Includes the recipe for Avocado Ranch, the perfect dipping sauce for Southwest Egg Rolls
If you’re all about Southwest flavors and crispy bites of happiness, these homemade Southwest egg rolls are about to take over your snack game. Forget about the bland stuff you get at restaurants—these rolls are packed with the good stuff: chicken, black beans, spinach, cheese, and more! And the best part? You get to choose how to cook them. Want that perfect crispy crunch? Deep fry them in beef tallow for a golden finish. Or, if you’re feeling a little healthier, pop them in the air fryer—either way, you’re in for a seriously tasty treat. SO. FREAKING.GOOD!
These egg rolls are giving those Chili’s ones a run for their money. Seriously, we’re talking real ingredients here. No weird preservatives or artificial flavors. Just fresh, wholesome stuff that tastes way better. Whether you deep fry them for that crispy, crunchy goodness or air fry them for a lighter option, you’ll still end up with something absolutely delicious.
So, what’s the deal with these egg rolls? It’s all about the combo of flavors and textures. The inside is packed with tender chicken, creamy black beans, a little kick of spice, and melty cheese. The outside? Perfectly crispy and golden. The balance of warm, gooey filling and that crunch when you bite into it? It’s like a flavor explosion in your mouth. If you’re looking for another chicken recipe, be sure to checkout the Sweet Chili Chicken and Veggies or this Crispy Baked Chicken Sandwich.
Now let’s talk about cooking them. If you’re looking for that deep-fried crispiness, beef tallow is the way to go. It’s a little more old-school, but it makes everything taste amazing. Plus, it’s got a higher smoke point than most oils, so it’s actually a good choice for frying. If you’re trying to keep things lighter, the air fryer will still give you that satisfying crunch with way less oil. It’s a win either way.
These Southwest egg rolls are seriously versatile, too. You can serve them as a snack during game night, as an appetizer for your next dinner party, or just whip them up when you’re craving something crunchy and cheesy. And don’t forget the dips! You can’t go wrong with a side of guacamole, salsa, or spicy ranch—each dip just takes them to the next level.
What makes these egg rolls even better? You get to skip all the junk that’s in the restaurant ones. No weird chemicals or artificial stuff you can’t even pronounce. These are made with fresh, real ingredients, and you get to control the whole process. So, if you’re ready to kick your snack game up a notch and impress everyone at your next gathering, grab your ingredients and get rolling! Trust me, these Southwest egg rolls are going to be your new go-to snack.
For the avocado ranch I highly recommend trying Avocado Now’s squeezable tube of avocados or guacamole. No more waiting for the avocado to be ripe and missing that 20 minute window! Or when you don’t need a whole avocado, so the rest of it ends up browning and going to waste. This way you can use as little or as much as you need! Not sponsored by Avocado Now….but maybe I should be lol! Hey “Avocado Now”…Call Me! 😉
TIME SAVING TIP!
When the garden is hopping or if there is just a deal on bell peppers, we use this chopper and freeze them. Also a great way to put the kids to work! 😂 Then I can grab them out when needed instead of having peppers go bad in the fridge.
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Ingredients
- AVOCADO RANCH
avocado- or you can buy “Avocado Now” that come in a squeezable tube. I LOVE this stuff, no more waiting for avocados to be the perfect ripeness. I actually used the guacamole version today which has a few extra spices and veggies.
mayonnaise- Sir Kensington and the Chosen Foods one are good clean options or you can make your own Homemade Mayonnaise!
ranch seasoning mix- A lot of store bought mixes contain some crappy ingredients like MSG, maltodextrin, artificial flavors, hydrogenated oils and preservatives. It’s so SIMPLE to make The Best Homemade Ranch Seasoning and it’s good for up to a year, so you don’t have to be making fresh batches all of the time. If you’re looking for store bought packets, Primal Palate has great ingredients.
buttermilk-if you don’t have buttermilk you can add a splash vinegar to regular milk, let it set for a few minute and use it in place of buttermilk
- SOUTHWEST EGG ROLLS
tortilla shells- Check out The Good Stuff Bake Shop to see if these are on the menu this week! Siete Tortilla shells are also a great option.
taco seasoning-homemade is great (recipe to come!) otherwise Siete has an option with good ingredients
cooked chicken- diced or shredded, in a pinch canned chicken would work also
shredded cheese- preferably hand shredded- I used pepper jack, but most cheeses would work here!
canned black beans-be sure to rinse these until the water runs clear! Whole Foods has a great option.
chopped fresh baby spinach
chopped red bell pepper-When the garden is hopping or if there is just a deal on bell peppers, we use this chopper and freeze them. Also a great way to put the kids to work! 😂 Then I can grab them out when needed instead of having peppers go bad in the fridge.
sliced green onions
jalapeños
kosher salt
Avocado Oil or Beef Tallow
This post contains affiliate links.
Directions
- Make Avocado Ranch
- Mix together all of the ingredients for the avocado ranch. The avocado should be completely mashed before mixing. This is the “tube” I used instead of using avocado, this stuff is awesome! Whisk until smooth. Refrigerate the ranch until ready to use.
- Assemble and Fry Southwest Egg Rolls
- Combine all of the egg roll ingredients, except the tortilla shells and the avocado oil/beef tallow.
- Put about 1/2 cup filling on each shell, I like to put it off to the side a little bit to make rolling easier.
- Fold the 2 short ends in, then the first long side closest to the filling.
- Continue rolling from here keeping it nice and tight. You can put a toothpick in the last folded edge to help secure if needed.
- From here, you have a couple of options:
Deep fry: Fry at 350′ in a deep fryer for 2 minutes per side, we like to use beef tallow in our deep fryer. Transfer to paper towel lined plate to cool. After cooled, remove the toothpick if one was used.
Fry in a skillet: Pour oil to a depth of around 1/2 inch in a cast iron skillet. We use avocado oil or beef tallow. Heat to 350′. Place egg rolls seam side down and cook 2 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towel lined plate to cool. After cooled, remove the toothpick if one was used.
Air fryer– Spritz with avocado oil. Air fry at 375′ for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping 1/2 way through. Keep an eye on this, all air fryers heat a little differently. After cooled, remove the toothpick if one was used. - Serve with avocado ranch dip and ENJOY!
Southwest Egg Rolls with Avocado Ranch Better Than Chili's: A Healthy Copycat
If you’re a fan of Southwest flavors and crispy bites of pure joy, then these homemade Southwest egg rolls are about to become your new obsession. Forget about the junk you get at restaurants—these rolls are packed with all the good stuff: chicken, black beans, spinach, cheese, and more! And the best part? You get to choose how you cook them! Whether you’re deep frying them in beef tallow for that perfect golden, crispy crunch or popping them in the air fryer for a lighter, healthier twist, you’re in for a serious treat.
Ingredients
- AVOCADO RANCH INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup smashed avocado
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup whole buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix
- SOUTHWEST EGG ROLL INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups diced or shredded cooked chicken
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
- 2 tbsp sliced green onions
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped pickled jalapeños
- 1.5 cups shredded pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or cheese of choice
- 1/2 cup drained and rinsed canned black beans
- 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh baby spinach
- 1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- kosher salt to taste, if your taco seasoning has a lot of sodium, this might not be necessary
- 8 (8 inch) flour tortillas
Instructions
AVOCADO RANCH
1. Mix together all of the ingredients for the avocado ranch. The avocado should be completely mashed before mixing. This is the "tube" I used instead of using avocado, this stuff is awesome! Whisk until smooth. Refrigerate the ranch until ready to use.
SOUTHWEST EGG ROLLS
1.Combine all of the egg roll ingredients, except the tortilla shells and the avocado oil/beef tallow.
2. Put about 1/2 cup filling on each shell. Fold the 2 short ends in, then the first long side closest to the filling. Continue rolling from here keeping it nice and tight. You can put a toothpick in the last folded edge to help secure if needed.
3. From here, you have a couple of options:
Deep fry: Fry at 350' in a deep fryer for 2 minutes per side, we like to use beef tallow in our deep fryer. Transfer to paper towel lined plate to cool. After cooled, remove the toothpick if one was used.
Fry in a skillet: Pour oil to a depth of around 1/2 inch in a cast iron skillet. We use avocado oil or beef tallow. Heat to 350'. Place egg rolls seam side down and cook 2 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towel lined plate to cool. After cooled, remove the toothpick if one was used.
Air fryer- Spritz with avocado oil. Air fry at 375' for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping 1/2 way through. Keep an eye on this, all air fryers heat a little differently. After cooled, remove the toothpick if one was used.
Serve with avocado ranch dip and ENJOY!
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