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Home Recipe Index Air Fryer

Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos

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Polly Conner
By: Polly ConnerPosted: 2/14/24Updated: 2/21/25

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Our Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos are crispy on the outside and filled with a creamy, flavorful chicken filling on the inside. They are easy to make perfect for those busy weeknights. You can even air fry taquitos from frozen with our instructions.

Chicken taquitos stacked up with toppings. this …


 
Table of Contents
  • Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Prep the Chicken Taquitos for the Air Fryer
  • Shortcut Tip
  • How to Freeze Taquitos
  • Tip: Freeze Leftover Tortillas
  • FAQs
  • More Air Fryer Recipes
  • Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

  • All ages love them. Kids and adults will gobble these up.
  • Like Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, you can air fry them straight from frozen. They make a great freezer meal for busy nights.
  • You can cook your chicken in the slow cooker or Instant Pot or use rotisserie chicken from the store. So many options!
  • It’s high in protein. We explain how important protein is in our Round up of High Protein Slow Cooker recipes. Our chicken taquitos have 25 grams of protein per serving.

Ingredients

Here are the main ingredients you will need to make air fryer chicken taquitos:

Labeled ingredients for taquitos.
  • Chicken – You can cook it any way you like or grab rotisserie chicken from the store. (Then check out these recipes for leftover rotisserie chicken.)
  • Taco seasoning – Either store-bought or use 2 tablespoons of our homemade taco seasoning recipe.
  • Cream cheese – A great dairy-free substitute is KiteHill Vegan Cream Cheese. It’s awesome.
  • Salsa – Your choice of spice level. I love Mateo’s medium salsa the best.
  • Tortillas – You can use whole wheat or white flour tortillas or corn tortillas will work, too.
  • Shredded cheddar – Pepper Jack cheese can make it a little spicier.

Prep the Chicken Taquitos for the Air Fryer

Cook the Chicken

Seasoning the chicken with taco seasoning. Add to the slow cooker or instant pot and add some broth. Water works fine too.

  • Slow Cooker Instructions: Cook on low for 2.5-3.5 hours.
  • Instant Pot Instructions: Cook at high pressure for 7 minutes and quick release the pressure.

Chicken should be a minimum at 165 degrees.

Two raw chicken breasts seasoned with taco seasoning in the crock pot.
Chicken breasts with seasoning and broth in an Instant Pot

Shred the Chicken

Once that chicken has cooked, grab two forks and give it a good shred. Then drain off any excess liquid from the cooker you used.

Seasoned shredded chicken on a cutting board.

Shortcut Tip

Instead of cooking the chicken, grab a rotisserie chicken from the store and shred it. Then, combine with the taco seasoning and the rest of the filling ingredients in the next step.

Make the Creamy Cheesy Filling

Add cream cheese and salsa to the shredded chicken and stir until cream cheese is melted. 

Assemble the Taquitos

Add a small scoop of chicken filling and top with 2-3 tablespoons shredded cheese.

Roll up the taquitos and place seam side down so they don’t open up.

To help them brown up, you will need to give them a coat of cooking spray. I like to use avocado oil spray.

A hand spreading cheddar cheese on top of the chicken mixture for creamy chicken taquitos before rolling up.

Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.

Once air fryer is preheated, place them seam side down, spacing out enough to allow airflow around each taquito.

Air fry for 6-8 minutes, until hot in the middle and crispy on the outside. No need to flip or turn them.

Taquitos prepped and ready for the air fryer.
Cooked taquitos in the air fryer.

How to Freeze Taquitos

Freeze For Later: Make the filling and roll up the tortillas (through Step 4). Then, place rolled up tortillas side-by-side in a single later in a gallon-sized freezer bag. Seal tightly and freeze.

Prepare From Frozen: When ready to cook them, you have two options:

Method 1 (Thawed): Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave using the defrost setting. Cook in the air fryer as directed.

Method 2 (From Frozen): Fully cook and freeze the taquitos. Preheat air fryer to 350°F (this is lower than from fresh). Spray air fryer and taquitos with cooking spray and air fry for 12 minutes.

Chicken and cheese taquitos in a freezer bag.

Tip: Freeze Leftover Tortillas

If you have leftover tortillas, did you know you can freeze them? Here is the best way to freeze tortillas for later.

FAQs

Can I use corn tortillas?

Yes, corn tortillas will work but it’s a good idea to warm them up first so they roll easily.. However, we don’t recommend corn tortillas if you plan to freeze the taquitos. They don’t hold up well after freezing and thawing.

Why do you cook them from frozen at a different temperature?

This gives the filling time to thaw and reheat without browning the outside of the taquito too much.

More Air Fryer Recipes

Dipping baked parmesan chicken tender into honey mustard dipping sauce.

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Italian Baked Chicken Thighs on a white platter.

Air Fryer Italian Chicken Thighs

Turkey Burger sliders with arugula, cheese, and sliced tomatoes on buns.

Air Fryer Mini Chicken Burgers

Air fryer chicken burgers with toppings on a pretzel bun.

Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Creamy chicken taquitos stacked on a plate with avocado and tomato chunks on top.
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews

Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos

Our Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos are crispy on the outside and filled with a creamy, flavorful chicken filling on the inside. They are easy to make perfect for those busy weeknights. You can even air fry taquitos from frozen with our instructions.

Yield: 8 taquitos 1x
Prep: 3 hoursCook: 7 minutesTotal: 3 hours 7 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 – 1 1/2 pounds (2 large) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (here’s where we get our organic chicken)*
  • 1-ounce package of all-natural taco seasoning or 2 tablespoons of our homemade taco seasoning recipe
  • 3/4 cup water or chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese (light works fine)
  • 1/4 cup mild or medium salsa
  • 8 (8-inch) whole-grain tortillas
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese (how to shred your own cheese)
  • Cooking Spray
  • Optional toppings: sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, salsa, Guacamole, Avocado Lime Salsa

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. Cook Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in your slow cooker. Rub both sides of the chicken with all of the taco seasoning. Add water or broth. Cover and cook on LOW for about 2.5 – 3.5 hours, until it shreds easily. (Note: Chicken should be 165°F internally when done.)
  2. Shred Chicken: Shred the chicken with two forks and stir, so the seasoning is evenly distributed. Drain off any excess liquid in the slow cooker.
  3. Make Filling: Add cream cheese and salsa to the shredded chicken and stir until cream cheese is melted.
  4. Roll Taquitos: Arrange tortillas on a flat surface. Top each tortilla with an equal amount of chicken mixture, leaving a little room at the edges so the filling doesn’t spill out. Top chicken mixture with 2-3 tablespoons of shredded cheese. Roll up tortillas tightly. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
  5. Air Fry: Preheat air fryer to 375°F. Spray the tops of the taquitos with cooking spray. Once air fryer is preheated, spray it with cooking spray and place prepared taquitos into the insert, seam side down so they don’t open up during cooking. Air fry for 6-8 minutes, or until golden brown and warmed through.
  6. Serve: Serve warm. Suggestions: Top with sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, salsa, Guacamole, or our Avocado Lime Salsa.

Freeze It For Later: Complete the recipe through Step 4. Then, place rolled-up tortillas side-by-side in a single layer in a gallon-sized freezer bag. Seal tightly and freeze.

Prepare From Frozen: When ready to bake, you have two options:

Method 1 (Thawed): Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or microwave using the defrost setting. Cook in air fryer as directed. 

Method 2 (From Frozen): Preheat air fryer to 350°F (note this is lower). Spray frozen taquito with cooking spray and place in air fryer seam-side down. Air fry for 12 minutes, or until warmed through and crispy on the outside.


Notes/Tips

  • You can use rotisserie chicken as a shortcut. Just heat it up and mix it with the taco seasoning, a splash of broth, cream cheese, and salsa and follow the cooking instructions.
  • You can use corn tortillas but it’s a good idea to warm them up first so they don’t break when rolling. They also won’t air fry as long, since they are smaller.
  • There is no need to flip the taquitos half way through.
  • Some tortillas may cook faster than others. This is why we give a cooking range.
© Author: Polly Conner
Cuisine: Mexican Method: Air Fryer

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Some photography by Whitney Reist from Sweet Cayenne.

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Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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