You don't need to get out your deep fryer to have crispy and delicious egg rolls - these Pork and Vegetable Crispy Baked Egg Rolls are easy to make, truly crispy and absolutely delicious. They're the perfect crowd pleasing appetizer!
Remember those spicy pork meatballs I told you about? When you make them, save half of the pork mixture and make these crispy oven baked egg rolls.
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Ingredients You Need to Make Baked Egg Rolls
- Lemongrass: fresh lemongrass stalk
- Garlic: fresh garlic
- Ginger: fresh ginger
- Shallot
- Jalapeño: or Serrano peppers for extra spicy kick
- Bacon
- Cilantro: fresh cilantro
- Ground Pork: plain, unseasoned ground pork
- Sesame Oil: plain sesame oil (not toasted) or peanut oil
- Green Cabbage
- Carrot: fresh carrot
- Green Onions
- Egg Roll Wrappers: store bought or homemade
- Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Recipe Options
You can certainly pan fry, or even deep fry these, but I decided to bake them brushed with sesame oil. They turned out crispy and delicious. For holidays or any kind of gathering, these are sure to be gobbled up quickly. Kids love them too!
FAQ
Bake them in a 400˚F until crispy outside and hot inside.
For the crispiest exterior, brush egg rolls with sesame oil or peanut oil before baking.
Yes. Freeze uncooked egg rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer to keep them from sticking together. Transfer to a freezer safe bag or other airtight container once frozen solid. Bake or fry within 3 months. (No need to thaw before baking.)
No. Bake them from frozen.
Bake egg rolls from frozen for ~20 minutes on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 400˚F, until crispy outside and heated through.
Ideas for Dipping Sauce
As for dip, we had some savory plum sauce that our friend Beth made that was just perfect. You could also combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, sriracha and toasted sesame oil (all to taste) for a simple and delicious dip. Sweet Chili sauce would also be excellent!
More Crispy Baked Appetizers
With a few simple techniques, you can make truly crispy versions of foods that are traditionally deep fried, like:
Pair With
These are perfect party fare, but I also love to serve them as an appetizer for dishes like Cauliflower Fried Rice or Tom Kha Gai. Or alongside Chinese Cucumber Salad.
How to Make Baked Egg Rolls
In the bowl of a food processor combine aromatics: lemongrass, garlic, ginger, shallot, jalapeño, raw bacon slice, cilantro, salt and pepper. Process into a fine paste, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Combine aromatics with raw ground pork in a medium bowl and set aside. (Note: If mixing with your hands, wear gloves to prevent irritation from raw jalapeño.)
Heat sesame oil in a large skillet; add cabbage, carrots and green onions. Cook and stir 1 minute. Add ground pork and aromatic mixture; cook and stir until pork is cooked through, then turn up the heat to cook off excess liquid. Set aside.
How to roll egg rolls step by step: When filling has cooled, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 400ºF. Scoop ¼ cup filling into an egg roll wrapper laid flat at a diagonal. Fold side corners toward middle and roll up as you would a burrito. Place on prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining pork mixture.
Brush egg rolls all over with sesame oil. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Serve.
Baked Egg Rolls Recipe Video
Crispy Baked Egg Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 thick stalk lemongrass coarse outer leaves discarded and tender leaves coarsely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and crushed
- ½ inch fresh ginger peeled and chopped
- 1 shallot coarsely chopped
- 1 jalapeño
- 1 strip uncooked bacon cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro packed
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus more to taste
- ½ pound ground pork
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil plus more for brushing egg rolls before baking
- 1 cup finely chopped green cabbage
- 1 medium carrot shredded
- 4 green onions finely chopped
- 10 egg roll wrappers
Instructions
For the Egg Roll Filling:
- Add first 9 ingredients to the bowl of a food processor (lemongrass through pepper). Process mixture until it becomes a paste, scraping down the bowl occasionally. Transfer to a medium bowl.
- Add ground pork to lemongrass mixture and use your hands to combine, taking care not to over-mix. (I recommend gloves for this as raw jalapeño can cause severe skin irritation.)
- Heat 1 teaspoon sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cabbage, carrot, and green onions; cook and stir until beginning to soften, 2-3 minutes. Add pork mixture; cook and stir, breaking into small pieces until pork is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool (refrigerate to speed the cooling process).
Assemble and Bake the Egg Rolls:
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- When filling has cooled, scoop ¼ cup into an egg roll wrapper laid flat with a corner facing you. Fold bottom corner up over filling, then fold two opposite corners toward the middle. Roll up, burrito style, and place on parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining egg rolls. Arrange egg rolls spaced apart so they brown evenly.
- Brush egg rolls all over with sesame oil.
- Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes to your desired amount of crispness. Take care not to bake them too long which can result in a hard outer layer - you're after crispy! Serve.
Can I pre fry the pork sausage to avoid all that grease and just add it to vegetables after those are cooked?
Hi, Maggie. The ground pork I use for this tends to be quite lean, but it's a good idea to drain off any excess fat after you've cooked the pork and vegetable mixture. I've added that note to the recipe. Thank you!
Your instructions are confusing. You say to put the first 9 ingredients in the food processor. The first 9 ingredients are the sesame oil thru the jalapeño?? In the pictures the cabbage, carrots, and green onions have not been put into the food processor but are chopped? So I ask what exactly goes into the food processor?
Thank you, Crystal! I just re-read my instructions and they really were confusing. I've rewritten the initial steps and hope that they're more clear. Please let me know if you still have questions! 🙂
What do I do with the 1 slice of bacon listed on the ingredients? Does it go into the food processor bowl with the vegetables? Thanks.
Hi Ellen. Yes, exactly! Toss it in with the other aromatics in the food processor.
I just love egg rolls but have never made them. You have taken the fear out of it, Marissa! Thank you!! These look amazing! Pinned!
I love to hear that, Annie! Thank you so much.
I haven't made homemade egg rolls in quite a while Marissa. You're totally inspiring me! These look delicious! Love that they're baked and not fried!
Thank you, Mary Ann! I'm with you on the baked part, as long as they're crispy I'm happy and definitely don't miss the mess!
I was wondering if I made the egg rolls not can I freeze them for later use and if so would I need to thaw them before baking them?
Hi, Cathy. If you freeze the egg roll, bake them frozen, no need to thaw first.
I love a good egg roll, but we barely ever make them at home! These sound delicious, Marissa! And thanks for including that handy little folding guide. 🙂 I'm definitely putting these on the menu soon!
That's fantastic, David! Thank you. 🙂
Homemade egg rolls? Homemade baked egg rolls? I'm sold! They look delicious and perfectly crisp. Well done, Marissa!
You crack me up, Ben! Thanks so much for your kind words.
What is wrong with me that I've never tried baking egg rolls? These look so perfectly crispy and delicious! Happy Saturday, Marissa!
Thank you, Kelsie! xo
This rolls make me appetize! I am gonna make this at home!
Thanks, Natalia!
So, anywho, another recipe of yours I HAVE to try! These look PERFECT Marissa! Love the sesame oil in the veg and on the wrappers - one of my favourite ingredients. About 15 years or so ago I took a little cooking class with my father for Chinese food. I haven't made in so long, but next time I do, these will be part of it. P.S. I picked up avocado oil last night to make your mayo this weekend 😉 Pinned! Have an awesome one, my friend! XO
That is awesome, Dawn!! Thank you...
Made these yesterday. Half of them with ground turkey instead of pork, for I had Jewish and Muslim friends over.
Before baking I coated it with egg wash and oil. Came out looking and tasting great!
That's wonderful, Robbie! Thanks for coming back to let me know. 🙂
These look amazing and I love that you baked them instead of frying!
Thank you, Sabrina! They're still fantastically crispy which is the most important thing, right? 🙂
This way is healthier and you don't waste oil in big amounts
Made these last night. They are really good and easy, too. I made up the filling a day ahead and then rolled, brushed and baked for dinner. I served with Vidalia Onion Fig Sauce from Stonewall Kitchens, which is tasty as a sauce for the meatballs, as well.
That's wonderful, Kathryn! Thanks for letting me know. That fig sauce sounds amazing - I've seen Stonewall Kitchens products in our grocery store, but have never tried them.
These look great - I'm happy to have a crispy egg roll recipe that doesn't involve deep frying. Thanks!
Thanks Lisa! I agree, less fuss and mess + still crispy good!
Oooh, I bet you could save half the filling for lettuce wraps too- something for everyone!
That's such a good idea, Carla! This filling would be terrific in lettuce wraps...
Marissa they look fantastic! They actually look just like these fantastic ones we had the other night. I should give them a go 😀
I hope you do, Lorraine. I ALWAYS enjoy how you riff on recipes...
Egg rolls are my favorite food ever! I definitely want to make this.
I love them too! Something about those meatballs just screamed to be wrapped up in an egg roll. 😉
I've seen those Nasoya egg roll wraps at the grocery store - I did not know baking them was an option - Marissa, these look fantastic!
Thanks Shashi... It's so easy + still crispy, hands off, less mess!
The perfect appetizer, these look so good Marissa!
Thanks, Matt!
Wow Marissa! These look amazing. We are huge fans of egg rolls. I'm pinning this for later!
Thanks Kristi!