Crispy chicken cheese taquitos (Printable)

Crispy chicken and cheese taquitos, air fried for a golden, flavorful finish with classic Mexican spices.

# What You'll Need:

→ Filling

01 - 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie or poached)
02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
04 - 1/2 cup salsa (mild or medium)
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
07 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Assembly

10 - 12 small corn or flour tortillas (6-inch diameter)
11 - Olive oil spray

→ Serving (optional)

12 - Sour cream
13 - Guacamole
14 - Chopped cilantro
15 - Lime wedges
16 - Salsa

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, mix shredded chicken, cheddar, Monterey Jack, salsa, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until fully integrated.
02 - Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 20–30 seconds until pliable.
03 - Place about 2 tablespoons of filling along the center of each tortilla, roll tightly, and set seam-side down.
04 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
05 - Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil. Place taquitos in a single layer, seam-side down, leaving space between each.
06 - Lightly spray the tops of the taquitos with olive oil.
07 - Cook for 8–10 minutes, turning halfway through, until taquitos are golden and crisp.
08 - Serve immediately with optional toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cilantro, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're ready in 25 minutes total, perfect for nights when you want something that tastes indulgent but doesn't demand hours in the kitchen.
  • The air fryer does the heavy lifting, giving you that perfect crunch without deep frying, so your kitchen doesn't smell like oil for three days.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully, and you can prep the filling ahead and roll them fresh whenever hunger strikes.
02 -
  • Don't skip the oil spray on top; that's what gives you the crispy exterior, and taquitos without that crunch are just warm tortilla rolls.
  • If your filling feels too loose or wet, drain some salsa or pat the chicken dry with paper towels before mixing, because excess moisture steams the tortillas instead of crisping them.
03 -
  • Lightly brush the tortillas with oil before rolling if you want extra crispiness and don't mind a few more calories of deliciousness.
  • Arrange the taquitos so they're not touching in the air fryer basket, and flip them with tongs halfway through so you get even browning on all sides.
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