Crispy chicken cheese taquitos (Printable)

Golden taquitos filled with shredded chicken and cheese, air fried to crispy perfection and served with fresh toppings.

# 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)
11 - Olive oil spray

→ Serving (optional)

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

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine shredded chicken, cheddar, Monterey Jack cheeses, salsa, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl; mix thoroughly.
02 - Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until pliable.
03 - Place approximately 2 tablespoons of filling along the center of each tortilla, roll tightly, and position seam-side down.
04 - Set air fryer to 400°F; preheat for 3 minutes.
05 - Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil, then arrange taquitos in a single layer with space between; spray tops lightly with olive oil.
06 - Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway, until crispy and golden brown.
07 - Serve immediately with optional toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cilantro, and lime wedges.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • They crisp up in under ten minutes with barely any oil, so you get that satisfying crunch without the guilt.
  • The filling is so forgiving you can make it while half-watching something on your phone, then roll and cook before anyone notices you haven't started dinner.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully in the air fryer, staying crispy instead of turning sad and chewy like oven reheats tend to do.
02 -
  • If you skip the oil spray on top, you'll end up with pale, sad taquitos that taste fine but look like they've been steamed, not fried, so please don't skip this step.
  • Room-temperature filling is easier to work with than cold, so pull it together a few minutes before you start rolling if you can.
  • The halfway turn is not optional; taquitos need to brown on both sides, and if you skip it you'll have a crispy bottom and a pale top.
03 -
  • If your air fryer runs hot, start checking them at the eight-minute mark so you don't end up with charred edges.
  • Brushing the tortillas very lightly with oil before rolling gives you even crispier results than just spraying the finished rolls, though it takes an extra minute of prep.
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