Homemade Chicken Taquitos

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. Skip the frozen food aisle and try making your own chicken taquitos from scratch.

Learn how to make delicious, crispy chicken taquitos at home with this easy recipe. Whether you prefer them baked or fried, these taquitos make for a satisfying meal or snack! Perfect for game day or a quick weeknight dinner.

This is a must-try for anyone who has never had fresh taquitos. Serve this dish with shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, jalapeños, and, if desired, a little Mexican rice or cilantro lime rice and refried beans. If you like this recipe, try my chicken enchilada casserole, chile verde, salsa chicken, and shrimp enchiladas.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.

• Cream cheese: Full-fat is best for melting
• Sour cream: Again, full-fat is best
• Cheese: Any good melting Mexican-style cheese like pepper jack, cheddar, or queso quesadilla.
• Chicken: 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.
• Tortillas: 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.

How to make Chicken Taquitos

This is the summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.

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.

Prepartion Tips

• The cream cheese mixture can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance.
• 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 or baking.

Recipe Variations

• Meat – cooked ground beef, chicken, pork, or turkey. Or try slow-cooked pork butt or shredded beef.
• 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 preheated oven for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. For frozen taquitos, bake covered loosely with aluminum foil for 10 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 12-15 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

Chicken Taquitos Recipe

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. 

5 from 45 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: main meal chicken

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 549kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

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 1-1½ 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. 

Video

Notes

• The cream cheese mixture can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance.
• 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 or baking.

Nutrition

Calories: 549kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 607mg | Potassium: 303mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1267IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 485mg | Iron: 1mg

Did You Make This Recipe?Mention @smalltownwomanfoodnut or tag #smalltownwomanfoodnut!

On the hunt for more delicious recipes?  Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.