Quick Chicken Taquitos
Such a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken! So easy, crispy and crunchy! Serve with guac, pico de gallo and sour cream!
I was really torn whether to classify this as an appetizer or entree.
I could (and I have) eaten most of the platter, alone, so that made it my dinner. But then I have also served this to some friends and family, which means I had to share so it unfortunately became an appetizer.
So I guess it’s both?
I don’t know. Either way, app or entree, these super crispy, crunchy taquitos comes together in a cinch with the help of leftover rotisserie along with a few pantry staples and my favorite blend of cheeses. Simply fill them up, roll them, and throw them in some hot, hot oil until super golden brown and crisp.
Serve with guacamole, pico de gallo and a dollop of sour cream. SO SO GOOD.
Quick Chicken Taquitos
Ingredients
- 3 cups leftover shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 4-ounce can diced green chilies
- 4 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 ounces Pepper Jack cheese, shredded
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce, or more, to taste
- 12 6-inch corn tortillas, warmed
- 6 cups canola oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine chicken, green chiles, cheeses, cilantro, chili powder, cumin and hot sauce.
- Working one at a time, transfer tortilla to a work surface; place 1/3 cup chicken mixture in the center of each wrapper. Bring the bottom edge of the tortilla tightly over the filling, rolling from bottom to top until the top of the tortilla is reached; secure with wooden picks. Repeat with remaining tortilla and filling.
- Heat canola oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat until it reaches 375 degrees F.
- Working in batches, add taquitos to the Dutch oven and cook until evenly golden and crispy, about 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. When cool enough to handle, remove wooden picks.
- Serve immediately.
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Delicious! Worth my time to give 5 stars! I used cheddar cheese only. I did heat the tortillas in the microwave but still had some trouble with the tortillas falling apart. The flavor is amazing though! Great combination of ingredients.
These were so good I can’t wait to per-fect my recipe. Thanks for the tip on getting the tortillas to stick together. I followed the instructions to a t and rolled the perfect taquitos/flautas. Between the pepper jack cheese and hot sauce I noticed the spice instantly. I love spicy but I will switch up the cheese type in my next ones and play around with the ingredients. Thank you so much! I couldn’t stop eating them. I can’t wait to try your breakfast version.
I had a terrible time keeping the taquitos rolled up and ended up making a huge mess and almost ruining dinner. I ended up frying up the tortillas (that hadn’t split open when I tried rolling them) flat and topping them up with the filling, and serving them like a tostada. Delicious! I’m not even going to bother trying to roll them up next time.
You have to heat them up first.Take 6 at a time,brush a thin line of water down the center of each tortilla,stack them and cover loosely with plastic wrap.Microwave on high for 35 sec,turn them all over and do 30sec more.Seperate ASAP and roll with the grain of the tortilla and pin with a toothpick
These were so fast and good and worked better than I ever expected! They held together very well with the toothpicks. Definitely heat the tortillas really well before rolling them to avoid cracks.
I have used a ton of your recipes and usually love them, but this one completely missed the mark for me. First off, it wasn’t at all quick like promised. It took me over an hour :(. I had major issues with the corn tortillas cracking at first and had to google how to keep them from cracking. My issue is that I didn’t know to warm them up first. Looking back, I see that in the ingredient list it says corn tortillas, warmed. But I completely missed that, and I feel like it should have been a step in the actual recipe.
Lol so you’re mad you didn’t read the recipe properly.
I agree. I see that in one of the comments she included instructions for heating the tortillas. It would be useful if those instructions were included in the recipe. FYI, as an alternative they sell tortilla warmers that are microwavable, insulated fabric pouches. I sprinkle water between each tortilla and warm them for a few seconds in the microwave. They come out amazing and the pouch keeps them warm as you use them one at a time.
Love you recipes. Just as an FYI there are called flautas. Taquitos means small tacos so small street tacos are actually taquitos.
That is incorrect.
Wrong. Flautas are made with flour tortillas and taquitos are made with corn tortillas.
Yes, the terms are interchangeable! I just learned that as I was looking for authentic taquito recipes. 🙂 Where I lived in Southern California, there is definitely a distinction between taquitos/corn tortillas and flautas/flour tortillas. It was confusing at first until I realized that my experience was not necessarily the *only* perspective.
Yum! These taquitos were delicious and so easy to make. The whole family loved them too!
I can’t seem to stop the shredded cheese from escaping the taquito and burning in the oil. Any tips?
I made this as a quesadilla with large flour tortillas and it was perfect! Love the flavours except the cilantro (I’m one of them).
Pre warmed the tortillas as suggested. And cooked them in the air fryer… AMAZING… I recently discovered all your recipes and my family and I couldn’t be happier with the dinners we have been eating!!!! Thank you
What temp and how long did you cook in the air fryer?
Love the recipe (as I do all your recipes!!!) but would LOVE to find a version that doesn’t involve frying. Are there some modifications we can use for baking in the oven?
I used the baking instructions from these taquitos and they turned out great!! https://damndelicious.net/2013/03/19/hawaiian-bbq-chicken-taquitos/
I haven’t made these but would like to make them ahead and freeze for later use. Any suggestions.
I am a big fan of make ahead food and love you recipes. If you could include a freezing option with them that would be wonderful. Thanks
I made these ahead of time to completion then just reheated them when we were ready in the oven. They were delicious.
I’m curious about frying them in an air fryer too since I have a Ninja Foodi. I have enjoyed all of your recipes that I have made. Thank you for sharing.
They sound wonderful, but have you ever tried making them in an air fryer?