Southwest Egg Rolls
My super crunchy Southwest egg rolls are filled with perfectly spiced chicken, hearty beans, and plenty of melty cheese. I like to dip them in creamy avocado ranch or queso blanco for the perfect appetizer.
Egg rolls are life.
Can we just all agree that there's nothing better than a perfectly cooked egg roll? They are crunchy on the outside and filled with all my favorite goodies.
Obsessed like I am? Also, try our avocado , philly cheesesteak, and Cheeseburger Egg Rolls.
These Southwest Egg Rolls have seasoned chicken, hearty beans, and plenty of melty cheese.
Bonus: The filling also tastes wonderful in burrito bowls, wraps, and quesadillas. We love serving them with our carne asada fries too.
Level Up Taco Night with These Southwest Egg Rolls
We always order them to share when dining out at Chilis or the Cheesecake Factory.
Making them at home is even better because you can customize the ingredients to your family's taste.
This copycat recipe is perfect as an appetizer or main dish.
We also love making them for game day!
Why I Love These Eggrolls
- Super Crispy: Deep frying these makes them ultra crunchy.
- Flavorful: Seasoned chicken, spicy jalapeno, and veggies make these anything but bland.
- Dip: Dip makes everything better, and this creamy ranch takes these over the top.
Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips
Corn Tip
Two ears of corn=about the 1 cup called for in this recipe.
- Corn: Fresh grilled corn is amazing if it's in season.
- Out of the season: Use Mexciorn or frozen roasted corn for a fun twist.
- Bell Pepper: I like using red bell peppers to add a pop of color. Bonus: Red peppers have a sweeter flavor, too.
- Black Beans: You can also use pinto beans.
- Rinse Canned Beans: Rinse in a pasta strainer before using it to remove the salty brine, which can make them seem a bit slimy.
- Jalapeno: Remove the seeds/membranes if you prefer a milder flavor.
- Drained diced green chiles are also a good option if you dislike spice.
- Shredded Cheese: If possible, shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese often contains fillers like cornstarch that can interfere with melting.
- Pepperjack would be a good way to spice things up.
- Cooked Chicken: Rotisserie chicken would work great here, too.
- Egg Roll Wrappers: Look for egg roll wrappers in the produce section near the tofu.
- Oil: I used vegetable oil for frying. Any neutral oil like canola or peanut oil works well for frying.
- Avoid olive oil as it has a low smoke point.
- If you can't find egg roll wrappers, you can use tortillas instead.
Egg ROll Tip
Be sure to keep them in the package until ready to use, as they dry out quickly, which can lead to cracks.
Fun Variations
- Mix Up the Meat: Use ground beef, steak, or even pork carnitas instead.
- Make It Vegetarian: You can simply leave out the chicken. You could also use veggie crumbles, vegan chorizo, or veggie "chicken".
- Spice It Up: Add an extra jalapeno, pepper jack cheese, and then top off with a generous amount of Tapatio hot sauce.
- Dip: Dip in salsa, chile con queso, sour cream, or guacamole instead.
❓FAQS❓
Yes, you can, but they may not get as crunchy.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
I suggest spraying both sides with nonstick cooking spray and flipping once.
Yes!! Air fry at 400 degrees for 5 minutes per side.
Yes, but only the filling. Prepare the filling or the egg rolls up to 1 day in advance.
Bring to room temperature for 15-20 minutes, and then fry just before you're ready to serve them.
Be sure your oil the right temperature. If the temperature is too long they can absorb too much oil and become greasy.
Also, avoid overcrowding the pan which can lower the oil temperature.
Finally, drain on paper towels before serving.
Leftovers
How Long Do They Last?
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. The avocado dressing will also last around 3 days.
How Do I Reheat Them?
Oven
Reheat at 425 degrees for 5-7 minutes.
Air Fryer:
Reheat at 400 degrees for 3-4 minutes.
Avoid using the microwave, which can make them soggy.
To reheat from frozen:
Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Do not fry straight from the freezer as ice crystals can cause the oil to splatter.
Can I Freeze Them?
I suggest freezing before cooking so the outer layer doesn't become soggy.
Follow the recipe as written. Freeze right before frying.
️Krystle's Tips️
- Don't Overfill: Fill egg rolls only about ½ of the way full. If you overfill them, they will be harder to roll and may even explode when frying.
- Rolling Tips: Easily roll egg rolls by laying out the wrappers so they are shaped like a diamond with the points pointing down. Fill. Then, fold each corner up like the flap of an envelope. Finally, seal the edges with water.
- Don't overcrowd the pan. Overcrowding can lower the oil's temperature, leading to a soggy egg roll. Fry no more than 3-4 at a time.
- Use a Deep Fry Thermometer: This helps you ensure the oil stays at the correct temperature. Be sure to bring it back up to temp back up in between batches.
- Keep Warm: Keep egg rolls warm in a 250-degree F oven while you fry the remaining batches.
Deep Frying Tip
If the oil is too hot, the outside may burn without heating up the filling. If the oil is too cold they may absorb too much oil and become greasy.
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📖 Recipe
Crunchy Southwest Egg Rolls
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Ingredients
For the Eggrolls
- 1 Bell Pepper Diced
- 1 Cup Corn
- 1 Cup Black Beans
- ¼ Cup Green Onions Sliced
- 1 Jalapeno Pepper Seeded and Diced
- 2 Cups Mexican Shredded Cheese
- 1 ½ Cups Cooked Chicken
- 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
- ½ teaspoon Cumin
- Salt/Pepper to taste
- 1 Package Egg Roll Wrappers
- Vegetable Oil For Frying
For the Avocado Ranch
- 1 Cup Ranch Dressing
- ½ Avocado
Instructions
For the Egg Rolls
- In a large bowl, combine bell pepper, corn, beans,jalapeno, green onion, cheese, chicken, cumin, chili pepper, and salt/pepper.
- Fill each wrapper with ~2 tablespoons of filling. Seal with water. Freeze for 2-3 hours.
- In a large deep skillet, heat ~1 inch of oil. Fry eggrolls a few at a time. Fry for 3-5 minutes per side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
For the Avocado Ranch
- In a blender, combine avocado and ranch. Serve with egg rolls and enjoy!
Notes
-
- Corn: Fresh grilled corn is amazing if it's in season. Two ears=about the 1 cup called for in this recipe.
- Bell Pepper: I like using red bell peppers to add a pop of color. Bonus: Red peppers have a sweeter flavor, too.
- Black Beans: Rinse in a pasta strainer before using it to remove the salty brine, which can make them seem a bit slimy.
- Jalapeno: Remove the seeds/membranes if you prefer a milder flavor.
- Shredded Cheese: If possible, shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese often contains fillers like cornstarch that can interfere with melting.
- Egg Roll Wrappers: Look for egg roll wrappers in the produce section near the tofu.
- Don't Overfill: Fill egg rolls only about ½ of the way full.
- Rolling Tips: Easily roll egg rolls by laying out the wrappers so they are shaped like a diamond with the points pointing down. Fill. Then, fold each corner up like the flap of an envelope. Finally, seal the edges with water.
- Don't overcrowd the pan. Overcrowding can lower the oil's temperature, leading to a soggy egg roll. Fry no more than 3-4 at a time.
- Use a Deep Fry Thermometer: This helps you ensure the oil stays at the correct temperature. Be sure to bring it back up to temp in between batches.
- Keep Warm: Keep egg rolls warm in a 250-degree F oven while you fry the remaining batches.
Nutrition
Oh my word -- these were absolutely divine! making again!
These egg rolls were surprisingly easy to make! And my family loved them!
These were so delicious! Can't wait to make them again!
I love that I can make these at home now instead of figuring out which restaurant has them!!! They are so good
These egg rolls were so good! It was like explosion of flavors in every bite! Can't stop eating them!
We enjoyed every bite of these! Everyone loved the crispy shell and flavorful filling! This is a homemade treat that's too good to enjoy just once, this will surely make a comeback!
I love everything about these - crunchy and delicious with a tasty filling and the avocado ranch is the perfect dipper. Fantastic recipe!
I gave the recipe four stars only because I haven't actually cooked them yet. I am at the freezing part of the recipe. I do have to say the ease of putting together all of the ingredients was perfect for me as I'm not exactly a chef. Anyways, my question is, do I have to cook them frozen, or can I thaw them out before I cook them?
I promise to update you when they are done.
Hi Kristine,
I prefer to cook them before frying. Thaw overnight in the fridge before frying.
To what temp do you heat the oil?
Hi Jeannine,
Since the oil is shallow only around 1 inch I've taken bothered with a thermometer for this recipe. I'd guess it's maybe around 350ish.
I made a batch of these egg rolls and they are almost gone! The filling is delicious and the rolls are super crispy!
Yummy! These egg rolls look so delicious and flavorful! My family is going to love these. Sounds so good and excited to try these!
YES!! I so need this! Thank you! This is one of my all time favorite apps! Love that now I can customize this a little!! These are so good!
I love this recipe! I’ve cooked numerous times for different crowds and have never had a negative comment. I love that I can make ahead and then finish up at the last min for the perfect dish. The dip sounds so simple, but everyone raves over it!
Thanks so much for your positive feedback Kerry. Simple is best is my book. I hope you'll come visit my site again. 🙂
CAn these be cooked in an air fryer instead of deep fried? Any advice? Thank you you!
Hi Bernadette,
We haven't tried air frying this, but I think it would work. Let us know how it goes!
I’m a little confused. The recipe says to freeze for 2-3 hours before frying. But letter in the suggestions it says to defrost them before cooking. Can you please clarify? I’m excited to try this recipe!
Hi Bernadette,
I'm sorry for any confusion. Freezing them for 2-3 hours is to prevent them for bursting open while cooking. You only need to defrost them if you're freezing them for a long time i.e weeks or months.
Can these be cooked in an air fryer?
Hi Yvonnda,
I have only tried to recipe as written. I can't say for sure, but it seems like it would work.
Please let us know if you try it, and how they turn out.
Could you do this with rice paper and bake to make spring rolls? Would that work?????
Hi Shannon,
This recipe was tested with egg roll wrappers that were fried. You may be able to bake them, but they will not get as crunchy. I would avoid baking rice paper as it is usually eaten soaked in water not cooked.