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Cream cheese chicken taquitos made with seasoned ground chicken and cooked in the air fryer for a crispy, easy dinner. This air fryer recipe comes together fast with simple ingredients.
I’ve been thinking about these cream cheese chicken taquitos for years. They’re inspired by taquitos I had a long time ago that somehow stuck with me—the kind you randomly crave and compare everything else to. I knew I wanted to recreate them at home in a way that was easy, flavorful, and just as satisfying, and this version honestly delivers every time.
This air fryer recipe is quick to prep, packed with creamy, cheesy ground chicken, and cooks up perfectly crispy without deep frying. These taquitos in the air fryer work just as well for a simple weeknight dinner as they do for game day, parties, or easy appetizers when you’re feeding a crowd. Minimal ingredients, big flavor, and that nostalgic bite I still think about—these taquitos check all the boxes.
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
- Ground chicken – lean, flavorful, and the base of the creamy taquito filling
- Avocado oil – used to sear the chicken and add a subtle, neutral richness
- Seasoning blend – garlic powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper
- Cream cheese – softened for easy mixing and ultra-creamy texture
- Mexican shredded cheese – melts into the filling for extra cheesiness
- Jalapeños – diced for a fresh kick of heat (optional)
- Corn tortillas – the classic choice for crispy, golden taquitos
- Cooking spray – essential for getting perfectly crisp taquitos in the air fryer
Kitchen Tools
How to Make Cream Cheese Chicken Taquitos
Cook the Chicken
Start by heating avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken and let it cook undisturbed for a few minutes so it can develop a nice golden sear. Once it’s browned on the bottom, break it apart with a spatula and continue cooking until mostly cooked through. Season with garlic powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne, salt, and black pepper, then cook for another couple of minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and fragrant. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Make the Filling
Transfer the cooked chicken to a mixing bowl while it’s still warm. Add the softened cream cheese, shredded cheese, and diced jalapeños. Stir everything together until the mixture is well combined and creamy. To make the tortillas easier to roll, wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave for about 30 seconds until soft and pliable.
Air Fry the Taquitos
Spoon about two tablespoons of the chicken mixture onto each tortilla and roll them up tightly, securing with toothpicks if needed. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil, then spray or brush the taquitos with oil as well. Arrange them seam-side down in the basket and air fry at 375°F for 7–9 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the taquitos are golden, crispy, and cooked through. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
How to Serve
Serve these cream cheese chicken taquitos hot and crispy with your favorite dipping sauces. They’re perfect alongside classic salsa, fresh pico de gallo, or creamy guacamole for dipping. You can also add sour cream, a squeeze of lime, or a simple chopped salad to round out the meal. These taquitos work just as well as a casual dinner or as an easy appetizer for game day and parties.
Recipe Tips & Substitutions For Cream Cheese Chicken Taquitos
- Wrap corn tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave briefly to make them more pliable and easier to roll.
- Use toothpicks to hold the taquitos together while air frying, if needed.
- Be sure to spray the air fryer basket and the taquitos with cooking spray so they get extra crispy.
- Shredded chicken can be used instead of ground chicken if that’s what you have on hand.
- Swap corn tortillas for flour tortillas if preferred.
- Omit the jalapeño and cayenne for a mild, no-heat version.
- Replace the shredded Mexican cheese with any favorite shredded cheese, such as cheddar or Monterey Jack.
Storing & Reheating
- Reheat taquitos in the air fryer or in a skillet over medium heat until heated through and crispy. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the tortillas soft instead of crispy.
- For best results, it’s best to only assemble and cook the amount of taquitos you plan to eat at one time. Store the leftover ground chicken mixture separately and use it to make fresh taquitos later.
- Store the cooked chicken mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If you do have leftover cooked taquitos, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Explore More Mexican Inspired Favorites
- Easy Shrimp Tostadas Loaded with Guacamole and Mango Salsa
- Easy Maple Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Creamy Avocado Crema
- The Best Crispy Barbacoa Tacos with Slow-Braised Beef
- Easy Steak Tacos with Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Salsa
- The Best Chipotle Braised Short Rib Tacos
Cream Cheese Chicken Taquitos in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 tsp avocado oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ cup Mexican shredded cheese
- 1-2 jalapenos diced
- 12 corn tortillas
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken and let it cook undisturbed for 4–5 minutes to develop a golden sear. Break up the chicken with a spatula and continue cooking for 2–3 minutes, until mostly browned. Season with garlic powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Cook for another 2–3 minutes until fully cooked and fragrant. Remove from heat.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a mixing bowl. Add the softened cream cheese, shredded cheese, and diced jalapeños. Stir until fully combined.
- Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds to soften. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of filling into each tortilla and roll tightly. Secure with toothpicks if needed.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket, then spray or brush the taquitos with oil. Air fry at 375°F for 7–9 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy. Cook in batches if necessary.
Notes
Storing & Reheating
- Reheat taquitos in the air fryer or in a skillet over medium heat until heated through and crispy. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the tortillas soft instead of crispy.
- For best results, it’s best to only assemble and cook the amount of taquitos you plan to eat at one time. Store the leftover ground chicken mixture separately and use it to make fresh taquitos later.
- Store the cooked chicken mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If you do have leftover cooked taquitos, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
