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Air Fryer Southwest Egg Rolls (Chili’s Copycat)

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You’ll love this twist on a classic recipe – Southwest egg rolls made in the air fryer. They’re hearty, delicious and ready in about 25 minutes.

Our Southwest egg rolls are packed with chicken, vegetables and a flavorful Tex-Mex seasoning blend. And it’s a snap to make these crispy egg rolls in the air fryer.

We love making homemade egg rolls. And this Southwestern version is hearty enough to serve as a main dish meal, but easy enough to prepare as a snack, party food dish or game day appetizer.

air fryer Southwest egg rolls on cutting board next to dipping sauce.

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If you haven’t experimented with making egg rolls in the air fryer, you are truly missing out! In the beginning I was afraid they would lack crunchiness compared to deep frying. But the air fryer version is just as crispy. And it’s healthier because we aren’t submerging them in oil during the cooking process. 

You may recognize this recipe if you are a Chili’s restaurant fan. Their Southwestern Eggrolls are one of my favorite dishes and a star seller when it comes to their appetizer menu.

I love creating copycat recipes I can make at home that actually taste like the real deal. It’s a great way to satisfy your cravings and save a little money.

More Copycat Recipes You May Like: 

ingredients needed to make air fried Southwest egg rolls with text overlay.

Ingredients Needed 

  • chicken – I use boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • vegetable oil
  • spices: cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper
  • veggies: corn, black beans, red bell pepper, onion, spinach, jalapeno peppers 
  • fresh cilantro
  • Monterey Jack cheese
  • egg roll wrappers – you can find these in the produce section at your grocery store

How to Make Southwest Egg Rolls in the Air Fryer 

Start by chopping the chicken into small pieces and heating the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the chicken. 

Place the vegetables in the skillet and stir in the spices with the chicken. Cook for 5 minutes then remove from the heat and stir in the cheese. 

two images of diced chicken in skillet and veggies and spices added to chicken with text overlay.

Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. 

Lay an egg roll wrapper on a flat surface in front of you, rotating it until it’s turned in a diamond shape. Add two spoonfuls of the chicken mixture to the center of each egg roll wrapper.

side by side images of egg rolls wrapper on cutting board with filling inside and corners folded with text overlay.

Dip your finger in a little water and wet the edges of the wrapper. Fold in the right and left corners towards the center of the wrapper. Then bring up the bottom corner and roll, gently squeezing out air as you go.

Lightly wet the corner that’s showing and seal it shut. Repeat until all egg rolls are made. 

two images of egg roll folded up and Southwest egg rolls in air fryer with text overlay.

Place egg rolls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they aren’t touching, and spray egg rolls with oil (I use an oil mister). Air fry for 6 minutes then flip each roll.

Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until they’re golden brown. If you’re cooking in batches, repeat with remaining egg rolls. Allow the eggrolls to cool slightly before serving. 

Oven Instructions 

No air fryer? No problem! You can make these flavorful egg rolls in the oven. They won’t be as crispy as the air fried version but will still taste delicious.

Prep the eggs rolls as directed. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the southwest rolls on a greased or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes, turning at the halfway mark. 

front close up of an air fried southwestern eggroll cut in half.

Variations 

  • If you’re short on time substitute with rotisserie chicken.
  • You can use taco seasoning in place of the spices if preferred.
  • The jalapeno peppers are optional, but add a little spice and a lot of flavor.  

Tips for Making


  • Don’t overfill the eggrolls or they’ll split open when cooking. 
  • Make sure the wrappers are sealed well so they don’t unroll while air frying. 
  • When cooking in batches, keep the uncooked egg rolls covered with a damp paper towel. This helps to keep them from drying out.
  • If you have leftover filling ingredients I recommend making additional egg rolls and freezing some for later.

What to Serve With Southwest Egg Roll Recipe

We like to serve these with our easy Southwest dressing as a dipping sauce. Or you can make a quick salsa ranch dip by combining store bought ranch dressing with salsa.

And if you’re going for the full on Chili’s copycat look cut the egg rolls in a sharp diagonal so you can see all the yummy filling.

Storing and Freezing 

Store leftover egg rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

While air fryer Southwest egg rolls are best eaten the day they are cooked, they can be reheated in the air fryer or oven. We don’t recommend microwaving them because the wrappers will get soggy. 

To freeze uncooked egg rolls, place the assembled rolls on a baking sheet and into the freezer until they are firm (about 2-3 hours). Transfer rolls to an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. 

To cook from frozen, place the egg rolls in the air fryer basket and spritz with oil. Cook for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F, turn, and cook for another 5 minutes or until they are heated through. 

**Save Chili’s Copycat Southwestern Rolls for Later**

closeup of air fryer Southwest egg roll cut in half with text overlay.

Air Fryer Southwest Egg Rolls (Chili’s Copycat)

You'll love this twist on the classic Chili's recipe – Southwest egg rolls made in the air fryer. They're hearty, delicious and ready in about 25 minutes.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 144kcal
Author: Lori @ I Heart Air Frying

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 cup corn, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup onion, diced
  • 1/4 cup frozen chopped spinach
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, diced, optional
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, minced
  • 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
  • 8 egg roll wrappers

Instructions

  • Dice the chicken into small pieces.
  • Place oil in a skillet and heat over Medium heat. Add chicken and cook until browned.
  • Add all the vegetables and spices to the chicken and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Remove skillet from heat, add the cheese and stir to mix.
  • Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees F.
  • Place egg roll wrapper on a flat surface with one corner facing you. Using your finger, wet the edges of the wrapper with a little bit of water. Place 1-2 tablespoons of filling in the center of the wrapper. Bring the left & right corners to the center. Pull the bottom corner over the top of the filling and roll the wrapper closed. Wet the last corner to seal the wrapper.
  • Place egg rolls in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a bit of space between each egg roll. Mist with oil. Cook for 6 minutes, turn and cook for 2 more minutes.
  • Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Notes

  • See the blog post for tips and a visual guide to filling and folding the egg rolls.
  • Don’t overfill the egg rolls or they’ll split open.
  • Make sure the egg roll is sealed well or it may unroll while cooking.
  • You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer basket.
  • If you’re cooking in batches, cover the uncooked egg rolls with a damp paper towel to keep them from drying out.
  • These are best eaten fresh but you can store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat in air fryer or oven at 350 degrees for 3-5 minutes.
  • Oven baked: preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place egg rolls on a greased baking sheet and cook for 10-15 minutes, turning at the halfway point.
  • Great for meal prepping: to freeze, place rolls on a baking sheet and flash freeze until firm (3-4 hours). Transfer to a freezer bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. To cook: place egg rolls in air fryer basket, spritz with oil and cook at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes, turn, and cook for 5-6 more minutes until heated through.
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Nutritional Estimate

Serving: 1egg roll | Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.004g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 272mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1057IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.

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