- February 26, 2023
- Main Dishes
Air Fryer Flautas
Delicious and crispy, these easy air fryer flautas are a perfect way to make this Mexican style street food at home.
Why This Recipe Works:
Versatile: One of the best reasons to start making air fryer flautas is because they are super versatile. I like shredded meat in these, but you can shred up any leftover chicken, pork, or beef you have in the fridge. You can also fill these with ground beef! Plus, you can make these spicy by adding some extra hot sauce to the protein. Make these flautas with corn tortillas or flour tortillas, it is totally up to you!
Simple to Make: With the air fryer, these flautas are a breeze to make. Instead of frying them in oil, let the air fryer do the work and crisp them up to perfection. The biggest amount of effort that is made in this recipe is simply assembling the flautas!
Most Perfect Snack: Now the obvious and most important reason that you are going to love these flautas is that they are so delicious! The tortilla is perfectly crispy, wrapped around savory meat and cheese. You can dip these in all of your favorite salsas and enjoy them as a snack! I could eat so many, it might as well be my meal.
“School” Supplies:
- Microwave
- Air Fryer
“Class” Notes:
Welcome to my virtual classroom! Use the guided notes below where I often answer commonly asked questions I get from readers and cooks just like you.
This information is meant to help you have a stronger understanding of this recipe and the process so you can find success all on your own.
Ready to begin cooking? Simply jump to the recipe card below and begin.
What Is The Difference Between A Taquito And A Flauta?
Sometimes, the words “flauta” and “taquito” are used interchangeably. And with good reason, because they are pretty similar. The differences are generally in the type of tortilla that is used and the size of the tortilla. Taquitos are usually made with corn tortillas, and flautas are made with either corn or flour tortillas.
My version is using a corn tortilla, so call these what you want. I don’t claim that this is the most authentic Mexican recipe, but rather Mexican-inspired. Taquito or flauta, you can be sure that these air fryer flautas are incredibly yummy!
Ingredients:
These air fryer flautas use simple ingredients for the perfect snack or appetizer! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Shredded Meat: I used my Smoked Pulled Beef recipe here. Chicken, pork, or beef would all be incredibly delicious in these flautas! If you are vegetarian, try mashed potato or refried beans.
- Shredded Cheese: I like using shredded asadero cheese. You can buy it already shredded or get a block of it and shred it yourself.
- Corn Tortillas: Corn tortillas are a perfect size and crisp up really well in the air fryer!
- Toppings & Dips: Pico de Gallo, Guacamole, Shredded Lettuce, and Sour Cream are all great options for topping these off!
Cooking Instructions:
- Prepare the Filling: Warm up the prepared shredded meat by steaming or microwaving it. Having a warm filling helps with the assembly. Once warmed, combine the meat of your choice with shredded cheese and mix until fully combined.
- Warm the Tortillas: Warm the corn tortillas in the microwave for 10-15 seconds wrapped in a damp paper towel or clean kitchen towel. Warming them before rolling helps prevent them from cracking. Remove the microwave and keep them covered in the towel.
- Assemble the Flautas: Take one corn tortilla and place it down on a counter or plate. Add about 3-4 tablespoons of filling into the center in a thin line towards the lower third of the tortilla. Tuck the bottom edge over, roll the filling up tightly and tuck the other end of the tortilla under itself to keep it from unrolling. Repeat until all of the tortillas are filled.
- Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer to 375 F. Place all of the flautas in the air fryer basket, seam side down. Lightly spray the tops with olive oil spray (or brush some on). If your air fryer is small, you might have to cook these in batches. Cook the flautas for 3-4 minutes and then carefully flip them so the seam side is up and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and lightly crispy. If using flour tortillas, check them sooner since they might cook more quickly!
- Remove & Enjoy: Remove the flautas from the air fryer and place them on a serving plate. Garnish with your favorite sides like hot sauce, salsa, and sour cream, and serve.
Expert Tips:
- For the protein, you can use left over rotisserie chicken, leftover meat from another recipe, or make some meat specifically for these flautas. Try using my Smoked Beef Birria recipe, my Simple Smoked Pulled Chicken recipe or my Pulled Pork recipe!
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer! It is best to let each flauta have a bit of space in the air fryer to really get nice and crispy. If necessary, cook the flautas in batches so they each have enough room!
- To Store: Store any leftover air fryer flautas in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them in the air fryer for 2 minutes so they stay crispy.
- To Freeze: You can freeze flautas before they are air fried by assembling them and placing them seam side down on a baking sheet. Freeze them on the baking sheet for a few hours, until they don’t come unrolled. Then, place them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 4 months! These are way better than the taquitos you can buy at the store!
More Recipes To Try:
- Southwestern Chicken Quesadilla
- Smoked Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Mini Chicago Hot Dog Sliders
- Brats & Tots
- Fiesta Corn Dip
Air Fryer Flautas
Ingredients
- 2 cups Cooked Shredded Meat Chicken, Pork, Beef
- 1.5 cups Shredded Cheese Asadero
- 24 6-8 inch Corn Tortillas or flour if preferred
Optional Toppings
- Pico De Gallo
- Guacamole
- Shredded Lettuce
- Sour Cream
Instructions
- Warm the shredded meat by steaming it or microwaving it. Having a warmer filling to make the air fryer flautas works a little easier for rolling them.
- Once warmed, combine the shredded meat of your choice with the shredded cheese and combine until fully mixed.
- Warm the corn tortillas in the microwave for 10-15 sec wrapped in a damp paper towel or clean kitchen towel. Warming them before rolling helps prevent them from cracking. Remove them from the microwave and keep them covered in the towel.
- Take one corn tortilla and place it down on a counter. Add about 3-4 tablespoons of filling into the center in a thin line towards the lower third of the tortilla.
- Tuck the bottom edge over, roll the filling up tightly and tuck the other end of the tortilla under itself to keep it from unrolling. Repeat this process until all the tortillas and filled.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 F. Place all the flautas into the air fryer basket, seam side down. Lightly spray the tops with olive oil (or brush some on). If your air fryer basket is small, you may have to cook these in batches.
- Cook the flautas for about 3-4 minutes and then carefully flip them so the seam side is up and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and lightly crispy. If using flour tortillas, you may want to use a little more discretion with checking on the cooking time as they can brown a little faster.
- Remove the flautas from the air fryer and place on a serving plate. Garnish with your favorite sides like hot sauce, salsa, and sour cream and serve.