Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos – rolled tortillas packed with seasoned shredded chicken and cheese air fried to crispy and golden. Use rotisserie chicken or my 4 ingredient Shredded Salsa Chicken.
Like a taco, but rolled and way less messy – and my crispy Chicken Taquitos are air fried instead of deep fried, using almost no oil.
Serve them up on a bed of shredded lettuce, some tomatoes and a drizzle of avocado crema (easy recipe below).
They’re a quick meal on a busy weeknight that somehow feels festive and needs to be added to your arsenal.
Why I love this recipe:
Y’all know I love my air fryer and this easy recipe is just another reason.
Crispy and delicious – packed with spicy shredded chicken and enough melty cheese to make it a great day.
No oil splashing like you get with deep frying.
Ready in 20 minutes – and they make a great meal or appetizer.
Ingredients needed to make Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos:
- finely shredded chicken (use my slow cooker salsa chicken recipe or rotisserie chicken)
- cream cheese softened to room temp
- canned green chilies
- sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 10 flour or corn tortillas (street taco or other small size)
- Cooking spray
NOTE: if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to slow cook the chicken, grab a rotisserie chicken, shred and season with 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder then add the cream cheese, green chiles and shredded cheddar.
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos:
Add slow cooker salsa chicken (drained of its juices) to a medium bowl. Blend in softened cream cheese, green chilies and cheddar cheese then set aside.
Next moisten a couple of paper towels and place a 3-4 tortillas between them. Microwave 10-15 seconds (depending on the power of your microwave) to soften the tortillas and make it easier to roll them.
Put about 3 tablespoons of the chicken mixture closest to one end of the tortilla then roll tightly. Transfer to a plate or baking sheet. Repeat until all the tortillas are filled.
NOTE: if your taquitos won’t stay closed, use a toothpick to seal while they air fry. Take the toothpick out when they’re finished.
Air Frying the Taquitos:
Preheat the air fryer 400° for 3 minutes.
Lightly spray the air fryer basket cooking spray then add 4-5 taquitos seam side down leaving a little space between them. Spritz the top of them with cooking spray and air fry 6-8 minutes or until golden and crisping, turning then over halfway through cooking.
Serving suggestions:
Below are a few of my favorites:
- a dollop of sour cream of plain Greek yogurt
- guacamole
- shredded lettuce
- salsa or pico de gallo
- diced tomatoes
- cilantro
- lime wedges for a squeeze of fresh lime juice
- avocado crema: to a blender or food processor add avocados, sour cream, garlic powder, fresh cilantro and the juice from one lime. Blend until smooth. Season with salt to taste.
Storage and reheating:
Cool completely then store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer.
To freeze (cooked or uncooked) store in a freezer safe container up to 3 months. Thaw and heat.
Subs and variations:
- Use rotisserie chicken or my 4-Ingredient Shredded Salsa Chicken.
- Swap ground beef, ground chicken or ground turkey for shredded chicken.
- Make them meatless – add vegetables and extra cheese.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake them in the oven but they won’t be as crispy.
Best side dishes with Chicken Taquitos:
Easy Slow Cooker Nacho Cheese Sauce
Did you make this recipe?
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Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 2 cups slow cooker salsa chicken see NOTES below for using rotisserie chicken
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened to room temp
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese grated
- 4 ounce can green chilies
- 10 flour tortillas small size
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Prepare Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken (see body of post for link) or swap rotisserie chicken. Add slow cooker salsa chicken (drained of its juices) to a medium bowl. Blend in softened cream cheese, green chilies and cheddar cheese then set aside.
- Moisten a couple of paper towels and place a 3-4 tortillas between them. Microwave 10-15 seconds (depending on the power of your microwave) to soften the tortillas and make it easier to roll them. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
- Place about 3 tablespoons of the chicken mixture closest to one end of the tortilla then roll tightly. Transfer to a plate or baking sheet. Repeat until all the tortillas are filled. NOTE: if your taquitos won’t stay closed, use a toothpick to seal while they air fry. Take the toothpick out when they’re finished.
- Preheat the air fryer 400° for 3 minutes.Lightly spray the air fryer basket cooking spray then add 4-5 taquitos seam side down leaving a little space between them. Spritz the top of them with cooking spray and air fry 6-8 minutes or until golden and crisping, turning then over halfway through cooking.
- Serving suggestions: sour cream of plain Greek yogurtguacamoleshredded lettucesalsa or pico de gallodiced tomatoescilantrolime wedges for a squeeze of fresh lime juiceavocado crema: to a blender or food processor add avocados, sour cream, garlic powder, fresh cilantro and the juice from one lime. Blend until smooth. Season with salt to taste.
Notes
- ground beef, ground chicken or ground turkey for shredded chicken.
- Make them meatless – add vegetables and extra cheese.