Crispy Air Fryer Taquitos (Printable)

Golden taquitos filled with savory chicken and cheese, cooked crisp and golden in the air fryer.

# Components:

→ Filling

01 - 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie or poached)
02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 0.5 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
04 - 0.5 cup mild or medium salsa
05 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
07 - 0.25 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 0.25 teaspoon salt
09 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

→ Assembly

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

→ For Serving (optional)

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

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, mix the shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, salsa, ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly blended.
02 - Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds to soften and increase pliability.
03 - Place approximately 2 tablespoons of filling along the center of each tortilla, roll tightly, and place 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 and arrange taquitos in a single layer, seam-side down, leaving space between each.
06 - Spray the tops of the taquitos lightly with olive oil.
07 - Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through, until the taquitos are crispy and golden brown.
08 - Serve immediately with optional toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cilantro, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They crisp up in under ten minutes with barely any oil, so you get that fried-food satisfaction without the guilt or splatter.
  • The filling comes together while your tortillas warm, making this a genuine weeknight dinner solution even on chaotic evenings.
  • Leftover rotisserie chicken transforms into something so much more interesting than plain sandwiches or salads.
02 -
  • Cold, wet tortillas will crack or shred when you try to roll them, so always warm them first even if it feels like an extra step.
  • Skipping the oil spray step entirely means crispy shells that feel almost fried, but going overboard turns them greasy and heavy.
03 -
  • If you want extra crispiness, brush each tortilla lightly with oil before filling and rolling, though the spray method works just fine for everyday cooking.
  • Arrange taquitos so they're not touching in the basket, because crowding them means steaming instead of crisping.
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