Air Fryer Taquitos Crispy Chicken (Printable)

Crispy, golden taquitos filled with chicken and cheese, perfectly cooked with a golden finish.

# 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 mild or medium salsa
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 diameter)
11 - Olive oil spray

→ Optional Garnishes

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

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine shredded chicken, cheddar, Monterey Jack, salsa, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Stir until evenly mixed.
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 - Set the air fryer to 400°F and preheat for 3 minutes.
05 - Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent sticking. Arrange taquitos in a single layer with space between them, seam-side down.
06 - Spray the tops of the taquitos lightly with olive oil to enhance crispness.
07 - Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy.
08 - Serve immediately with optional toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, chopped cilantro, salsa, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They cook in under 10 minutes and actually taste fried without the oil guilt hanging over you.
  • You can prep the filling while your air fryer preheats, making this feel almost too easy for how impressive the result is.
  • Leftover chicken from the rotisserie section becomes something your family actually gets excited about at dinner.
02 -
  • The tortillas absolutely need to be warmed before rolling or they'll crack, and that's a frustration I learned the hard way my first attempt.
  • That halfway turn is not optional because the side that touches the basket gets darker and crispier if you skip it.
  • Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket or they'll steam instead of fry, so work in batches if you need to rather than stacking them.
03 -
  • Keep your filling mixture at room temperature so it spreads easily and the tortillas don't get cold while you're rolling.
  • A light spray of oil on both sides is all you need, and using a spray bottle gives you way more control than dumping oil onto them.
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