All of the delicious flavors of your favorite fried Chinese restaurant appetizer come together in a lighter, faster, one skillet meal! This "Egg Roll in a Bowl" is a quick and healthy dinner that's ready in about 20 minutes!
All of the delicious flavors of your favorite fried Chinese restaurant appetizer come together in a lighter, faster, one skillet meal! This “Egg Roll in a Bowl” is a quick and healthy dinner that’s ready in about 20 minutes!
It’s like an egg roll without the wrapper!
I honestly can’t take credit for this genius idea, since I’ve seen it plastered all over the internet in recent years. After a craving for Chinese food hit me like a ton of bricks (do you ever get those?!), I decided that it was time to get in the kitchen and create my own Egg Roll in a Bowl!
This Asian-inspired supper has all of the flavors that you love without any of the deep fat frying. It’s just a big, beautiful skillet full of fresh vegetables and lean protein stir-fried in a savory sauce.
In my typical fashion, I even managed to create a recipe that requires almost ZERO prep work! With help from a bag of coleslaw mix and a bag of matchstick carrots, I didn’t even have to pull out my cutting board or my knife for this dinner. Tip — use kitchen shears to snip the green onions right over the skillet. Again, no knife or cutting board necessary!
So, what ingredients will I need for this Egg Roll in a Bowl?
You’ll be happy to know that this easy recipe does NOT require any fancy, expensive, hard-to-find ingredients! You’ll want:
- a bag of coleslaw mix (or shredded cabbage); onion; and a few other fresh veggies (sliced mushrooms would be a delicious addition!)
- ground meat of choice (I used ground turkey here, but ground chicken, ground beef, or ground pork all work well)
- a simple stir-fry sauce made with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil (plus optional hoisin sauce, if you like)
Trust me — you don’t want to omit that toasted sesame oil! It’s heavenly, and it’s what gives the dish that quintessential “Asian” egg roll taste! Plus, you can pick up a very small bottle of the oil in the Asian food aisle of just about any grocery store, including places like Walmart and Target. Puh-lease…don’t skip it! I go through bottles of toasted sesame oil really quickly around here, because I’m constantly using it in recipes like my Dump-and-Bake General Tso Chicken, my Slow Cooker Orange Chicken and Broccoli, and my Cold Sesame Peanut Noodle Salad (just to name a few).
The simple, fresh flavors in this Egg Roll in a Bowl create a tasty, family-friendly dinner in one skillet. Which means that you have a healthy dinner to serve your crew in less than 30 minutes…with only 1 pan to wash at the end. I’m telling you — this is weeknight dinner perfection!
Other easy Chinese-inspired dinner recipes that you might enjoy:
- Dump-and-Bake Kung Pao Chicken
- Dump-and-Bake General Tso Chicken
- Dump-and-Bake Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Dump-and-Bake Chinese Pepper Steak
Egg Roll in a Bowl
All of the delicious flavors of your favorite fried Chinese restaurant appetizer come together in a lighter, faster, one skillet meal! This "Egg Roll in a Bowl" is a quick and healthy dinner that's ready in about 20 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground turkey breast can substitute with ground chicken, ground beef, or ground pork
- 1 sweet onion diced
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil*
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic**
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ cup less sodium soy sauce
- 1 (16 ounce) bag coleslaw mix
- ½ cup grated or “matchstick” carrots
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground meat and cook, stirring, until no longer pink. Drain; return meat to skillet.
- Add diced onion, sesame oil, and rice vinegar to the skillet. Cook, stirring, for a few more minutes (until onion is tender).
Add garlic, ginger, soy sauce, hoisin sauce (optional), coleslaw mix, and carrots to the skillet. Cook, stirring, for about 5-7 more minutes, or until cabbage is wilted.
- Remove skillet from the heat. Stir in green onions and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Cooking Just for Two? Cut the ingredients in half! The cooking instructions remain the same.
*Don't skip the toasted sesame oil! This gives the dish it's classic Asian flavor, and it's very easy to find small bottle of the oil in the Asian food section at just about every grocery store (including places like Walmart).
**I use a bottle of refrigerated pre-minced fresh garlic for an easy shortcut.
Super easy for a week night meal! Thanks for sharing!
Exactly!!! Thanks, Karly!
Looks so healthy! I like that it’s a one skillet meal. It means simple cleaning especially if it’s a non stick skillet. Great photos also. Thanks for sharing, going into my Pinterest board.
So easy, right?! Thanks so much for sharing on Pinterest!
It’s equaly easy and cheaper and fresher to buy a head of green cabbage and shred it yourself instead of “coleslaw mix” and it takes 5 minutes by hand !
You sarted the blog by suggesting a stir fry sauce instead of ithe individual ingredients – but you never say how much of the stir fry sauce and when to add it inn. Would appreciate it. Thanks
Hey, Barbara! I wasn’t suggesting a separate stir-fry sauce. I was saying that you stir-fry the vegetables in a savory sauce that you make with the ingredients listed (soy sauce, rice vinegar, etc.). Hope that helps clarify. 🙂
Will definitely be making this in the near future ! Sounds delicious…and easy…bonus !!
Yay! I hope that you enjoy it, Cindy! I’m hooked. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing this awesome recipe ! I made it tonight for supper following the recipe as written , using all ingredients . I used ground turkey and served with basmatic rice and roasted garlic naan bread . It was a big hit and l’ll definitely be making it again ! 🙂
Yum!!! Sounds like the perfect meal, Cindy! So glad that you love it as much as I do!😊
I made this for dinner tonight. So easy & delicious. Thank you Blair for this yummy recipe, I will be making this one often. I have found so many good recipes on your site. Thanks again.
Thanks, Mary! It’s definitely one of my favorites, too! 🙂
Loved this recipe! I’ll be making it often.
Wonderful! Thanks for letting us know, Deb!
This is almost exactly how I make the filling for my egg rolls…. only I add a bit of dill weed and roasted garlic to it… OMG out of this world!!! Thank you for putting it in print.Now I don’t have to rack my brain trying to remember how I made it.. LOL… I also make a dipping sauce of roasted garlic and cream cheese and sour cream all heated thru. You could drizzle this over this meal instead of dipping..
Awesome! I love the idea of the dipping sauce. Sounds delicious!
OMG, what a hit with the guys in my family! They just loved it!!! The flavors were delicious and it was so easy…
Thank you
Yay! I’m so glad that they approved, Anne! 🙂
Made this tonight for dinner (used ground chicken). Was delicious, easy and a hit! Will definitely put it into my rotation. Thank you!
Wonderful! So glad that you enjoyed it, Lynne! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Hello Blair,
It looks so yummy and healthy to try at home now 😛 Going to try it tonight 🙂
Great! Thanks, Ellen!
I added a bit of cayenne pepper, for a slight kick, and scrambled and added 2 eggs like you do with fried rice. (Needed the extra fat for the keto diet.) Delicious!
Sounds perfect! Thanks, Lizzie!
Love the idea of adding egg! Protein plus! Thanks!
make this all time! however i add that ah-so sauce with the ground pork then add the rest comes out sooooo yummy!
Awesome, Tina! So glad that you love it! 🙂
Thank you Blair for the recipe.
Served it over rice…deliciousness! Next time, I will try this as a lettuce wrap. My husband ranted and raved over this meal.
Quick. Easy. Yummy 😋
Wonderful! I love when we can get our husbands on board with healthy meals, too! 🙂
I made this tonite and it was awesome! I added cilantro and I used the hoisen sauce too. It was fantastic. What a great, healthy dinner option! Thanks for sharing!!
That’s great, April! Thank you for letting me know! It’s one of my personal favorites, too!
I used a bag of Kale Slaw mix, ground pork and a splash of oyster sauce. This is definitely a recipe to be made again. A can of drained bean sprouts would also be good added in.
Super easy and quick. Great taste. Added a little sriracha for some kick and used fresh ginger instead of ground. Will definitely add this to the weekly rotation.
Thanks, Shelley!
My new favorite meal!!! So easy and so delicious and now all my family and friends are making it. THANKS
Aweesome! So glad to hear that, Tina! 🙂
If there are leftovers, do you think they will stand up to be eaten the next day?
Yes! I love the leftovers! I often enjoy them cold — straight from the fridge. 🙂
Seriously??? I make a double batch to ensure I’ll have leftovers. I’m addicted to the stuff….
Is there a major difference in regular sesame oil and toasted sesame oil?
Hi, Haley! The toasted sesame oil just has a bit of a richer flavor (kind of like when you roast nuts versus eat them raw). Personally, I use both of the oils interchangeably in recipes and I think they both work equally well! 🙂
Absolutely delicious! My husband wants me to make a double batch next time. Thank you for posting!
Wonderful! I’m a big fan of leftovers, so a double-batch is always a good idea. 🙂
Well received at home and SO easy! Will make again.
Excellent! Thanks, Liz!!!
This recipe was SO GOOD! It was also super quick and easy. I don’t have a ton of time to spend in the kitchen and I love Asian food! This will definitely be on rotation!
I just made your Egg Roll in a Bowl and it is absolutely delicious! Followed the recipe as written. Used ground turkey. As a bonus, my coleslaw mix already had the carrot stix in it. So fast too. I was hoping to share it with my friends but I’m already on my second bowl. Shhh
That’s awesome, Donna! Thank you!
I made this tonight and my only mistake was not making a double batch! I used ground pork and ground beef which was a hit. I only had reg soy sauce and would definitely use low sodium next time ( although I was the only one who thought it was a bit salty). I added cooked rice noodles and mushrooms…and would do that again! Scrambled eggs would be a nice addition as well. So versatile!
I think I am going to experiment using this as an appetizer serving it with wonton cups ( bake them in a mini muffin tin)
I’m so glad I tried this recipe! Love, love ,love, love it!
Your additions sound great, Sandy! Thanks so much!
5 STARS! This is by far my favorite egg roll in a bowl recipe I have tried. I think some of the other recipes have you add in the sesame oil and rice vinegar at the end and it never tasted quite right. This one is perfect though. I added a couple of La Choy Chow Mein Noodles on top and added a dab or two of the Dynasty Chinese mustard for a little heat. Next time I am going to try a little duck sauce with it. Thank you for an amazing recipe!
Thanks so much, Cat!!!
I’ve tried a few of these recipes and this one is my keeper! After experimenting with different meats (chicken, pork, beef) I use Johnsonville ground Italian sausage. It’s so tasty and the sauce just adds to it. At the end, I like to fry an egg and put it on top. I mean, it is an egg roll bowl, right? Lol.
Great tip, Marie! The sausage (and egg) sounds delicious!
Tonight I am mixing it up with taco meat with a dollop of sour cream on top. Adding the onions and a bit of salsa. Black olives perhaps.
So good! Easy and delicious. I was short on the cabbage mix and added riced broccoli. It worked well. This will be a frequent dish at our house.
My husband and I made this the other night! Instead of cabbage we used broccoli slaw mix, added eggs and some bean sprouts. Super delicious!
Sounds perfect! Thanks, Kim!
sorry about the typoes – ( I cant see the screen)
Does anyone think this recipe could be frozen for lunches?
I’ve made this twice since finding this a couple weeks ago- perfect easy and quick recipe! I double the soy sauce and sesame oil and leave out the vinegar and it’s still awesome…. thank you for the recipe!
Super easy to make and very delicious. I made it yesterday and took a serving with me today for lunch and it heated up nicely. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks, Kendra! 🙂
This was sooooo good! And my kids are every bite, too! I omitted onions but that was the only change.
Yay! That’s the best — when your kids agree that a healthy dinner is delicious! 🙂
i made this in my instant pot. after cooking the meat, i just put all the other ingredients (except the sesame oil) into the pot, and set the cook time for 1 minute. then i added the sesame oil right before serving.
i topped it with crunchy chow mein noodles.
Awesome! Great idea, Kerri. Thank you!
Love this dish. My husband gave it ” a 2 thumbs up” & we have been enjoying ever since. I have shared it with family & friends.It’s a perfect one dish meal, but even better on top of rice or noodles..
I dont have ground meat on hand. I’m guessing bite size chicken thighs would work???
Yes, I think that should work fine! 🙂
This was so good I ate all the leftovers for breakfast. I made it with turkey, but next time will try it with pork. I didn’t have any Hoisin sauce on hand, but felt it could’ve used it. My BF doesn’t know what Hoisin sauce is and didn’t miss it – he thought it was well-balanced as is. (I added a few pinches of sugar to make up for what I felt was the missing sweetness.)
I also added a lb of medium shrimp, cut in half (precooked, added back with the coleslaw), and some white mushrooms (cut in half, par-cooked, added back with the coleslaw), along with a few more shakes of soy sauce. I didn’t add the carrots, since there were already carrots in the coleslaw mix.
I topped it with Sriracha sesame seeds, and when i had it this morning, I added some Sriracha sauce.
SO GOOD! I can’t wait to make it again. So addicting!
That’s wonderful! Thank you! I agree that the hoisin sauce is an important addition. Gotta have that sweet touch! 🙂
P.S. I only have one problem with this recipe 🙂 Your notes say “Cooking Just for Two? Cut the ingredients in half! The cooking instructions remain the same.” NO!! Make the whole batch! You’ll be sorry you didn’t! 🙂 I can’t wait to make this again. Thanks again!!
I absolutely agree!!
Hah! Thank you! I agree — I just ate the cold leftovers for lunch yesterday and they were delicious (as usual). 🙂
Made this with broccoli slaw instead of coleslaw. Amazing recipe.
Thanks, Wannita!