Description
These crispy air fryer beef taquitos are packed with bold flavors from spiced ground beef, sautéed onions and green peppers, and gooey shredded marble cheese. Easy to roll and quick to cook in the air fryer, they make a perfect snack or appetizer with customizable garnishes.
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 skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onions and green bell peppers, stirring occasionally, until onions are slightly browned and peppers are softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned and slightly crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Stir in garlic powder and paprika, cooking for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Prepare the Filling Mixture: Transfer the cooked beef mixture into a mixing bowl and let it cool for about 10 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk the two eggs. Once the beef mixture is cooled, add the eggs and stir well to combine.
- Assemble the Taquitos: Place a corn husk strip or kitchen string horizontally on a clean surface. Lay one soft corn tortilla on top. Add 1 tablespoon shredded marble cheese in a vertical line down the center of the tortilla, then add 1 ½ tablespoons of the beef mixture on top of the cheese. Roll the tortilla tightly from right to left, tucking in the edge. Secure the roll by tying the corn husk strip or kitchen string around the middle. Push any filling back inside and trim excess string. Repeat this process for all tortillas.
- Prepare Air Fryer: Spray the air fryer basket and extra rack (if using) with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange as many taquitos as will fit without overcrowding. Lightly spray the tops of the taquitos with cooking spray.
- Air Fry the Taquitos: If using the rack, set air fryer to 375°F and cook for 8 minutes. Check the top layer taquitos, leaving the bottom layer cooking. When top is browned and crispy, flip top layer taquitos and cook 4 more minutes. Add extra 2 minutes if needed until crispy. Remove top layer and flip bottom layer taquitos, cooking 4 more minutes until golden and crispy. If using basket only, cook at 375°F for 6 minutes, check and flip taquitos, then cook 3 more minutes until golden brown. Add 2 additional minutes if not yet crispy. Remove when both sides are golden and crispy.
- Serve: Serve the hot taquitos with optional garnishes such as salsa, guacamole, cilantro, sour cream, hot sauce, iceberg lettuce, and crumbled cotija cheese.
Notes
- Soften the corn tortillas by steaming them briefly to prevent cracking when rolled if they are not fresh.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches for best crispiness.
- Use freshly shredded marble cheese for best melting and flavor.
- Let the beef mixture cool before adding eggs to avoid scrambling the eggs.
- Secure the taquito rolls tightly with soaked corn husk strips or kitchen string to maintain shape during cooking. Soak corn husks in water for 5 minutes before use.
- Adjust cooking time based on your air fryer model and keep checking to avoid overcooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taquito
- Calories: 130 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
