Learn how to make authentic Chicken Taquitos, also known as Flautas de Pollo. Just five ingredients and a few garnishes makes this Mexican recipe an easy way to feed a crowd. This recipe can easily be scaled to your needs.
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I don’t know why I took so long to learn how to make Mexican flautas. My hubby and I know them as Mexican taquitos and eat them frequently. We buy them frozen in the supermarket but homemade is better right?
After watching oodles of YouTube videos some intense research, I realized flautas, also known as little flutes, are very easy to make and the filling is limited only to your imagination. I chose a simple, chicken flauta to illustrate how easy they are to make.
We usually serve these with 20-Minute Mexican Black Beans as a side.
Below are some answers to your hot-burning-questions:)
Your top questions about flautas
How to keep flautas rolled?
After rolling, place seam side down on your surface and press with your finger. Also, make sure to use softened tortillas. This works for me and now I don’t have to use toothpicks.
What is the difference between flautas and taquitos?
Traditionally, taquitos (little tacos) are smaller than flautas and made with corn tortillas. Flautas (flutes) are a little larger and made with either corn or flour tortillas.
How to keep flautas warm?
Place an oven safe dish in the oven and preheat to 250F. After frying the flautas and draining them, place in the pre-warmed dish and keep in the oven until ready to use. If it will be longer than 30 minutes, cover loosely with aluminum foil.
How do you reheat flautas?
Flautas become soggy in the fridge. You can make them crispy again by baking them in the oven. Pre-heat an oven to 400F. Place flautas in a pan, preferably on a wire rack, bake for 12 minutes.
What do you serve with flautas?
This is where your creativity really shines. You can serve flautas with any of your favorite garnishes. I have garnished with cilantro, green onions and cotija cheese and served with guacamole, salsa and sour cream. Flautas are a bit mono-chromatic beige which isn’t very appetizing. Since we also eat with our eyes, I like to use colorful garnishes and dips to serve with. Queso and other cheese or sour cream based sauces would be divine also!
How do you fry flautas?
I like to shallow pan fry them in just 1/4 inch of oil, seam-side down. Brown on each side. You can deep fry them, the oil will get into the filling so it would taste even yummier but I like the lower fat method.
Grab that imagination of yours and take it out for a spin. Here are some ideas to get you fired up!
Fillings for meat flautas
- ground beef or pork, onion, salt, cumin, chile powder
- shredded beef or pork, taco seasoning (cumin, chile powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, oregano), canned green chiles
- chorizo, chicken
- chicken, cheese, salt, chile powder
Fillings for vegetarian flautas
- oaxaca cheese, queso fresco, cotija, cilantro, salt, chile powder
- black bean, cheddar, taco seasoning
- butternut squash, spinach, black beans, cumin, garlic, chile powder, salt
- garlic, onion, poblano, salt, pepper, cumin, mashed potatoes or hash browns
- potatoes, butter, turmeric, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, coriander, salt, fenugreek
- monterrey jack, poblano, salt
Sides & Garnishes for Flautas de Pollo
- Puerto Rican Rice in a rice cooker, easy peasey
- Creamy Jalapeno and Avocado Salsa
- Roasted Jalapeno Salsa
- Salsa Verde
Leave a comment if you have tried these before or if you have any questions. I have only tried chicken but I am super excited to try this with other types of fillings, including FUSION fillings. Korean BBQ flauta anyone? Easy right?!
So put down that frozen carton of who-knows-what and give these a try! Your homemade flautas will be so much healthier than the other kind;)
Buen Provecho!
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Easy Traditional Mexican Chicken Flautas Recipe
Easy Traditional Chicken Flautas Recipe. Make a quick chicken filling, roll in a corn tortillas, shallow fry in some oil, drain on paper towels and serve with your favorite Mexican condiments. That's it! An easy traditional flauta recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken thighs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 16 corn tortillas
- oil for frying
GARNISH
- Cotija cheese
- Cilantro
- Green onions
SERVE WITH
- Salsa
- Sour Cream
- Guacamole
Instructions
- Place chicken in a medium saucepan, add water to cover. Cook on medium heat, simmering for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Drain chicken and set aside to cool. When cool enough to handle, shred or chop into small pieces. Toss the chicken with the salt, chile powder & pepper and set aside in a medium bowl.
- Heat up your tortillas in the microwave until very soft.
- On your prep surface place a tortilla and scoop about 3-6 Tbs of chicken filling in your tortilla on one side. Roll tortilla into a flute shape. Place on a plate and press down with seam side down, this helps hold the flute shape. Continue until all flautas are rolled.
- In a large skillet with 1/4 inch of oil, heat until oil is hot. You can test your oil either by placing a small piece of corn tortillas in the oil or a chopstick. If small bubbles form immediately, it is hot enough. Fry tortillas, turning as needed until golden. Drain on paper towels and serve with optional garnishes and sides.
Notes
- As soon as you place food in hot oil, it drops the temp of the oil. You can deal with this effectively by frying in small batches or turn up the heat to high for 1 minute with each iteration.
- This recipe is highly adaptable to different fillings, garnishes and sides.
- HEALTHY TIP - Serve two of these along with a healthy salad, slaw or a side of beans
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 2 flautasAmount Per Serving: Calories: 256 Total Fat: 12g Saturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 9g Cholesterol: 74mg Sodium: 478mg Carbohydrates: 23g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 1g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 16g
Bianca says
Can you make these for me when I get home? I miss Mexican food and if I remember right, they weren’t hard to make. Thank you thank you!
Tina says
You betcha princess!
Jessica Pinney says
I love Mexican food but haven’t tried making flautas yet, you’ve inspired me!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
I would make some vegetarian for me, but what a nice idea when entertaining!
Lynette says
These look delicious! I’ve never made flautas but you have me intrigued!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says
I’ve never made flautas at home, but I love them when I’m out at Mexican restaurants. Yours look absolutely perfect!
Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade says
I’ve never had flautas before…which is crazy, because I love Mexican food! These look so great for a party or tailgate, and I’m always looking for recipes like this. I’m definitely pinning this for later
Helene says
I have never heard of flautas before. That shows again how limited my knowledge is around Mexican food! We go crazy for these dishes and I would definitely enjoy making a batch one fine evening. Thanks for the info, comes handy!
Anne Murphy says
That’s been another recipe on my I Should Really Try This list… You make it look so easy! No excuse, now, I have to! (I like anything that lets you use odds and ends of other recipes in a whole new dish… LOL)
Tina says
I can’t believe I haven’t tried it until now!
Leslie Haasch says
These look so good, and so light!
Christina says
As much as my husband and I love tacos, I don’t think either of us has made flautas at home. Thank you for the informative post! Flautas looks and sounds crazy good so I’m excited to try these!
Tina says
Enjoy Christina, they are surprisingly easy:)
Tina Dawson | Love is in my Tummy says
Ok, I gotta be honest! I LOVE LOOOVVEEEEE Flautas! The first time I had these was at a tex-mex restaurant in Texas and OMG! If I see these on a menu, I order nothing else! Thank you so much for the vegetarian options!
Tina says
Honestly, Texas has the BEST food:) I know I was spoiled when I lived there, glad this was helpful to you, enjoy!
Linda says
I never made flautas and now you made me so curious! They look wonderful for a dinner party !
Tina says
I think it would be great for a dinner party, finger foods are always popular. Happy entertaining!
Hope says
I live in New Zealand where we don’t have a great deal of Mexican Food so these are new to me! They look very tasty and I can imagine they would taste great with so many fillings 🙂
Luci says
These look so yummy. I love Mexican food so I will have to make these for my family soon.
Patti says
Flautas are one of my favorites, and I make them at home, but I realized from your photo above that I have been rolling them wrong. I was putting the filling down the center and fighting to get the tortilla to roll securely around them. I don’t know why I didn’t think to put it off center. D’Oh! (Imagine me smacking myself in the forehead.)
Tina says
Off center works for me, try it. It keeps me from putting too much filling in and having it escape the sides.
Beth says
I have been making taquitos for my whole life! I love them! I’ve never made them with flour tortillas! I’ll have to try that! Your flautas look amazing! Now I really want to go make some!
Tina says
You’re lucky Beth, I only sort of discovered them now. I’ve had many at Texas restaurants but never thought to make them myself. Enjoy!
Denise Wright says
Oh I love this! I’ve always wanted to make these and you post is full of tips and info. Can’t wait to give these a try.
Ben Myhre says
I often find myself watching oodles of YouTube videos, I mean doing intense research. These look tasty!
Tina says
I lOVE YouTube:)
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
Flautas have such a cozy place in my heart. My best friend used to make them for me all the time. Your recipe looks so delicious that I’m feeling homesick for my friend, who lives far away from me. I’ll have to make your recipe and send her a photo! Yum.
Tina says
Ah, that’s a sweet memory Elaine. Maybe you can find out her recipe when you share a photo:)
Sarah says
I’m gonna confess that I’ve only gazed suspiciously at unattractive gas station taquitos.. these look SO MUCH BETTER! And ‘little flutes’ is such a cute name! I want- YUM
Tina says
Those gas station taquitos are pretty scary:O Good luck with these, they are too easy.