Description
These crispy air fryer beef taquitos are filled with a flavorful mixture of spiced ground beef, sautéed vegetables, and gooey marble cheese. Perfectly rolled and air fried to golden crispness, they make an easy and delicious appetizer or snack that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef, lean
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, 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 the chopped onions and green bell peppers until the onions sweat and turn slightly brown and the peppers soften. Add the ground beef, breaking down large pieces, and cook until browned. Stir in garlic powder and paprika, and continue cooking until the beef is fully cooked and slightly crispy. Remove from heat and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Prepare the Filling Mixture: Transfer the cooked beef mixture to a bowl and stir continuously to help it cool. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Once the beef mixture has cooled for about 10 minutes, add the whisked eggs and mix thoroughly to combine.
- Assemble the Taquitos: Lay a corn husk strip or kitchen string horizontally on a clean surface. Place one soft corn tortilla on top of the strip. Add 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese in a vertical line down the center of the tortilla, then top with 1 ½ tablespoons of the beef mixture. Roll the tortilla tightly from right to left, tucking in the edges to enclose the filling. Secure the roll by tying the corn husk strip or kitchen string around the middle. Trim any excess strip or string. Repeat this process with the remaining tortillas and filling.
- Preheat and Prepare Air Fryer: Spray the base and sides of the air fryer basket and the extra rack (if using) with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the taquitos in a single layer in the basket and on the rack without overcrowding, and spray the tops with cooking spray.
- Air Fry the Taquitos: Set the air fryer temperature to 375°F. If using a rack, cook the taquitos on the rack for 8 minutes. Remove the rack and remove the cooked taquitos. Flip the taquitos in the basket and cook for another 4 minutes, then check for crispiness. Add up to 2 more minutes if needed. If cooking only in the basket, air fry for 6 minutes, flip the taquitos, air fry for another 3 minutes, and add 2 extra minutes if necessary to achieve a golden brown and crispy exterior.
- Serve: Remove the taquitos from the air fryer, discard corn husk strips or kitchen string, and serve hot with your choice of garnishes such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, cilantro, hot sauce, iceberg lettuce, or crumbled cotija cheese.
Notes
- Soften tortillas before rolling by steaming if they are not fresh to prevent cracking.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket or rack to ensure even crisping; cook the taquitos in batches if necessary.
- Use a strong cheese for better melt and flavor; shredding your own cheese is recommended.
- Allow the beef mixture to cool before adding eggs to prevent premature cooking of the eggs.
- Use soaked corn husk strips or kitchen string to securely tie the taquitos to keep them from unrolling while cooking. Soak corn husks in water for 5 minutes and pat dry before use.
- Adjust cooking times based on your air fryer model and regularly check for desired crispiness, flipping to crisp both sides evenly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taquito
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
