Crispy egg rolls filled with a savory mixture of seasoned ground beef and melted cheese. Perfect as an appetizer or a fun snack!
Ingredients:
- For the Filling:
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or a blend of your choice)
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
- Optional: 1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapenos.
- For Assembly:
- 1 package (16 ounces) egg roll wrappers
- 1 egg, beaten (for sealing)
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Optional for dipping:
- Salsa
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Spicy mayo
Instructions:
- Prepare the Filling:
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute, until fragrant.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly.
- Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese, and the optional chopped jalapenos.
- Assemble the Egg Rolls:
- Lay an egg roll wrapper on a clean surface, with a corner pointing toward you.
- Place about 2 tablespoons of the beef and cheese filling in the center of the wrapper.
- Fold the corner closest to you over the filling.
- Fold in the two side corners toward the center.
- Brush the remaining top corner with the beaten egg.
- Roll tightly to seal.
- Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
- Fry the Egg Rolls:
- Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat (350°F/175°C).
- Carefully place the egg rolls in the hot oil, a few at a time, and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove the egg rolls with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Serve:
- Serve the Beef & Cheese Egg Rolls hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Tips and Variations:
- For a spicier kick, add a dash of cayenne pepper to the filling.
- You can use different types of cheese, such as pepper jack or mozzarella.
- For a leaner option, use ground turkey or chicken.
- For oven baked eggrolls. Preheat oven to 400F. Place prepared eggrolls on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with non stick cooking spray. Brush the tops of the eggrolls with oil, and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Air frying is also an option. Spray the prepared eggrolls with cooking spray, and air fry at 400F for approximately 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking process.
- Ensure that the oil is at the correct temperature. If the oil is not hot enough, the egg rolls will absorb too much oil and become soggy.
- Do not overcrowd the pan when frying the egg rolls, as this will lower the oil temperature.