My family enjoy these eaten around the coffee table with sour cream and salsa (as well as pico de gallo) on a Friday night with some movies. It’s essentially finger food, but I’ve been known to fill my double oven up with trays of these and pass them around as an appetizer at a party. You can use your air fryer too!
Love good appetizers? (Who doesn’t?) – try these Thai Baked Chicken Meatballs, Cheesy Crescent Roll Pigs in a Blanket, or these Savory Palmiers!
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below, but you can jump right to the recipe card if you wish!
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Why you’ll love this recipe:
Very simple ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge and pantry, they can be super spicy, or super mild – it’s all up to you! Just choose your level, and go for it. All you need to do is mix up the filling, heat your tortillas, spend a little time rolling taquitos, then spritz with a little oil/cooking spray and bake.
They are a delicious and healthier alternative to the traditional deep-fried version. They are made with tortillas filled with a flavorful mixture of seasoned shredded chicken and cheese, then rolled up tightly and baked until crispy.
Want the buffalo version? Buffalo Chicken Taquitos bring the heat and the cheese.
Double or Triple and Freeze
The best part of this is that I can make a triple or quadruple batch and freeze them for whenever we need them. A few extra minutes in the oven and we are in taquito heaven!
If you want to freeze them, just skip the baking step and freeze on a baking sheet and when solid, put them all in a freezer bag. Pull out as many as you’ll need (I’ve done 2 at a time for lunch in the toaster oven) and bake.
What to serve with Taquitos
Salsa, Pico de Gallo, Guacamole, Sour Cream, Hot Sauce, Cilantro. Add a bowl of warm queso dip on the side for dipping, and watch it disappear.
I have included step-by-step photos and instructions, as well as tips and tricks in the post. If you’d rather skip all that, scoot right on down to the full recipe card located at the bottom of the post.
Kylee’s Notes
What to do with leftovers
Allow to cool completely at room temperature. However, don’t leave them out for more than two hours to avoid bacterial growth.
Place them in an airtight container or wrap them individually with foil or plastic wrap.
Store in the refrigerator. They will usually keep well for up to 3-4 days.
How do I reheat leftover Baked Chicken Taquitos?
Leftover taquitos can be reheated in the oven to maintain their crispy texture. It’s best to avoid using the microwave as it may make the tortillas soft.
Substitutions/Additions
You could make this a full meal and serve with mexican rice, refried beans etc.
Use taco seasoning if you don’t have the individual seasonings I used in the filling.
Freezing instructions
- Prepare and bake the taquitos. Let them cool completely to room temperature.
- Arrange the cooled taquitos on a baking sheet. Make sure they’re not touching each other to prevent them from freezing together.
- Flash freeze the taquitos. Put the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze the taquitos for about 1-2 hours until they are solid. This step helps the taquitos to maintain their shape and not stick to each other in the freezer.
- Transfer the frozen taquitos to a freezer-safe bag or container. Try to remove as much air as possible from the bag before sealing it. You can also use a vacuum sealer if you have one for longer storage.
- Label the bag or container with the date. Baked Chicken Taquitos can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months without losing quality.
Key Recipe Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and amounts is found in the printable recipe card below.
- Cream Cheese. Soften it in the microwave until it is easy to mix.
- Salsa. Here’s where you can make this your own! Choose your favorite salsa, whether it’s spicy or mild, green or red!
- Lime Juice. Fresh lime juice is best for this.
- Prepared Chili Powder. This is NOT straight ground chilis.
- Cumin. This gives it a lovely deep flavor. Add more or less to your liking.
- Onion Powder. You can use fresh onion, but it should be very finely diced.
- Garlic. Fresh!! Mince it up finely. You can use garlic powder if you need to.
- Cilantro. This will add some delicious freshness and color.
- Green Onions. These are for a subtle flavor, and color.
- Cooked shredded chicken. Make it easy on yourself and use a leftover chicken, tear apart a rotisserie chicken, or use my recipe for baked chicken breasts.
- Monterey Jack Cheese. You can use whatever shredded cheese you prefer, including pepper jack cheese, or cheddar cheese if that is what you have on hand.
- Flour Tortillas. These are “soft taco” sized, but you can use a smaller tortillas, or use corn tortillas if you prefer.
- Vegetable Oil. Just brush this on before baking so they get nice and crispy. You can also use an oil mister if you have one and prefer to use it. Olive oil or canola oil also work great!
How to make Baked Chicken Taquitos
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This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven to 425˚F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the filling: Mix together the filling ingredients in a large bowl until thoroughly combined
- Make the taquitos: Heat the tortillas in the microwave until soft and pliable, and keep warm (I use a tortilla warmer). Spoon chicken filling down the center of the tortilla and roll the tortillas up tightly. Place seam side down in a single layer on a baking sheet and repeat with remaining filling.
- Bake: Brush the taquitos with vegetable oil (or spray with cooking spray) and sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt. Bake 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and cooked to crispy perfection.
- Serve: Serve with your favorite toppings. Devour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you freeze chicken taquitos?
Yes – just place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Freeze until solid, then add to a freezer safe zip top bag until needed. See the notes box for more info.
Can I use store-bought rotisserie chicken for the filling?
Absolutely! Using a store-bought rotisserie chicken can save you time and still provides a delicious filling for your taquitos.
Can this recipe be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare Baked Chicken Taquitos ahead of time and refrigerate them until you’re ready to bake. They also freeze well for longer storage.
My homemade taquitos unroll while baking. What can I do to prevent this?
To prevent taquitos from unrolling while baking, make sure to roll them tightly and place them seam-side down on the baking sheet. You can also secure them with a toothpick.
More delicious appetizers
- Baked Coconut Shrimp. These easy baked coconut shrimp are the perfect appetizer or light dinner. Crispy, crunchy and with a dipping sauce, this one is a winner!
- Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls. Super tasty southwestern egg rolls with sweet corn, black beans, spinach and cilantro. These are as tasty as they sound!
- Buffalo Chicken Dip. Super easy to make, and always the first to be devoured, this Buffalo Chicken Dip is a great appetizer recipe for parties and gatherings!
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Baked Chicken Taquitos
Ingredients
Filling
- 3 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1/4 cup salsa
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 teaspoon prepared chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tablespoons cilantro (chopped)
- 1-2 green onions (chopped)
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded)
- 1 cup Monterey jack cheese (shredded)
For the taquitos
- 12 flour tortillas (soft taco sized)
For cooking
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Directions
To prepare and eat immediately
- Preheat the oven to 425˚F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix together the filling ingredients (3 ounces cream cheese, 1/4 cup salsa, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon prepared chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder2 cloves garlic, 3 tablespoons cilantro1-2 green onions, 2 cups cooked chicken, 1 cup Monterey jack cheese, in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Heat the 12 flour tortillas in the microwave until soft and pliable, and keep warm (I use a tortilla warmer).
- Spoon filling down the middle of each tortilla and roll up tightly.
- Place seam-side down on a baking sheet and repeat with remaining filling/tortillas.
- Brush the taquitos with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt.
- Bake 15-20 minutes, until crisp and golden.
- Devour.
To Freeze
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer and chill until taquitos are frozen.
- Transfer to a freezer safe zip top bag, and place back in the freezer.
To bake from frozen:
- Preheat the oven to 425˚F.
- Remove desired number of taquitos from the freezer and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until crisp and golden.
- Devour.
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Nutrition Facts
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Update: This Baked Chicken Taquitos Recipe was originally posted in 2011 I have updated the post to improve reader experience, the recipe remains the same.
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