Spicy & Crispy Buffalo Chicken Taquitos Recipe to Wow Guests

Crunch meets zesty heat in these delectable buffalo chicken taquitos that dance with flavor.

Spicy buffalo sauce coats tender shredded chicken, creating a mouthwatering filling that promises pure satisfaction.

Each rolled tortilla delivers a crisp exterior with a bold, tangy punch.

Cheese melts beautifully inside, adding creamy richness to every bite.

The recipe brings restaurant-style appetizers straight to your kitchen with minimal effort.

These taquitos make an epic game day snack or quick weeknight dinner that everyone will devour.

Prepare to wow your taste buds with this irresistible twist on classic comfort food.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 250 kcal

Servings: 9

Buffalo Chicken Taquitos: What You’ll Need First

• Shredded Chicken: Tender meat that brings hearty flavor and protein punch, best when using rotisserie or freshly cooked chicken for maximum juiciness.
• Cream Cheese: Adds rich, creamy texture and helps bind the filling together, softened variety works best for smooth mixing.

• Cheddar Cheese, Mozzarella: Melty cheeses that create gooey, stretchy goodness and add depth to the taquito's flavor profile, opt for freshly shredded for best melting.
• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder: Quick-hit seasonings that deliver intense savory notes without chopping fresh ingredients.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential flavor boosters that balance and elevate the overall taste of the filling.

• Tortillas: Soft carriers that transform the filling into crispy rolled delights, corn or flour work perfectly depending on preference.
• Buffalo Sauce: Signature spicy kick that gives these taquitos their bold, tangy character, choose your preferred heat level.
• Cooking Spray: Helps achieve golden, crispy exterior when baking, ensures even browning.
• Vegetable Oil: Creates deep-golden crunch when frying, maintains consistent temperature for perfect texture.

Tools for Rolling and Crisping Buffalo Chicken Taquitos

• Baking Sheet: Essential for spreading taquitos and creating even cooking surface.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and makes cleanup super easy.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining all chicken and cheese ingredients smoothly.
• Measuring Spoons: Helps accurately portion spices and seasonings.
• Sharp Knife: Useful for shredding chicken or cutting ingredients precisely.
• Spatula or Wooden Spoon: Great for mixing ingredients thoroughly.
• Tongs: Helpful when flipping taquitos during frying or removing from baking sheet.
• Frying Pan (optional): Needed if choosing to fry instead of bake.
• Paper Towels: Excellent for draining excess oil when frying.

Cooking Buffalo Chicken Taquitos That Stay Rolled & Golden

• Warm Up the Oven

Get your kitchen ready by cranking the oven to a toasty 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

• Create Flavor-Packed Filling

Grab a mixing bowl and combine shredded chicken with creamy ingredients and zesty spices. Blend everything until the mixture looks irresistibly delicious and well-mixed.

• Roll and Shape Taquitos

Take a tortilla and spread a generous scoop of your chicken mixture. Roll it tightly like a savory little scroll, making sure the seam is tucked underneath to keep all those amazing flavors locked inside.

• Cook to Crispy Perfection

For oven lovers: Spritz the taquitos with a light cooking spray and bake until they turn a gorgeous golden brown, about 15-18 minutes.

For crisp fanatics: Heat oil in a pan and fry those taquitos until they’re crunchy and beautifully bronzed, flipping once to ensure even cooking.

• Serve and Devour

Plate your taquitos and grab your favorite dipping sauce. Ranch, blue cheese, or extra buffalo sauce will make these little rolls of joy even more mouthwatering. Enjoy while hot!

Tips to Control Spice and Texture in Buffalo Chicken Taquitos

• Breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes can add extra crunch when sprinkled over taquitos before baking or frying.
• Prepare and assemble taquitos up to 24 hours in advance, storing them covered in the refrigerator before cooking for convenient meal planning.
• Replace chicken with ground turkey, pulled pork, or shredded beef to create delicious alternative flavor profiles that still pack a spicy punch.
• Substitute chicken with roasted black beans, diced bell peppers, and corn for a plant-based version that maintains the buffalo sauce excitement without meat.
• Swap traditional tortillas with large lettuce leaves or low-carb tortilla alternatives to reduce carbohydrate content while keeping the classic buffalo chicken flavor intact.

Serving Buffalo Chicken Taquitos with Dips and Sides

• Dip Delights: Pair these spicy taquitos with cool, creamy ranch or tangy blue cheese dressing for a flavor explosion that balances the heat.
• Game Day Spread: Arrange taquitos on a platter with sliced celery, carrot sticks, and extra dipping sauces for an irresistible party appetizer that'll score big with friends.
• Meal Upgrade: Transform these crispy taquitos into a complete meal by serving alongside a fresh green salad or coleslaw to add some crunch and balance the rich, spicy filling.
• Leftover Magic: Chop up cold taquitos and toss into a salad for a quick lunch, or reheat in an air fryer to maintain their crispy texture for a next-day snack.

How to Store and Reheat Buffalo Chicken Taquitos Right

• Store cooled taquitos in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Stack them carefully to prevent crushing delicate edges.
• Wrap individual taquitos in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags. Frozen taquitos stay delicious up to 2 months. Label with date for easy tracking.
• Restore crispiness by baking frozen taquitos at 375F for 12-15 minutes. Avoid microwave to maintain crunchy texture. Air fryer works wonderfully for quick, crisp results.
• Prepare filling and roll taquitos in advance. Keep uncooked rolls refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking. Perfect for busy weeknight dinners or game day snacks.

Crispy Buffalo Chicken Taquitos Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 40 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Spicy Buffalo Chicken Taquitos bring fiery zest to classic Mexican-inspired appetizers, packed with bold flavor and crispy texture. Creamy cheese and tangy hot sauce wrap perfectly in golden tortillas, making these irresistible bites perfect for game day or quick snacking you’ll crave.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie works great!)
• 4 oz/115 g cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup buffalo sauce (like Franks RedHot)
• 10 small flour tortillas (or corn tortillas for a crunchier texture)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• Cooking spray or vegetable oil (for baking/frying)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Calibrate oven to 400F (200C) and strategically line baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal heat distribution.
2. Filling Fusion: Thoroughly integrate shredded chicken, cream cheese, buffalo sauce, cheddar cheese, mozzarella, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a mixing vessel, ensuring comprehensive blending of flavors and textures.
3. Taquito Construction: Meticulously distribute chicken mixture across tortillas, executing a precise, compact roll and positioning each taquito seam-side down on prepared baking surface.
4. Culinary Transformation: Select cooking method – baking or frying. For baking, mist taquitos with cooking spray and roast for 15-18 minutes until achieving golden, crisp exterior. Alternatively, for frying, submerge taquitos in 1-inch vegetable oil heated to medium temperature, rotating in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until reaching desired bronzed, crunchy consistency. Post-frying, transfer to paper towels to absorb excess oil.
5. Presentation: Serve immediately while piping hot, accompanied by complementary dipping sauces like ranch, blue cheese, or additional buffalo sauce for enhanced flavor profile.

Notes

• Ensure tortillas are at room temperature and pat chicken dry to remove excess moisture, guaranteeing a crispy exterior.
• Let cream cheese soften at room temperature before mixing to create smoother, more evenly distributed filling.
• When frying, maintain oil at 350-375°F for perfect golden-brown taquitos without burning or undercooking.
• Swap regular tortillas with gluten-free options and use low-fat cream cheese for a lighter, healthier version that doesn’t compromise flavor.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 14g
• Cholesterol: 50mg