Description
Crispy and flavorful Chicken Flautas made with shredded chicken, Mexican blend cheese, and a spicy salsa filling, rolled in flour tortillas and fried to golden perfection. Served warm with fresh toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, and cilantro ranch dressing for a delicious Mexican-inspired appetizer or meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken, or shredded beef
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
- ½ cup salsa, store-bought or homemade
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced chiles
- Garlic salt with parsley flakes, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Other Ingredients
- 12 (6-inch) flour tortillas (or corn tortillas)
- Vegetable or canola oil, for frying (about ¾ inch in a large saucepan)
- Salt, to taste
Toppings
- Shredded lettuce
- Chopped tomatoes
- Green salsa
- Guacamole
- Cilantro Ranch dressing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Set your oven to the warm setting or about 200°F to keep the cooked flautas warm while you finish frying the rest.
- Heat the oil. Pour vegetable or canola oil into a large saucepan to about ¾ inch depth and heat over medium until the temperature reaches 375°F for frying.
- Prepare the filling. In a medium bowl, mix the shredded chicken, Mexican blend cheese, salsa, diced chiles, garlic salt with parsley flakes, and pepper thoroughly until well combined.
- Fill and roll the tortillas. Working with about 4 tortillas at a time, spread a heaping spoonful of the chicken filling along the center of each tortilla. Roll the tortillas tightly around the filling and secure each roll with a toothpick to keep them intact during frying.
- Fry the flautas. Using tongs, carefully place each rolled flauta into the hot oil. Fry for about 2 minutes on each side or until they turn a golden brown color, ensuring they are crispy and cooked through.
- Drain and season. Remove the flautas from the oil and place them on a paper towel–lined plate to drain excess oil. Sprinkle them lightly with salt to enhance flavor.
- Keep warm in the oven. Transfer the cooked flautas to a foil-lined baking sheet and place them in the preheated oven to keep warm while frying the remaining tortillas.
- Serve. Plate the flautas warm and serve immediately topped with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, green salsa, guacamole, and cilantro ranch dressing according to your preference.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can use shredded beef instead of chicken.
- Use flour tortillas for easier rolling, but corn tortillas also work for a gluten-free option.
- Ensure the oil reaches 375°F to get crispy flautas and prevent sogginess.
- Serve immediately for the best texture as fried foods can lose crispiness when cooled.
- Remove toothpicks before eating to avoid choking hazards.
