Easy Cheesy Chicken Taquitos

Crispy chicken taquitos with a cheesy chicken and corn filling. Air fry or pan fry from frozen for easy lunches and snacks. The ultimate freezer-friendly recipe.

Course Lunch, Meal Prep, Snack

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword air fryer taquitos, chicken taquitos, easy chicken taquitos, freezer taquitos, frozen taquito recipe, taquitos

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 140kcal

Author Alida Ryder

Ingredients

4 cups shredded chicken
2 cups cheddar cheese grated (use more for an even cheesier filling)
2 cups frozen corn no need to thaw
2-3 tbsp taco seasoning
16 medium flour tortillas

Instructions

Combine the shredded chicken, grated cheddar, frozen corn and taco seasoning in a bowl.
Mix until everything is evenly distributed. Taste the filling and adjust the seasoning if needed. It should be well-seasoned and flavorful.
Lay a tortilla flat.
Spoon a line of filling across the bottom third of the tortilla, keeping it tight and compact.
Roll up as tightly as you can and place seam-side down on a lined baking tray.
Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling. Rolling tightly is the key here. Loose taquitos fall apart during cooking.
Lightly spray or brush the frozen taquitos with oil on all sides.
Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each one.
Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy all over. Don't overcrowd the basket or they won't crisp evenly. Work in batches if needed.
Serve with side dishes of your choice.

Notes

Roll tight. Loose taquitos unravel during cooking. Roll as tightly as you can and place seam-side down.
Don't overfill. About 2 tablespoons of filling per tortilla. Too much and the tortilla splits.
Warm stiff tortillas. If they're cracking when you roll, microwave for 10 to 15 seconds under a damp paper towel to soften.
Flash freeze before bagging. Freeze on the tray first, then transfer to bags. This stops them sticking together.
Oil the outside. A light spray or brush of oil before cooking is what gives you that crispy, golden shell.

Air fryer: 400°F (200°C), 10 to 12 minutes, flip halfway.
Oven: 425°F (220°C), 15 to 18 minutes, flip halfway.
Pan fry: Medium heat, 2 to 3 minutes per side in a thin layer of oil.

Nutrition