These creamy Chicken Taquitos are loaded with cream cheese, sour cream, diced cooked chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, and shredded pepper jack cheese, all fried to golden crispy perfection in a flour or corn tortilla. This is a must-try for anyone that has never had fresh taquitos. Serve this dish with shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, and, if desired, a little Mexican rice and refried beans.
How to make Chicken Taquitos
In a large bowl, stir together the cream cheese, sour cream, green chilies, ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, shredded cheddar cheese, shredded pepper jack cheese, and diced or shredded chicken.
Spoon a few tablespoons of the chicken mixture in a line across the top third of a tortilla. Roll the tortilla tightly and secure it with a toothpick. Heat about 1-1 1/2 inches of oil in a cast iron skillet or heavy pot like a Dutch oven. Using tongs, carefully add a few taquitos at a time and fry until golden brown on all sides. Work in batches and remove to a paper towel-lined plate or platter as they are fried. Serve with your choice of toppings like shredded lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, boom boom sauce, Pico de Gallo, or salsa.
Helpful Recipe Tips
- This is a quick and easy recipe using rotisserie chicken but any diced cooked chicken works in this recipe, including spit-roasted rotisserie, oven-roasted, poached, grilled, and pan-fried.
- The cream cheese mixture can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance.
- Both corn and flour tortillas work great, but the corn tortillas will need to be heated and softened so they are pliable enough to roll. Heat in a nonstick skillet for 15 seconds on each side or 4 tortillas at a time, covered with damp paper towels in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.
- To spice it up, add a little fresh lime juice and chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
- The heavier skillets and pots are easier to fry in because they maintain a constant temperature better.
- Secure the rolled tortillas with a toothpick. Remember to remove the toothpicks after frying.
- These taquitos are best enjoyed promptly after frying.
- Freeze-prepped uncooked taquitos for up to 2 months in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Fry, bake, or air fry from frozen. See more below on cooking options.
Recipe Variations
- Meat – cooked ground beef, chicken, pork, or turkey. Or try slow-cooked pork butt or chuck roast.
- Cheese – Monterey Jack Cheese, queso fresco, Mexican Blend, or queso quesadilla
- Toppings – lettuce, salsa, sour cream, Pico de Gallo, or guacamole.
Ways to cook Chicken Taquitos
- Fry – prep as instructed. Then heat 1-1 1/2 inches of vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet or heavy pot like a Dutch oven. Using tongs, carefully add a few taquitos and fry until golden brown on all sides. Work in batches and remove to a paper towel-lined plate. This works for fresh and frozen taquitos.
- Bake – prep as instructed. Brush or spray the taquitos lightly with vegetable oil. Place on a baking sheet seam side down. Bake in a 400-degree F preheated oven for 17-18 minutes or until lightly browned. For frozen taquitos, bake covered loosely with aluminum foil for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 17-18 minutes or until browned and heated through.
- Air Fry – prep as instructed. Brush lightly with vegetable oil or spray the taquitos lightly with cooking spray. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Place the taquitos in the basket with space between them and air fry for 7-10 minutes. This works for fresh or frozen taquitos.
More Mexican recipes to try
Homemade Chicken Taquitos
So much better than boxed taquitos, these creamy homemade Chicken Taquitos are made with cream cheese, sour cream, diced chicken, cheddar cheese, and pepper jack cheese all fried to golden perfection like fried tacos.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 16 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: main meal chicken
- Method: fry
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- 6 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 (4.5 ounce) can green chiles well drained
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup finely shredded pepper jack cheese
- 2 cups finely diced cooked chicken
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
- 8 (8-inch) flour or corn tortillas (see notes)
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, green chilies, ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, shredded cheddar cheese, shredded pepper jack cheese, and diced chicken. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- Spoon the mixture in a line across the top third of a tortilla. Roll the tortilla tightly and secure it with a toothpick.
- Heat 1-1 1/2 inches of oil in a cast iron skillet or heavy pot like a Dutch oven. Using tongs, carefully add a few taquitos and fry for about 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Work in batches and remove to a paper towel-lined plate or platter as they are fried. Carefully remove the toothpicks.
Notes
- This is a quick and easy recipe using rotisserie chicken but any diced cooked chicken works in this recipe, including spit-roasted rotisserie, oven-roasted, poached, grilled, and pan-fried.
- The cream cheese mixture can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance.
- Both corn and flour tortillas work great, but the corn tortillas will need to be heated and softened so they are pliable enough to roll. Heat in a nonstick skillet for 15 seconds on each side or 4 tortillas at a time, covered with damp paper towels in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.
- To spice it up, add a little fresh lime juice and chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
- The heavier skillets and pots are easier to fry in because they maintain a constant temperature better.
- Secure the rolled tortillas with a toothpick. Remember to remove the toothpicks after frying.
- These taquitos are best enjoyed promptly after frying.
- Freeze-prepped uncooked taquitos for up to 2 months in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Fry, bake, or air fry from frozen. See more below on cooking options.
Keywords: how to make chicken taquitos, chicken taquitos recipe, chicken and cheese taquitos
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Shane
This lemon blueberry bread was so delish! It is my new favorite quick bread. Thanks for sharing, Beth!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Shane! So glad that you liked it!
Eileen M Loya
These chicken taquitos would make for a great brunch. I know my family will love this, so I am making a large batch to make sure everyone gets their fill. Can’t wait to make these yummy treats!
★★★★★
Billie
I will be using green chiles from a 7 oz. can so I need to know if the 4.5 oz. in your recipe is VOLUME or WEIGHT. Cannot wait to make them! Thanks!
Beth Pierce
I am pretty sure this particular ingredient in a can is measured by weight.
Kaylynn
just curious. approximately how many taquitos will this make? what is a serving with these?
Beth Pierce
This recipe makes 8 taquitos and a serving size is 2 taquitos.
Stephanie Claymore
These were amazing! I knew by reading the recipe to use cooked chicken. In the recipe however, it does not say to use cooked chicken.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked them, I will clarify that!
Monidipa
We love these chicken taquitos! Thanks for the great recipe!
★★★★★
SONIA SEIVWRIGHT
I swear you make the most delicious and easy-to-cook food. I love these taquitos. Brought back memories.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Food can be so darn nostalgic!
Bedabrata Chakraborty
The creamy Chicken Taquitos recipe makes me drool. Quick question is there a healthy or version that I can create? Can I cut down on the cheese?
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Yes you can cut back on the cheese and increase the chicken.
Chloe Arnold
Umm YES PLEASE! We buy chicken taquitos regularly and I’ve never even thought about making them at home! What a great idea and this recipe looks divine!!
Amber
I love taquitos. These look yummy. I love the idea of cooking them in an air fryer, much healthier.
Fransic verso
Great taquitos! The whole family enjoyed them! So much better than the frozen ones. Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Nyxie
I haven’t had taquitos since I was last in the US which was years ago! These look amazing though. I’m heading into the big city today and I think I might try and hunt out any places that sell these!
Dominique
OMG this is the best recipe! This will be added to our weekly rotation!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Dominique! I am glad that you like the taquitos!
Yonca
Wow! Absolutely mouth-watering! Homemade chicken taquitos are fun to make. We really love these. So much better than the frozen ones.
★★★★★
Monidipa
These chicken taquitos are delicious. We make them often because the whole family enjoys them!
★★★★★
SONIA SEIVWRIGHT
Homemade chicken taquitos are absolutely delicious! The crispy corn tortillas, savoury, shredded chicken, and melted cheese make for a flavorful and satisfying bite. Plus, making them at home allows you to customise the filling and seasoning to your liking, and you can be sure that you’re using fresh and high-quality ingredients.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
So true! I agree 100%!
Blair Villanueva
Thank you for sharing with us your chicken taquitos recipe. My friends love this recipe! I reckon baking it would be better for us. I will try it next time.
★★★★★
Julie
This dish sounds absolutely delicious! I love how it has a mix of cream cheese and sour cream that gives it such a creamy and flavorful balance. The combination of cheddar, pepper jack, and chicken also makes for an amazing flavor profile. Plus, it’s fried to perfection so the taquitos are even more aromatic and tasty. These would be the perfect snack or appetizer to serve at any gathering or dinner party. I can’t wait to give these a try! Do you have any recommendations for a vegetarian version for my husband?
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
I would just omit the chicken. I have done it before and they are still delicious.
LisaLisa
First let me say I love your site! Secondly, I feel like I need to make these today! I’m always looking for tasty recipes with chicken to create for the kids and I! These look delicious!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lisa! I sure hope you and the kids enjoy them. They are so incredibly tasty!
May Palacpac
Homemade Mexican food!!! I love this. I’ll get to try this recipe once we’ve moved to our house. It’s been very challenging to do anything here at my parents’ house. Anyway, the only Mexican food I know how to prep are Fajitas and Tacos. This looks good as an addition to my Mexican menu.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, May! Good luck with the move.
Cinny
Those look so perfectly golden brown and crunchy. We love all sorts of yummy snacks and I know this would be a hit.
Ryan Allen
If I could give these 10 stars I would. It is very rarely that I can find a recipe that my entire family loves. But these chicken taquitos did that. So yummy!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ryan! So glad that the family enjoys the taquitos.
TAYLER ROSS
This is my favorite taquitos recipe! I’ve made them several times and they always turn out perfectly!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Tayler! So glad that you like them! They are tasty!
Shelby
Love this simple breakdown for making a homemade version of my favorite Mexican take out food! Yum!
★★★★★
Claire
These were great and I like how you included different cooking methods too.
★★★★★
Sandra
Our sons love these Taquitos they cannot get enough of these easy delicious quick snack! Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Sandra. So happy to hear that your sons love the homemade taquitos!
Tina Davis
Can you bake these in the oven –
Beth Pierce
Yes, spray the taquitos with cooking spray. Bake on a baking sheet at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Shawna
The tortillas you have in photo look like the uncooked ones are they ?
Beth Pierce
Some of the pictures were as we wanted to try a few with uncooked tortillas this time. They are not nearly as good as the cooked tortillas.
Catalina
What an awesome finger food dinner idea! Must make it for my family!
★★★★★
Sandra
These are so good! Everyone loved them! I should have made a bigger batch!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sandra!
Kathleen
Oh wow, these homemade taquitos with their creamy, cheesy, chicken filling are calling my name. They are perfect for game day, lunch or even a snack.
★★★★★
Chenée
These taquitos are amazing! The creamy filling was just perfect.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Chenee! So glad that you liked them!
Tayler
I made this taquitos for dinner last night and my family loved them! Such a fun recipe!
★★★★★
Saif
I love the cheese added on the chicken Taquitos. It kinda remind me the Filipino spring roll I ate last week.
★★★★★
Dannii
This is my kind of comfort food. So much flavour in them.
★★★★★
Amanda
We love taquitos as a quick snack in our house. I cannot wait to make our own!