Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
User Reviews
5
Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Description
This recipe starts by mixing room-temperature cream cheese with chipotles in adobo, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt to create a flavorful base. Cooked shredded chicken and a Mexican cheese blend are stirred in, forming the filling. Corn tortillas are softened in the microwave under a towel to prevent tearing, ensuring easy rolling.
The filling is placed vertically along one side of each tortilla and rolled tightly to form the taquitos. Air frying at 400°F crisps the tortillas while heating the filling thoroughly, lending a crunchy texture outside and creamy, smoky filling inside. If an air fryer is unavailable, the recipe can be baked at 375°F, flipping once to brown evenly.
Taquitos are served with optional garnishes like Mexican crema thinned with milk or sour cream, salsa, pico de gallo, sliced avocado or guacamole, and fresh cilantro. These provide contrast to the spicy and crisp taquitos and create a well-rounded snack or appetizer.
The quality and temperature of cream cheese are important to ease mixing without additional tools. Using rotisserie or prepared shredded chicken simplifies preparation.
Ingredients
Chicken Taquitos
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened very well to room temp*
- 2 chipotle in adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika regular paprika may be substituted
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups chicken cooked shredded
- 2 cups Mexican shredded cheese blend
- 15 corn tortillas
Garnishes (all optional)
- Mexican crema thinned with drops of milk if desired, or sour cream
- salsa
- Pico de Gallo
- avocado or guacamole
- cilantro
Instructions
Chicken Taquitos
- Preheat an XL air fryer or similar sized air fryer to 400F (or preheat an oven to 375F and spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray); set aside.
- To a large bowl, add the cream cheese, chipotles in adobo sauce, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Alternatively, if preferred you can use a handheld electric mixture but if your cream cheese is well softened, this shouldn't be necessary.
- Add the shredded chicken and mix to combine.
- Add the shredded cheese and mix to combine; set aside.
- Place the tortillas on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a thin dishtowel, and heat on high power for 30 seconds. The tortillas should now be soft and pliable and less prone to ripping or tearing. If not, heat in additional 10-second bursts until they are soft.
- Keep the softened tortillas under the dishtowel, and grab one tortilla, one-at-at-time, adding about 2 tablespoons of filling mixture vertically down one side, and roll it tightly to form a taquito.
- Repeat with about 7 to 8 tortillas and then place the 7 or 8 taquitos in the basket of an XL air fryer, not touching, and not crowded. Reduce the load in order to not touch or not crowd them.
- Spray them lightly with olive oil cooking spray or another neutral oil such as grape seed and/or with an oil mister.
- Air fry for 5 minutes.***
- Remove the basket, flip over the taquitos with a tongs, spray them again lightly with olive oil cooking spray, return the basket to the air fryer, and air fry for an additional 2 to 5 minutes. Check after 2 minutes to see how they look. Since all air fryers are a bit different, make sure your taquitos have crisped up but aren't burning.
Garnishes
- Garnish with or add Mexican crema or sour cream (thin it if desired with a few drops of milk), salsa, pico de gallo, avocado or guacamole, or cilantro as desired.
- Storage and reheating: Air fryer chicken taquitos are best hot and fresh out of the air fryer. They become soggier as time passes. Reheating is possible by placing them in the air fryer again for 1-2 minutes to help encourage them to crisp up again although it's not quite the same. Technically they'll keep airtight for up to 5 days in the fridge or for up to 4 months in the freezer, although fresh is best.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature for easy mixing; plan ahead by setting it out at least one hour before preparation.
- Full-fat cream cheese is recommended for creamier flavor and texture, though reduced-fat versions may be used with possible texture differences.
- Store-bought rotisserie chicken works well for this recipe, but leftover grilled, poached, or baked chicken can be used as an alternative.
- To bake instead of air-fry, cook taquitos at 375°F for approximately 15 minutes, flipping once if desired; monitor for doneness as cooking times may vary by oven.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 15servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 241 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 241kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 14g | 5% |
| Protein | 13g | 26% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 7g | 41% |
| Cholesterol | 52mg | 17% |
| Sodium | 262mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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