It is with great excitement that I present a recipe for air-fried taquitos, which is frequently requested on social media. Taquitos are a favorite among many of you, but you might not own a deep fryer or prefer a healthier, oil-free option. For both situations, the air fryer is the perfect choice for making home-made taquitos.
Taquitos bring back memories of family gatherings when we would clear entire plates in no time by biting into a crispy, flavorful one. As an added bonus, deep frying taquitos can be a bit of a hassle and add some extra calories.
It’s amazing to have an air fryer in your kitchen, as it allows you to enjoy all your favorite fried foods without the mess and guilt of deep frying. It is not recommended to follow traditional methods of preparing taquitos (often deep frying), which are messy and unhealthy. Instead, I recommend using your air fryer to make taquitos that are not only healthy but also delicious.
In today’s guide, I will demonstrate how to make mouthwatering taquitos using quick cooking methods and simple ingredients. The benefits of today’s taquitos recipe are less fat, no need for bulky deep-frying gear, and super easy cleanup. You will still get that yummy crispy outside and juicy, flavorful filling inside (without deep-frying).
And you have great possibilities for fillings, like you can try Meat (Shredded chicken or ground beef), Vegetarian (black beans, lentils, or even tofu), Seafood, Cheese, or even fruit filling if you like. There is also space for toppings for taquitos such as Sauces (Salsa, guacamole, sour cream) or Fresh herbs (Cilantro, parsley), Tortilla chips or crushed nuts and more. We’ll begin below.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Servings: Six
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil (1 Tablespoon)
- Diced onion (2 Tablespoon)
- Clove garlic (minced)
- Chopped green chiles (2 tablespoons)
- Mexican-style hot tomato sauce (2 tablespoons)
- Shredded rotisserie chicken (1 cup)
- Avocado oil cooking spray
- ½ Cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
- Neufchâtel cheese (2 tablespoons)
- Six corn tortillas
- Salt and pepper (for taste)
Instructions
Sautéed Chicken Filling with Green Chiles and Cheese
All ingredients need to be gathered first. Now, you need to add oil to a skillet and heat it over medium heat. Then you have to cook onions for about 3 to 5 minutes and then add some garlic and continue to cook for one minute more.
Now, it’s time to add some green peppers, then stir and combine it. After that you need to add Mexican tomato sauce and stir again. Now add filling, take Mexican and Neufchâtel cheese and shredded chicken and add them and stir and cook for next 3 minutes (until the cheeses melt and mix properly). In case you want, you can season the dish with salt and pepper.
Have you ever tried Quesadilla in air fryer, checkout the recipe!
Assembling and Rolling the Taquitos
When it comes to assembling Taquitos, you have to start by heating tortillas in a skillet. You can also heat them on grates of a gas and just remember to heat tortillas until they feel soft and flexible, you can easily roll them without cracking.
Now, in the center of the tortilla (each), I will recommend you to place 2 to 3 tablespoons of chicken mixture and then carefully fold and make a roll of them into taquitos.
Now Preparing Taquitos for Air Frying
You have to Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and carefully put taquitos (single layer) on the air fryer basket. You have to cook them for a minimum of 5 to 9 minutes until you see they are looking golden brown. Now give the taquitos a turn over and cook again for 3 to 5 minutes.
Its Serving Time
After you’ve crisped your homemade taquitos in the air fryer, you might want to consider serving them with these side dishes:
- Dipping Sauces: There are many dipping sauces that go well with taquitos, like guacamole, salsa, sour cream, or queso. Also try spicy chipotle mayo or tangy lime-cilantro crema, for an extra burst of flavor.
- Toppings: In topping suggestion I will recommend you to try garnishing the taquitos with chopped fresh cilantro, crumbled queso fresco, and a squeeze of lime juice.
- Side Dishes: You can pair taquitos with classic Mexican sides like refried beans, fresh corn, black bean salad or Mexican rice. It is also possible to balance a meal with a light side salad with avocado and a zesty lime vinaigrette.
- Presentation: For an impressive presentation you have to arrange the taquitos on a platter with the dips in small bowls on the side. If you like, you can add colorful garnishes such as lime wedges, sliced radishes or chili powder for an appetizing presentation.
- Beverage Pairing: Never miss a beverage, opt for a tangy margarita or horchata to complete your taquito meal. Those who are Muslim should always use a non-alcoholic option, such as chilled agua fresco (made with fruits) like watermelon or hibiscus.
Nutrition Information
| Calories | 174 kcal |
| Saturated Fat | 4g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g |
| Total Sugars | 1g |
| Protein | 10g |
| Vitamin C | 2mg |
| Calcium | 101 mg |
| Potassium | 114 mg |
| Iron | 1mg |
In A Nutshell
Therefore, air fryers make tasty taquitos that are easy, quick, and healthy. It only takes a few steps to prepare delicious, crunchy taquitos – including preparing the filling, rolling the taquitos tightly, and air frying them until they are crispy. As well as reducing oil consumption, the air fryer keeps taquitos evenly cooked, so they are golden and crispy. Additionally to being an excellent snack, air-fried taquitos are great as an appetizer or even as a main course. Taquitos are best served with your favorite dipping sauce for a flavorful boost.
FAQs
Yes, store-bought tortillas work perfectly for taquitos. Just make sure they’re fresh and pliable to prevent cracking when you roll them. Corn tortillas are traditional, but flour tortillas are also an option.
Yes, you can prepare and freeze the taquitos before air frying. Just place the rolled taquitos on a baking sheet in the freezer until they’re firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to cook, you can air fry them directly from frozen, just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Reheat leftover taquitos in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes until they are heated through and crispy again. You should avoid microwaving the tacos, since they will be soaked if you do.
If your taquitos are too dry, it could be due to overcooking or not enough filling. If you want to keep them moist, you can reduce the cooking time slightly, or add more filling or cheese to keep them moist. A light brush of oil before air-frying can also help.
