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    Home » Recipes » Southwestern and Mexican Dishes

    Chicken Taquitos

    Published: May 17, 2018 · Modified: Apr 24, 2021 by Elizabeth · Leave a Comment

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    In these baked chicken taquitos, chicken breasts are cooked in a flavorful tomato sauce seasoned with a homemade taco mix. Then the chicken is shredded and added back to absorb the delicious sauce. We use flour tortillas to wrap the chicken, add a some cheddar jack cheese and bake until they’re hot and crispy.

    A close up of the taquitos from the front showing the chicken and cheese.

    To keep these chicken taquitos a little lighter were using flour tortillas instead of corn and we’re baking instead of frying.

    This site contains affiliate links to products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Salt, we used kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
    • 1 tablespoon Canola Oil, or use your favorite oil with a high smoke-point
    • 1 – 1¼ pound Chicken Breast, boneless and skinless (2 breasts)
    • 1 (8 ounce) can Tomato Sauce
    • 8 ounces Water
    • 18 Small Flour Tortillas – we used 6 inch tortillas
    • 1½ cups Cheddar Jack Cheese, shredded (try to shred your own cheese, if possible, instead of using packaged pre-shredded – it melts better)
    The ingredients for the chicken taquitos arranged on a wood cutting board.
    • You will also need:
    • Large baking sheet – to bake the taquitos
    • Parchment paper – to line the baking sheet to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup

    Suggested sides and toppings

    • Sour Cream or Crema
    • Hot Sauce
    • Yellow Rice
    • Shredded Lettuce
    • Diced Tomatoes
    • Refried Black Beans

    Prep work

    • Make the homemade taco seasoning – Add the chili powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin and black pepper to a small bowl, stir to combine.
    • Shred the cheddar jack cheese – use the large holes from a box shredder
    • Gather the remaining ingredients
    The prepped ingredients for the dish arranged on a wood cutting board.

    Instructions

    Heat the oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the chicken. Cook for about 3 minutes per side.

    Three chicken breasts browning in a large, black skillet.

    We just want to get the chicken going and brown it a bit on the outside. Don’t worry that it’s not cooked all the way through, it will finish cooking in the sauce. Take the skillet off the heat. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set on a plate or pan.

    Do not wash the skillet. We want to make the sauce with the oil and delicious bits the chicken left in the pan. Set the skillet back over medium heat. Add the tomato sauce, water and prepared seasoning mix, stir well to combine.

    Here’s a tip: Add some of the water to the empty can of tomato sauce and give it a swirl. That way you will get every last drop out.

    When the sauce comes to a simmer return the chicken to the skillet, along with any juices collected on the plate. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 15-20 minutes.

    Three chicken breasts sitting in red sauce in a large, black skillet.

    Keep the sauce at a simmer; adjust the heat as necessary. Stir the sauce and move the chicken around occasionally. Turn the chicken halfway through the cooking time.

    After 15 minutes, use an instant read thermometer to take the internal temperature of the chicken breast. Make sure it’s at least 165°F at the thickest part of the largest piece. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken breast. If it’s not up to temperature continue cooking for another 5 minutes and check again.

    Remove the chicken from the skillet and continue cooking the sauce, covered on low heat. It should barely be at a simmer. Stir occasionally.

    Shred the chicken: Place the chicken on a cutting board or pan and allow it to cool. Use two forks to shred the chicken. Hold a piece down with one fork and use the other fork to pull into shreds.

    The cooked shredded chicken breast on a red cutting board with two forks.

    Return the shredded chicken to the skillet and stir well until most of the sauce is absorbed.

    The shredded chicken added back to the sauce in a large, black skillet.

    Allow the chicken mixture to cool. Preheat the oven to 350°F

    Build the taquitos

    1. Place a tortilla wrap on a flat surface. Add roughly 1½ – 2 tablespoons of the shredded chicken mixture a little off center towards the side closest to you. Arrange the filling in a line so that it’s not mounded.
    2. Add about 1 tablespoon of the cheddar jack cheese over the chicken.
    3. Roll the tortilla tightly away from you. Some liquid may come out of the taquito during the rolling process, keep a paper towel handy.
    A collage of three pictures showing the steps of making the taquitos.

    Place the taquito seam side down on a baking sheet that’s lined with parchment paper. Repeat until all of the shredded chicken filling is used up.

    Bake the taquitos for about 20-25 minutes until the tortillas are nice and crispy on the outside. Keep an eye on them, check them after 15 minutes or so, just in case.

    Five taquitos arranged on a white platter on a bed of shredded lettuce with diced tomatoes. They are garnished with a little sour cream and chopped parsley.

    You may also like these recipes:

    • Shredded Chicken Tacos
    • Beef Taquitos
    • Chicken Enchiladas
    • Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos
    • Chorizo Cheese Dip
    • Shredded Pork Tacos
    Five taquitos arranged on a white platter on a bed of shredded lettuce with diced tomatoes. They are garnished with a little sour cream and chopped parsley.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Chicken Taquitos

    These baked chicken taquitos are perfect for dinner or as an appetizer.
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Cook Time50 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Mexican & Southwestern
    Keyword: shredded chicken
    Servings: 9
    Calories: 400kcal
    Author: Elizabeth

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
    • 1 tablespoon Canola Oil or use your favorite oil with a high smoke-point
    • 1 – 1¼ pound Chicken Breast boneless and skinless (2 breasts)
    • 8 ounce can Tomato Sauce
    • 8 ounces Water
    • 18 Small Flour Tortillas – we used 6 inch tortillas
    • 1½ cups Cheddar Jack Cheese shredded

    Instructions

    • You will also need: Large baking sheet and Parchment paper
    • Make the homemade taco seasoning – Add the chili powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin and black pepper to a small bowl, stir to combine.

    Brown the chicken

    • Heat the oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the chicken. Cook for about 3 minutes per side.
    • Take the skillet off the heat. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set on a plate or pan. Don’t worry that it’s not cooked all the way through; it will finish cooking in the sauce.

    Make the taco sauce

    • Do not wash the skillet. Set the skillet back over medium heat. Add the tomato sauce, water and prepared seasoning mix, stir well to combine.
    • When the sauce comes to a simmer return the chicken to the skillet, along with any juices collected on the plate. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 15-20 minutes.
    • Keep the sauce at a simmer; adjust the heat as necessary. Stir the sauce and move the chicken around occasionally. Turn the chicken halfway through the cooking time.
    • Make sure the chicken is at least 165°F at the thickest part of the largest piece.
    • Remove the chicken from the skillet and continue cooking the sauce, covered on low heat. Stir occasionally.

    Shred the chicken

    • Place the chicken on a cutting board or pan and allow it to cool. Use two forks to shred the chicken.
    • Return the shredded chicken to the skillet and stir well until most of the sauce is absorbed. Allow the chicken mixture to cool.
    • Preheat the oven to 350°F

    Build the taquitos

    • Place a tortilla wrap on a flat surface. Add roughly 1½ – 2 tablespoons of the shredded chicken mixture a little off center towards the side closest to you. Arrange the filling in a line so that it’s not mounded.
    • Add about 1 tablespoon of the cheddar jack cheese over the chicken.
    • Roll the tortilla tightly away from you. Some liquid may come out of the taquito during the rolling process, keep a paper towel handy.
    • Place the taquito seam side down on a baking sheet that’s lined with parchment paper. Repeat until all of the shredded chicken filling is used up.
    • Bake the taquitos for about 20-25 minutes until the tortillas are nice and crispy on the outside. Keep an eye on the taquitos, check them after 15 minutes or so, just in case.
    • Makes about 18 Taquitos

    Notes

    The cooking time for the chicken will depend on its thickness. If it’s not up to temperature continue cooking for another 5 minutes and check again.
    It’s best to shred your own cheese instead of using packaged pre-shredded – it melts better

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2pieces | Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 1115mg | Potassium: 472mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 580IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 225mg | Iron: 3mg
    The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate.This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.

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    Hi, I’m Elizabeth! welcome to Cook2eatwell. Food is my favorite subject; I like to cook food, talk about food, write about food, and most importantly, eat food. Lucky for me, my husband Eddie feels the same way. 

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