Italian Egg Rolls

These Italian egg rolls are stuffed with savory sausage, peppers, spinach, and cheese then fried until golden and crispy. They are the perfect party appetizer!

Hand dipping italian egg roll in glass dish of marinara sauce.
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Why This Recipe Works

  • These Italian egg rolls are crispy on the outside, cheesy and savory inside
  • Packed with Italian sausage, peppers, spinach, and melty cheese, these egg rolls are loaded with flavor!
  • Easy to prep ahead for parties
  • Perfect as a game day appetizer, party snack, or fun dinner

Ingredient Notes

Here are some quick notes about the ingredients for these Italian egg rolls. Full recipe and instructions can be found in the recipe card below!

Italian sausage - Mild or spicy both work.

Bell peppers & onion - Adds sweetness and classic that sausage-and-peppers flavor.

Spinach - Fresh is ideal, but frozen works if it's thawed and very well drained.

Mozzarella & Parmesan - Two cheeses for flavor and that quintessential cheese pull when you break one of these in half

Egg roll wrappers - Found in the refrigerated section near tofu or produce.

How to Make Italian Egg Rolls

Step 1: To make the filling, 1 tbsp. oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage and break into pieces. Cook until sausage is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.

Step 2: Add chopped peppers, onions and spinach and sauté 5-7 minutes until vegetables are tender and spinach is wilted. It will look like a lot of spinach, but you will be amazed with how much it cooks down! Set meat mixture aside to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.

Egg roll filling in a skillet made of ground italian sausage, peppers, onions, and spinach leaves.

Step 3: Add meat mixture to a bowl and combine with parmesan, mozzarella and garlic powder.

Step 4: Let's roll. Lay out the egg roll wrappers on your countertop. Place 2 tbsp. of filling down the middle of each egg roll skin, leaving 1 inch at the ends.

Cooked sausage, spinach and cheese filling laid out in the middle of each egg roll wrapper.

With a pastry brush dipped in water, brush around the 4 edges. Tuck and roll into log shape. Think burrito. Roll all egg rolls before starting the frying.

Sides of egg roll wrapper folded in.
Rolling egg rolls into a burrito shape.

Make Ahead Tip: You can assemble these up to 1 day in advance. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to fry.

Step 5: In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees. You want the oil to be 2-3 inches deep.

Fry 3-4 egg rolls at a time, turning on all sides until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Place egg rolls on wire rack and repeat with remaining egg rolls.

Keep an eye on the oil temperature. Adding the egg rolls will lower the temperature, so check the temperature between batches to make sure it's still around 350 degrees.

For baked egg rolls: Brush egg rolls lightly with oil and bake on a parchment lined baking sheet at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden.

Serving Tips

Italian egg rolls can be served in a variety of ways:

  • Serve with warm marinara sauce or alfredo sauce for dipping.
  • Pair with a Caesar salad for a fun dinner.
  • Add roasted vegetables on the side.
  • Slice in half for an easy party appetizer platter.
Plate of italian egg rolls stacked next to a glass dish of marinara sauce.

Party planning tip: Fry egg rolls up to 2 hours ahead of time and keep warm on a wire rack in a 200°F oven until ready to serve.

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Reheating:

  • Air fryer (best for crispiness)
  • 375°F oven for 8-10 minutes
  • Avoid the microwave if possible (they'll soften)

To Freeze Cooked Egg Rolls:

  1. Cool completely.
  2. Freeze on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  3. Once solid, transfer to a freezer bag.

To Freeze Uncooked Egg Rolls:
Follow the same process above. Freeze individually first, then store in a freezer bag.

Add a couple of extra minutes of cooking time if cooking from frozen. Watch closely!

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📖 Recipe

Hand dipping italian egg roll in glass dish of marinara sauce.

Italian Egg Rolls

4.63 from 8 votes
Italian version of the typical Chinese egg roll stuffed with sausage, peppers, spinach & cheese make the perfect appetizer or quick lunch!
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 15 egg rolls
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 # Italian pork sausage ground
  • 1 green pepper chopped
  • ½ medium yellow onion chopped
  • 1 8 oz. bag baby spinach
  • cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 pkg. egg roll skins 15
  • neutral oil for frying

Method
 

  1. In skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add Italian sausage, break into small pieces and cook until no longer pink. Drain off any fat.
    1 # Italian pork sausage, 1 tbsp. olive oil
  2. Add peppers, onions and spinach sauté for 5-7 minutes until tender and spinach is wilted. Set aside to cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
    1 green pepper, ½ medium yellow onion, 1 8 oz. bag baby spinach
  3. In a large bowl, combine cheeses and garlic powder. Add meat mixture and mix well.
    ⅓ cup parmesan cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, ½ tsp. garlic powder
  4. Lay out egg roll skins on countertop. Place 2 heaping tablespoons of filling down the middle of each egg roll skin, leaving 1 inch at the ends. With a pastry brush dipped in water, brush around 4 edges. Tuck in sides and roll into log shape. Think burrito. Roll all egg rolls before frying.
    1 pkg. egg roll skins
  5. In a heavy bottomed pot, heat oil over medium-high heat to 350 degrees. You want the oil to be 2-3 inches deep. Add egg rolls to the pan turning on all sides until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Place on wire rack over a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain. Repeat until all egg rolls are fried.
  6. Serve warm with marinara sauce.

Notes

  • Frozen, chopped spinach (10 oz.) could be used instead of fresh. Make sure to drain it really well.
  • Alfredo sauce for dipping would be another great idea!
  • Got extras? These Italian Egg Rolls freeze beautifully (cook first). Remove from freezer and microwave for a quick lunch or snack!

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4.63 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




11 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    How funny I just made regular eggrolls and my son said why arent you filling them with pepperoni instead lol when he sees this Italian sausage is his favorite I think I will mix them together thanks you inspired me to do them again!

  2. 5 stars
    This is an amazing idea!! I love variations on egg rolls and this is the most unique one I've seen! Can' t wait to make them!

  3. 5 stars
    These sound absolutely perfect for me as someone who loves Chinese egg rolls but also adores Italian flavours. I am definitely going to be giving these a try asap!

  4. 5 stars
    Thanks for the idea! I used Italian chicken sausage and added a couple fresh minced garlic cloves when cooking the vegetables instead of garlic powder. Cooked them in the air fryer. Was like eating healthier pizza when dipped in marinara sauce!