Ridiculously Good Air Fryer Flautas

Air Fryer Flautas offer a simple and quick way to make a traditionally fried dish healthier without losing the tasty, crunchy texture we all love. This recipe focuses on the process of using your air fryer, a game changer if you want to create crispiness. These flautas use simple ingredients like seasoned chicken, a bit of cheese, a warm tortilla, and an air fryer.

Instead of the mess and oil of deep frying, your air fryer helps achieve an evenly cooked, golden exterior with a juicy interior.

I’ll provide you the steps and give a few suggestions of things you may do for additional flavors as well. Forget messy pans, the clean up is quick, giving you a convenient method for creating something really delicious, all done within minutes!

If you’re into crispy airfryer snacks, these Air Fryer Empanadas are a must-try. Easy to make and packed with delicious fillings!

— ❖ —

Why Air Fryer Flautas Are the BEST

Let’s be honest; frying can be a MESS. And honestly, who has time for all that oil? My sister in-law showed me this amazing hack using an air fryer and now, I am making flautas EVERY OTHER DAY. These air fryer flautas are a total GAME CHANGER.

• Quick: I’m talking 20 MINUTES to prep, and you’re looking at a FAST and flavorful meal.
• Healthier: They taste just as crispy and yummy as fried flautas without all that extra oil.
• Easy to Customize: Mix up the filling to match what YOU are in the mood for, be creative and HAVE FUN with it.
• Family Friendly: Even the pickiest of eaters are going to BEG you to make them again. My kiddos LOVE these!

— ❖ —

What You’ll Need to Make Air Fryer Flautas

Before we dive into the details, make sure you’ve got all your supplies and ingredients! No worries if not all items match the list to a TEE, but if you follow this one, we should be in business. This is where you’re getting it DONE in your own home and kitchen!

Ingredients:

• Chicken: 1.5 cups of cooked chicken, shredded. Use leftover rotisserie chicken or you can cook your own. Whatever floats your boat!
• Tortillas: 12 corn tortillas, or you could use flour ones (about 6 inches in diameter). The kind of tortilla depends on YOU!
• Cheese: 1 cup of shredded cheese of your choice. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend will all work just great!
• Salsa: ½ cup of your fav salsa, go mild or HOT if you dare
• Sour Cream: ¼ cup, plain and simple.
• Jalapenos: 2 tablespoons of finely diced pickled jalapenos, (more or less to your spice liking).
• Lime Juice: 1 tablespoon, for a bit of tang.
• Taco Seasoning: 2 tablespoons of your favorite mix. Store-bought or homemade works great here too!
• Cooking Oil Spray: For that golden crispy finish, the kind used for cooking

Equipment:

• Air Fryer
• Large bowl
• Spoon or spatula
• Measuring spoons/cups
• Wet paper towel

— ❖ —

How To Make Air Fryer Flautas

Okay, it is time for the step-by-step! I made sure it was EASY to read so even if it is your first time, I believe in you and know that you’ll nail it. Follow along!

Combine the Base Flavors

Mix It All Up. Take a large bowl and throw in the salsa, sour cream, diced jalapenos, lime juice, and taco seasoning. Stir that goodness until everything is nice and mixed together. It’s gonna look GREAT.

Add the Stars: Incorporate Chicken & Cheese

Add the Main Stars. Now toss in the shredded chicken and shredded cheese, give it all a big stir to blend, just like step one! Your filling should be well-combined; we don’t want cheese left hiding behind!

Soften Your Tortillas

Soften those Tortillas. Wrap your tortillas loosely in a damp paper towel. Pop it in the microwave for 30 to 40 seconds; make them flexible for filling! The microwave should get them warmed up real nice, BAM.

Time to Roll: Fill and Form

Start Rolling. Place a warm tortilla on your surface, horizontally add 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture onto the lower third, roll it up tight. I like doing one by one so that nothing is all mushy at the same time.

Air Fryer Prep

Basket Time. Arrange the rolled flautas in one layer inside your air fryer basket. Remember we may need to go in batches depending on how many we have in stock, it’s a piece of cake.

 Air Fry Flautas

Crisp Them Up. Spray cooking spray over the tops. Put your air fryer to 380 degrees F. Air fry for around 8 to 10 minutes or when they become nice golden-brown, the exact times vary by model and may change per machine. It is best to KEEP AN EYE on them and flip them halfway if needed!

Top and Enjoy

The GRAND Finale! Top these lovely crisp flautas with the same ingredients you already used or go BEYOND. My husband prepared it for lunch with additional chopped onions, a light mayo on top and pico de gallo too.

How to keep Crispiness of Fresh Flautas after cooking

After air frying, place flautas on a wire rack for airflow so that steam will release! NEVER cover them so it doesnt get all soggy!. Serve immediately, fresh and crispy ALWAYS wins!

— ❖ —

Tips for THE BEST Air Fryer Flautas

Want to make them EVEN better? Well, here are a few PRO tips for you!

Don’t Overfill: Too much filling can cause your flautas to burst. I prefer filling them just the right amount. This recipe amount should give you the perfect results!

Get them Moist: Damp tortillas help to make it more easy and efficient for the rolling, it also helps prevent cracks.

Don’t overcrowd Place the flautas in a single layer, so that there is sufficient airflow in between all items for perfect cooking. I personally like some room between them

Spray It!: Make sure to spray with a nice oil on top for that CRISP golden brown result that we all love!

Vary Cooking Time: Keep a watch during the cooking phase because some fryers are more intense than others! Make sure it is the right balance for your unique setup.

Fresh ingredients: It goes a long way when you buy the chicken or prep the components on your own, rather than pre-packaged items. The freshest food also means the best taste for us all!

Add Variety There are unlimited variations with flavors, maybe for round two, think about making these with some other exciting components and do what your own palate says!

How Long Should You Air Fry Those Leftover Flautas?

For crispy leftovers, air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes, but WATCH them so you dont burn or undercook them. Time may vary based on the model of your machine. And you’re done. Easy peasy and ready to go!

HOW to Keep Flautas Warm for a party

Keep your cooked flautas warm by placing them on a wire rack over a baking sheet in a 200°F (95°C) oven, be careful though! The warm setting will continue cooking it. A SLOW COOKER on “warm” also does wonders to keep them heated and is more gentle in its way, making it PERFECT for this! Just keep an eye out so they don’t get dry or burn up! You got this!

— ❖ —

Flauta Flavor Variations to Make Your Tastebuds Dance

Wanna switch things up? You absolutely can! Here are some of my FAV variations that my kids enjoy the most. The sky’s the limit!

• Beefy Flautas: Swap the chicken with ground beef seasoned with taco or fajita mix.
• Spicy Style: Add chopped green chilies, habaneros, chipotles, etc to the filling for that fiery punch! The possibilities are ENDLESS
• Cheesy Fiesta: Try different cheese blends; pepper jack for heat, Oaxaca for that extra stretchiness! Do as you wish with all of the cheeses you enjoy in life.
• Veggie Delights: Throw in some black beans, corn, and bell peppers, make this totally vegetarian! This goes wonderfully well as a standalone main meal too!

— ❖ —

Serving Up Your Crispy Flautas

let’s talk sides, and more options to add variety to our cooking routine! Whether you’re looking for serving suggestions, need some side dish inspo .Here is a breakdown of great recipes you must try!

•  Air Fryer Red Potatoes
• Air Fryer Butternut Squash
• Frozen Broccoli in Air Fryer
  

— ❖ —

Frequently Asked Questions

— ❖ —

Ready to Air Fry?

Okay! That’s it; you have everything you need to make THE PERFECT air fryer flautas. This easy meal is FAST, flavorful, and is really impressive, so enjoy every part of it! Happy cooking and bon appétit!

Print