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Homemade Air Fryer Taquitos combine seasoned shredded chicken and cheese rolled in a corn tortilla and fried to perfection in the air fryer.
There’s no need to buy taquitos frozen when you can make them so easily at home with just a few ingredients. These are perfect for a snack or even a full meal. They get so crispy and yummy in the air fryer.
Why You’ll Love It
- Easy Assembly: With just a few simple steps—shredding the chicken, seasoning, rolling, and air frying—you’ll have delicious taquitos ready in no time.
- Crispy Perfection: Achieve a satisfying crunch without deep frying, thanks to the air fryer, resulting in golden-brown, crispy taquitos.
- Healthier Option: Using the air fryer reduces oil intake while still achieving a satisfying crispness, making these taquitos a healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried versions.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – Alternatively, you can use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- Seasonings – chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper
- Small corn tortillas – Corn tortillas are the traditional way to make taquitos. If you want to use flour tortillas that’s fine too, but they are referred to as flautas. Make sure they are fresh to avoid cracking when rolling.
- Shredded cheese – I usually use cheddar, but you can experiment with different cheese blends or use Monterey Jack or Oaxacan cheese.
- Cooking Spray or Oil
Equipment Information
- Air fryer: I use the 5.5-quart Ninja MaxXL basket-style air fryer. Angie uses this 5-quart Cosori Pro LE air fryer. We also both occasionally use the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill that has an air fryer setting.
- Kitchen tongs: It’s very easy to remove food from your air fryer with kitchen tongs. I use these kitchen tongs that are silicon coated so they don’t scratch the interior.
Helpful Tips
- Heat the corn tortillas briefly on a skillet with a touch of oil to make them pliable for rolling.
- Secure the rolled taquitos with toothpicks if needed to prevent them from unraveling in the air fryer.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook the taquitos in batches to avoid overcrowding and ensure they cook evenly. Ensure the taquitos are placed in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with space between them for even cooking.
How to Make Homemade Air Fryer Taquitos
Step 1: Cook, shred and season chicken
Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket. Cook at 380°F (195°C) for 12-15 mins, until the chicken reaches 165°F (75°C) internal temperature. Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let cool for a few mins until it can be shredded with two forks.
In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to ensure the chicken is evenly seasoned.
Step 2: Assemble the taquitos
Warm the corn tortillas in the microwave for a few seconds to make them pliable.
Place a spoonful of the seasoned shredded chicken and a sprinkle of shredded cheese on each tortilla. Roll the tortillas tightly into cigar shapes. Secure them with toothpicks if it feels necessary to hold them together.
Lightly spray or brush the taquitos with cooking spray or oil to help them crisp up in the air fryer.
Step 3: Air fry
Arrange the taquitos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching each other. You might need to cook them in batches.
Air fry the taquitos on 375°F(190°C) for 8-10 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
Dipping Sauces
For taquitos, you’ve got a range of dipping sauces that can really elevate their flavor.
- Guacamole: Offers a creamy, rich texture with a fresh touch.
- Salsa (Red or Green): Adds a tangy zing that complements the taquitos’ crispiness.
- Sour Cream (with Lime or Cilantro): Provides a cool, tangy contrast to the spices.
- Chipotle Mayo: Delivers a smoky and slightly spicy kick.
How to Store & Reheat
Once cooled to room temperature, store any leftover taquitos in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Consume the refrigerated taquitos within 3-4 days for the best quality.
Reheating
Air Fryer: For optimal crispiness, reheat the taquitos in the air fryer at 350°F(175°C) for 5-8 minutes until they’re heated through and crispy.
Oven: Alternatively, preheat your oven to 350°F(175°C), place the taquitos on a baking sheet, and bake for 10-12 minutes or until they’re thoroughly heated.
Questions About the Recipe
How can I prevent the taquitos from getting soggy?
To prevent sogginess, ensure that the tortillas are warmed just enough to make them pliable for rolling but not excessively hot. Additionally, avoid overfilling the taquitos as excess moisture from the filling can lead to sogginess. Lightly spraying or brushing the taquitos with oil before air frying also helps maintain crispiness.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Swap the chicken for cooked black beans, refried beans, sautéed vegetables, or a combination of these for a vegetarian version.
What are the best dipping sauces to serve with these taquitos?
Some popular dipping options include salsa (red or green), guacamole, sour cream, chipotle mayo, or a tangy cilantro-lime crema.
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Homemade Air Fryer Taquitos
Equipment
- Kitchen Tongs
Ingredients
- 3/4 pound (340 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon (2 g) salt
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) black pepper
- 12 corn tortillas
- 1 cup (112 g) shredded cheese such as cheddar or Monterey Jack
- Cooking spray or oil for brushing
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket. Cook at 380°F (195°C) for 12-15 mins, until the chicken reaches 165°F (75°C) internal temperature. Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let cool for a few mins until it can be shredded with two forks.
- In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to ensure the chicken is evenly seasoned.
- Warm the corn tortillas between a damp paper towel in the microwave for a few seconds to make them pliable.
- Place a spoonful of the chicken and a sprinkle of cheese on each tortilla. Roll the tortillas tightly into cigar shapes. Secure them with toothpicks if it feels necessary to hold them together.
- Lightly spray or brush the taquitos with cooking spray or oil to help them crisp up in the air fryer.
- Arrange the taquitos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching each other. You might need to cook them in batches.
- Air fry the taquitos on 375°F(190°C) for 8-10 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve the air fryer taquitos with your favorite dipping sauces such as salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.
Notes
- Heat the corn tortillas briefly on a skillet with a touch of oil to make them pliable for rolling.
- Secure the rolled taquitos with toothpicks if needed to prevent them from unraveling in the air fryer.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook the taquitos in batches to avoid overcrowding and ensure they cook evenly. Ensure the taquitos are placed in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with space between them for even cooking.
All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.
Nutrition
Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.