Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Air Fryer Taquitos are easy to make and so crispy! In this recipe, soft tortillas are filled with a creamy chicken and cheese filling, rolled up tightly and then cooked in the air fryer until crispy and golden.
Looking for more Taco Tuesday recipes? Try these Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, Breakfast Tacos or Taco Salad.
Taquitos are small, tightly rolled tacos, typically made with corn tortillas and a beef, chicken or cheese filling. This Mexican dish is often fried, but cooking them in the air fryer is easier, healthier and much less messy!
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Taquitos
- Cooks faster than the oven. Taquitos need just 7-8 minutes of cook time in the air fryer, compared to 15 minutes in the oven for Chicken Taquitos.
- Crispy! Air frying taquitos makes them so crispy!
- Creamy, cheesy filling. The chicken filling is creamy, perfectly seasoned and just a bit spicy.
- Dinner, snack or appetizer. These air fryer taquitos are a kid-friendly dinner idea, tasty snack or appetizer.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cream Cheese: To make the filling creamy.
- Salsa: Adds flavor and spice. I use medium salsa.
- Seasonings: You’ll need chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder and salt.
- Shredded Cheese: I like to use a shredded Mexican cheese blend from the grocery store because it’s flavorful and saves time. You can also use shredded Monterey jack and/or cheddar cheese.
- Shredded Chicken: To cook the chicken for shredding, try Instant Pot Shredded Chicken or Crockpot Shredded Chicken. You can also use rotisserie chicken from the store.
- Tortillas: You can use corn tortillas or small flour tortillas.
- Olive Oil or Avocado Oil Spray: Lightly spray the taquitos with oil before air frying to help them to crisp up as they cook.
Find the full printable recipe with ingredient amounts below.
How to Make Taquitos in an Air Fryer
Make the filling. In a mixing bowl, stir together the cream cheese, salsa and seasonings. Stir in the shredded cheese and shredded cooked chicken.
Warm the tortillas. Place the tortillas between two paper towels and warm them in the microwave until they’re soft and pliable.
Roll the taquitos. Put 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture in a line across the lower third of each tortilla. Roll up as tightly as you can.
Air Fry. Preheat air fryer to 400° F. Lightly spray the taquitos with oil spray. Air fry for 5 minutes. Then flip the taquitos over and air fry for 2-3 more minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
Recipe Tips
- Soften the cream cheese to room temperature so that it will easily mix into the filling.
- Warm the tortillas, especially if you are using corn tortillas, so that they will roll up without tearing.
- Don’t overstuff taquitos. I know it can be tempting to stuff a lot of filling into each taquito, but using only about 2 tablespoons of filling per taquito will allow you to roll them up tightly so that they stay rolled while cooking.
- Cook taquitos in batches as needed. They should be in a single layer in the air fryer so that the hot air can circulate around each one as they cook. After they’re all cooked, you can stack the taquitos together in the air fryer if you need to reheat earlier batches.
Serving Suggestions
Serve taquitos with Salsa, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo or sour cream for dipping. If you’re serving them for dinner, round out the meal with:
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Try one of these air fryer recipes next!
Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- ⅓ cup salsa
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces shredded Mexican cheese blend, or Monterey jack or cheddar, about 1 cup
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 12 corn tortillas, or small flour tortillas
- olive oil or avocado oil spray
- For serving: salsa, guacamole, sour cream, etc.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together the cream cheese, salsa, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and salt. Add the shredded cheese and shredded cooked chicken and stir until well combined.
- Preheat air fryer to 400° F.
- Working with 4-6 tortillas at a time, place the tortillas between two paper towels and warm them in the microwave to make them soft and pliable (so that they will roll up without tearing).
- Working with one tortilla at a time, place 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture in a line across the lower third of the tortilla. Roll up as tightly as you can and place seam side down on a sheet of parchment paper. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling. Lightly spray taquitos with olive oil or avocado oil cooking spray.
- Place taquitos seam side down in the air fryer basket, leaving a little room in between each one. (Cook in batches.)
- Air fry at 400° F for 5 minutes. Then flip the taquitos over and air fry for 2-3 more minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
Do you have a favorite air fryer? I really enjoy so many of your recipes!
I currently use the Instant Vortex 6QT XL Air Fryer and it works great. I’m glad you are enjoying my recipes!
I have always deep fried my Taquitos but will try in air fryer!
I made these last night and they were great! Used a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
These were super yummy and fun to make! I would highly recommend not using soft yellow corn tortillas, and instead using soft WHITE CORN tortillas. The yellow corn tortillas no matter what I did would not roll without breaking. The soft white corn tortillas are much more pliable. Made a double batch and was glad I did because these were gobbled up quickly!
So so good and so easy! Will definitely be making these again!