Appetizer or Meal?
This quick pantry chicken taquito recipe comes together fast, and odds are you already have everything you need on hand.
If I wasn’t in a pinch, I’d cook and shred fresh chicken, but canned chicken works just fine when you need something quick. You can bake, air fry, or fry these taquitos—but trust me, pan-frying gives you the crispiest, most delicious version.
It’s the kind of recipe you can pull together on busy nights, when you want something warm and comforting without a lot of effort. Simple pantry ingredients, quick prep, and a family-friendly appetizer or meal everyone will love. If you make it a meal, you are going to want to pair it with our Mexican rice recipe.
Taquitos
This quick pantry chicken taquito recipe comes together fast, and odds are you already have everything you need on hand.If I wasn’t in a pinch, I’d cook and shred fresh chicken, but canned chicken works just fine in a hurry. You can bake, air fry, or fry these taquitos—but trust me, pan-frying gives you the crispiest, most delicious version.
Ingredients
- 2 12.5oz canned chicken You can use 3 cups of shredded chicken in place of the canned chicken
- 2 cups shredded cheese I use cheddar
- 4 oz cream cheese softned
- 3/4 cup spicy salsa
- 1 tsp tomato bullion
- 8-16 large flour tortillas 8 for large taquitos, 16 for tradition sized taquitos
- oil for frying or cooking spray for baking
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the chicken, shredded cheese, cream cheese, salsa, and tomato bouillon.
- Top each tortilla with the filling and roll tightly.
- To pan fry, heat a heavy skillet with about an inch of oil to 350 degrees, carefully add 3-4 taquitos and fry until golden brown, turning as needed.
- Place on a warming rack in an oven preheated to 275 degrees. Continue the steps until all of the taquitos are cooked.
- To Bake – Spray a sheet pan with cooking oil and place your taquitos on it—just make sure they’re not touching. Give the tops a quick spray too, then bake at 425°F for about 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through (around 10–12 minutes) or when they’re golden and crispy.
- Serve with your favorite taco toppings!