Air Fryer Taquitos Chicken Cheese (Print Version)

Crispy taquitos filled with chicken and cheese, air fried to golden perfection and ready in 25 minutes.

# What You'll 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 Make It:

01 - Combine shredded chicken, cheddar, Monterey Jack cheeses, salsa, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl; stir until evenly incorporated.
02 - Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and heat in microwave for 20 to 30 seconds to increase pliability.
03 - Place approximately 2 tablespoons of filling along the center of each tortilla; roll tightly and position seam-side down.
04 - Set air fryer to 400°F and preheat for 3 minutes.
05 - Lightly spray basket with olive oil to prevent sticking.
06 - Place the rolled taquitos in a single layer with seam-side down, leaving space between each.
07 - Lightly spray tops of taquitos with olive oil for crispness.
08 - Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through until taquitos are golden brown and crispy.
09 - Plate taquitos immediately with optional toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cilantro, and lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're genuinely crispy on the outside without being greasy, and you won't have oil splatters haunting your stovetop.
  • Fifteen minutes of prep means you can have golden, restaurant-quality taquitos on the table faster than ordering takeout.
  • The air fryer does the heavy lifting, so you're free to set the table or prep toppings instead of standing over a hot pan.
02 -
  • Room-temperature filling will cause soggy tortillas, so make your mixture beforehand and let it cool completely before assembling—this one change makes the difference between good and genuinely crispy.
  • The halfway turn is crucial because the bottom of an air fryer basket cooks hotter than the top, and skipping it leaves you with uneven results.
03 -
  • If you want extra crispiness, brush each tortilla very lightly with oil before filling and rolling—it's subtle, but it pushes them from crispy to almost shattering.
  • Prep your filling the night before and store it covered in the fridge; you'll be able to assemble and cook in under twenty minutes on busy weeknights.
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