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My air fryer taquitos are crispy, golden brown, and oozing with melted cheese. They’re easy to customize, and you make extra to freeze for later. Ready in under 10 minutes!
Taquitos are a late-night guilty pleasure at home. I always catch my family cooking up a box after dinner, so I figured, why not try making taquitos in the air fryer?
You guys, I’m so glad I did. They’re surprisingly easy, and the results are every bit as crispy, cheesy, and flavorful as the boxed ones…except mine are made with a shortlist of ingredients (and almost NO oil!).
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Crunchy, cheesy, and savory. The outside is crisp and golden brown, while the center is filled to the brim with tender chicken, melted cheese, and sour cream.
- Easy to make ahead of time. They can be made in advance and frozen for months! Just pop a few in the air fryer when you’re feeling peckish.
- The perfect appetizer or snack. They’re fast enough that I can make them on short notice, and I never have to worry if they’ll be popular.
- Customize the fillings. Stuff them with your favorite protein, cheese, and veggies.
Hungry for more fun air fryer dinners? Try my air fryer nachos, air fryer pizza, or air fryer meatloaf next!
Key ingredients
- Cooked and shredded chicken. I used leftover rotisserie chicken for convenience, but you could also boil and shred it fresh. Just make sure it has time to cool before rolling the taquitos.
- Shredded cheese. I like to use a three-cheese Mexican blend, but you could also use cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese.
- Sour cream. For a creamier filling. For an even richer filling, use cream cheese.
- Salsa. For flavor.
- Garlic powder and onion powder. To season the chicken.
- Tortillas. Use small corn tortillas or flour tortillas.
How to make air fryer taquitos
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Mix. Combine the filling ingredients in a large bowl.
Step 2- Stuff. Microwave the tortillas in a damp paper towel, place a spoonful of chicken mixture on each, press down, and roll up snuggly.
Step 3- Hold. Keep them closed with toothpicks.
Step 4- Air fry. Place the taquitos in the basket and air fry until they’re golden brown. Discard the toothpicks before serving.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Taste the filling first so you can adjust the salt or pepper as needed.
- Get a more golden exterior. Brush the tortillas with egg wash before air frying.
- Air fry in a single layer. In order for the tortillas to get extra crispy, there should be no overlapping. I can usually fit 3-4 taquitos in my air fryer at once.
- Make a meal. Serve the taquitos with beans, rice, and guacamole to dip.
- Keep them warm. If I’m air frying in batches, I’ll store the cooked taquitos on a baking sheet in the oven on the lowest setting. This way, they’ll stay fresh and crisp while I air fry the rest.
Storage instructions
To store: Let the leftovers cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To freeze: Store the taquitos in a freezer bag and freeze for 3 months.
Reheating: Place the taquitos in a preheated air fryer and air fry at 350F/175C for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway through. If reheating from frozen, add 1-2 minutes of air frying.
More easy air fryer recipes
Air Fryer Taquitos
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded chicken cooked
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese Mexican cheese blend, Monterey Jack, or Cheddar cheese.
- 1/4 cup salsa
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 10 small corn tortillas
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 190C/375F.
- In a bowl, mix shredded chicken, cheese, sour cream, salsa, garlic powder and onion powder until well combined.
- Warm the tortillas for 10-15 seconds in the microwave to make them more pliable. Place 2 tablespoons of the filling onto one half of each tortilla and press down to flatten. Roll up tightly and secure with several toothpicks.
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket and place the taquitos into it, seam side down. Air fry for 7 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Discard the toothpicks and serve immediately.
Notes
- Protein. Swap the chicken for lean ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork. Just make sure to use lean meat so the meat doesn’t add excessive grease to the filling.
- Vegetarian. Substitute the meat for sofritas or refried beans.
- More spices. Season the chicken with taco seasoning or a mix of chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
