, some of the cheese will overflow as the bites cook, especially on bites that don’t sit perfectly flat without the support of the tray. I just push them back together while they’re warm if this happens – it’s a small price to pay for the convenience! If you have a mini muffin tin, you could transfer them to that as an alternative
I do not preheat my Ninja air fryer for this recipe. You may need to adjust cooking times slightly depending how fast your air fryer gets up to temperature (or feel free to preheat and drop 2 minutes off cooking time to start)
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store any leftover TJ’s pastry bites in the refrigerator in an airtight container or bag for 3-4 days
To reheat, air fry pastry puffs at a lower temperature of 350°F for 2-3 minutes, or until warmed through
These Trader Joe’s pastry bites cook up perfectly in your air fryer, all in under 10 minutes! That’s not even enough time to get my conventional oven preheated, so it’s an amazing time saver.
The perfectly flaky puff pastry cups are stuffed with caramelized onions and feta cheese for a creamy, salty, and savory bite. The best part of all, is that they require no prep at all since they’re found in the frozen section.
Heat them up for a perfect appetizer any time! They make great game day or Super Bowl snacks, but also work well for holidays like Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or New Year’s. I rarely have any left over – these bites are definitely a crowd pleaser!
Trader Joe’s pastry bites cook up golden brown and delicious in about 10 minutes in your air fryer! They’re filled with creamy feta and caramelized onions for the perfect savory appetizer.
Remove the pastry bites from all packaging (the box, plastic wrap and the tray). Push from the bottom of the tray to release them easily
1 Box Trader Joe's frozen pastry bites
Place bites in your air fryer’s basket or tray in a single layer, allowing air space between them for even cooking. You don’t need to add nonstick spray unless your air fryer is not nonstick; I had no problem with sticking at all
Cook on the air fry setting at 400°F for 7-10 minutes, until the edges of the puff pastry are golden brown
(Optional) Let them sit for a minute or two to cool in the air fryer to make transfer easier (they will firm as they cool). If any cheese has overflowed, you can gently push it back into the pastry crust while it’s still warm
Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
While the included tray is technically safe for baking, it doesn’t fit in most air fryers. I’ve tried cutting it down to fit and it gets very borderline melted during cooking so I don’t recommend it (but if you want to try your luck, feel free)
That said, some of the cheese will overflow as the bites cook, especially on bites that don’t sit perfectly flat without the support of the tray. I just push them back together while they’re warm if this happens – they still taste great! If you have a mini muffin tin that fits, you could transfer them to that as an alternative
I do not preheat my Ninja air fryer for this recipe. You may need to adjust cooking times slightly depending how fast your air fryer gets up to temperature (or feel free to preheat and drop 2 minutes off cooking time to start)
Store any leftover TJ’s pastry bites in the refrigerator in an airtight container or bag for 3-4 days
To reheat, air fry pastry puffs at a lower temperature of 350°F for 2-3 minutes, or until warmed through
Nutritional values are directly from Trader Joe’s, but they may change with the product over time, so please consider this a guideline only
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
