Description
Chili’s Southwest Eggrolls are a delightful appetizer featuring a savory filling of chicken, black beans, corn, peppers, and melted cheese wrapped in crispy eggroll wrappers. Served with a creamy, zesty Southwest Ranch dipping sauce, these eggrolls combine bold southwestern flavors with a satisfying crunch, perfect for sharing or as a tasty snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Eggrolls
- 12 eggroll wrappers
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 medium red onion, finely diced
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (optional)
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can corn, drained
- 1 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded (about 2 small chicken breasts)
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Southwest Ranch Dipping Sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Filling: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced red bell pepper, green bell pepper, red onion, and jalapeño if using. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and slightly caramelized, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add Beans and Corn: Stir in the rinsed and drained black beans and corn. Continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes to heat through.
- Mix in Chicken and Spices: Add shredded cooked chicken breast, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne pepper if using, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and cook for 2-3 minutes to blend flavors.
- Add Cheese: Reduce heat to low. Add shredded Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheeses. Stir continuously until the cheese melts completely into the filling.
- Finish Filling: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in chopped fresh cilantro. Allow the filling to cool slightly before assembling the eggrolls.
- Assemble the Eggrolls: Lay out an eggroll wrapper in a diamond shape with one point facing you. Spoon about 1/4 cup of cooled filling onto the center. Fold the bottom corner over filling, then fold left and right corners toward the center. Brush the top corner with water, roll tightly to seal. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
- Prepare the Southwest Ranch Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk until smooth. Stir in chopped cilantro, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper if using, salt, and black pepper. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Heat Oil for Frying: Pour vegetable oil into a large deep pot or Dutch oven to a depth of about 3 inches. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350-375°F (175-190°C).
- Fry the Eggrolls: Carefully add eggrolls in batches of 3-4, avoiding overcrowding. Fry for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Turn occasionally for even cooking.
- Drain Excess Oil: Remove fried eggrolls with a slotted spoon or tongs and place on a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Serve: Serve the warm Southwest Eggrolls immediately with the chilled Southwest Ranch dipping sauce for dipping.
Notes
- For extra heat, include the jalapeño and cayenne pepper as indicated.
- Ensure the filling is cooled before assembling to prevent the wrappers from tearing.
- Do not overcrowd the oil when frying to maintain the correct temperature and achieve crispiness.
- Leftover eggrolls can be reheated in an oven or air fryer to retain crispiness.
- You can substitute cooked shredded turkey or tofu for chicken to vary protein content.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American Southwestern
Keywords: Southwest Eggrolls, Chili's style eggrolls, chicken eggrolls, southwestern appetizer, fried eggrolls, ranch dipping sauce
