Baked Cream Cheese Chicken Taquitos
These baked cream cheese chicken taquitos are a healthier alternative to your average store-bought frozen taquitos. These taquitos come together in no time and can be frozen and reheated to eat anytime!
You guys. These homemade taquitos are the jam! I know, I know. But trust me on this one, these are so insanely easy to make and they taste pretty incredible.
Josh and I have this tradition where every night that a new episode of The Walking Dead comes on we eat taquitos. I’m all giddy with excitement just waiting for the next season of The Walking Dead! Any other TWD fans out there?
Anyways, about these cream cheese taquitos. I’m cringing a little admitting this, but we eat the frozen kind from a box. A food blogger who eats prepackaged frozen food.. it happens. We eat pretty healthy during the week, so come Sunday at 8:00 pm for 16 weeks it’s taquito time!
The other day when we were in the store looking for salsa ingredients, I asked Josh what else I should make for the blog. His response? “You should make taquitos so I can eat them with that salsa.”
Well, you don’t have to ask me twice!
Once we left the grocery store I came home, grabbed a bunch of stuff, and then threw it all into a bowl and mixed it up. I asked Josh to taste a little and see what it needed. He looked shocked (yes, shocked) and said they tasted like the real deal.
Um.. what? No way?! I took a little bite and was blown away. It really did taste just like I remembered. Let it be known, that will probably be the last time I ever throw a bunch of random stuff into a bowl and it turns out good on the first try. After Josh ate a few of these he told me he liked knowing he was eating real chicken.
Me too. Me too.
Recipe Ingredients
These baked chicken taquitos require just seven simple ingredients and come together in 30 minutes. Here’s what we’ll be using to make them:
- Tortillas: Corn or flour tortillas can be used in this recipe. Note that corn tortillas are harder to work with, so I prefer to use flour tortillas.
- Chicken: You’ll need pre-cooked, shredded chicken for these chicken and cream cheese taquitos.
- Cream cheese: Should be softened to room temperature.
- Shredded cheese: I used Monterey-Jack cheese, but any shredded cheese will work.
- Garlic: Adds lots of flavor.
- Salsa verde: Use your favorite store-bought brand.
- Spices: I kept the spices simple and used just ground cumin, salt, and pepper.
How to Make Cream Cheese Chicken Taquitos
Simply mix together the chicken, cream cheese, Monterey-jack cheese, garlic, salsa verde, and ground cumin until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
Fill each tortilla with the chicken mixture, then roll tightly and place seam-side down on a foil-lined baking tray. Bake for 15 minutes, or until as golden and crispy as desired.
Can I Freeze These Taquitos?
Yes! If you’re planning to freeze the chicken taquitos for later, just prepare them as stated in the recipe but do not bake them. Line them on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze them for about 30 minutes (this will prevent them from sticking together), then put them in a freezer bag.
Once you’re ready to bake them, just put them in the oven and bake them as the recipe states. Depending on your oven, you may need to bake them a few extra minutes if baking them from frozen.
Cooking Tips
- The great thing about these taquitos is that they can be frozen and then baked whenever you’re ready to eat them!
- You can make these a little lighter by using corn tortillas. If you decide to use corn tortillas, be sure to read the notes section of the recipe since they can be a little harder to work with.
- I highly recommend serving these baked taquitos with homemade guacamole and / or salsa.
More Easy Mexican Dinners to Try!
Baked Cream Cheese Chicken Taquitos
Ingredients
- 8-10 flour or corn tortillas*
- 1 cup shredded chicken
- 2 ounces cream cheese , softened (reduced fat will work)*
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey-Jack cheese
- 1 clove garlic , minced (1/2 teaspoon)
- 1/4 cup salsa verde
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil (spray well if using foil) and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the chicken, cream cheese, Monterey-Jack cheese, garlic, salsa verde, and ground cumin until well combined. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture into each tortilla. Roll each tortilla tightly and place seam side down on the baking sheet. You can secure the tortillas with toothpicks to hold them together a little better.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, broil for the last minute or two to get them a little more crispy.
- Serve immediately.
Have made these a ridiculous amount of times in the past year. Thanks for posting the recipe, we love it!
These are so quick and easy, and delicious, too. They were great (maybe even better!) the next day as well.
These were fantastic! I now can really only have chicken for meat and am constantly trying to find new recipes so my partner doesn’t get too chickened-out. We both adored this meal (and the salsa, and the guacamole!) I was a little disheartened to find that this is a baking specific website (can’t have gluten either) but the recipes you have shared here are wonderful, and definitely becoming a part of our regular menu. Thank you so much!
Thank you, Sarah! So glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
Oh my gosh Danielle, these were amazing! My diet means that chicken and turkey are the only types of animal protein I can have. While I already liked chicken, my partner did not but also didn’t want me making two different dinners a day. This recipe has definitely been added to my “chicken Boegart likes eating” list. I also made the salsa that is linked to this page, as well as the Quac that is linked to that page. ALL FANTASTIC.
Thank you so much, I will be checking your page first when looking for new recipes.
So glad everything turned out great for you, Sarah!
Made these tonight and they were delicious!
So glad you liked the taquitos, Suzanne!
Excellent recipe! Super easy. The only extra I added was half a sauteed onion. Thank you for sharing, looking forward to making other recipes from your website. Have a great evening!
So glad you liked the taquitos, Bevin!
I just made these and they were delicious!! I used red salsa because that’s all I had on hand, but they turned out fantastic! And they were super easy 🙂 thank you so much!
So happy to hear you enjoyed the taquitos, Marien!
I’m a vegetarian, but I made these using vegetarian “chicken” and they turned out delicious. Thanks for an amazing recipe!
That’s a great idea, Lauren! I’m glad you like the taquitos!
Hi! I’m so excited to try this dish tonight! I see that you can freeze them for later, do you freeze them before putting them in the oven or can you bake them and then freeze them!
Hi Rupal! If you’re planning to freeze some for later, just prepare the taquitos as stated in the recipe but do not bake them. Just line them on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze them for about 30 minutes (this will prevent them from sticking together), then put them in a freezer bag. Once you’re ready to cook them, just put them in the oven and bake them as the recipe states. Depending on your oven, you may need to bake them a few extra minutes if they’re frozen. Hope that helps!
When I was in high school I used to eat the frozen cheese taquitos by the box! I love that you made homemade ones! I’ve never even attempted them, but I really want to now! These look so good and I would love to curl up on the couch with a plate of these while watching the walking dead!
Love taquitos- so delicious! Love the fact these are baked rather than fried!
These taquitos look like the perfect weekend snack! And yes I’m a huge Walking Dead fan! It used to totally gross me out but my hubby forced me to watch it and I got hooked! Can’t wait for fall TV to start; especially The Walking Dead.
That sounds like a great tradition! Those look delicious and I can’t wait to give this recipe a try 🙂
never tried taquito’s before, loving the look of them.. definitely curious to know what they taste like!
These look AMAZING! And I am all about something delicious and easy to make. I found you via Sarah @ Whole and Heavenly Oven and I’m so glad I did! This recipe looks great and the photography is beautiful!!!
Eating real chicken is so much better than wondering what exactly that “chicken” is made up of. 😀 These taquitos look so delicious! I need a batch of these!
We are re watching the last season right now! It is kind of hard for me to handle sometimes though. I felt like last season was especially gruesome! One night we were watching a new episode and eating spaghetti…..needless to say, we didn’t finish out dinner that night! :/
But these taquitos look great! I love how easy they are! Yours turned out just perfect! I always over stuff mine!
It can be a little gruesome, the spaghetti thing might have been kind of hard for me too!
I have SO got to try homemade chicken taquitos! These look absolutely amazing, Danielle and your photography is stunning! Love how you dipped them in your restaurant-style salsa! 🙂 Pinned.
You’ll love them Sarah! Thanks so much and thanks for pinning 🙂
I am trying to make ahead frozen meals for my daughter who has 4 kids 7 and one on the way to help her with meals post-baby. I saw this recipe and saw that it can be frozen. Can they be baked and then frozen or they frozen uncooked. I am trying to make it as easy for her as possible.
If you’re planning to freeze them for later, just prepare the taquitos as stated in the recipe but do not bake them. Line them on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze them for about 30 minutes (this will prevent them from sticking together), then put them in a freezer bag. Once you’re ready to cook them, just put them in the oven and bake them as the recipe states. Depending on your oven, you may need to bake them a few extra minutes if baking them from frozen.
These taquitos look amazing, Danielle! That’s such a fun tradition that you and your husband have of eating them during your TV show. And I’ve never watched TWD before, can you believe it?! I watch too many shows in the fall…but it’s on my list to watch, as everyone talks about it! 🙂 I’m definitely going to try these out, I think my husband would love them, too! Pinned!
You have to give TWD a try, Gayle! I thought it would be kind of dumb, but I love the show. Thanks for pinning too!