Best Damn Air Fryer Taquitos
Air fryer taquitos or flautas can be made in less than 10 minutes from frozen. They are an easy snack, appetizer, or dinner with some Mexican sides.
🍽️ Recipe Name: Air Fryer Taquitos (or Flautas)
⏰ Ready In: 13 minutes
⏳ Prep Time: 5 minutes
🔥 Cook Time: 8 minutes
👥 Serves: 4
🥕Main Ingredients: Frozen taquitos or flautas, cooking spray
🍳 Special Equipment: Air fryer, tongs
⭐ Why You’ll Love It: Crispy, golden taquitos in minutes with almost no prep. Perfect for a quick snack, easy appetizer, or simple weeknight dinner when paired with your favorite Mexican sides.
👇 Full measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.
If you need an incredibly easy meal, these taquitos or flautas can be made from scratch in just a few more minutes using rotisserie chicken, leftover pulled chicken, or pulled pork. Browned ground beef is also a great bet. They can also be made with beans and cheese in the same amount of time.
What’s the Difference Between Taquitos and Flautas?
The difference is all in the tortilla. Taquitos are made with rolled corn tortillas. Flautas are made with flour tortillas. Both are stuffed with a variety of fillings. Beans, meats, peppers, and even sweet ingredients like apples and cinnamon.
Technically, the “taquitos” pictured below are flautas. They are made with flour tortillas.
They are then rolled and baked, fried, deep-fried, or air-fried until they achieve a beautiful crispness.
They’re great for snacks, appetizers, game day, or even for an easy, quick dinner with some rice and beans.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Taquitos
Serve taquitos or flautas with dipping sauces and dips like guacamole, frijoles (refried beans), salsas, or this chipotle aioli.
Taquitos are great to serve with fun toppings, too. Chopped onion, lettuce, chopped tomatoes, black olives, sour cream or Mexican crema, cotija or queso fresco cheese, fresh or pickled jalapeños and pickled onions.
If you’re planning a party or game day spread, pair them with some of these easy savory bite-sized appetizers for a fun mix of finger foods everyone can enjoy.
Salsas to Serve with Them
What You Need
- Fresh or frozen taquitos or flautas
- Cooking spray
How to Make Them
- Preheat the air fryer to 350° F/ 180°C for 3-5 minutes.
- Spray fresh or frozen taquitos with cooking spray.
- Load them into the basket. Leave room between them.
- Air fry for about 6 minutes until golden brown and crisped to your liking. Usually, there is no need to flip them over. If you think you have to, carefully flip with tongs.
NOTE: Different air fryers cook at different wattages, and times will vary. If this is the first time you are making any recipe in your air fryer, watch carefully so that it doesn’t burn.
Can You Make Taquitos in Your Oven?
Yes, you can. Heat your oven to 375°F / 190°C. Place fresh or frozen taquitos on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake from fresh for 15-20 minutes and frozen for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and crisped to your liking.
Tools That Make This Recipe Work
If you don’t already have these, this is where most people struggle.
- Air Fryer – This is what gives the taquitos their crispy exterior without deep-frying. Without one, you’ll need to use a different cooking method and won’t get the same results.
- Tongs – Make it easy to turn and safely remove hot taquitos. Using forks or your hands can tear the tortillas or make them harder to handle.
How to Crisp Taquitos on the Stovetop
To heat taquitos on your stovetop. Add shallow oil to a small frying pan. Heat over high heat. Place the taquitos seam side down. Brown and then turn with tongs. Brown the second side. Drain on paper towels.
Caution! If you are cooking frozen taquitos on the stovetop in oil, place them in very carefully, one at a time and stand back. Wait for the oil to finish splattering before adding more.
Pro tip: I usually let frozen taquitos sit out on the counter for a few minutes so they have no frost on the outside.
You can heat taquitos in your microwave as well, but they will not be crispy. Leftover taquitos can be reheated in the microwave.
Why You Should Make These Easy Taquitos
- Perfect for a quick snack for the kids.
- Less than 10 minutes from frozen.
- Makes an incredibly easy dinner for busy weeknights with a few side dishes.
- It can be made with homemade or commercially frozen taquitos.
Taquitos Toppings
- Cheese – some good choices are Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, queso fresco, and cotija
- Green chiles – or sliced jalapeno, candied jalapeno, pickled peppers
- Sour cream or Mexican creme
- Salsas
- Bean dips or refried beans
- Chopped cilantro or parsley
- Sliced green onion or chives
Other Delicious Mexican Recipes
More Air Fryer Recipes
That is how easy it is to make air fryer taquitos. Give them a try today, you will be happy you did!
Air fryer Taquitos (or Flautas)
Ingredients
- 8 taquitos homemade or store bought
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer for 3-5 minutes to 350°F / 180°C.
- Spray taquitos with cooking spray lightly.8 taquitos, cooking spray
- Arrange on air fryer basket so that they don't touch.
- Air fry for about 6 minutes. Usually no need to flip. (see tips in notes below)
See all of my favorite tools and gift ideas on my New Amazon Store!Check out Binky's Amazon Store!
These are so easy to make and take only a couple minutes. I served them with beans, salsa and rice and we had an incredibly easy dinner for four in less than 30 minutes. Thanks for the inspiration!