Name: Easy Baked Chicken Taquitos Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 14 min
Total time: 29 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken (about 2 small chicken breasts or 1 large) or turkey; 1 (8 ounces) can tomato sauce; 1 teaspoon white vinegar; 1 garlic clove (minced); 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1/4 teaspoon sugar; salt and pepper (to taste); 1 cups Monterey jack cheese; 12 flour tortillas; Canola oil (for brushing); Condiments for serving:; pico de gallo; shredded lettuce; sour cream

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These baked chicken taquitos use flour tortillas and are delicious and easy to prepare. This recipe is a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken or turkey. Or, if you don’t have any leftover chicken you can cook up some boneless skinless chicken breasts and then shred them.

You’ll stuff your flour tortillas with Mexican-seasoned chicken and Monterey Jack cheese. Then roll them up, brush them with oil, and bake for 12 to 15 minutes at 425F. It’s a healthier and less messy alternative to deep-frying.

You can top these taquitos with whatever condiments you want. I like lettuce, sour cream, and pico del gallo. Enjoy.

Substitutions for baked chicken taquitos

Here are some fun ways to customize baked chicken taquitos and make them your own:

Use leftover turkey instead of chicken. You could also use leftover pork or beef.
Try a different cheese! I have used cheddar in lieu of jack.
Swap in a different type of vinegar if you don’t have white. I have used apple cider vinegar instead, because it’s a pantry staple in my house.
You can use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.
You can adjust the spices to suit your taste. Like things hot? Add a dash of cayenne or more chili powder.
Serve with guacamole instead of (or alongside) the sour cream. I also like these taquitos dipped in salsa.

A paleo version of chicken taquitos

Close up of baked chicken taquitos on a plate. — This is the same chicken taquito recipe, made with leftover turkey and paleo tortillas.

Probably the biggest substitution I’ve made with this recipe is using homemade flour tortillas. I like Paleo Porn’s paleo tortilla recipe for this. They’re easy to make and they get a nice crisp when you bake them in the oven. If you’re on a Paleo diet, you could use those tortillas and also skip the cheese on the inside. Add five minutes to the baking time, as paleo tortillas take longer to get crisp in the oven.

How to make baked chicken taquitos

Here’s an overview of the preparation steps for this recipe.

Chop or shred your meat

Chop up whatever leftover meat you have. As noted, you can use chicken, turkey, pork, or beef. Fattier cuts of meat will result in a crispier tortilla, so go light on the oil. You may want to add slightly less cheese as well.

Prep your filling

The filling prep for these baked taquitos is super easy. Mix up the ingredients and heat it up.

The filling for these taquitos is a simple, tomato-based sauce that takes minutes to heat. You’ll start with canned tomato sauce. To that, you’ll add vinegar, fresh garlic, chili powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Let that mixture heat. Then, add your meat and stir.

Stuff your taquitos

Close up of unrolled taquito. — I made this dish above with homemade tortillas. You can see here, this is the max amount of filling you want to use. Put more in there and your taquitos won’t roll closed very easily.

Set out your tortillas, cheese, and filling — along with some toothpicks. Drop a large spoonful of your filling plus a small handful of cheese on the lower third of a tortilla. Roll gently and place, seam side down on a prepared baking sheet. Use a toothpick to hold the taquito closed. Repeat 11 times. Brush or spray your taquitos with canola oil.

Bake

Pop your baking sheet in the oven. I like to flip these halfway through, but it does require you to pull the toothpicks out — which can be tedious. They get crispier on the bottom side, so flipping gives a more even crisp.

Serve

Serve baked chicken taquitos with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and pico de gallo (or any combination of those things).

Close up view of baked chicken taquitos, served with sour cream on lettuce.

Yield: 4 Servings