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Beef taquitos air fryer recipe with crispy golden taquitos filled with seasoned beef and cheese.

Crispy Beef Taquitos Air Fryer Recipe: Ultimate Snack!

These crispy beef taquitos cook to golden perfection in the air fryer with minimal oil. Filled with seasoned ground beef and cheese, they're ready in under 30 minutes for a family-friendly meal or crowd-pleasing appetizer.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 12 taquitos
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
Calories: 162
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef lean (85-90%)
  • 1 small onion finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce
  • 12 corn tortillas 6-inch size
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • Cooking spray or oil mister

Equipment

  • Air fryer
  • Skillet
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Measuring Spoons

Method
 

Prepare the Filling
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes.
  • Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  • Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute to toast the spices.
  • Add tomato sauce and stir to combine. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
Assemble the Taquitos
  • Warm tortillas to make them pliable: place between damp paper towels and microwave for 20-30 seconds, or warm individually in a dry skillet for a few seconds per side.
  • Place a warm tortilla on a flat surface. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the beef mixture in a line along one edge of the tortilla, leaving about 1/2 inch from the edges.
  • Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese over the beef.
  • Roll the tortilla tightly around the filling. Place seam-side down while you roll the remaining taquitos.
Air Fry the Taquitos
  • Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (190°C) for 3 minutes.
  • Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place taquitos in the basket seam-side down, leaving small gaps between each for air circulation. Depending on your air fryer size, you may need to cook in batches.
  • Lightly spray the taquitos with cooking spray or brush with a small amount of oil.
  • Cook for 6-8 minutes until the taquitos are golden brown and crispy. Carefully flip halfway through cooking time if desired for even browning.
  • Remove from the air fryer and let cool for 1-2 minutes before serving with your favorite toppings.

Notes

For extra-crispy taquitos, spray or brush with oil a second time after flipping. If using flour tortillas instead of corn, reduce cooking time by 1-2 minutes as they brown faster. Make ahead tip: prepare the beef filling up to 2 days in advance and store in the refrigerator until ready to assemble and cook.