My go-to for a quick, fun dinner or game-night snack has to be taquitos in the air fryer. I love how the air fryer makes the taquitos even crispier than in the oven.
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My Favorite Crispy Air Fryer Taquitos
The first time I tried making taquitos in the air fryer, my family was in the middle of a game of Monopoly that was dragging on forever. Everyone was getting cranky, and I needed a quick snack that would lift everyone’s spirits.
On a hunch, I threw some frozen taquitos in the air fryer, poured some salsa and sour cream into bowls for dipping, and crossed my fingers. When the taquitos came out hot and crispy 5 minutes later, everyone went so crazy for them. I’m not even sure we finished the game!
My son, Connor, who is a true snack connoisseur, gave his immediate seal of approval with a big thumbs up and a mouthful of food, saying, “I love it.”
Now, it’s become a tradition to have taquitos and other frozen snacks during game night because they love it so much.
And, if you love a good air fryer snack, use my directions for air fryer tater tots, pizza rolls in the air fryer, air fryer frozen shrimp, bagel bites in the air fryer, and frozen french fries in the air fryer!
How to Cook Taquitos in the Air Fryer
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
STEP TWO: Place the frozen taquitos in the air fryer basket or on the air fryer tray and cook them for 4 to 5 minutes until fully heated.
STEP THREE: Carefully remove the taquitos from the air fryer and enjoy!
Tips for The Best Frozen Taquitos in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer before cooking them. This is my fool-proof trick to getting them crispy and golden brown on the outside while heating them all the way through!
- Cook the taquitos in the air fryer in a single layer with a little space between each one. I find this allows the hot air to circulate better and crisps them up on all sides.
- There is no need to use cooking spray! I find that most frozen foods already contain oil in them, so none is needed to crisp them up when air frying.
- Cook them in multiple batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the air fryer. They only take 5 minutes per batch, so it’s easy to cook a bunch quickly!
- Mix and match chicken taquitos and beef taquitos for some yummy variety.Â
- Serve immediately while the taquitos are hot and crispy.
Air Fry Taquitos Variations and Substitutions
- Sprinkle extra cheese over the taquitos right when they come out of the air fryer. My kids love when I do this!
- Drizzle sour cream on top to dress up the presentation. I pipe some out of a sandwich bag to do this quickly.
- Sprinkle cayenne pepper on the taquitos for a spicy kick. This is my husband’s favorite!
- Serve the taquitos with your favorite dips. Salsa, guacamole, and sour cream are my go-to dips.
- For a vegan option, try one of the plant-based brands of frozen taquitos.
- Make homemade chicken taquitos instead. This recipe requires more ingredients and spices than using frozen taquitos, but it still air fries up delicious!
What to Serve with Jose Ole Taquitos in the Air Fryer
My family loves dipping taquitos! Some of our favorites are my creamy corn dip recipe, avocado crema, salsa, and sour cream.
When we have friends over for game day, I usually serve taquitos with my 7 layer taco dip, air fryer nachos, mango habanero salsa, and sometimes even tacos!
Taquitos in the Air Fryer FAQs
How Long to cook Taquitos in the Air Fryer
My favorite part about making frozen taquitos in the air fryer is that once the air fryer is preheated, they only take about 5 minutes! I take them out once they’re crispy and golden-brown on the outside.
What Are the Best Brands of Frozen Taquitos to Air Fry?
My favorite brands of frozen taquitos to cook are Delimix, Jose Ole’s, and El Monterey. I think they pack more meat and cheese inside the corn tortillas, which makes them more satisfying!
How to Store Air Fryer Taquitos
In the unusual event that I have leftover taquitos, I store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I try to enjoy them within 3-4 days.
Best Toppings for Air Fryer Taquitos
My favorite taquito toppings are diced tomatoes and freshly chopped cilantro for a fresh contrast to that crunchy tortilla. My kids’ favorite topping is more cheese, and my husband always goes for the hot sauce!
How to Reheat Taquitos in the Air Fryer
My favorite way to reheat leftover taquitos is right in the air fryer! I preheat it to 350 degrees F, then cook them for 3-4 minutes until they’re heated all the way through. If I can’t use the air fryer, I will wrap them up in some paper towel and then microwave them so the tortillas don’t get tough.
Why cook Frozen taquitos in the air fryer instead of a microwave or oven?
The air fryer is by far my favorite way to make frozen taquitos. They always turn out soggy in the microwave, and the oven isn’t even preheated by the time these are done air frying. With the air fryer, they turn out super crispy and hot every time in minutes flat!
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air fryer bacon
- Air fryer onion rings
- Air fryer hamburgers
- Chicken tenders in the air fryer
- Air fryer buffalo wings
- Fried chicken in the air fryer
- Air fryer flank steak
- Air fryer ravioli
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Crispy Taquitos in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 to 12 taquitos any flavor
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Place the taquitos inside the air fryer basket and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Remove them from the air fryer and enjoy!
Notes
- Preheat the air fryer before cooking the frozen taquitos.
- Cook the taquitos in the air fryer in a single layer with a little space between each one so the hot air can circulate and crisp them up on all sides.
- Cook in multiple batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.
- Mix and match chicken and beef taquitos for some yummy variety.Â
- Serve immediately while the taquitos are hot and crispy.
- Reheat leftover taquitos in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-4 minutes, preheated.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
What flavor is the one shown, it looks delicious, and I’ve never seen it before.
Ooh, that’s a good question, Linda. I can’t remember which ones I used for the pictures, but we always go between the El Monterey chicken and cheese and their beef and cheese varieties, so it would be one of the two!