Description
These crispy air fryer beef taquitos are packed with bold flavors from spiced ground beef, sautéed onions and green peppers, and gooey shredded cheese. They are easy to roll with soft corn tortillas and quickly air-fried to golden perfection, making a deliciously crave-worthy appetizer or snack perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef, lean
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, green, chopped
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon ground paprika
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, for sautéing
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
To Assemble
- 2 eggs
- 24 corn tortillas, soft
- 2 cups marble cheese, shredded
- Nonstick cooking spray
Optional Garnishes
- Salsa
- Guacamole or sliced avocado
- Cilantro
- Sour cream
- Hot sauce
- Iceberg lettuce
- Cotija cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Make the Beef Filling: Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Sauté chopped onions and green peppers together, stirring occasionally until the onions have sweated, turned slightly brown, and the peppers have softened. Add the ground beef, breaking down any large pieces, and cook until the meat is slightly browned. Stir in garlic powder and paprika, and continue to sauté until the beef is fully cooked and slightly crispy. Remove the pan from heat and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Assemble the Taquitos: Transfer the beef mixture into a bowl and stir continuously to help it cool for about 10 minutes. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl, then add to the cooled beef mixture and mix well. Lay one corn husk strip or kitchen string horizontally on a clean surface. Place a soft corn tortilla on top. Add 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese in a vertical line down the center of the tortilla, then add 1 ½ tablespoons of the beef mixture on top of the cheese. Roll the tortilla tightly from the right side to the left, tucking the edge under the filling. Secure the roll by tying the corn husk strip or kitchen string around the middle. Push any filling that may have escaped back inside and trim excess string. Repeat this process for all tortillas.
- Air Fry the Taquitos: Spray the air fryer basket and rack (if using) with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange as many taquitos as possible without overcrowding, and spray the tops with cooking spray. If using an extra rack, air fry at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes. Check the top layer taquitos; once crispy and browned, remove them and leave the bottom ones. Flip the bottom taquitos and air fry for an additional 4 minutes. Add more time in 2-minute increments if needed until crispy. If using basket only, air fry at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 minutes, flip each taquito, and fry another 3 minutes. Add 2 extra minutes if not fully crispy. Remove once both sides are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve: Serve the hot taquitos with your choice of garnishes such as salsa, guacamole, cilantro, sour cream, hot sauce, lettuce, and crumbled cotija cheese.
Notes
- Soften the tortillas by steaming them briefly before rolling to prevent cracking.
- Cook taquitos in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket for crispier results.
- Use freshly shredded cheese for the best melting quality and richest flavor.
- Allow the beef mixture to cool before mixing with eggs to prevent premature cooking of the eggs.
- Secure rolls tightly using corn husk strips soaked in water to prevent snapping, kitchen string, or toothpicks to keep the taquitos intact during cooking.
- Adjust cooking time based on your air fryer model; check frequently and add more time as needed while flipping to achieve even crispiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taquito
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
