Air Fryer Taquitos are super crunchy rolled tacos ready in just 20 minutes. Perfect with or without meat and any dipping sauce!
Taco Tuesday is almost every day in my kitchen, and these Air Fryer Taquitos are a perfect hand-rolled option that’s extra crunchy and super simple!
These soft tortillas are stuffed with ground beef — or a meat alternative! — onions and cheese and can be topped with any of your favorites!
What You’ll Need
- Onion
- Ground beef: A plant-based meat alternative, like tofu, will work too.
- Curry, onion powder, cumin, and smoked paprika: For a bit of spice!
- Broth: Plain old water will work in a pinch too
- Cheese or vegan cheese
- Tortillas
- (Optional) Oil for some extra crispiness
- (Optional) Diced tomatoes for a garnish
- (Optional) Guacamole or sour cream for dipping
How to Make Them
- Warm up your skillet and oil to medium-high heat and sauté ground beef and diced onion.
- Add all the spices to the skillet with your meat and onions and sauté another 2 minutes. Make sure your meat is completely cooked by this point!
- Add your shredded cheese and mix it all together. It will melt in the air fryer, so no need to continue sautéing.
- Spoon your beef and cheese mixture into the tortillas. I like to heat the tortillas in a damp paper towel in the microwave for about 30 seconds to help soften them before we roll.
- Roll the tortillas and place them into your air fryer basket — or on the air fryer tray — with the seam-side down to keep them from unrolling during cooking.
- Air fry at 350 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes. You can spray the tops with oil for extra crispy taquitos. Serve warm and enjoy!
How to Make Ahead
This is one of those amazing make-ahead recipes that can save you on dinner party night!
Follow the steps 1-5 and then stop. Place the rolled tortillas seam-side down on a baking tray or plate and refrigerate covered until ready to heat.
Let them come to room temperature briefly before cooking.
Serving Tips
There’s no occasion where these taquitos aren’t great! You can serve these as an appetizer, main dish, or alongside other tacos, burritos, or quesadillas!
I like to keep these Air Fryer Taquitos simple with onions, cheese, and beef with a few diced tomatoes and cilantro on top, but the beauty of this recipe is it can be made in so many ways!
You can dip these in sour cream, guacamole, cheese dip, bean dip, salsa, or even ranch dressing!
Tips and Variations
- If you don’t want to use beef, substitute ground pork, ground turkey, or no meat at all!
- This recipe also works great with tofu or refried beans!
- I like to dip my taquitos instead of covering them with sauce to preserve the super crunchy shell.
More Mexican-Inspired Recipes
If you look cooking and you love flavorful foods, you need to try our Air Fryer Mushroom Tacos, Mexican Tater Tot Casserole, Air Fryer Enchiladas , Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers, Air Fryer Elote and Tofu Scramble Breakfast Burritos
Air Fryer Taquitos
Equipment
- Skillet
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 cup onion
- 12 ounces ground beef or plant-based meat alternative
- 1 teaspoon curry
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ cup broth or water
- ½ cup cheese or vegan cheese
- 8 to 10 tortillas
- Tomatoes diced, for garnish, optional
- Guacamole for dipping, optional
- Sour cream for dipping, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sauté the ground beef or plant-based alternative with the onions.
- Add in all spices and sauté another 2 minutes. Add broth
- Add cheese to skillet mixture. Stir to combine.
- Scoop skillet mixture into tortillas. Roll and place into air fryer basket seam-side down.
- Air fry at 350 degrees F for 7 to 8 minutes. Optional: Spray tortilla tops with oil to help crisp.
This was a hit with all three of the kids-which is a tall order. Love how quickly it comes together. I had to make a second batch because they went through them so fast. I can think of so many ways to change them up too!! Thanks!!
Hi Stephanie, that is great to hear! So glad they loved them and you had to make a second batch! 🙂 Thanks for coming back and letting us know!