Description
Creamy Oven Baked Chicken Taquitos are an easy, mess-free alternative to traditional fried taquitos, loaded with cheesy, spiced chicken and baked to a perfect golden crisp.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken
- 3 large chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Filling
- 8 oz (1 block) cream cheese
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- ⅓ cup salsa
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 green onions, minced
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, minced
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- 16–18 small flour tortillas
For the Creamy Cilantro Dipping Sauce
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon cilantro, minced
- Juice of ½ lime
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven and Season the Chicken: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place chicken breasts on a parchment-lined baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle both sides with a blend of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt.
- Bake and Shred the Chicken: Roast the chicken for 20–25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Once cooked, allow it to cool slightly before shredding it using two forks or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
- Prepare the Filling: Increase the oven temperature to 425°F (218°C). In a large microwave-safe bowl, soften the cream cheese for 20–30 seconds. Add the sour cream, salsa, lime juice, all the spices, green onions, cilantro, both cheeses, and the shredded chicken. Stir until well combined and creamy.
- Assemble the Taquitos: Spoon a few tablespoons of filling along the bottom third of each tortilla, keeping the edges clear. Roll them up tightly and place seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake the Taquitos: For extra crispiness, brush the tops with melted butter or lightly spray with oil. Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Let them cool for 5 minutes before serving.
- Make the Dipping Sauce: While the taquitos bake, combine sour cream, lime juice, cilantro, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- Warming tortillas briefly in the microwave under a damp paper towel prevents cracking when rolling. To freeze, prepare up to the rolling step and place the taquitos on a baking sheet to freeze individually before storing in bags. They can be baked straight from frozen—just add a few extra minutes. For added flavor, try mixing in diced jalapeños or substituting chipotle salsa for an extra smoky kick.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taquito
- Calories: 264
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 533mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0.01g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 57mg