Crispy chicken cheese taquitos (Printable version)

Golden taquitos with savory chicken and cheese, cooked to crispy perfection using an air fryer.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Filling

01 - 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie or poached)
02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
04 - 1/2 cup salsa (mild or medium)
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
07 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Assembly

10 - 12 small corn or flour tortillas (6-inch)
11 - Olive oil spray

→ Serving (optional)

12 - Sour cream
13 - Guacamole
14 - Chopped cilantro
15 - Lime wedges
16 - Salsa

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, mix shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, salsa, ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
02 - Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds to make them pliable.
03 - Place approximately 2 tablespoons of filling along the center of each tortilla, roll tightly, and position seam-side down.
04 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
05 - Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil and arrange the taquitos in a single layer, seam-side down, leaving space between each.
06 - Lightly spray the tops of the taquitos with olive oil before cooking.
07 - Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through, until the exterior is crispy and golden brown.
08 - Serve immediately with optional toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, salsa, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're genuinely crispy without deep frying, which means less guilt and more happiness on the plate.
  • Most of the work is just combining ingredients and rolling, so even on chaotic nights this actually happens.
  • You can prep the filling ahead and roll them whenever, making last-minute entertaining actually possible.
02 -
  • Warmed tortillas are non-negotiable—cold ones tear, and a torn taquito becomes a regret partway through cooking.
  • The seam-side down placement keeps them from unrolling, which I learned the hard way when my first batch fell apart mid-cook.
  • Don't skip the oil spray on top, or you'll get cooked instead of crispy, and there's a real difference.
03 -
  • Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket, because steam traps and crispiness disappears when taquitos are touching.
  • If you love extra crispiness, brush each tortilla lightly with oil on both sides before rolling, though the spray method is faster and still delivers.
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