Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos

Name: Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie works great); 4 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1 cup shredded Mexican-blend cheese; 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños, chopped; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 8 small flour tortillas (6-inch); Cooking spray or olive oil spray

Published by Fork Around & Find Out Kitchen — presented in the Lila editorial voice. Editorial standards

Quick Answer

Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos roll a creamy, spiced chicken filling into tortillas and air fry until crisp and golden -- no deep fryer required.

Jump to Recipe

A taquito is basically a tortilla being asked to keep a secret under pressure, so rolling matters. These air fryer chicken taquitos start with shredded cooked chicken mixed with softened cream cheese, Mexican-blend cheese, pickled jalapeños, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt. Warming the flour tortillas for a few seconds makes them flexible enough to roll tightly around that creamy, spicy filling without cracking. Keep the filling to about two or three tablespoons per tortilla; enthusiasm is admirable, but overstuffing is how cheese ends up touring the inside of your air fryer.

Arrange the rolled taquitos seam-side down, mist all sides with cooking spray, and air fry at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. The oil is a small detail with a big job: it helps the tortilla turn golden and crisp instead of drying into something closer to edible stationery. Let them sit for two minutes when they come out so the filling settles, then bring in salsa, guacamole, or sour cream. They work as dinner, a game-day snack, or the kind of appetizer that mysteriously becomes dinner after everybody eats six.

Prep15 minutes

Cook12 minutes

Total27 minutes

Serves4 servings

DifficultyEasy

Ingredients

Servings

2 cups shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie works great)
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded Mexican-blend cheese
1/4 cup pickled jalapeños, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
8 small flour tortillas (6-inch)
Cooking spray or olive oil spray

Instructions

1Mix the shredded chicken, cream cheese, shredded cheese, jalapeños, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt in a bowl until everything is evenly combined.
2Warm the tortillas in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds so they are pliable and won't crack when you roll them.
3Spoon about 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling along the edge of each tortilla, then roll up tightly and place seam-side down.
4Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Spray the taquitos on all sides with cooking spray and arrange seam-side down in a single layer in the basket.
5Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the tortillas are golden and crispy all over.
6Let them cool for 2 minutes, then serve with salsa, guacamole, or sour cream for dipping.

Nutrition Information

Estimated per serving: 1 of 4 servings.

550Calories

34 gProtein

38 gCarbohydrates

29 gTotal Fat

14 gSaturated Fat

3 gFiber

3 gTotal Sugars

1110 mgSodium

120 mgCholesterol

Estimated from the ingredients and quantities in this recipe using standard food-composition values. Brand choices, trimming, cooking loss, optional ingredients, and actual portion size can change the numbers. How we calculate nutrition estimates.

Pro Tips

Roll the taquitos as tight as you can -- loose rolls puff open in the air fryer and the filling escapes. Nobody wants cheese on the heating element.
Use toothpicks to hold the seam closed if they keep unrolling, just remember to remove them before someone bites down.
Don't skip the cooking spray. A bare tortilla in an air fryer goes from pale to leathery without ever passing through golden-brown territory.

Substitutions

cream cheese → dairy-free cream cheese or mashed avocado Dairy-free cream cheese melts similarly. Avocado won't melt but adds creaminess.

flour tortillas → corn tortillas Corn tortillas crack more easily, so warm them well and double them up for strength.

chicken → seasoned black beans or shredded pork Black beans make a solid vegetarian version. Pork carnitas filling is outstanding here.

Storage Instructions

Store cooked taquitos in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes to get the crispiness back -- the microwave will make them soggy.

Make Ahead

You can assemble the taquitos up to a day ahead and store them uncooked on a parchment-lined sheet in the fridge. You can also freeze them flat on a baking sheet, then transfer to a zip-top bag for up to 2 months. Air fry from frozen at 400°F for 12 to 14 minutes.

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