Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos have a crispy tortilla outside and a delicious, cheesy, salsa chicken inside.  They make a great appetizer, main dish, or snack!

Have you jumped on the air fryer train yet? Air fryers are all the rage right now and I am so on board!

Air fryers are magical devices that fry your food with hot air to mimic the irresistible crispiness of traditionally fried food.

Magic, I tell you.

Not only do air fryers make deliciously crispy cooked taquitos, but air frying is also worlds healthier than deep frying in oil.  Choosing a healthier method of cooking once in a while never hurt anyone, if you know what I mean.

That's not to say that I am anti-deep fried food.  I mean, I am all about some deep-fried goodies once in a while.  Moderation is key, though, and the air fryer makes it SO EASY to enjoy "fried" foods without all the grease!

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN TAQUITOS IN THE AIR FRYER

To make chicken taquitos in the air fryer, roll a mixture of shredded chicken, salsa, cheese, fresh cilantro, and lime juice in corn tortillas. Air fry the taquitos until crispy. See below for detailed instructions.

SHOULD I USE CORN TORTILLAS OR FLOUR TORTILLAS FOR TAQUITOS?

This air fryer chicken taquitos recipe uses corn tortillas. You can use flour tortillas, however, I prefer the super crispy shell you get when using corn tortillas. That being said, corn tortillas are more difficult to work with and can easily break or split if not softened before assembly.  It's a little more of a challenge to use corn tortillas but, in my opinion, it's worth it!

CAN I USE OTHER FILLING INGREDIENTS IN TAQUITOS?

Sure! You can absolutely customize the filling of taquitos to suit your tastes. Try green salsa instead of red, cheddar cheese in place of the pepper jack, or ground beef instead of shredded chicken!

MORE MEXICAN-INSPIRED RECIPES

Looking for a few more Mexican-inspired recipes to serve with your chicken taquitos? Here are a few from the archives that I think you'll love!

Pictured:
Mexican Slaw
Crock Pot Queso Blanco Dip
Guacamole
Salsa Con Queso

If you try this Air Fryer Chicken taquitos recipe, I'd love to know what you think in the comments below. Enjoy!

2 servings as a meal, 4 servings as an appetizer

Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos

Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos have a crispy tortilla outside and a delicious, cheesy, salsa chicken inside. They make a great appetizer, main dish, or snack!

  prep time: 10 MINcook time: 6 MINtotal time: 16 MIN 

INGREDIENTS

1 cup cooked shredded chicken
1/4 cup salsa
1/2 cup (2 oz) pepper jack cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon lime juice
8 corn tortillas
olive oil cooking spray

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken, salsa, pepper jack cheese, cilantro, and lime juice.

2. To soften the tortillas, wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds. (Corn tortillas will split and break easily if not softened before assembling the taquitos.)

3. Spoon some of the chicken mixture onto each tortilla towards one side. Roll into the taquito shape, starting at the filling side. Secure with toothpicks.

4. Place four taquitos into the air fryer and spray with olive oil cooking spray. Air fry the taquitos in two batches (four at a time) at 375 degrees for 6 minutes, carefully flipping after four minutes.

5. Remove the toothpicks and serve with sour cream, guacamole, or salsa, if desired.

NOTES

Cooking time will vary between different models of air fryer. I use the Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer.

Taquitos should not be touching each other when air frying.

This recipe is great for using up leftover rotisserie chicken. You could also use my Instant Pot Shredded Chicken, my favorite!

Author: Becky

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