Air Fryer Southwest Egg Rolls

I love making Spanish inspired dishes, like fajita shrimp burritos and spicy sheet pan fajita bowls. For this one, I wanted to switch it up and put a little twist on one of my favorites: the egg roll.

Who doesn’t like homemade egg rolls? No one, that’s who. And if you didn’t before you will now. These air fryer southwest egg rolls are the perfect crispy appetizer. Air frying allows for the traditional egg roll crunch without deep frying in vegetable oil. What you get are crispy egg rolls, filled with flavor without ever pulling out that takeout menu.

The best part about these egg rolls

Total room for personalization. Don’t want to use ground turkey? Use ground beef or ground chicken instead. Heck, even rotisserie chicken works for the air fryer southwest egg rolls. Add in mushrooms, red bell pepper, shaved carrots, green onion or shredded cabbage for a nutritional kick. I used Monterey Jack cheese for this southwest air fryer egg roll recipe but any other shredded cheese variation will work. I used light cream cheese but full fat or whipped works too. When I say, make it your own…I mean it!

If you prefer to use store-bought taco seasoning, you won’t get any judgments from me. However, please believe me when I say, this homemade version is SO AMAZING. It is so easy to make and goes with everything and anything without any sugar added. Try it, you won’t be sorry!

The perfect wrap – how to wrap your southwest egg rolls

Wrapping the air fryer southwest egg rolls is easy but takes a bit of practice for first-timers.

First, lay your egg roll wrappers on a cutting board or clean surface. Place about 1/2 cup of your filling onto the lower third of the wrapper. Wet your fingers and draw along the outer edges of the wrapper. I keep a small bowl of water next to me to dip my fingers in as needed. The water from your fingers acts as a glue to keep the wrapper intact once rolled. You can do this with an egg wash and pastry brush if preferred. Once the water is used on the edges, fold the bottom of the wrapper over the filling, folding the edges of the wrapper in as you roll the egg roll up. Be careful to not overfill your wrappers or they will not fold properly. 

Tip: for mini air fryer southwest egg rolls, cut the wrappers in half and use 1/4 cup of filling per egg roll. This is great for parties and little ones!

The perfect air fry

Air fryers are glorious and if done right, the air fryer southwest egg rolls come out divine. I use the Cosori air fryer and love it! If you’re new to the air fry world, there are a few things you should know. Always place egg rolls in the air fryer basket in a single layer, you may have to do multiple batches. You do not want them on top of each other or you will not get crispy egg rolls. We’ve worked too hard to not have crispy egg rolls! Spray egg rolls with cooking spray for that perfect crunchy crispy egg roll exterior. 

Don’t stop at just egg rolls. The air fryer is great for air fryer halibut, buffalo cauliflower bites and air fryer tortilla pizzas.

Ingredients and Substitutions:

These are the main ingredients and substitutions. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients list and instructions for Southwest Air Fryer Egg Rolls.

Ground turkey: 1 lb. You may use ground chicken, beef, or leftover rotisserie chicken if desired.

Homemade seasoning: a simple blend of salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and cumin. Use store-bought taco seasoning if preferred, my favorite is Siete Mild Taco Seasoning.

Corn: I used half of a can of corn, drained. You can use leftover corn on the cob or frozen. If using frozen, defrost first and drain any excess liquid.

Black Beans: adds protein and flavor. Be sure to drain and rinse prior to use. You can omit or use any other preferred bean variety.

Spinach: frozen is the easiest method. Thaw it first and remove any excess water. You can also saute fresh spinach and add to the mixture to wilt it down.

Cheese: I used shredded Monterey Jack but any preferred cheese, such as cheddar cheese or a Mexican cheese blend, works well. 

Cream cheese: I used 1/3 less fat. Whipped or full fat is fine. 

Eggroll wrappers: any brand. I am using Twin Dragons.

Greek yogurt: Fage non-fat plain Greek yogurt is my go-to. May be substituted for any non-fat plain Greek yogurt or any fat % preferred as well as sour cream. 

How to make air fryer southwest egg rolls

Preheat the air fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 380°F.

Make the filling

In a large skillet, cook the ground turkey over medium heat until browned. Be sure to break it up into small pieces as it cooks. While the turkey cooks, mix the seasonings in a small bowl and add the water to create a paste. Add the paste to the turkey and turn to low heat to simmer while you prep the filling.

In a large bowl, add the corn, beans, spinach and cheese. Top with the cooked ground turkey. Mix until well combined and the cream cheese has melted throughout. 

Roll the egg rolls

Lay out your egg roll wrappers on a clean surface. Place ½ cup (76g) of filling onto the lower third of the wrapper. Using wet fingers draw along the outer edges of the wrapper to help it stick together. Fold the bottom of the wrapper over the filling and then the sides and roll it up tightly. Repeat with the remaining wrappers. See pictures above of how to roll your egg rolls.

Air fryer the southwest egg rolls

Place the egg rolls in the air fryer basket, leaving enough space for the air to circulate. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Lightly spray the egg rolls with nonstick cooking spray. This helps them to get a nice crispy finish. Air fry the egg rolls for about 8-10 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy, turning them halfway through cooking.

Mix dipping sauce

While the egg rolls are in the air fryer mix the dipping sauce ingredients and set aside. 

Serve and enjoy!

When the egg rolls are done cooking, remove from the air fryer basked. Allow the egg rolls to cool for a few minutes before serving, as the filling will be very hot. Serve with the salsa dipping sauce, ranch or your favorite sauces. 

Serving suggestions for southwestern egg rolls

If you know me by now, you know what I’m going to say, serve with SAUCE! These air fryer southwest egg rolls come with a simple homemade dipping sauce of salsa, non-fat Greek yogurt, and cilantro. If you prefer, try it with an avocado ranch salsa, ranch, guacamole or your favorite dipping sauce. 

Check out some of our other easy recipes!

• Lazy Chicken Cordon Bleu
• Turkey Gravy and Biscuits
• Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Shells
• Boom Boom Shrimp