Air Fryer Taquitos: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Taquitos are a delicious snack or meal, and you can easily make them in an air fryer! You can use corn or flour tortillas, and fill them with chicken, beef, or cheese. The air fryer gives you perfect, crispy taquitos in just 6-10 minutes. You can also experiment with different fillings and seasonings to make them vegetarian, spicy, or gluten-free. They're a great option for a quick and easy meal or snack that's healthier than deep-fried taquitos, with no oily cleanup required.

How to make chicken taquitos in an air fryer

Taquitos are a great, tasty, and easy-to-make dish that you can cook in an air fryer. Here is a detailed recipe for making chicken taquitos in an air fryer.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons diced onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped green chiles
• 2 tablespoons Mexican-style hot tomato sauce
• 1 cup shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken saves time, but you can use home-cooked chicken)
• 1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
• 2 tablespoons Neufchâtel cheese
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• Avocado oil cooking spray
• 6-inch flour tortillas (or corn tortillas)

Method:

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent (3 to 5 minutes).
• Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).
• Add green chiles and Mexican tomato sauce, stirring to combine.
• Add shredded chicken, Mexican cheese blend, and Neufchâtel cheese. Cook and stir until the cheeses have melted and the mixture is warmed through (about 3 minutes). Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat tortillas in a skillet or directly on the grates of a gas stove until soft and pliable.
• Place 3 tablespoons of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Fold over and roll into taquitos.
• Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
• Place the taquitos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch. Mist with avocado oil.
• Cook until golden brown (6 to 9 minutes).
• Turn the taquitos over, mist with avocado oil again, and air fry until crispy (3 to 5 minutes).

You can serve these chicken taquitos with sides like sour cream, Mexican tomato sauce, and guacamole, or choose your favorite sides. Enjoy!

How to make beef taquitos in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Ground beef (you can use 80/20 ground beef, or extra lean if preferred)
• Corn tortillas (yellow or white)
• Seasoning: paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, parsley flakes, and kosher salt
• Olive oil or avocado oil (for brushing the tacos)
• Shredded cheddar cheese (or any good melting cheese)
• Queso fresco (crumbled)
• Guacamole
• Salsa
• Toothpicks

Method:

• Start by spraying a medium-sized skillet with cooking spray and cooking the ground beef over medium heat.
• Add all your seasonings: paprika, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley flakes, and salt.
• Cook the beef until it is no longer pink, which should take around 10 minutes. Drain the excess fat and set the beef aside.
• Heat the corn tortillas in the microwave for 30-40 seconds, doing this in batches.
• Once the tortillas are warm and pliable, start adding the ground beef, sprinkling about 2 tablespoons of cheese, and roll.
• Place a toothpick in the middle of each taquito to prevent them from unrolling.
• Set the taquitos aside and keep rolling until you've used up all your ingredients.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
• Place the rolled ground beef taquitos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, and spray with cooking spray or brush with olive/avocado oil on all sides.
• Air fry for 7 minutes in batches at 400°F, checking the basket midway and spraying with more cooking oil if needed.
• Once the taquitos are done, place them on a serving platter and remove the toothpicks before serving.
• Serve with crumbled queso fresco, lettuce, guacamole, and salsa.

Tips:

• You can also use flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas if preferred.
• You can substitute shredded mozzarella for the filling instead of cheddar cheese.
• For extra toppings, try adding pico de gallo, sour cream, Mexican crema, cilantro, and onion.
• If you don't have an air fryer, you can deep fry the taquitos in vegetable or canola oil, or bake them in the oven at 425°F.

How to make vegetarian taquitos in an air fryer

Yes, you can make vegetarian taquitos in an air fryer. Here is a recipe for you to try:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 cup thinly sliced yellow onion
• 1 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
• 1 cup thinly sliced poblano pepper
• 1 cup roughly chopped fresh green beans
• 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added black beans, rinsed
• 1 ½ tablespoons 25%-less sodium taco seasoning mix
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
• 12 (6-inch) white corn tortillas
• 1 cup refrigerated pico de gallo
• Cooking spray
• Guacamole (optional)

Method:

• Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, poblano, and green beans. Cook, stirring often, until tender-crisp, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in the black beans, water, and taco seasoning. Continue cooking, stirring often, until the juices thicken, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, combine the avocado, cilantro, and lime juice. Stir to mash until mostly smooth. Set aside, uncovered, at room temperature, until ready to serve.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
• Stir the cheese into the vegetable mixture until evenly combined.
• Wrap 3 tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave on high until warm, about 20 seconds.
• Place the warmed tortillas on a work surface. Spoon about 1/3 cup of the veggie mixture into the center of each tortilla and roll up tightly. Place them seam-side down on the work surface. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
• Arrange 4 to 6 taquitos, seam-side down, about 1/2 inch apart in the air fryer basket. Lightly coat with cooking spray.
• Cook for 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway through and coating with additional cooking spray, until well browned and crispy.
• Transfer the cooked taquitos to a plate and loosely cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat the process with the remaining taquitos.
• Serve the taquitos with the guacamole, pico de gallo, and additional cilantro, if desired.

How to make taquitos in an air fryer from frozen

Taquitos are a perfect snack or appetizer and can be made in an air fryer from frozen in just 10 minutes. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make taquitos in an air fryer from frozen:

Ingredients:

• Frozen taquitos (any brand or filling of your choice)
• Oil or cooking spray
• Optional toppings: shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, shredded cheese, etc.

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 375°F to 400°F. If your air fryer does not require preheating, skip this step.
• Place the frozen taquitos in a single layer at the bottom of the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overlapping.
• Spray the taquitos generously with oil or cooking spray. This will help them achieve a golden-brown colour and crispiness.
• Air fry the taquitos for 7 to 11 minutes, or until they are fully cooked and golden brown. The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer brand and style.
• Once done, carefully remove the taquitos from the air fryer using tongs and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.

Tips:

• For extra crispy taquitos, consider flipping them halfway through the cooking process and respraying with oil.
• You can serve taquitos with various toppings, such as salsa, sour cream, guacamole, shredded cheese, and more.
• Taquitos can also be served as a main dish with sides like Spanish rice and seasoned black beans.

Enjoy your delicious, crispy taquitos straight out of your air fryer!

How to make gluten-free taquitos in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Gluten-free tortillas (corn tortillas or gluten-free flour tortillas)
• Filling of your choice (e.g., chicken, beef, cheese, veggies)
• Spices and seasonings (e.g., taco seasoning, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder)
• Oil (e.g., avocado oil, olive oil)
• Optional toppings and dips (e.g., salsa, sour cream, guacamole)

Step-by-Step Guide:

Prepare your filling:

• For a chicken filling, you can use shredded rotisserie chicken or cook chicken breasts and shred them.
• Season the chicken with spices like taco seasoning, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder
• You can also add in diced onions, green chilies, and fresh cilantro for more flavor.
• Mix in shredded cheese, such as Monterey Jack, cheddar, or pepper jack.

Assemble the taquitos:

• Wrap a stack of tortillas in damp paper towels and microwave them for about 20-60 seconds to soften them and make them pliable.
• Place 2-4 tablespoons of the filling in the center of each tortilla, depending on its size.
• Gently roll the tortilla tightly over the filling, starting at the filled end.
• Use a toothpick to secure the taquito and prevent it from unrolling.

Air-fry the taquitos:

• Preheat your air fryer to 380-400°F.
• Place the taquitos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, seam-side down, making sure they are not touching.
• Spray the taquitos with avocado oil or brush them with olive oil to help them crisp up.
• Air fry for 4-10 minutes, depending on your air fryer. You may need to cook them in batches.
• Flip the taquitos halfway through the cooking time and spray or brush with more oil if desired.

Serve and enjoy:

• Taquitos are best served hot and crispy.
• You can serve them with various dips and toppings, such as salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or Mexican crema.
• They make a great appetizer, snack, or even a main dish.

Frequently asked questions