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Southwest Egg Rolls

Southwest egg rolls with cheesy shredded chicken, corn, and black bean filling wrapped in egg roll wrappers, then fried or baked until deeply golden. Slice them in half to show the colorful, melty center and serve with a cool avocado ranch dipping sauce.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

Egg rolls
  • 2 cup cooked chicken, shredded
  • 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
  • 1 cup baby spinach, chopped
  • 0.5 cup red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded
  • 12 egg roll wrappers
  • 0.25 cup oil for frying or brushing
Avocado ranch
  • 1 avocado, mashed
  • 0.5 cup ranch dressing
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 0.25 tsp salt

Method
 

Make the Southwest filling
  1. Mix the shredded chicken, thawed corn, drained black beans, chopped spinach, diced bell pepper, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and shredded Monterey jack cheese in a bowl until combined. The mixture should look evenly speckled with vegetables and thick enough to hold together.
Assemble the egg rolls
  1. Place 3–4 tablespoons of filling in the center of each egg roll wrapper and fold according to package directions. Press and seal the edge with water so the wrapper stays closed during frying or baking.
Cook: fry or bake
  1. To fry, heat oil to 350°F and cook the egg rolls for 3–4 minutes until deeply golden. Lift one out and cut it open if needed—there should be melted cheese and a crisp, browned wrapper.
  2. To bake, brush the egg rolls with oil and bake at 425°F for 15–18 minutes until crispy. Flip or rotate if your oven browns unevenly, and look for golden edges and firm, crackly wrappers.
Make avocado ranch & serve
  1. Blend the mashed avocado, ranch dressing, lime juice, and salt until smooth. Taste and adjust salt so the sauce has a bright lime finish.
  2. Serve the egg rolls hot, sliced in half to reveal the cheesy Southwest chicken, corn, and black bean filling, with avocado ranch on the side. The cut face should show melted cheese and colorful layers.

Notes

Pro tip: keep the wrappers covered with a damp towel while you assemble so they don’t dry out and crack. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; re-crisp in a 400°F oven for 6–8 minutes. Freezing is not recommended for best texture, but you can freeze unbaked assembled rolls (well sealed) and cook from frozen—add a few extra minutes in the oven. For a lighter option, use low-fat ranch and reduced-fat cheese.