Description
These crispy air fryer beef taquitos are loaded with spiced ground beef, sautéed onions and bell peppers, and gooey marble cheese. Quick to assemble and easy to cook in the air fryer for a perfectly crunchy, flavorful snack or appetizer.
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 chopped onions and green peppers until onions are sweat and slightly brown, and peppers are softened. Add ground beef, breaking up any large pieces, and cook until slightly browned. Stir in garlic powder and paprika, cooking until beef is fully cooked and slightly crispy. Remove from heat and season with salt and black pepper.
- Assemble the Taquitos: Transfer beef mixture to a bowl and stir continuously to cool it down (about 10 minutes). Whisk eggs in a small bowl and mix into the cooled beef mixture. Lay a corn husk strip or kitchen string horizontally on a clean surface, place one soft corn tortilla on top. Add 1 tablespoon shredded cheese in a vertical line, then 1 ½ tablespoons beef mixture over the cheese. Roll the tortilla tightly, tucking the edge under the filling, and secure by tying the corn husk strip or kitchen string around the middle. Repeat for remaining tortillas.
- Air Fry the Taquitos: Spray the base and sides of the air fryer basket (and extra rack if used) with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange taquitos in a single layer without crowding, spray tops with cooking spray. If using rack, air fry at 375°F for 8 minutes, check doneness on rack taquitos, remove those done; flip basket taquitos and cook another 4 minutes, adding 2 more minutes if needed. Remove rack. Flip remaining basket taquitos and cook additional 4 minutes until golden and crispy. If using basket only, air fry at 375°F for 6 minutes, flip and cook another 3 minutes, adding 2 more minutes if needed. Taquitos should be golden brown and crispy on all sides.
- Serve: Remove taquitos from air fryer and serve hot with optional garnishes such as salsa, guacamole, cilantro, sour cream, hot sauce, iceberg lettuce, and cotija cheese.
Notes
- Soften tortillas before rolling if not fresh by steaming briefly to prevent cracking.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches for optimal crispiness.
- Use a good melting cheese like marble cheese, shredded fresh for best flavor and melt.
- Allow beef mixture to cool before mixing with eggs to prevent cooking the eggs prematurely.
- Tie rolls securely with soaked corn husk strips or kitchen string to keep shape during cooking. If using corn husks, soak in water 5 minutes before use.
- Cooking times may vary by air fryer model; check taquitos and add cooking time in small increments as needed, flipping to crisp all sides.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taquito
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
