Air Fryer Hack: Frozen Taquitos, Quick And Crispy!

Cooking frozen taquitos in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and delicious way to prepare this dish. The air fryer's ability to cook frozen taquitos to crispy perfection in a matter of minutes makes it a convenient option for snacks, lunches, dinners, or even as a party appetiser. The versatility of this cooking method allows you to choose from various fillings, including chicken, beef, cheese, or vegetarian options, and serve them with your favourite toppings and sides.

Air fryer settings and timings

The ideal air fryer settings and timings for frozen taquitos depend on the type of tortilla used and the desired level of crispiness. Here are the recommended settings and timings for cooking frozen taquitos in an air fryer:

Air Fryer Settings:

• Preheat the air fryer to the desired temperature. The recommended temperatures range from 350°F to 400°F. Some sources recommend 380°F as the ideal temperature.
• Prepare the air fryer basket by spraying it with a non-stick cooking spray if desired. This step is optional, as some sources suggest that it is unnecessary due to the presence of oil in frozen foods.
• Place the frozen taquitos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring that they are not stacked or overcrowded. Leave some space between each taquito to allow for even cooking and crispiness.

Air Fryer Timings:

• For corn tortillas: Cook for an initial 5 minutes, then check and continue cooking in 2-minute increments as needed. The total cooking time should not exceed 9 minutes.
• For flour tortillas: Cook for an initial 8 minutes, then check and continue cooking in 2-minute increments as needed. The total cooking time should not exceed 12 minutes.
• Regardless of the type of tortilla, the taquitos are ready when they are golden brown and have reached an internal temperature of 165°F. This usually takes around 7-11 minutes, but the exact time may vary depending on the air fryer and the brand of taquitos.
• If desired, flip the taquitos halfway through the cooking process and respray with oil for extra crispiness.
• If cooking multiple batches, work in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket and ensure even cooking.

Toppings and dips

Air fryer taquitos are a versatile dish that can be dressed up or down with various toppings and dips. While they are delicious on their own, adding toppings and dips can take your taquitos to the next level. Here are some ideas for toppings and dips to elevate your air fryer taquitos:

Toppings:

• Shredded Lettuce: Adding shredded lettuce to your taquitos can provide a crunchy texture and a fresh taste to complement the crispy shell.
• Cheese: Shredded cheese, especially a Mexican blend or cheddar, can melt over the taquitos for an extra indulgent treat.
• Salsa: Choose from traditional salsa, salsa roja, or salsa verde to add a spicy kick to your taquitos.
• Sour Cream: A dollop of sour cream can balance out the spice and add a creamy texture to your bite.
• Green Chilies: For those who like it hot, adding green chilies will bring an extra spicy punch.
• Guacamole: Avocado fans can enjoy the creamy texture and mild flavour of guacamole on their taquitos.
• Green Onions: For a fresh flavour with a bit of crunch, add some sliced green onions.
• Cilantro: Freshly chopped cilantro leaves will bring a bright, herbal flavour to your taquitos.
• Jalapeños: For those who really want to turn up the heat, add some sliced jalapeños to your taquitos.

Dips:

• Salsa: Whether it's traditional salsa, salsa roja, or salsa verde, this dip is a perfect match for taquitos, bringing a spicy kick to every bite.
• Sour Cream: Dip your taquitos in sour cream for a cool, creamy contrast to the crispy shell.
• Guacamole: For avocado lovers, guacamole makes an excellent dip, adding a creamy texture and a mild flavour.
• Hot Sauce: For those who like it extra spicy, a dash of hot sauce will do the trick.
• Mexican Street Corn Salad: This side dish, with a squeeze of lime, pairs perfectly with taquitos for a refreshing contrast to the crispy shell.

Reheating and storing leftovers

If you have leftover taquitos, you can reheat them in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F to 400°F. Place the leftover taquitos in the air fryer basket and cook for 2 to 4 minutes until they are heated all the way through.

Leftover taquitos should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consumed within 3 to 5 days.

If you are cooking several taquitos at once, work in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. It is important to ensure that there is space between each taquito so that the hot air can circulate and crisp them up on all sides.

Taquito fillings

Taquitos are a fun and delicious way to use leftovers. They are essentially rolled-up tacos, and they can be baked or fried. The fillings for taquitos are typically a combination of meat and cheese, with popular meats being chicken, beef, or pork.

For chicken taquitos, you can use leftover chicken or cook chicken breasts and shred them. You can also use rotisserie chicken for convenience. Add some taco seasoning, cumin, and chili powder to the chicken. For the cheese, you can use cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend. You can also add cream cheese, salsa, and sour cream or plain Greek yogurt to the filling. If you want to include some vegetables, you can add chopped spinach leaves.

If you prefer beef taquitos, you can season the meat with salt and pepper, chili powder, garlic, cumin, minced onion, and beef broth. Cook the meat until it's tender, and then shred it. You can also add some diced green chilies and garlic salt to the filling.

For pork taquitos, you can use the same seasonings as the beef taquitos and cook the pork until it's tender. Then, shred the pork and add it to the filling with some cheese and green chilies.

Once you've prepared your filling, place a large spoonful of it in a line along each tortilla and roll it up tightly. You can secure the taquitos with toothpicks if needed. You can then bake or fry your taquitos until they're golden and crispy.

Taquito types

Taquitos are a Mexican dish that consists of a small rolled-up tortilla with a filling. The tortilla is usually made with corn, but flour tortillas are also used. The filling typically includes beef, cheese, or chicken, but can also be substituted with shredded chicken or pork. They are often topped with condiments such as sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.

In the Mexican border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali, taquitos refer to small tacos sold in stands, rather than the rolled taco dish. In the US, the government has determined that taquitos must contain at least 15% meat.

There are a few different types of taquitos, which vary based on the filling and cooking method:

• Baked Taquitos: Bake the taquitos in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes or until the shells are crispy.
• Fried Taquitos: Fry the taquitos in a large skillet with about 1.5 inches of oil heated to medium-high. Fry in small batches for a few seconds on each side, rotating them as they cook, until they are golden and crispy on all sides.
• Slow Cooker Taquitos: Season the roast with salt and pepper and add chili powder, garlic, cumin, minced onion, beef broth, and salsa. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or until the meat is tender and shreds easily.
• Instant Pot Taquitos: Season the roast with salt and pepper and cut it into four large pieces. Place the seasoned meat in the instant pot and add chili powder, garlic, cumin, minced onion, beef broth, and salsa. Cook on manual/high pressure for 50 minutes.

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