southwestern egg rolls (for a crowd)
I LOVE the Southwestern egg rolls appetizer from Chili's. The problem is, eating out is a bit out of my poor college student budget. So, after much research, I decided to come up with my own version and it turned out great! This is a big recipe that makes A LOT of filling, but it freezes well, so you can make it ahead of time. :)
Blue Ribbon Recipe
Kristin's right, this recipe does make a lot of Southwestern egg rolls. But, that's a good thing because they're so delicious your family will devour them. The chicken is tender, juicy, and filled with Southwest spices. Corn adds a pop of sweetness to them. Great for a game day appetizer or just for dinner. These egg rolls are delicious no matter how you serve them. We love that you can make these ahead of time, freeze them, and then have them on hand.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 6 - boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
- 2 - packages of reduced sodium taco seasoning (if you make your own, that will work just fine)
- 2 cans Mexican-style corn, drained (Mexicorn by Green Giant is what I use, 7 oz each)
- 2 cans black beans, drained (10.5 oz each)
- 1 1/2 cups plus 1/3 cup water
- 1 large bag of baby spinach (I used fresh, but frozen will work fine as long as it's thawed and drained)
- 1 bag taco cheese blend (or whatever kind of cheese you prefer, 16 oz)
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 20 - 7-inch flour tortillas (my grocery store carries packages of 20)
- - sour cream or top-the-tater for serving
How To Make southwestern egg rolls (for a crowd)
-
Step 1In a large, deep skillet, melt the butter over medium to medium-high heat. Throw in the chicken breasts. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes on each side. They will be a deep, golden brown.
-
Step 2Take the chicken out and put on a cutting board. Shred with two forks, then put back into the pan. Pour in the 1 1/2 cups of water, and stir. Turn heat down to medium-low.
-
Step 3Once you've added the water, add in your taco seasoning packets. Stir. If need be, add in a little at a time of the extra 1/3 cup of water. You want the chicken and seasonings to be on the thicker side and not too liquidy.
-
Step 4Once you've got the chicken and seasonings well mixed, add in your bag of spinach. If you're using fresh, put it on top of the chicken, cover it, and let it begin to wilt for about 5-7 minutes. If you're using frozen spinach, just throw it in and give it a stir, making sure it's evenly mixed.
-
Step 5Once the spinach has cooked down a bit, give it a good stir to make sure it's evenly incorporated into the chicken. Then, add in your Mexicorn and black beans. Stir again to make sure everything is evenly mixed together. Let simmer, uncovered, for about 5-10 more minutes, or until spinach is mostly cooked through; stirring occasionally.
-
Step 6Once the mixture is finished cooking, take the skillet off the heat and add in your cheese. Stir until all the cheese is melted and mixed in.
-
Step 7Heat up your tortillas until they are hot, about a minute and a half. Spoon about 2 heaping spoonfuls of filling into the middle of the tortilla. Fold each side in, then roll the tortilla over the filling. Before you close the tortilla, brush the edge with some of the beaten egg. Continue rolling until they are closed, then place on a plate, egg-side down.
-
Step 8Cover your plate of egg rolls with plastic wrap. Put in the freezer for 2-3 hours or until they are cold and the egg has had time to set. (Overnight is best.)
-
Step 9Heat up your frying oil to 350 degrees F. Take the egg rolls out of the freezer and put them into your pan, being careful not to overcrowd. Cook for about 8-10 minutes or until both sides are a deep, golden brown. Set on a plate with paper towels to drain excess grease. Serve with sour cream or Top-The-Tater.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!