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