Homemade Chicken Taquitos Recipe (Oven, Air Fryer or Fried)

Name: Easy Homemade Chicken Taquitos Recipe (Oven, Stovetop and Air Fryer Methods)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 cups chicken (cooked and shredded); 1/4 cup salsa; 1/4 cup cream cheese ((4 ounces)); 1/4 cup sour cream; 2 cups Mexican cheese blend (shredded); 1 1/2 cups baby spinach (chopped); 4 ounces canned green chilis; 1/2 tsp cumin; 1/4 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp chili powder; 8 6-inch flour tortillas (or use corn or uncooked tortillas); 1 Tbsp oil (avocado or canola oil); guacamole; sour cream; salsa; fresh cilantro (chopped)

Platter with 7 cooked chicken taquitos in a row covered in salsa, guacamole and sour cream.

Learn how to make the most delicious chicken taquitos. Packed with flavor and nutrients, these are the best taquitos. Instructions included for cooking in the oven, air fryer or stovetop.

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Make homemade chicken taquitos with this easy taquitos recipe. Instructions are included for oven baked taquitos, cooking taquitos in air fryer and stove top fried taquitos. Homemade taquitos are easier than you think! Easy air fryer taquitos or oven baked taquitos make a great weeknight meal or serve for Taco Tuesday.

If you love Mexican food try my homemade chicken enchiladas. The red sauce is delicious! Or make a crockpot taco soup on days when you don’t have a lot of time!

What Is The Difference Between Taquito vs Flauta

The origin of taquitos is traced back to the San Diego area. The origin of flautas is unknown. You can find fried rolled taquito style dishes (tacos dorados) in many parts of Mexico as well as the United States.

Traditionally, a flauta is made from a burrito size flour tortilla. Traditional taquitos are made from 6-inch corn tortillas. This recipe can be made with any type of tortilla. Images show flour tortillas, as my family prefers. We usually use uncooked flour tortillas or uncooked almond flour tortillas for a gluten free option.

You can deep fry or bake (or air fry) both flautas or taquitos. Both are crispy golden brown when cooked.

Why You’ll Love These Cheesy Chicken Taquitos

Flavor: These will be the best taquitos you’ve ever eaten! The combination of flavors in perfect.
Nutrition: About 300 calories per taquito. High in protein, Vitamin A and Calcium.
Time: Prep time takes only 10 minutes! Cook time varies depending on the method.
Cooking Method: Instructions included for air fryer, oven baked and fried on the stovetop.
Diet: Gluten Free (use gluten-free corn or almond tortillas)

Stacked cooked chicken taquitos on a platter.a

Store Bought Frozen Taquitos: Follow these instructions to cook air fryer frozen taquitos.

Ingredients

For a full printable ingredients list and instructions are in the recipe card below.

Taquito Ingredients

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (see below to learn how to cook chicken)
¼ cup salsa
¼ cup cream cheese, softened
¼ cup sour cream (you can substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese or Mexican cheese
1 ½ cups baby spinach leaves , chopped
¼ cup canned green chilis
½ teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
8-10 6-inch flour tortillas, almond flour tortillas or corn tortillas (this works well with uncooked tortillas as well)
2 Tablespoons oil (avocado oil, corn oil or canola oil is recommended. I do not recommend using olive oil)

Spice substitution: You can substitute 2 teaspoons of taco seasoning for the cumin, garlic powder and chili powder if you prefer.

Garnish:

Guacamole
sour cream
Salsa
Cilantro

Ground Beef Variation

Substitute 2 cups of cooked ground beef to make beef taquitos. Assemble beef taquito with beef filling as directed below.

Gluten Free Variation

Most of these ingredients are naturally gluten free. Make sure that your work surface and utensils are free from cross contamination. Substitute flour tortillas for corn tortillas that are specifically gluten free. Double check that any spices you use do not have any gluten additives.

Chicken taquitos ingredients image with labeled ingredients.

How To Make Shredded Chicken

I like to use Costco rotisserie chicken for these homemade air fryer taquitos but making shredded chicken breast is very easy.

Crockpot: Place 2-3 thawed chicken breasts in a slow cooker with 1 cup of chicken stock. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 7-8 hours. Use an instant read meat thermometer to make sure chicken is 165°F. Shred with two forks.

Instant Pot: Place 2-3 chicken breasts in an Instant Pot with ½ cup of chicken stock. Seal and set pressure cooker to high pressure for 10 minutes. Do a quick release. Internal temperature of the chicken should be 165°F. Shred with 2 forks.

Oven: Place 2-3 chicken breasts in a casserole dish. Cover the dish with foil. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165°F. Shred with 2 forks.

Instructions

Full step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below. You can print or save to Pinterest for later.

Assemble Taquitos

Chicken taquitos ingredients (except chicken) in a mixing bowl.

Step 1 – Make Sauce Mixture: In a large bowl, combine salsa, cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped spinach, green chilis, cumin, garlic powder and chili powder. Stir to combine.

Chicken added to taquitos ingredients in a bowl.

Step 2 – Add Chicken: Add the shredded chicken and stir to mix cheesy chicken filling.

Step 3 – Fill Tortillas: Spoon 3-4 tablespoons of chicken filling in a line along each tortilla.

Step 4 – Add Chicken: Using your hands, roll the tortilla tightly into a taquito shape. Assemble the remaining taquitos. Repeat until all the chicken mixture is gone. You will be able to assemble 6-8 tortillas.

How To Cook Taquitos In The Air Fryer

Place taquitos in a single layer in the air-fryer basket or air fryer tray. Brush or spray oil on the outside of the tortilla to help them crisp while cooking. Air fry at 325°F for 7-8 minutes, turning once while cooking. Depending on the size of the air fryer you may need to cook them in batches. Homemade air fryer chicken taquitos are the quickest way to cook your own taquitos. This method is especially great when you want to air fry taquitos (air fryer flautas) for just one or two people.

How To Fry Taquitos

Use a deep fryer or add about 1 ½ inches of oil to a large skillet and heat to medium-high. Once hot (the tortillas should sizzle immediately when added to the oil). Fry the taquitos in small batches, for a few seconds on each side, rotating them as they cook, until they are golden brown and crispy on all sides. Place them on a paper towel lined plate.

How To Bake Taquitos In The Oven

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line your baking dish or baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray to prevent taquitos from sticking.

Uncooked chicken taquitos in a baking dish.

Spray the tops of the tacos with oil, or brush them lightly with oil. Place taquitos on the baking sheet seam side down.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the shells are crispy. Turn once while cooking.

Tips for the Best Chicken Taquitos

Warm corn tortillas before filling. Wrap in a damp paper towel and microwave for 10 seconds to make soft and pliable.
Don’t skimp on the filling. Add plenty of filling to each taquito. They will be thicker than frozen taquitos you find in the freezer section of the grocery store.
If you are baking or air frying, brush the tops of the taquitos with oil. Avocado oil is my favorite.
Place seam side down when starting to cook. By the time you turn it over the cheesy filling will secure the taquito together so it doesn’t open up when you flip it over.
Cook until golden brown.

Serving

Serve homemade chicken taquitos recipe as an appetizer or main course. Serve your crispy taquitos with pico de gallo or salsa, guacamole, sour cream as a dipping sauce. Sprinkle with some cilantro.

Serve with Mexican rice and black beans or refried beans.

Make Ahead

Assemble your rolled taquitos but do not cook them if you are going to eat them later. Place in a ziploc bag or airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours or freeze for up to 3 months.

For best results, cook taquitos from frozen in the oven. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, turning once. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t get overly crispy. Use an instant read meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is 165°F. Frozen taquitos in air fryer can brown before the inside is hot if you’re not careful. If cooking from frozen in the air fryer cook for the first 5 minutes at 275°F to defrost. Increase the heat to 350° and cook until heated through and crispy.

Remove from the oven and serve while warm.

Storing

Store taquito leftovers wrapped in aluminum foil, in a ziploc bag or an airtight container. Place in the leftover taquitos in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating

Remove your homemade chicken taquitos from the fridge. Reheat in the air fryer or the oven on the original temperatures. Turn once while cooking. You can also reheat in the microwave. Microwave in 20 second intervals until warm.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get taquitos to stick together?

Place the seam side down when you begin to cook your taquito. It should stick together. If it doesn’t you can use a toothpick to keep them together.

How do you keep corn tortillas from crumbling?

Fresh corn tortillas are less likely to crumble than old tortillas. Heated corn tortillas are less likely to break as well. Wrap your corn tortilla in a damp paper towel and microwave for a few seconds to warm.

What are some tasty dipping sauces for chicken taquitos?

Some delicious dipping sauces for chicken taquitos include salsa, guacamole, sour cream, or a tangy chipotle mayo. Experiment with different flavors to find your favorite combination!

Easy Homemade Chicken Taquitos Recipe (Oven, Air Fryer or Fried)

What Is The Difference Between Taquito vs Flauta

Why You’ll Love These Cheesy Chicken Taquitos