Chicken Taquitos made at home are an easy snack or dinner. Corn tortillas are filled with seasoned chicken and cheese and rolled up tightly. These are cooked until crisp and can be fried, baked or even cooked in an air fryer.

These tasty Mexican-style treats are quick to make and yummy to eat!

Chicken Taquitos with lime and cilantro on top

This recipe makes it easy to prepare homemade chicken taquitos. They can be frozen in batches (before or after cooking) and warmed up for a quick meal. Try them with your favorite cream cheese dip to add extra creaminess! Or make buffalo chicken taquitos for a spicy flavor combination.

Corn or Flour Tortillas?

Taquitos are traditionally made with corn tortillas but honestly, corn and flour tortillas can work. You’ll want to choose small (6″ or less) tortillas for this recipe.

Corn and flour tortillas have completely different textures (and flavors).

  • Corn has that unmistakable savory corn flavor and a slightly chewier texture. They can be a bit harder to work with but heating them slightly will help keep them from cracking.
  • Flour tortillas will make a slightly softer taquito and allow the taste of the filling and dip to really stand out.

Ingredients for Chicken Taquitos on a baking sheet

How To Make Chicken Taquitos

It’s super quick and easy to pull this recipe together. Make a double batch and freeze half to save time during the week!

  1. Combine shredded chicken, cheese and drained salsa. Add taco seasoning or fajita seasoning for flavor!
  2. Soften tortillas and spread filling on each before rolling tightly, leaving both ends open.
  3. Bake or fry according to recipe directions, and serve piping hot!

Feel free to substitute beef for chicken and create your own homemade taco seasoning, as well!

Ingredients for Chicken Taquitos in a glass bowl and in a tortilla shell

Fried, Baked or Air Fryer

When it comes to taquitos, you can cook ’em however you’d like! Of course frying give a nice crispy crust but they work well in the oven or air fryer.

  • FRIED Heat about 1″ of oil and fry taquitos seam side down. The shallow oil helps ensure they don’t come unrolled. Turn every couple of minutes until crisp all around.
  • BAKED Generously oil the outside of the taquitos or spray with cooking spray. Bake at 425°F for about 15-20 minutes or until browned.
  • AIR FRYER Spray taquitos with cooking spray or brush with oil.  Place in a single layer and airfry at 400°F for about 6-8 minutes or until crisp. Repeat with remaining taquitos keeping in mind remaining batches may need a minute or two less.

No matter what you serve, these are going to be delicious!

Chicken Taquitos with sour cream and cilantro

Can You Freeze Chicken Taquitos?

Chicken taquitos are perfect for freezing! After all, most people buy them in packages in the frozen foods aisle, so why not create your own, homemade? They taste so much better and are healthier, too.

  • Bake them for less time (approximately 10-12 minutes) if freezing, so they don’t overcook when reheating.
  • Place taquitos on a flat tray and freeze for a couple of hours.
  • Once they are solid enough, transfer them to a freezer bag and seal tightly, squeezing out the air. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Chicken taquitos eaten fresh or warmed up from frozen are a treat that’s great to eat any time of the day!

Classic Mexican Inspired Recipes

Chicken Taquitos with lime and cilantro on top
5 from 11 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Chicken Taquitos (baked or fried)

Fried or baked until hot and crisp with chicken and cheese plus taco seasoning, these tasty Mexican-style treats are super fun to eat!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 12 taquitos

Ingredients  

  • ½ cup salsa
  • 3 cups chicken or pork or beef, shredded
  • 1 ½ cups Monterey Jack cheese shredded
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
  • 12 6-inch corn tortillas
  • cup oil for frying or to brush with

Instructions 

  • Place salsa in a fine strainer and let any juices drip away.
  • Combine chicken, salsa, cheese and taco seasoning.
  • Place tortillas on a plate, top with a damp paper towel and microwave 40 seconds or until warm.
  • Place 2 tablespoons of filling on each tortilla and roll tightly. Secure with a toothpick and place on a baking sheet.
  • Repeat with the remaining tortillas.

To Bake

  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Brush each taquito with olive oil or vegetable oil.
  • Bake for 18-20 minutes or until crisp.

To Fry

  • Preheat oil over medium-high heat (350°F).
  • Panfry taquitos until crispy, about 3-5 minutes.
  • Drain on paper towels.

Video

Notes

Nutrition information does not include oil. 
Taquitos can be prepared and rolled up to 24 hours before cooking.
To cook in an AIR FRYER Spray taquitos with cooking spray or brush with oil.  Place in a single layer and airfry at 400°F for about 6-8 minutes or until crisp. Repeat with remaining taquitos keeping in mind remaining batches may need a minute or two less.
5 from 11 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 142 | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 190mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 199IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Appetizer, Chicken, Dinner, Snack
Cuisine American, Mexican

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Chicken Taquitos drizzled in sauce with writing

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About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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  1. I never follow the measurements because I make about 30 taquitos for my family of 3 but these are so delicious! They are one of our favorites 5 stars