Why You Will Love These Crispy Chicken Taquitos
You are going to completely love these Crispy Chicken Taquitos because they are everything you want in a finger food; crunchy on the outside, incredibly creamy and flavorful on the inside, and perfect for dipping. They are absolutely perfect for a grab-and-go dinner or a late-night snack, and you can pile them high with all your favorite toppings like guacamole, queso, sour cream, or fresh salsa.
These come together very quickly and are super simple to make. In fact, when my brother saw me make these right in front of him, he looked up and said, “Woah, this is something I can actually make at home!” For reference, he does not spend a lot of time in the kitchen at all, so if he can pull this off, anyone can!
Best of all, these Crispy Chicken Taquitos are actually part of a special series I’m doing where I share three easy, simple dinners you can make using just one rotisserie chicken! After you try this recipe, make sure to read my 3 Dinners, 1 Rotisserie Chicken Blog to see how to make your groceries stretch even further.
Ingredients
- Sam’s Club Rotisserie Chicken: One pound of juicy, pre-cooked shredded chicken. Using a Sam’s Club Rotisserie Chicken is the absolute best affiliate shortcut to keep your prep under ten minutes.
- Flour Tortillas: Eleven small tortillas.
- Cream cheese: Eight ounces of softened cream cheese to create a rich, velvety filling that binds the chicken together.
- Yellow onion: A half-cup of chopped onion to add a sweet, savory crunch to the filling base.
- Seasoning blend: A balanced mix of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt.
- Cooking oil: For deep frying to achieve that ultimate golden crust.
- Toppings: Sour cream, shredded lettuce, guacamole, queso, salsa, and fresh pico de gallo.
How to Make Crispy Chicken Taquitos
Start by preparing your filling. Heat a splash of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Toss in your chopped yellow onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until it begins to soften and turn translucent.
Lower the heat slightly and add your shredded rotisserie chicken, the entire block of softened cream cheese, and the seasoning blend (cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt) directly into the skillet. Stir until well combined. Remove the skillet from the heat.
Place a generous spoonful of the chicken filling along the tortilla. Roll the tortilla up tightly around the filling to form your taquito. Repeat this process until all eleven tortillas are rolled.
Heat about an inch of cooking oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully lower the rolled taquitos into the hot oil, seam-side down first so they lock shut. Fry them in batches for 2 to 3 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are golden brown and perfectly crispy on all sides.
Remove the Crispy Chicken Taquitos from the oil with tongs and let them drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Serve hot, piled high with sour cream, shredded lettuce, guacamole, and fresh pico de gallo!
Hey Foodie! Want more recipes like this? Subscribe to Ne’s Kitchen Newsletter!
Tips for the Best Crispy Chicken Taquitos
- When you drop the rolled taquitos into the hot frying oil, always place them seam-side down. The intense heat instantly cooks the flap of the tortilla shut, ensuring your Crispy Chicken Taquitos stay perfectly rolled without needing toothpicks to hold them together.
- Make sure your cream cheese sits on the counter long enough to reach true room temperature before mixing. Cold cream cheese will clump up in the pan instead of creating a smooth sauce that coats every single strand of chicken.
Variations & Substitutions
If you want a lighter alternative to deep frying, you can absolutely air fry these! Spritz the assembled taquitos generously with cooking oil spray and air fry at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes until golden and crunchy.
How to Store
Store any leftover Crispy Chicken Taquitos in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Because the crust can soften in the cold fridge, avoid using the microwave to reheat them! To revive that crisp texture, pop the cold taquitos into an air fryer at 370°F for 4 to 5 minutes, or place them on a wire rack in a 400°F oven until heated through.
Other Recipes You Will Love
If you enjoyed these Crispy Chicken Taquitos, you’ll love my signature Fried Sushi! With over 4 million views, it’s my #1 most popular recipe and the dish everyone is talking about.
Crispy Chicken Taquitos
Description
A fast, incredibly crunchy weeknight dinner featuring rolled tortillas stuffed with a creamy, seasoned rotisserie chicken filling and deep-fried until golden.
Ingredients
Instructions
-
Heat a splash of oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté the chopped yellow onion until softened.
-
Lower the heat and add the shredded rotisserie chicken, softened cream cheese, and the entire seasoning blend (cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, pepper, and salt) to the pan. Stir until the cheese is fully melted and smooth, then remove from heat.
-
Place a spoonful of the chicken filling along the edge of each tortilla and roll it up tightly.
-
Heat 1 inch of oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the taquitos in batches, placing them seam-side down first, for 2 to 3 minutes until all sides are golden brown and crispy.
-
Drain and serve hot with sour cream, lettuce, guacamole, and pico de gallo!
Nutrition Facts
Servings 6
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 460kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 24g37%
- Saturated Fat 11g56%
- Cholesterol 105mg35%
- Sodium 620mg26%
- Total Carbohydrate 34g12%
- Dietary Fiber 2g8%
- Sugars 2g
- Protein 28g57%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
