I love egg rolls, whether it’s a traditional homemade egg roll or a Philly cheesesteak egg roll. Egg rolls are the perfect hand held food, and this southwestern version is no exception!
Southwestern Egg Rolls Ingredients
To make southwestern egg rolls you will need diced bell pepper, corn kernels, black beans, sliced green onions, minced jalapeno pepper, frozen spinach, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, cooked chicken breast, salt, chili powder, black pepper, cumin, egg roll wrappers and oil. I also love that you can assemble them in advance, then stick them in the freezer until you’re ready to cook them. You can cook up a few at a time, or fry up a large batch for a party. Did I mention the avocado ranch dipping sauce yet? That just takes these southwest egg rolls over the top! For the avocado ranch dipping sauce make sure to have ranch dressing, an avocado, cilantro leaves, salt and black pepper.
How Do You Make Southwestern Egg Rolls?
Tips For the Perfect Egg Rolls
I used finely diced leftover chicken breast, but you could also use rotisserie chicken if you don’t feel like cooking up chicken for the occasion. Make sure to rinse and drain your black beans before using them in this southwestern egg rolls recipe. If you used canned corn, rinse and drain the corn as well. When you thaw your frozen spinach squeeze it to make sure any excess water comes out. Have a small bowl of water available as you roll your egg rolls so you can dip a finger in the water and run it across the edge of the egg rolls to seal them. I use a spider strainer to place the egg rolls in the oil and remove them from the hot oil. Freezing the egg rolls helps prevent the filling from leaking out during the frying process. Use about an inch of oil on the stove top to fry the egg rolls. These southwest chicken egg rolls just need a few minutes per side to become deep golden brown and ultra crispy. When the southwestern egg rolls are done the outside should be golden brown and the inside should be hot with melty cheese.
Flavor Variations
These southwestern egg rolls are delicious as is; however, you can change them to suit your own taste. Make a creamy avocado ranch sauce by blending together ranch dressing, avocado, cilantro, salt and pepper until smooth. Serve the warm egg rolls with the delicious dipping sauce!
Spicy: For a spicy version of these southwestern eggrolls, add more jalapeno or add some hot sauce to the filling. Meat: You could use cooked crumbles of ground beef or cooked chopped pork. Cheese: Feel free to try cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese or a blend of cheeses. Toppers: You can top these egg rolls with a little sour cream, avocado slices, diced tomatoes or other favorite taco fixings. Dipping Sauces: While this recipe has a delicious, creamy avocado ranch dipping sauce, you can enjoy these egg rolls with other dipping sauces like taco sauce, guacamole or homemade enchilada sauce. You could also serve these egg rolls with salsas like salsa fresca, pico de gallo and mango salsa.
There’s no need to go out to eat when you can make restaurant quality appetizers at home. And I have to say, these southwest egg rolls are way better than anything I’ve ordered at a restaurant!
Southwestern Egg Rolls Video
