These Crispy Air Fryer Southwest Egg Rolls are a lighter, homemade version of the famous Chili’s appetizer that everyone loves. Packed with a vibrant mix of corn, black beans, spinach, and melty American cheese, these rolls deliver all the bold Tex-Mex flavor without the deep fryer grease.
With a golden, crunchy wrapper and a savory, cheesy filling, they are perfect for game day snacking or a fun family dinner.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Savory, smoky, and slightly spicy, featuring a classic Southwest spice blend of cumin and chili powder, balanced by the sweetness of corn and the creamy richness of American cheese.
- Texture: The air fryer creates a shatteringly crisp exterior that rivals deep-frying, while the inside remains hot, soft, and cheesy.
- Time: 20 minutes prep, 12 minutes cook time.
- Difficulty: Intermediate. The rolling technique takes a minute to master, but the cooking is effortless.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a large sauté pan to cook the vegetable filling and an air fryer to crisp up the rolls. A pastry brush is helpful for coating the wrappers with oil. The ingredients rely on fresh veggies like spinach and peppers, pantry staples like black beans and corn, and egg roll wrappers found in the refrigerated section.
Ingredient Notes
- Egg Roll Wrappers – You need about 10-11 standard wrappers. Keep them covered with a damp towel while you work so they don’t dry out.
- Black Beans & Corn – Canned black beans (rinsed) and frozen corn add texture and fiber.
- Spinach – Fresh spinach wilts down into the filling, adding nutrition and color.
- American Cheese – Use “good” American cheese (like from the deli counter). This is the secret to the creamy, binding texture that mimics the restaurant version perfectly. Cheddar can be too oily.
- Spices – A blend of chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika gives that signature smoky Southwest taste.
- Aromatics – Green onion, garlic, red bell pepper, and jalapeño build the savory base.
- Cilantro – Fresh cilantro added at the end brings a burst of freshness.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Protein – Diced cooked chicken fits perfectly into this filling if you want to make it a meatier meal.
- Spice Level – Omit the jalapeño for a mild version, or keep the seeds in for extra heat.
- Oil – Avocado or vegetable oil works best for brushing the wrappers to ensure they brown nicely.
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Southwest Egg Rolls (Chili’s Copycat)
- Sauté Veggies: In a large sauté pan coated with 2 teaspoons of oil, combine the green onion, red bell pepper, corn, and jalapeno over medium heat. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes until cooked through. Add the minced garlic and stir for another minute.
- Add Greens and Spice: Add the canned black beans and fresh spinach to the pan. Cook until the spinach is wilted down. Then, stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Melt Cheese: Once combined, turn off the heat. Stir in the fresh chopped cilantro and the American cheese until the cheese melts and binds the mixture together.
- Prep Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer (if using) to 375 degrees F.
- Roll: Place an egg roll wrapper on a clean surface to make a diamond shape. Add about 2-3 tablespoons of the southwestern filling to the center. Fold up the bottom corner. Then fold in both side corners, making an “envelope” shape. Brush all the exposed edges with oil. Continue to roll the bottom of the envelope towards the top of the diamond, folding in the sides as needed to keep it tight. Brush oil on the top flap to secure it.
- Oil and Arrange: Place the finished roll seam side down. Brush oil over the entire surface of the egg roll (this is crucial for crispiness!). Place in the air fryer in a single layer, seam side down.
- Cook: Cook for 8 minutes until golden brown on top. Flip and cook another 4-5 minutes until the other side is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve: Remove from the air fryer and allow them to cool for a few minutes before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.
Pro Tip: Don’t skip brushing the entire egg roll with oil. Unlike deep frying where the oil surrounds the food, the air fryer needs that surface oil to create the Maillard reaction (browning). Without it, the wrappers will be pale, dry, and chewy.
Recipe Tips
- Seam Side Down: Always place the rolls seam side down in the air fryer basket. The weight of the roll combined with the initial heat seals the wrapper shut so it doesn’t unravel.
- Don’t Overfill: 2-3 tablespoons is the sweet spot. If you overstuff them, they might burst open during cooking.
- Cooling: Let them cool for 5 minutes. The filling gets incredibly hot (molten cheese!) and the shell crispiness sets as it cools slightly.
FAQs
- What is the dipping sauce? The classic pairing is an Avocado Ranch (ranch dressing blended with avocado and salsa verde).
- Can I bake these? Yes, place them on a rack on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, turning halfway.
- Can I freeze them? Yes! Freeze the rolled, uncooked egg rolls on a baking sheet, then transfer to a bag. Air fry from frozen at 375°F for 12-15 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
- Appetizer Platter: Serve with chips, salsa, and guacamole.
- Light Dinner: Pair with a side salad or Spanish rice for a complete meal.
- Party Snack: Cut them on a bias (diagonal) to serve as bite-sized finger food.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Filling: You can make the filling up to 2 days in advance and store it in the fridge. Cold filling is actually easier to roll!
- Assembly: Assemble the rolls a few hours ahead and keep them covered in the fridge under a damp towel to prevent drying out before air frying.
Crispy Air Fryer Southwest Egg Rolls
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 10-11 Egg Rolls 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Crispy Air Fryer Southwest Egg Rolls are a lighter, homemade version of the famous Chili’s appetizer that everyone loves. Packed with a vibrant mix of corn, black beans, spinach, and melty American cheese, these rolls deliver all the bold Tex-Mex flavor without the deep fryer grease. With a golden, crunchy wrapper and a savory, cheesy filling, they are perfect for game day snacking or a fun family dinner.
Ingredients
The Southwest Filling
- 1/2 cup green onion, diced
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup frozen corn (thawed) or fresh corn
- 1/2 jalapeño, seeded and chopped (optional for heat)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3/4 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup fresh spinach leaves, packed
- 3/4 cup American cheese (deli-style preferred), chopped or torn
- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
The Spices
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
The Wrappers
- 10–11 egg roll wrappers
- Mild oil (vegetable, avocado, or canola) for brushing
Instructions
Sauté Veggies
Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Cook: Add green onion, red bell pepper, corn, and jalapeño. Sauté for 3–4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
Add Greens & Spice
Stir in the black beans and fresh spinach. Wilt: Cook until the spinach has wilted down.
Season
Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt.
Melt Cheese
Turn off the heat. Combine: Stir in the fresh cilantro and American cheese. Mix until the cheese melts and binds the vegetables together into a sticky filling.
Prep Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
Roll
Place a wrapper on a clean surface in a diamond shape. Fill: Place 2–3 tablespoons of filling in the center. Fold: Fold up the bottom corner over the filling. Fold in the sides (like an envelope). Seal: Brush the exposed edges with a little oil (or water). Roll tightly towards the top point to seal.
Oil & Arrange
Brush the entire exterior of the egg roll with oil (crucial for crunch!). Place: Arrange in the air fryer basket in a single layer, seam-side down.
Cook
Air fry for 8 minutes until golden on top. Flip: Flip the rolls and cook for another 4–5 minutes until crispy and brown all over.
Serve
Let cool for 5 minutes (the filling will be very hot) before serving.
Notes
The “Secret” Ingredient: Do not swap the cheese! American cheese is the secret to the creamy, binding texture that mimics the restaurant version perfectly. Cheddar tends to separate and become oily.
Oil is Essential: Unlike deep frying where oil surrounds the food, the air fryer needs surface oil to create browning. If you skip brushing the wrappers, they will turn out pale, dry, and chewy rather than crispy.
Seam Placement: Always place the rolls seam-side down in the basket. The weight of the roll combined with the initial heat seals the wrapper so it doesn’t unravel during cooking.
Make Ahead: You can make the filling up to 2 days in advance (cold filling is actually easier to roll!). You can also freeze the uncooked, rolled egg rolls and air fry them straight from frozen (add 2–3 minutes to cook time).
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex / American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Egg Roll
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: southwest egg rolls, chilis copycat recipe, air fryer appetizers, healthy egg rolls, vegetarian appetizers, tex mex egg rolls, game day food
