Air Fryer Flautas are a fun and delicious way to make chicken. A longtime favorite on Mexican restaurant menus, these flautas start in the crockpot, get rolled up, topped with cheese, and finished in the air fryer until they’re crispy and crunchy perfection.
Homemade chicken flautas are perfect for lunches, Taco Tuesdays, or potlucks when you want to bring something a little different. And this homemade version tastes significantly better than your local Mexican restaurant or gas station. Your family will love this recipe.
The air fryer has quickly become a staple appliance in our kitchen. It helps me whip up tasty meals that my entire family loves in no time at all. From air fryer chicken fajitas to air fried tacos, this appliance excels at creating crunchy, savory meals.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Flavor overload: The slow-cooked chicken becomes ultra-tender and juicy during the cooking process, ensuring the best results every time.
- Crunch factor: Air frying crisps these flautas to golden, crunchy perfection. No deep frying needed.
- Super simple: The slow cooker does most of the work, so you only have to spend about 15 minutes in the kitchen for active cooking time.
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Aim for evenly sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.
- Onions and jalapenos: I always use a yellow onion for cooking. If you like heat, leave the seeds in for the jalapenos, or remove them for a mild flavor.
- Red enchilada sauce: You can use canned sauce from the grocery store, or use your favorite homemade recipe.
- Flour tortillas: Use medium flour tortillas. Flour tortillas roll easier, crisp great in the air fryer, and hold the filling well.
- Toppings: Diced tomatoes, sour cream, or our easy guacamole all make great toppings or dips for these crispy air-fried flautas.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Switch up the protein: This recipe works equally well with shredded beef or pork. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time depending on the cut of meat. Or use leftover shredded meat and mix it with the seasonings and sauce.
- Time saving swap: Use leftover shredded chicken or pick up a rotisserie chicken and shred the meat. Mix with the seasonings and enchilada sauce to make the flauta filling.
- Make it cheesy: Add sharp cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack to the chicken mixture for a cheesy variation.
- Great for dipping: Serve these flautas in the air fryer with fun dips like taco sauce, jalapeno cilantro dip, or jalapeno salsa.
How to Make Flautas in the Air Fryer
Are you ready to air fry flautas? Pull out your crockpot and air fryer and get ready to whip up these crunchy handheld treats.
- Step 1: Cook the chicken. Add the chicken, veggies, seasonings, and enchilada sauce to the slow cooker. Cover and cook high for 4 hours or low for 6–7 hours.
- Step 2: Shred chicken. Once the chicken is tender, remove it, and shred it. Return the shredded chicken to the sauce in the crockpot.
- Step 3: Prep tortillas. Heat the tortillas in a pan over medium heat.
- Step 4: Fill and roll tortillas. Fill each tortilla with approximately two heaping tablespoons of chicken mixture. Roll tightly and place flautas in the air fryer basket seam-side down.
- Step 5: Air fry until crispy. Cook at 360°F for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway. They should turn golden and crisp.
Expert Tips
- Don’t overfill: Overfilling will cause the tortillas to rip or burst during cooking, so be sure to use only two tablespoons of filling per tortilla. If they won’t stay rolled, you can stick a toothpick through them.
- Use the oil: Spraying the air fryer basket prevents the tortillas from sticking. And, spraying the rolled tortillas allows them to crisp up and gives you a nice crunch. Cooking spray works great for this step.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat them in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes until heated through or in the oven at 350°F for 5-8 minutes.
- Preheat: Always preheat your air fryer for proper cooking. It’s a myth that they don’t require preheating.
- Shred warm: Shred the chicken while it’s still hot so it comes apart easily. You can do this easily with two forks or place them in your stand mixer and use the paddle attachment to quickly shred the chicken.
Serving Suggestions
- Garnish with fresh lime wedges and a sprinkle of cilantro for a fresh pop of color and flavor.
- Turn this into a complete meal by serving it with a side of Spanish rice and charro beans.
- There is no better side dish to pair with Mexican food than homemade tortilla chips and cheese dip or salsa.
Air Fryer Flautas Recipe FAQs
The primary difference is that flautas are typically made with flour tortillas, whereas taquitos are usually made with corn tortillas. They also normally differ in length, with flautas being longer.
Yes, leftover flautas freeze well. Just keep them in a freezer-safe bag for up to three months in the freezer. If you want to freeze them before cooking. Prepare the chicken, then roll each flauta, and place them seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking tray. Freeze for an hour. Then transfer to a storage container or freezer bag and store for up to three months. Cook straight from the freezer and add 3-4 minutes to the cooking time.
To make your leftover flautas taste as good as they did fresh, place them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 4-6 minutes, or until they are crispy and warm all the way through. You can reheat them in the oven for 5-8 minutes at the same temperature. I don’t recommend microwaving as they will be soggy.
Try These Air Fried Flautas Today
These delicious air fryer flautas are loaded with tender chicken and air fried to golden perfection. They make a great lunch, dinner, snack, or appetizer. Give these a try, and I know you’ll enjoy them as much as I do. You can’t go wrong with this delicious, easy recipe.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
And, Chili Cheese Tater Tots from Great Grub, Delicious Treats. These chili cheese tater tots are quick and easy and perfect for any day of the week.
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Air Fryer Flautas Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless skinless
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 jalapenos, stem and seeds removed, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Slap Ya Mama® Cajun seasoning
- 15 ounce can red enchilada sauce
- 12 flour tortillas
Instructions
- Line or spray the crock pot with a non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Add diced onions, jalapenos, and chicken into the crock pot.
- Sprinkle with seasonings, pour the red enchilada sauce into the slow cooker and stir.
- Turn to high and cook for 4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
- When chicken is tender remove chicken and shred. Add back to the slow cooker until ready to make the flautas.
- In a large frying pan, over medium heat, cook the tortillas. Remove from pan.
- Using a slotted spoon, add a couple heaping tablespoons of chicken mixture down the center of each flour tortilla.
- Roll up tightly, lightly spray the airfryer basket with a cooking oil, like olive oil, and place each flauta in the basket, seam side down.
- Place 4-5 taquitos into the basket at a time and cook at 360° for 15 minutes, flipping over halfway through.
- Continue cooking the remaining flautas and serve with beans and rice and your favorite dipping sauce.
