Chicken Taquitos

These crispy, golden chicken taquitos are where comfort food meets satisfaction! They’re filled with tender shredded chicken and three different cheeses for the ultimate treat.

As a bonus, they deliver restaurant-quality flavor right from your kitchen!

Fry them for a traditional, authentic Mexican feel.

Or bake them or pop them in the air fryer for a lighter option. Either way, your guests will devour them! 

Why You’ll Love These Chicken Taquitos

Crispy, Cheesy Delights: The golden, crispy tortillas and rich, cheesy filling are an excellent combination. They deliver a delightful texture and taste that satisfies even the pickiest eaters.

Time-Saver: These are perfect for meal-prepping. You can make them in advance, freeze them, and store them for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to prepare them, just pop them in whatever appliance you use! 

Customizable: Prefer them fried, baked, or air-fried? Doesn’t matter! This recipe adapts seamlessly to your time and kitchen setup. It offers flexibility without compromising on crispness or taste. 

Ingredients

• Cooked, Shredded Chicken: I typically pick up a rotisserie chicken for convenience. But you can cook it yourself if you prefer.

• Cheeses: Tangy cheddar melts beautifully and adds a robust, creamy texture and sharp flavor. Monterey Jack is mild and buttery with terrific melting properties. Cream cheese is the soft, rich finishing touch. It’s velvety smooth and binds the filling together. 

• Salsa or Enchilada Sauce: Zesty and spicy, it provides moisture, acidity, and a fresh, earthy flavor. 

• Seasonings: Garlic and onion powders provide depth. Chili powder and cumin add warmth and southwestern authenticity. Finish things off with salt and pepper to dial up the flavor. 

• Chopped Fresh Cilantro: It’s optional for a bright, herbaceous, and slightly citrusy flavor. 

• Small Corn Tortillas: They’re soft enough to roll easily but crisp up nicely when baked or fried. 

• Toppings: Use whatever you like. Sour cream is cool and creamy. Guacamole adds a traditional Mexican flair. You can also add salsa, extra chopped cilantro, and more. 

How to Make Chicken Taquitos

Despite their authentic, homemade taste, these chicken taquitos aren’t hard to make. In fact, the recipe includes just five steps.

1. Make the filling. Mix the chicken, cheese, sour cream, salsa, and seasonings in a large mixing bowl. Continue until well combined, adding cilantro if desired. 

2. Heat the tortillas. Wrap them in a damp paper towel and pop them in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. 

3. Assemble. Add 2 tablespoons of the filling to the bottom third of each tortilla. Roll them tightly, securing them with a toothpick if needed. 

4. Cook. Use your preferred method (frying, baking, or air frying) to cook the taquitos. See the recipe card below for detailed instructions on each method.

5. Serve. Serve the crispy taquitos with desired toppings, and enjoy! 

Tips for the Best Chicken Taquitos

These tips will help ensure your taquitos come out perfectly every time: 

• The finer, the better. If you have a stand mixer to shred the chicken, that works well. If not, use shredder claws (available from Amazon) or two forks. The more finely you shred the pieces, the more cohesive and even the filling will be. 

• Keep things even. Combine all the ingredients as thoroughly as possible. A hand mixer will make this process easier. 

• Don’t overfill! Each taquito needs only about 2 tablespoons of filling. If you add more than that, the tortillas will likely split while cooking. Additionally, overfilled tortillas can cause the taquitos to cook unevenly. 

• Work in batches. If frying (or air frying), avoid overcrowding the pan or basket. Cook only a few at a time to ensure even cooking and maximum crispiness. 

• Flip only once! This tip really only applies to baking and air frying. Flip each taquito once about halfway through the cooking time. That will ensure both sides are uniformly crisp. 

• Ditch the excess oil. When frying, always place taquitos on paper towels to remove excess oil.

• Have fun and experiment. Pair the taquitos with salsas, queso, chipotle aioli, or a zesty lime crema for dipping. You can also add other ingredients to the filling to suit your tastes. Black beans, roasted corn, and diced green chilies are always a good addition. 

How to Store

Have leftover taquitos? No problem!

To Store: Let them cool completely, then pop them in an air-tight container. Refrigerate them for up to 4 days. 

To Freeze: Place uncooked taquitos on a parchment-lined baking sheet without touching each other. Freeze for 30-60 minutes, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. 

To Reheat: Place refrigerated taquitos directly on the oven rack at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Or air fry them for 7 to 8 minutes at 375 degrees. For frozen taquitos, simply use your preferred cooking method according to the recipe. Cook them from frozen, adding a few minutes to the cooking time.