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When it comes to 30 minute meals that even the pickiest of eaters will love, these Taco Egg Rolls are our first choice!  Quick, easy and perfect to make ahead and freeze!

A crunchy, fried egg wrapper shell encases a delectable combination of taco meat, cheese, and seasonings to form these quick and easy southwest egg rolls.

 

 

You can LITERALLY put anything in an egg roll and it’s practically guaranteed to be DELICIOUS.  These Taco Egg Rolls are no exception! Not only do these make a great weeknight dinner, but they are also the perfect party food, appetizer, or work lunch.

Did I mention this egg roll recipe is SUPER easy? And versatile! These great pan fried, air fried, or baked taco egg rolls are made to fit your cooking preferences. And they can easily be reheated in a toaster oven, air fryer, or microwave! 

 

 

Spring roll vs. egg roll:

Wondering what the difference between a spring roll and egg roll is? Well, the biggest difference is in their names! Spring rolls are not made with egg, while egg rolls are. The eggs in egg rolls give the wrapper a sturdier and thicker texture, while spring rolls are thinner and more delicate; both can be cooked to crisp perfection. 

Spring rolls are considered a part of traditional Asian cuisine. Egg rolls are more of an American Chinese food.  These taco egg rolls are a combination of different cuisines, to make something new and FANTASTIC. 

Spring rolls can be prepared in a couple different ways. Sometimes they are served without cooking the actual wrapper, providing an almost translucent and chewy wrapping. Other times they can be pan fried or baked to form a crisp, albeit much lighter than egg rolls, shell. 

 

 

What goes in a Taco Egg Roll?

Here’s what you will need to make these delicious southwestern style egg rolls: 

• Ground beef – while this recipe uses ground beef, you can also use just about any other meat you would normally put in a taco. Chicken, pork, steak — even leftover turkey! 
• Onion – onion provides additional flavor to your taco meat and also makes up a significant portion of the egg roll filling. 
• Taco Seasoning – 2 tablespoons homemade or 1 store-bought packet.
• Rotel Tomatoes – I love using Rotel tomatoes in my taco meat because it not only adds a nice tomato base, but brings a little kick to the taco filling as well! 
• Refried beans – Added protein and holds your filling together so it’s not drippy.
• Egg Roll Wrappers – these premade wrappers help make this meal super easy to prepare, especially if you’re using leftover taco meat! 
• Vegetable Oil – you’ll use this to fry your taco egg rolls. 
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese or Mexican Blend – cooked inside these taco egg rolls, the cheese makes these gooey and irresistibly delicious. 
• Avocado, sour cream, and salsa – FOR DIPPING. Yum. 

 

 

Where to buy egg roll wrappers?

You can purchase egg roll wrappers at most grocery stores. Our local Walmart and Kroger both carry egg roll wrappers. If you’re not putting in a grocery order (yay, grocery orders!), check the refrigerated section of the produce aisle, or the ethnic foods sections.

Egg roll wrappers are refrigerated, so that should help narrow down your searchable aisles a bit! If you cannot find them at your normal grocery store, try your local Asian food stores. 

 

 

How to roll egg rolls:

1. Lay out the egg roll wrapper like a diamond.
2. Place a couple tablespoons of filling and cheese in the center of your egg roll and distribute it evenly across in a loosely log-like shape
3. Fold up the bottom point of the wrapper over top of the filling and use the folded side to pack in the taco filling a little more tightly.
4. Now wet your finger with a drop or two of water and run your finger around all exposed edges of your wrapper.  This will combine with the white cornstarch to seal your egg roll closed.
5. Next, fold over each side and make sure it adequately covers the filling and edges entirely, pressing edges down to seal them.
6. Then continue rolling up until the egg roll is fully sealed! 

 

 

How to fry egg rolls:

Heat about ¼ inch of oil in a wok or skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, place egg rolls in the oil and cook until golden, turning as needed.  You can test the oil by dropping in a small piece of an egg roll wrapper into the oil and watching to see how quickly or slowly it cooks.

If your egg roll burns, that means your oil is too hot.  If your egg roll takes a long time to cook, that means your oil is too cold.  Ideally you want to cook your egg roll for about 1 minute on each side.

 

 

How to bake egg rolls: 

If you prefer to bake your taco egg rolls, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Prepare baking sheet with foil, a baking mat, or nonstick spray and lay egg rolls seam-side down. Lightly spray the top of the egg rolls with cooking spray and bake for 10-15 minutes until crisp and golden!

How to air fry egg rolls: 

Place egg rolls in the air fryer basket without allowing them to touch or overlap. Spray or brush the egg rolls lightly with cooking spray or oil. Turn the air fryer to 350 degrees and cook for 6 minutes, then flip the egg rolls, spray or brush with oil again, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Once again, egg rolls should be crisp and golden! 

What are egg roll wrappers made of?

Egg roll wrappers are mostly made of wheat flour and egg, sometimes along with additional wheat gluten (for binding), water, vinegar, salt, and cornstarch. 

 

 

Are egg rolls gluten free?

No, typical egg roll wrappers are not gluten free as they are made with wheat flour. You may be able to purchase gluten free egg roll wrappers at your local health foods store. 

 

 

Can you freeze egg roll wrappers?

Yes! You can freeze unused egg roll wrappers for up to 6 months. But you’ll want to separate them using waxed or parchment paper before freezing, otherwise they will stick together when thawed. Store in an airtight bag or container. 

If you plan on making a big batch of these, you can freeze them!  Simply lay out premade (but not cooked) egg rolls on a cookie sheet and freezing for 1 hour.  Then transfer egg rolls to a freezer bag.  May be frozen for up to 2 months.

When ready to bake, thaw in fridge overnight then fry as directed.

 

 

More Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Love…

• Salisbury Steak Casserole
• Sloppy Joe Recipe
• Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
• Shepherd’s Pie
• One Pot Chili Mac
• Stuffed Pepper Casserole
• Empanada Recipe
• Spaghetti Casserole
• Mexican Stuffed Shells
• BBQ Cups
• Hamburger Noodle Casserole
• Stuffing Burger
• Porcupine Meatballs
• Baked Burritos

I love recipes that can utilize and reimagine leftovers in fun and delicious ways, and this taco egg roll recipe epitomizes that love!

These Taco Egg Rolls are hands down one of our favorite meals!  It’s a versatile recipe that will allow you to use what you have on hand to create the a delicious dinner, lunch or appetizer! I’m sure your family will love this meal as much as mine!

 

Originally Posted: May 6, 2015

Photos & Text Updated: January 11, 2021

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