Description
Crispy baked chicken taquitos deliver Mexican-inspired comfort with golden tortillas packed with tender shredded chicken and melty cheese. Perfectly seasoned and crisped to perfection, these taquitos promise a delightful crunch you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (preferably breast or thigh meat)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 12–16 corn tortillas
Spices and Seasonings:
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking and Optional Ingredients:
- Cooking spray or oil, for coating
- Optional: chopped cilantro
- Optional: diced onion
- Optional: lime juice (for added flavor)
Instructions
- Activate the oven to a searing 400°F, positioning the rack in the center to ensure uniform heat distribution.
- Drape a parchment liner across the baking sheet, creating a non-stick surface for the taquitos.
- Craft the flavor-packed filling by amalgamating tender, shredded chicken with melted cheese in a spacious mixing vessel.
- Incorporate a medley of aromatic spices – cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, and smoked paprika – to elevate the chicken’s profile.
- Season the mixture with a delicate balance of salt and pepper, stirring until the ingredients meld into a cohesive blend.
- Render the tortillas supple by enveloping them in a damp paper towel and warming briefly in the microwave, preventing potential fracturing during rolling.
- Generously distribute the spiced chicken mixture along the tortilla’s length, ensuring an even spread of flavors.
- Execute a precise, tight roll for each taquito, positioning them seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet to maintain structural integrity.
- Mist the taquitos with a light coating of cooking spray, promoting a golden, crisp exterior.
- Transfer the tray to the preheated oven, allowing the taquitos to transform into a crunchy, bronzed delicacy over 15-20 minutes.
- Extract from the oven and permit a brief cooling period to prevent molten fillings from causing burns.
- Embellish with optional garnishes like fresh cilantro, diced onions, or a zesty lime squeeze to heighten the culinary experience.
Notes
- Dip into culinary adventure with these crunch-packed taquitos that transform leftover chicken into a crowd-pleasing snack.
- Customize spice levels by adjusting chili powder and adding extra smoked paprika for a smoky kick.
- Freeze unbaked taquitos between parchment layers for quick future meals, ensuring crispy texture when baked directly from frozen state.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg