Air Fryer Taquitos

These Air Fryer Taquitos are so easy to make. Best of all, you can make a large batch to store in the freezer and just heat them up for those busy nights.

{WW Green 9, Blue 7, Purple 7, Vegetarian}

These air fryer taquitos are really delicious. They’re so easy to make, and you can make them ahead and then place them in the fryer for 10 minutes, and have a great appetizer, snack, or dinner. No matter how you serve them, they’re sure to be a favorite. Keep this recipe handy!

🍓 Ingredients

It’s almost impossible to eat just one of these air fryer taquitos. Let’s talk about the main ingredients to get you started.

Tortillas – We always use flour tortillas because they roll up so well. You could use corn, gluten-free, or any other tortilla that you enjoy. In addition to the way the flour tortillas roll up, we also really love the flavor too.

Pinto Beans – The main ingredient is the pinto beans. We use canned because they are so convenient, and it saves having to cook them. You can prepare your own pinto beans and use them if you’d rather.

Seasonings – We use a variety of seasonings, including taco sauce, chili powder, cumin, garlic salt, and a special ingredient…brown sugar. The sweetness from the brown sugar isn’t overwhelming, but it adds enough depth in the way it tastes; it’s a must.

🍽️ Instructions

These are finger-licking good and will leave a lasting impression on you. They are pretty filling and are super simple to make. I can’t wait for you to taste them. Take a peek at these easy steps so you can try them:

Step One: Add the pinto beans to a saucepan, sprinkle in the onions, taco sauce, chili powder, cumin, garlic salt, pepper, and brown sugar together. Mix well and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Let the bean mixture simmer for five minutes. 

Step Two: Remove the beans from the stovetop and let them cool for ten minutes. Use a masher to make the bean mixture smooth. 

Step Three: Place the tortillas in the microwave and warm them up for ten seconds. Add a layer of beans, sprinkle with cheese and roll the taquitos up tightly. 

Step Four: Place the taquitos in the freezer for two hours so they can set up. Then heat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees for ten minutes. Once they are golden brown, they are ready to serve. Dip them in salsa or taco sauce. Enjoy!

🍲 Meal Preparation

These are amazing for meal prepping. We make several batches and freeze them for later. I find that I have the best luck when I flash freeze the taquitos. Place them on a baking sheet and put them in the freezer for at least two hours. Remove them from the baking sheet and put them in a freezer-safe container. A gallon-sized freezer bag or a plastic airtight container works great. 

Don’t forget to label the container, so you know what’s in it and how long it’s good for. The taquitos will last in the freezer for 5-6 months, so you can see why they are so great for meal prepping. 

It doesn’t matter if you cook them before freezing or cook them once they are frozen. Either way, they will turn out great. Just heat them in the air fryer, oven, or microwave. 

💡 Recipe Tips

You may wonder about the best ways to clean an air fryer. I wanted to provide you some helpful tips, so your air fryer lasts a long time. Proper maintenance is a great way to get the most out of your beloved machine. 

• Unplug the air fryer. You should never clean the air fryer while it’s plugged in. 
• Allow the air fryer to cool. If the air fryer is hot, you risk getting burned or creating a hot steam. 
• Use a washcloth to wipe everything down. Dip the washcloth in hot water with soap. Then carefully clean the inside, outside, and basket. Use a microfiber cloth to avoid damaging the air fryer. Don’t forget about cleaning the glass.
• Wash the trays. My air fryer has removable trays that are dishwasher safe.  
• Clean the air fryer after every use. It’s important to clean the air fryer after each use, so you don’t end up with a build-up of oil and other ingredients. 

🍴 Substitutions 

Yum, these taquitos are amazing! There is no wrong way to make a taquito, so I wanted to share a few ideas for you:

• Chicken – Add some shredded chicken to the taquitos for some extra protein. This is so good and makes them even more filling. 
• Beef – Either shred some leftover steak or sprinkle in some ground beef to the mix. It’s delicious!
• Pork – Instead of pork tacos, make pork taquitos. 
• Pepper jack – Give yourself a little bit of spice by adding some pepper jack cheese. I love the flavor it provides. 
• Mozzarella – Adjusting the cheese is one of my favorite ways to make it taste a little bit different. 
• Black Beans – Substitute black beans for pinto beans. They add a lovely color and taste good too. 

More Air Fryer Yumminess 

Air Fryer Hush Puppies – You don’t need to wait to visit your favorite southern restaurant anymore. Nope, you can make this quick and easy at home. Spoiler alert: they are a wee bit addicting! 

Air Fryer Sweet Asian Chili Sauce Wings – Grab the napkins as these are going to have you making a big, beautiful sticky mess on your fingers. Oh, but they are so worth it!!

Air Fryer Cornish Hen – This little hen turned out so great! Start buying them as they cook up so juicy and tender that you can add them to a monthly meal rotation. Swap out herbs and rubs to make it different each time. 

Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli – Another great appetizer that is going to be a HUGE hit to serve for the next ballgame or when you have friends come over for a board game night! Don’t skip the homemade marinara sauce.

What is your favorite thing to put in your Air Fryer? Comment below and let us know!