Description
These Air Fryer Taquitos are crispy on the outside, cheesy and flavorful on the inside, packed with shredded rotisserie chicken, and ready in just 23 minutes. Perfect as a tasty appetizer, snack, or main course with a delicious Mexican flair.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup yellow onion, minced
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken recommended)
- 4 ounce can diced green chilies
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 cups pepper jack cheese, shredded
Taquitos
- 12 six-inch flour tortillas (fajita size)
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Cook the onion: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the minced onion. Sauté for 4 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Prepare the filling: Add the shredded chicken, diced green chilies, cilantro, and taco seasoning to the skillet with the onions. Stir well, cooking together for 2-3 minutes to blend flavors. Remove from heat and stir in the shredded pepper jack cheese until melted and combined.
- Warm the tortillas: Stack the tortillas and wrap them in damp paper towels. Microwave on high for 60 seconds to make them pliable and easy to roll.
- Assemble the taquitos: Place 3-4 tablespoons of the chicken mixture in the center of each tortilla. Roll tightly from one edge to form a cylindrical shape. Repeat until all tortillas are filled and rolled.
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 400°F and allow it to preheat fully before cooking.
- Air fry the taquitos (first side): Place the taquitos seam-side down in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, leaving space for air circulation. Spray the tops lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Cook at 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Flip and continue cooking: Carefully turn the taquitos over with tongs, spray the other side lightly with cooking spray, and cook for another 5 minutes until golden brown and crispy on all sides.
- Serve and enjoy: Remove the taquitos from the air fryer and serve hot with your choice of salsa, sour cream, chipotle sauce, or guacamole for dipping.
Notes
- Ensure taquitos are rolled tightly to prevent them from opening during cooking.
- If taquitos are not crispy enough, cook for an additional 1-2 minutes per side in the air fryer.
- Spraying with cooking spray before air frying is key for browning and crispiness.
- Oven alternative: Bake at 425°F (preferably convection) on a foil-lined sheet, spray with cooking spray, bake 7 minutes, flip, spray again, and bake another 7 minutes.
- For gluten free, substitute flour tortillas with corn or gluten free tortillas.
- To make spicy taquitos, use hot green chilies and/or add 2-3 teaspoons hot sauce or cook minced jalapeno/serrano with onions.
- Variations: use beef, cheese, soyrizo, or bean and cheese fillings following the same cooking method.
- Uncooked prepared taquitos can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen up to 3 months; add 2 minutes cooking time per side when cooking from frozen.
- Leftover cooked taquitos can be stored refrigerated up to 5 days and reheated in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes per side at 400°F.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taquito
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
