These Bacon Jam Cheeseburger Egg Rolls might be my new favorite appetizer or at least my new favorite way to enjoy a cheeseburger or egg roll! They are loaded with ground beef, melty cheddar cheese, tangy pickles, and a spoonful of my popular homemade onion bacon jam, then crisped to perfection in the air fryer. (Instructions for baking and frying in oil are also included.)
What Is Bacon Jam?
Bacon jam is a sweet and savory spread made from crispy bacon, brown sugar, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and spices. My homemade onion bacon jam adds caramelized onions for extra flavor and is what makes these Bacon Jam Cheeseburger Egg Rolls so tasty. There are many delicious variations I have made, like jalapeño bacon jam, cranberry bacon jam, apple whiskey bacon jam, and more. Once you try bacon jam, you’ll want to keep it in your refrigerator and become a part of the bacon jam fam!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ground Beef: For the classic burger flavor, I used ground beef. But, feel free to use ground turkey or ground chicken if preferred!
- Hamburger Seasoning: If you don’t have hamburger seasoning on hand, it is easy to make your own! Plus, you probably have most of the seasonings on hand.
- Onions: The onions add a little bit of sweetness and extra flavor to the egg rolls. They help balance the salty and savory taste of the beef and bacon jam. But if you don’t like onions or can’t eat them, you can leave them out. The egg rolls will still taste great without them!
- Dill Pickles: The dill pickles give a little zip that makes each bite of the egg rolls more exciting. (If you love pickles, you will want to try my Pickle Egg Rolls, too!) But if you don’t like pickles or don’t have any on hand, you can leave them out.
- Cheese: These are cheeseburger egg rolls, so I couldn’t leave out the cheese! I used sharp cheddar cheese for flavor, but you could use your favorite! Or, make it without cheese for simple bacon jam burger egg rolls!
- Egg Roll Wrappers: Egg roll wrappers are usually found in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores. You can also use wonton wrappers, but keep in mind they are smaller and thinner. If using wonton wrappers, you’ll need more wrappers and may need to adjust the cooking time.
- Onion Bacon Jam: I cannot believe how many ways you can use my onion bacon jam! Once you try it, you will want to have it on hand for other recipes like my Bacon Jam Crostini and Cheesy Thumbprint Appetizer, just to name a couple. Or, you might just want to eat it by the spoonful, it is that good!
- Dipping Sauce: Although I love the bacon jam cheeseburger egg rolls on their own, it is easy to make the dipping sauce. It is super easy to mix up–just mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup!
How to Roll Egg Roll Wrappers Without Tearing or Sogginess
- Let the hamburger filling cool before filling the egg roll wrappers to prevent soggy wrappers.
- Use water to wet the edges of each egg roll wrapper; this helps seal the rolls tightly.
- Avoid overfilling the wrappers to make rolling easier and prevent leaks.
- Fold the bottom corner over the filling first, then tuck in the sides before rolling tightly.
- Press the edges firmly to seal and keep the filling inside during cooking.
Make-Ahead Tips for Bacon Jam Cheeseburger Egg Rolls
These egg rolls are easy to make ahead for parties, game day, or whenever you need a quick and crispy appetizer! You can prep the hamburger mixture and onion bacon jam in advance, then assemble and cook when you’re ready. Or, get the egg rolls fully assembled and store them in the refrigerator or freezer until it’s time to cook them.
To Refrigerate: Wrap the assembled (but uncooked) egg rolls tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, air fry them as directed—no need to thaw or adjust the cooking time.
To Freeze: Place assembled egg rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. They’ll keep well for several weeks. To serve, air fry them straight from frozen, adding 2–3 extra minutes to the cooking time, or until golden and crispy.
Storing and Reheating Bacon Jam Cheeseburger Egg Rolls
If you’ve already cooked the egg rolls and have leftovers, let them cool to room temperature before storing. Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2–3 days. To reheat, pop them in the oven for 10–15 minutes or in the air fryer for a few minutes until they’re hot and crispy again. You can use the microwave, but it may make the egg rolls a bit soggy.
Can You Freeze Cooked Egg Rolls?
Yes, you can freeze egg rolls after they’ve been cooked. Let them cool completely, then wrap each one in plastic wrap. Place them in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 2–3 months. Reheat straight from frozen in the air fryer, oven, or hot oil. No need to thaw!
Bacon Jam Cheeseburger Egg Rolls
Ingredients
Egg Rolls
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon hamburger seasoning
- ½ small yellow onion, finely chopped (about ¼ cup)
- 4 large dill pickles, finely diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 ½ cups (169.5 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 10 egg roll wrappers
- 1 recipe onion bacon jam, prepared
Dipping Sauce
- ¼ cup (58 g) mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons mustard
- 2 teaspoons ketchup
Instructions
- To a medium skillet over medium heat, add ground beef and hamburger seasoning. Cook, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain excess oil.
- Lay out 10 egg roll wrappers
- Working with one wrapper at a time, add the following filling near the center: 1 tablespoon bacon jam, ¼ cup hamburger mixture, 1 teaspoon diced onion, 1 ½ tablespoons diced pickle, and 2 tablespoons cheddar cheese.
- To roll, first, wet the edges of the egg roll lightly with water, and then fold up the bottom corner to just over the filling and roll once.
- Second, fold in the right and left corners of the wrapper to the center, lightly pressing to seal. (You may need to add more water to the edges and corners to help the wrapper stay folded.) It should now look like an open envelope.
- Continue rolling until the filling is fully wrapped inside of the egg roll. Press to seal the edges.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.*
- Place the egg rolls into the basket of your air fryer. (Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to work in batches.) Spray the tops of the egg rolls with nonstick cooking spray.
- Air fry for 3–4 minutes. Flip the egg rolls, spray again, and cook for another 3–4 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
- While the egg rolls cook, make the dipping sauce. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup. Mix until smooth.
- Serve the egg rolls hot with dipping sauce.
Notes
- In a deep pot or fryer, heat 2–3 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F.
- Working in batches of 2–3 egg rolls at a time, carefully place them in the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 2–3 minutes per side.
- Use tongs to remove the egg rolls and place them on a paper towel–lined plate to drain excess oil. Be sure the oil returns to 350°F before frying the next batch.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the egg rolls on the baking sheet in a single layer. Lightly spray the tops with cooking spray or brush them with oil.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the egg rolls are golden brown and crispy, flipping halfway through for even cooking.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
These are delicious! The onion bacon jam really takes these to the next level of deliciousness!
Elizabeth
These might be one of my favorite recipes we have tried here, and I have tried A LOT! I loved them that much!!!
Stephanie
These are a fun way to eat a cheeseburger and I love the added bacon jam.
Bella
After trying these egg rolls, I am going to be adding the onion bacon jam to all of my burgers from now on!
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