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Looking for a new meal to add to the rotation? Look no further! These chicken flautas are sure to become a family favorite. Flour tortillas are stuffed with spiced chicken, and cheese, then fried or baked to golden, crispy perfection. They make for a great dinner, appetizer, or snack.
These scrumptious Mexican snacks are commonly stuffed with shredded chicken, beef, or pork that is delicately seasoned with a blend of spices like cumin, chili powder, and paprika. Flautas are usually served alongside guacamole, sour cream, or salsa for dipping, which makes them the ideal party food or appetizer for any occasion.
Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy snack or a crowd-pleasing dish to serve at your next gathering, flautas are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them!
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Why You’ll Love ❤️This Flautas Recipe
- Budget-Friendly – A budget-friendly and time-efficient meal with shredded chicken, spices, cheese, and flour tortillas. You can also use any left over meat, veggie, or cheese as a filling.
- Perfect for Game day, Family fiestas, or any weekday meal – Flautas can be premade and stored until needed. Easy to rewarm in oven or air-fryer.
What’s the difference between Flautas and Taquitos?
Flautas and Taquitos are two very similar Mexican dishes that are often confused with one another. Although they share many similarities, there are a few key differences that set them apart.
Firstly, the main difference between the two dishes is the type of tortilla used. Flautas are made using flour tortillas or large corn tortillas, while Taquitos are made only with corn tortillas.
This means that Flautas tend to be larger and have a softer texture, while Taquitos are smaller and have a crunchier texture.
Additionally, the fillings in Flautas are usually rolled up tightly in the tortilla, while Taquitos are often rolled more loosely, allowing for a more even distribution of filling.
Overall, while Flautas and Taquitos share many similarities, the differences in tortilla type, filling, and cooking method make them unique and distinct dishes in their own right.
Ingredients in Chicken Flautas:
Chicken – Breast or thighs, cooked and shredded*
Onion – White or yellow onion, diced
Spices – Ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, and garlic powder
Oil – Oil for sautéing onion, and for frying
Cheese – Shredded Mexican blend, shredded Quesadilla, or Monterey Jack
Tortillas – Flour tortillas (size: 6 to 8-inch)
Toppings – (optional) shredded cheese, salsa, sliced jalapeños, guac, pickled red onions, & more!
How to Make Chicken Flautas:
- In a skillet, diced onion, sauté for 3 minutes in 1-2 tbsp vegetable oil, and then add cooked shredded chicken, spices, and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- For each flauta, spoon in 1/4 cup of chicken mixture down the center of a *warm tortilla, top with 1 tbsp of cheese.
- Roll up the tortilla tightly and secure it with a toothpick.
- In a skillet, heat about 1/4 cup of oil and fry 3-4 rolled-up tortillas for about 3-4 minutes, turning until crisp and golden brown.
- Drain on a paper towel. Remove toothpicks.
- Serve with favorite toppings, salsa, Mexican crema, and guacamole.
Tip – Use soft warm tortillas. Make sure that your tortillas are soft and pliable, or tortilla may fall apart when rolling or frying. Warm them up in microwave for 10 seconds or on a comal.
How to bake or air-fry Chicken Flautas
Baking Flautas
Preheat and bake at 350°F.
Roll tightly. Fold up the bottom of your tortilla up about 2 inches, then tightly roll it for the rest of the tortilla. You’ll roll on your filling for a couple of rolls, but then you’ll roll the rest out on the other half of the tortilla. Secure with toothpicks.
Plate seam side down. This will help keep them together while they bake. Brush with olive or vegetable oil and place in oven for 15 minutes, or until crispy
Air-Fry Chicken Flautas
Secure rolled flautas with toothpicks and place seam side down in air-fryer. Brush with olive oil.
Air fry for around 7 minutes at about 375°F. Check them at 5 minutes so see how fast they’re cooking. You want the taquitos to be nice and golden brown all around.
Storing Chicken Flautas
- To store, place the flautas in an airtight container or storage bag and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- To freeze, place them in a freezer-safe storage bag and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Vegetarian options are also available, with fillings like refried beans, cheese, and vegetables like peppers and onions.
Best Toppings for Chicken Flautas
More Recipes to Try:
- Crispy Potato Tacos ( Taco Dorados de Papa)
- Easy Mexican Shrimp Tacos: Quick and Flavorful Meal
- Tacos Gobernador (Governor Tacos)
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Chicken Flautas
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded ( or boneless thighs)
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp chile powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup shredded Mexican Blend cheese
- Extra oil for frying
- 10 flour tortillas 6-8inch size
Instructions
- In a skillet, diced onion, saute for 3 minutes in 1 tbsp vegetable oil, and then add shredded chicken, and spices, and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- For each flauta, spoon in 1/4 cup of chicken mixture down the center of a tortilla, and top with 1 tbsp of cheese.
- Roll up the tortilla tightly and secure it with a toothpick.
- In a skillet, heat about 1/4 cup of oil or more, and fry 3-4 rolled-up tortillas for about 3-4 minutes, turning until crisp and golden brown.
- Drain on a paper towel.
- Serve with favorite toppings, salsa, Mexican crema, and guacamole.
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