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    Recipes » Appetizers + Snack » Make Your Own Frozen Taquitos In The Air Fryer

    Make Your Own Frozen Taquitos In The Air Fryer

    Feb 2, 2022 · Last updated: Mar 19, 2022 by Gina Dickson · This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

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    Frozen Taquitos In The Air Fryer and all ingredients to make

    Air fryer frozen taquitos make the perfect snack for after-school snacks, football watching parties, easy finger foods to add to a Mexican food spread and so much more! These homemade taquitos in the air fryer are frozen so you can easily pull them out when you need them and pop them in the air fryer. The perfect solution for an easy snack in minutes!

    Taquitos in the air fryer are served up on the table with sauces.
    PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

    One of my favorite things about these easy taquitos is they make the perfect addition to a Mexican theme party!

    People love them, they’re easy to eat and you can make them ahead of time so party day is a breeze. Serve them up with some sauces for dipping such as guacamole, salsa, and a green tomato salsa verde, and watch them disappear!

    If you’ve got tacos on your party menu too, use this homemade Mexican seasoning mix to flavor up the taco meat and find out how much taco meat you need to prepare for each person so you don’t run out or end up with tons leftover.

    If you enjoy the flavors of Mexican food, you might want to try Nacho Casserole, Mexican Coleslaw, and Corn Salad with Cilantro.  

    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • 🛒 Ingredient Notes
    • 🔪 Step by Step Instructions
    • ⏲️ How to Cook Taquitos in an Airfryer
    • ✔️ Substitutions
    • 🌶️ Optional Toppings
    • 🔀 Variations
    • 💭 Tips for Making the Recipe
    • ❓ FAQ
    • Easy Air Fryer Recipes
    • Recipe
    • 🎥 Need more ideas?

    Why This Recipe Works

    • Easy to make for meal prep and keep on hand in the freezer until you need them! 
    • The air fryer simplifies and speeds up the cooking time while making perfectly crispy taquitos!
    • A healthy alternative to deep-frying taquitos to enjoy eating with less guilt!
    • Frozen taquitos make a great addition to a quick lunch or easy dinner!

    🛒 Ingredient Notes

    A simple recipe made with just a handful of ingredients that you can find at your local grocery store or easily order online.

    Ingredients to make air fryer taquitos.
    • Shredded Chicken: Using rotisserie chicken that’s already cooked and ready to eat is a great way to save some time when making taquitos. 
    • Cream cheese: Mixed with the chicken, the cream cheese gives the filling a creamy texture and flavor.
    • Cilantro: Adds a little bit of color and flavor to the filling.
    • Lime juice: Use fresh for best flavor.
    • Green chilies: Chopped green chilies in a small can are easy to find in most grocery stores and are a quick way to add flavor to recipes.
    • Cowboy candy: These sweet and spicy jalapenos add an extra special something to taquitos but you can leave them out if you prefer a less spicy version.
    • Cumin
    • Chili powder
    • Garlic powder
    • Sharp cheese: Cheddar or monterey jack cheese work perfectly when making taquitos.
    • Flour tortillas: Be sure to get the street taco size which are small tortillas, they are perfect for an appetizer size taquito.

    See the recipe card further down on the page for a complete list and quantities.

    🔪 Step by Step Instructions

    1. To get started, melt cream cheese in a large bowl in the microwave until it is very soft and creamy. Once it’s soft, beat the cream cheese by hand in the bowl for 30 seconds.
    2. Add all the spices and mix them in.
    Collage of images showing how to mix up the filling for air fryer taquitos.

    3. Add the lime juice, green chilies, cilantro, cowboy candy, and mix everything up well.

    4. Add the chicken and shredded cheese and stir to blend well.

    ⭐️ Tip: Heat your tortillas in the microwave just until they are very soft. This makes them easy to roll up without breaking.

    5. Lay a tortilla on a cutting board and place a heaping tablespoon of the mixture on the top of the tortilla. Use the back of a spoon to evenly spread the mixture about a 1/2 inch from the edges.

    Collage image showing spreading the filling on the tortilla and on the bottom, rolling it up into cigar shape.

    6. With both hands roll the tortilla into a cigar shape. Place seam side down on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Continue with the remaining tortillas until you have them all rolled.

    Freeze taquitos on the baking tray for 24 hours. After that, place them in a freezer bag with a label and date.

    Hint: These reusable plastic freezer bags make a great way to use less plastic and save a little money on disposable plastic bags.

    ⏲️ How to Cook Taquitos in an Airfryer

    1. Place taquitos in a single layer into the bottom of the basket of the air fryer. If needed you can spray the basket of the air fryer with the cooking spray to keep them from sticking. I did not find that it was necessary with my own air fryer.
    2. Air fry the taquitos at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 minutes.
    3. Open the basket carefully and turn the taquitos over. Close the basket and continue to air fry for 6 more minutes, or until fully cooked and golden brown.

    ✔️ Substitutions

    Here are a few substitutions you can use to make when making these frozen taquitos in the air fryer:

    • Flour tortillas: You can also make taquitos with corn tortillas which is a great way to make gluten-free taquitos.
    • Cowboy candy: While I definitely prefer using the cowboy candy to make air fryer taquitos, if you don’t have time to make a batch, you can swap out with regular pickled jalapenos.

    🌶️ Optional Toppings

    Here are some toppings you can add to air fryer frozen taquitos after cooking to make them even better!

    • lettuce
    • cheese
    • guacamole
    • olives
    • sour cream
    • refried bean dip
    • queso

    🔀 Variations

    • Beef or Pork: Swap out the chicken with ground beef or shredded pork for a different spin on these air fryer taquitos.
    • Vegan: Swap out the cream cheese and shredded cheese with your favorite vegan cheese alternatives and use black beans instead of chicken to make these taquitos vegan. Then don’t forget to serve it up with Vegan Nacho Cheese for dipping!
    • Pepper jack cheese: For a slightly spicier flavor use shredded pepper jack cheese to make taquitos.

    💭 Tips for Making the Recipe

    For best results lay the rolled taquitos seam side down on the tray so they hold their tightly rolled shape. 

    Spread the filling evenly on the tortilla and leave about 1/2 inch of the tortilla free of filing.

    Don’t forget to heat the tortillas before rolling them. This makes them more pliable and easier to roll without cracking the tortilla. 

    Serve up fresh from the air fryer while they are hot with your favorite dips!

    ❓ FAQ

    Are frozen taquitos good in the air fryer?

    Yes, they come out with perfect crispy tortilla shells, almost like they were fried but without any oil or greasy texture. Even better, they cook in less time in the air fryer than they do in an oven.

    Why do my taquitos not stay rolled?

    There are a couple of things to do to make sure they stay together. To start, spread the filling evenly on the tortilla. Then to roll them, making sure you use both hands and roll tightly. Last, place them seam side down on the baking tray when you freeze them. It also helps to place them in the air fryer basket seam side down for the first round of cooking to keep them held together. Then when you flip them over they are more likely to stay sealed.

    How long can I store homemade frozen taquitos in the freezer?

    If you use a freezer-safe airtight container, frozen taquitos will keep for up to three months in the freezer.

    Homemade air fryer taquitos piled on a plate.

    Easy Air Fryer Recipes

    • Crispy Air Fryer Chickpea Recipe Healthy Snack Idea
    • Buffalo Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
    • Perfect Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe

    Love a recipe you've tried? 😋 Please leave a 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    Recipe

    Taquitos in the air fryer are served up on the table with sauces.

    Homemade Frozen Taquitos In The Air Fryer

    Gina Dickson
    Homemade chicken taquitos cook up crispy and delicious for a warm snack, finger food for football parties and more! Easy to make ahead to store in the freezer so you can make a few at a time or a whole batch for friends!

    Note:

    To save you ink, video and equipment images will not print.

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share by Email Share by Text
    Tap to prevent your screen from going dark while making this recipe.
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 12
    Calories 148 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups chicken roasted or rotisserie, shredded
    • 8 oz cream cheese
    • 1/3 cup cilantro fresh, cut into small pieces
    • 2 tablespoons lime juice only use fresh
    • 1 4 oz green chilies canned
    • 3 tablespoons cowboy candy Optional, if you like it spicy, Chopped into small pieces
    • 3/4 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 1/2 cups sharp cheese shredded
    • 12 flour tortilla shells Be sure to get the street taco size. They are perfect for an appetizer
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • coconut cooking spray

    Need an ingredient to make this recipe? Click this Instacart button and get what you need sent right to you.

    Instructions
     

    • Melt cream cheese in a large bowl in the microwave until is is very soft and creamy.
    • Beat by hand the cream cheese in the bowl for 30 seconds.
    • Add all the spices, lime juice, green chilis, cilantro, cowboy candy and stir well.
    • Mix in the chicken and cheese, stir to blend well.
    • Heat your tortillas in the microwave just until they are very soft.
    • Lay tortilla on a cutting board and place a heaping tablespoon of the mixture on the tortilla. With the back of a spoon evenly spread the mixture about a 1/2 inch from the edges. With both hands roll the the tortilla in a cigar shape. Place seam side down on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
    • Freeze taquitos for 24 hours. After that place them in a freezer bag with labeled and dated.

    Cooking frozen taquitos in an air fryer

    • Place the frozen taquitos in a single layer into the bottom of the basket of the air fryer.
    • Air fry the taquitos at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 minutes.
    • Open the basket carefully and turn the taquitos over. Push the basket back into the air fryer and continue to air fry for 6 more minutes, or until fully cooked and golden brown.

    Need an item in the this recipe? Click the Instacart button and have it sent right to you.

    Notes

    Expert Tips:
    For best results lay the rolled taquitos seam side down on the tray so they hold their tightly rolled shape. 
    Spread the filling evenly on the tortilla and leave about 1/2 inch of tortilla free of filing.
    Don’t forget to heat the tortillas before rolling them. This makes them more pliable and easier to roll without cracking the tortilla. 
    Serve up fresh from the air fryer while they are hot with your favorite dips!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 8gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 454mgPotassium: 120mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 533IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 156mgIron: 1mg
    Share Your CreationTag @intentionalhospitality and hashtag #intentionalhospitality so I can see what you made. Don’t forget to leave a star rating.

    🎥 Need more ideas?

    Be sure to check out all my WEB STORIES for more delicious recipes and party ideas to get you inspired!

    I appreciate your shares! xox

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    About Gina Dickson

    Hey y'all, I am here to help you build community and nurture faith around your table. You will find fun party ideas and delicious recipes for easy-to-make meals and party food. I want to help you create a table where people come together, enjoy a meal and linger with good conversation.

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