Crispy Chicken Cheese Taquitos (Printable Version)

Golden taquitos stuffed with savory chicken and cheese, air fried for a crisp finish.

# What You 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 salsa (mild or medium)
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)
11 - Olive oil spray

→ Serving (optional)

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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, salsa, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl; mix thoroughly.
02 - Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and warm in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until pliable.
03 - Distribute about 2 tablespoons of filling along the center of each tortilla, roll tightly, and place seam-side down.
04 - Set air fryer to 400°F and preheat for 3 minutes.
05 - Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil and arrange taquitos seam-side down, spacing evenly.
06 - Lightly spray the tops of the taquitos with olive oil.
07 - Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway, until golden brown and crispy.
08 - Serve immediately with optional toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cilantro, and lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, with zero guilt about oil splattering on your stovetop.
  • Fifteen minutes of prep means you're eating dinner before your family asks what's for dinner.
  • Rotisserie chicken does the heavy lifting, so even weeknight cooking feels restaurant-quality.
02 -
  • If you skip the oil spray on the basket and the taquitos, they'll stick and won't crisp no matter how hot your air fryer gets—I learned this the hard way.
  • Overstuffing your taquitos makes them burst open and leak filling; two tablespoons feels light until you see how much it actually is.
  • Turning them halfway through isn't optional if you want even browning; set a timer or you'll forget and pull out half-golden ones.
03 -
  • Don't let cooked taquitos pile on top of each other while they cool—they'll steam and lose their crispness in minutes.
  • If you're doubling this recipe, work in batches rather than overloading the basket; they need air to circulate or they just won't crisp the way you want.
Go Back