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Load up your freezer meals with these easy baked chicken taquitos! Our taquitos recipe features flavorful spiced shredded chicken baked in crispy corn tortillas with a creamy avocado dipping sauce.
Chicken taquitos make perfect party appetizers or a fun and easy dinner recipe for family and friends! They are the perfect make ahead appetizer for stress free entertaining.
It’s no secret: I am a huge fan of chicken tacos. They are easy to make, super versatile, and always full of flavor.
Recently, I took a break from my routine and found that the same can be said of taquitos! This easy chicken bake recipe uses spiced and shredded chicken tenderloins baked in corn tortillas until crispy, with an avocado cream sauce for dipping.
These chicken tenderloin recipes make great Mexican appetizers or a small plate for a game day menu, but are also perfect for a fun Sunday dinner recipes!
Homemade taquitos can be baked ahead of time and frozen, too, for an easy meal-prep dinner. Make-ahead freezer meals are awesome to have on hand during those busy weeknights.
What are taquitos?
A taquito is a traditional Mexican cuisine that consists of a tortilla with a filling of shredded meat such as chicken or beef, as well as cheese.
The tortilla is rolled tightly and then fried in oil until crispy. Taquito is a Spanish word that translates to ‘small taco‘. If you like tacos, you’ll love taquitos!
This chicken recipe uses shredded chicken; in fact, this recipe reminds us of the famous Cheesecake Factory Chicken Taquitos. You can use any type of shredded chicken you like.
I typically use chicken tenderloins, but regular chicken breasts, grilled chicken, or rotisserie chicken will also work. You could even make slow cooker whole chicken and use the leftovers!
What ingredients are in Baked Chicken Taquitos?
If you have the ingredients to make tacos on hand, then you’ll have everything you need to make chicken taquitos! There’s no need to buy any special ingredients.
Baked Taquitos Ingredients
- 1 ½ – 2 lbs. chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- salt and pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- ½ cup salsa
- 1 package tortillas
- cooking spray
Ingredients for Avocado Cream Sauce
We’ll be dressing the chicken taquitos with this delicious avocado cream sauce. Recipes with avocado are so delicious!
- 2 avocados
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 limes
- 1 jalapeno
How to Make Taquitos
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place 1 ½ – 2 lbs. of chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins on a baking sheet. Drizzle them with a heaping Tbsp. of olive oil. Sprinkle 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. cumin, 1 tsp. smoked paprika, 1 tsp. chili powder, and ½ tsp. of kosher salt and pepper over the chicken. Toss until completely coated.
- Place the chicken in the oven and bake for 18-22 minutes (cooking times will vary slightly). When the chicken is finished cooking, remove the pan from the oven.
- Once the chicken has cooled, shred it with two forks and place in a mixing bowl. Add 1 cup of shredded cheese and ½ cup salsa to the chicken. Mix until combined.
- The next step is to spoon the chicken filling onto corn tortillas. RECIPE TIP: Wet a few paper towels, wrap a stack of corn tortillas in the towels, and microwave them for a minute. This will make them pliable so they won’t break as you roll them.
- Place a couple of spoonfuls of the chicken filling into each tortilla and roll them tightly.
- Spray a baking sheet generously with cooking spray. Place the taquitos seam-side down on the sheet. Spray the top of the taquitos with cooking spray as well.
- Place the baking sheet(s) in the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes or until the taquitos are crisp. Remove from the oven when finished baking.
This baked taquito recipe yields about 16 chicken taquitos, which makes it perfect for a party appetizer recipe or a big family dinner! These homemade taquitos are a treat everyone at the table will love.
Can you freeze baked taquitos?
Yes! You can whip up a batch of these homemade taquitos and stick them in the freezer for those nights when you just need a quick meal or appetizer.
How to freeze baked taquitos: Prepare the taquitos as described. Once baked, allow them to cool completely, and place them into a freezer-friendly plastic bag in a single layer.
They can be reheated in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or in a 400 degrees F oven for 10 minutes or so.
Note: Do not freeze taquitos with the avocado crema on top (recipe for avocado cream sauce below). The avocado crema does not freeze well so prepare that just before serving.
What goes with chicken taquitos?
Homemade chicken taquitos are versatile, just like tacos. You can enjoy them on their own or with any variety of dipping sauce.
If serving as an appetizer for a party they are great with our homemade salsa, or pico de gallo, guacamole, or avocado cream sauce. I personally love them with homemade avocado crema! It totally sends any taquitos recipe over the top.
How to Make the Avocado Crema (Avocado Cream Sauce)
- Place 2 ripe avocados in a food processor
- Add ½ cup sour cream
- 1 jalapeno (remove seeds for less heat, but be careful doing so)
- Add the juice of 2 limes
- ½ tsp. kosher salt
- Pulse until creamy
You can dip the chicken taquitos into the avocado crema or drizzle it over the top for a more decorative presentation. This is a great option if you are serving them at a party.
If serving as a meal, I love them with a side of one pot Spanish rice and beans. Taquitos are perfect served with fresh ingredients like Elote (Mexican Street Corn) or a Fresh Vegetable Salad.
Chicken taquitos pair well with a glass of Moscato Sangria or a Frosé Rosé for the adults, or maybe even Watermelon Mint Lemonade. You can take them in any direction you like!
Easy Appetizers for a party and Game Day Recipes
For additional easy to make appetizers recipes or fun weeknight dinners like this one, try these:
- Puerto Rican Empanadas
- Baked Quesadillas (Dairy-Free)
- Beer Cheese Dip
- Soft Pretzel Recipe
- Apple Caramel Empanadas
- Baked Crispy Potato Wedges
- Peach Mango Salsa
- Baked Buffalo Wings
Favorite Recipes with Chicken
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Chicken Taquitos Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ – 2 lbs. chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- ½ tsp. salt and pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- ½ cup salsa
- 1 package corn tortillas
- cooking spray
For The Avocado Crema:
- 2 avocados
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 jalapeno seeds removed
- 2 limes juice only
- ½ tsp. salt
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Drizzle a heaping Tbsp. of olive oil over them. Sprinkle with 1 tsp. each of garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and chili powder long with ½ tsp. of kosher salt and pepper. Toss until completely coated.
- Place the chicken in the oven and bake for 18-22 minutes (cooking times may vary depending on thickness of chicken). Remove from oven when finished baking.
- Once the chicken has cooled shred it with two forks and place in a large mixing bowl. Add 1 cup of shredded cheese (any variety) and ½ cup of salsa. Toss until completely combined.
- Fill The Tortillas: Place a stack of corn tortillas in a couple of wet paper towels (it's important that they're wet) and microwave for a minute. This will make them pliable and they won't break apart when rolling them.
- Place a couple spoonfuls of the chicken filling into each tortilla and roll it up like a cigar.
- Spray the bottom of a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the rolled tortillas onto the baking sheet seam-side down. Spray the top of the taquitos with more cooking spray.
- Place the pan(s) in a 400 degree oven and bake for 20 minutes or until crispy. Remove from oven when finished baking.
- To Freeze: Bake as directed, allow taquitos to cool completely, and place them in a single layer into a freezer-friendly bag. Reheat for 2-4 minutes in the microwave or 10 minutes in a 400 degree oven.
For The Avocado Crema:
- Place 2 ripe avocados, ½ cup sour cream, the juice of 2 limes, 1 jalapeno (seeds removed), and ½ tsp. salt in a food processor. Pulse until creamy.
- Serve the chicken taquitos with avocado crema, salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, or any type of dipping sauce you like.
Video
Notes
- You can use any type of chicken you like with this recipe: baked, slow cooker, grilled, rotisserie. Just make sure the chicken is shredded or cut into small chunks before filling tortillas.
- You can serve these taquitos with any type of dipping sauce or as a meal with something like beans and rice.
Nutrition
Updated 11/17/2019.
Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe!