Easy Recipe for Crispy Homemade Egg Rolls with Bean Sprouts

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Would you believe that making homemade egg rolls is not too hard? If you like egg rolls, but want a healthier version, learn how to make homemade egg rolls with this recipe and tutorial!

Love me some Chinese Food, but Chinese buffets gross me out. MSG, tons of salt, questionable meat, way too many calories, artificial food colors. Not good. A while back I decided to give this homemade egg roll recipe with bean sprouts a shot, and I was not disappointed.

homemade egg rolls with cabbage and bean sprouts on a white plate with sauce in background
ingredients for homemade eggrolls

Ingredients to Make Homemade Egg Rolls

The hardest part about making these egg rolls is the anticipation that it will be a LOT of work. It’s really NOT, though, and the end result is very delicious! I highly recommend giving it a shot!

  • Egg Roll Wraps: Find these in the produce section of the grocery store. They give a crispy and golden shell for the filling.

  • Meat: This recipe calls for pork, but I generally use leftover chicken and less than the recipe calls for. Season the ground pork or ground chicken well for a better flavor.
  • Minced ginger: Adds an aromatic flavor to the Chinese egg rolls.
  • Cabbage, finely chopped: (I shred the cabbage and carrot in my handy dandy food processor. I love that machine!) Cabbage is the bulk of the egg roll filling and adds a distinct flavor and texture.
  • Bean sprouts: Give your egg rolls a bit of crunch and a fresh flavor.
  • Carrot, shredded: Keep the carrots finely shredded to prevent bulges in your egg roll. Carrots give a hint of sweetness.
  • Green onions, finely chopped: Use both green and white parts of the onion for a more balanced flavor.
  • Oyster sauce: Slightly salty and pungent, oyster sauce brings the yum factor! If you have shellfish allergies, check the ingredients list as some brands contain oyster extract.

Recipe Tip

Substitute ingredients as necessary. For example, I didn’t have bean sprouts when I made these last time so just left them out. Oyster sauce can be substituted with soy sauce – just adjust amount to taste.

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How to Make Egg Rolls at Home

Like I said, making egg rolls yourself is much easier than you might think.

1. Stir fry meat (if you’re using raw meat) and ginger in skillet over high heat until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Since I use pre-cooked meat, I add the meat later. Add cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, and green onions. Cook for 2 minutes.

cast iron skillet wtih cabbage, carrots, meat to make egg rolls

2. Stir in oyster sauce. Let mixture cool.

homemade eggroll filling

3. Now get ready to wrap! You’ll need a pastry brush and a little bit of water. Use 2 TBSP of your meat/veggie mixture and place it on the wrap like so:

how to wrap the homemade eggrolls

Fold the bottom corner up and tuck it under the meat. The directions are also on the Egg Roll Wrapper package. They show the wrappers as square though, and they’re really rectangular. It’s a little bit trickier than the directions make it look.

egg roll wrapper with filling and first step to roll completed

Then roll it up tightly.

Smooth everything out and even it up the best you can. Then you need to fold over the two sides to make an envelope looking package. Put a small amount of water on the wrapper so the sides stick together nicely.

brush with water and egg roll wrapper folded on cutting board

Finish rolling and add a bit more water to the top, so the egg roll stays closed.

correctly folded egg roll on cutting board

Add your egg roll to your pile! And repeat until you’ve used up all of your ingredients. Now it’s time to cook them!

I’ve made deep fried egg rolls, baked, and in the air fryer. They are delicious any way you make them!

plate full of egg rolls waiting to be cooked
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How to Fry Egg Rolls

To fry egg rolls, heat oil to 350F in a large skillet. I prefer using peanut oil for frying as it has a higher smoke point.

Once the oil is hot, place rolls in the skillet flap side down. Only fry a few at a time (don’t crowd them). Turn occasionally until golden, about 2-3 minutes. Drain them on paper towels, or a regular kitchen towel if you don’t use paper towels like me.

cast iron skillet with hot oil for frying spring rolls

Baking Homemade Egg Rolls

If you’d prefer to bake them, Heat your oven to 400F. Place rolls on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Lightly brush the tops with olive oil and bake until golden brown, about 10-12 minutes.

Make Egg Rolls in the Air Fryer

I seriously love my air fryer! Egg rolls are perfect for making in the air fryer as you can make other dishes for your meal at the same time.

Preheat the air fryer to 360°F. Spray the basket in the fryer with cooking spray. Brust the tos of the egg rolls with olive oil.

Place the egg rolls in the basket, but be sure to leave plenty of room for the air to circulate. Cook 7-8 minutes and then flip the rolls over. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the shell is golden brown.

fried egg rolls on a bed of lettuce

How to Store and Reheat Egg Rolls

Store any leftover egg rolls in the refrigerator once they have cooled completely. Once cooled, place the egg rolls in an airtight container. Separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Store the container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

I don’t like to reheat homemade egg rolls in the microwave as they get soggy. Instead I use my oven or air fryer.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and arrange the egg rolls on a baking sheet. Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until they are heated through and the exterior becomes crispy again.

Alternatively, pop them in your air fryer at 375°F for 5-8 minutes.

How to Freeze Egg Rolls

I also love to make egg rolls in advance, freeze them, and eat them on a busy night. Once they are completely cooled, cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay out the egg rolls and pop them in the freezer for a flash freeze.

Once each egg roll is frozen, transfer them into airtight freezer bags, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Label the bags with the date for reference. They can be stored up to 3 months in the freezer.

Bake them at 375°F 15-20 minutes or until heated through and crispy. You do not need to thaw them. Bake them directly from the freezer.

Variations of Egg Rolls with Bean Sprouts

Like I mentioned above, you can change up this egg roll recipe by substituting ingredients. I often don’t have bean sprouts on hand so leave them out entirely, but they are better when included.

Another way to customize egg rolls is to switch out the ingredients all together for different flavor profiles. For example, Southwestern egg rolls might include black beans, corn, and chilis.

shrimp lo mein with chopsticks on a white plate and egg rolls as side dish

What to Serve with Egg Rolls

My kids love to eat egg rolls as a snack, but they are a great side dish for Chinese and Asian dishes. I love serving them with lo mein, garlicky beef, or beef and broccoli. Serve with sweet and sour sauce or your other favorite dipping sauce.

What’s the difference between egg rolls and spring rolls?

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, the wrappers, filling, and method of cooking are different between egg rolls and spring rolls.
Egg rolls have a thicker doughier wrapper with a cooked filling and are generally fried. Spring rolls have a thinner transparent wrapper made from rice paper. The filling is raw or minimally cooked.

Are egg rolls eaten for Chinese New Year?

Egg rolls are actually a truly Chinese American dish. You probably won’t find them in traditional Chinese cooking in China. However, spring rolls and egg rolls are generally eaten in American celebrations of Chinese New Year to represent wealth and prosperity.

More Asian Inspired Recipes You’ll Love

That wasn’t so hard, was it? Let me know if you make this recipe and how they turned out!

Homemade Egg Rolls Recipe

egg rolls cut in half and stacked on white plate with bed of lettuce

Did you know egg rolls are easy to make at home? This recipe can be used with the fryer, oven, or air fryer for an easy and delicous snack or side dish.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • Egg Roll Wraps (you’ll find these in the produce section of the grocery store)
  • 1 lb meat (the recipe calls for ground pork, but I generally use less and it’s mostly leftover chicken picked from the chicken carcass)
  • 1 tsp minced ginger
  • 2 cups cabbage, finely chopped (I shred the cabbage and carrot in my handy dandy food processor. I love that machine!)
  • 1/4 lb bean sprouts
  • 1/2 cup carrot, shredded
  • 3 green onions, finely chopped
  • 2 TBSP oyster sauce

Instructions

    1. Stir fry meat (if you’re using raw meat) and ginger in skillet over high heat until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Since I use pre-cooked meat, I add the meat later. Add cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, and green onions. Cook for 2 minutes.
    2. Stir in oyster sauce. Let mixture cool.
    3. Now get ready to wrap! You’ll need a pastry brush and a little bit of water. Use 2 TBSP of your meat/veggie mixture and place it on the wrap like so:
    4. Fold the bottom corner up and tuck it under the meat. The directions are also on the Egg Roll Wrapper package. They show the wrappers as square though, and they’re really rectangular. So it’s a little bit trickier than the directions make it looks
    5. Then roll it up tightly.
    6. Smooth everything out and even it up the best you can. Then you need to fold over the two sides to make an envelope looking package. Put a small amount of water on the wrapper so the sides stick together nicely.
    7. Finish rolling and add a bit more water to the top, so the egg roll stays closed.
    8. Add your egg roll to your pile! And repeat until you’ve used up all of your ingredients.

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Did you make this recipe?

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About Michelle Marine

Michelle Marine is the author of How to Raise Chickens for Meat, a long-time green-living enthusiast, and rural Iowa mom of four. She empowers families to grow and eat seasonal, local foods; to reduce their ecological footprint; and to come together through impactful travel.

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16 Comments

  1. Those look great! I love egg rolls, but I have never attempted to make them myself, I guess I always thought they’d be too hard too. I’m going to print out your recipe and try them, yum!

  2. I just added this to my favorites… I do almost the exact same thing only I use wonton wrappers, fold into dumpling shapes, and steam…. It never crossed my mind to try eggrolls…. Thanks for sharing!!

  3. Yum! Thank you! I had no idea it could be this easy to make egg rolls. My daughters will be so excited about this!!!

  4. I’ve been making these since you mentioned them last time on your blog – they are fantastic! Thanks for another great recipe, Michelle!

  5. Yes, I make eggrolls. My niece who is away at college calls home before coming back to put in her order for eggroll day while she is home!
    My ingredients are a little different, but same idea. I might have to give your list of ingredients a try to change things a bit.

  6. Thank you for sharing this! I love homemade Chinese food but have never tried making my own Egg Rolls. I found your site through the BYB challenge and look forward to seeing more from you.