Crispy Honey and Pepper Jack Chicken Taquitos

These crispy honey and pepper jack chicken taquitos are simple and flavorful, a fun idea for a quick weeknight meal! Breaded honey chicken and shredded pepper jack cheese combined and rolled into corn tortillas that are fried until golden brown and crispy. Serve these taquitos with shredded lettuce, fresh or pickled jalapenos, cilantro, and guacamole. Kids and adults will love this tasty meal.

Highlights of the chicken taquitos and why you’ll love them:

• Quick meal: these taquitos make a super quick meal, using pre-cooked frozen chicken with sauce eliminates a lot of the work in this recipe. All you need to do is chop up the cooked chicken and roll with the shredded cheese into corn tortillas. Quickly fry in some oil, top with your favorite toppings, and you’ll have a meal on the table in no time.
• Customizable: use any kind of chicken you prefer, whether its shredded chicken, breaded popcorn chicken, or frozen tempura chicken. In addition to the cheese you can add other toppings into the taquitos such as diced jalapenos or roasted poblano peppers, crispy potatoes, or green onions.
• Different cooking methods: these taquitos can be fried in oil, air fried (try these Crispy Nashville Hot Chicken Taquitos in the air fryer) or baked. The nice part is the shells get nice and crispy no matter how you cook them! Baking or air fryer are the lighter and less messy options, that is also an easier way to make a large batch of them. While frying gets them super golden brown and extra crispy.

These taquitos combine Asian, Mexican, and American flavors into a bite everyone will love. Sweet, spicy, and crunchy these will hit the spot. Serve along side extra Guacamole and fresh Pico de Gallo. Perfect Steamed Rice (without a rice cooker), cilantro lime rice, chips and salsa, or a fresh lettuce salad are all simple sides to serve these with.

Ingredient List & Ingredient Notes:

• Corn tortillas: white or yellow corn tortillas will work, if desired use flour tortillas. Whole wheat tortillas won’t get the same crispy texture.
• Chicken: this recipe uses frozen breaded honey chicken, found in the Asian section. Any type of frozen breaded chicken will work such as chicken tenders, popcorn chicken, frozen tempura chicken, or flavored boneless wings.
• Pepper jack cheese: I but a block of cheese at home and shred it myself, pre-shredded cheese will also work. Cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, Colby jack cheese, or Monterey Jack are all good options.
• Vegetable oil: vegetable oil, soybean oil, or canola oil will all work for frying.
• Toppings: shredded lettuce, jalapenos, cilantro, and guacamole are my go to toppings, use any desired toppings.

How to make Crispy Honey and Pepper Jack Chicken Taquitos (with step by step instructions):

Let’s talk a little about how to make these taquitos (The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Quick overview:

• Prep fresh ingredients, shred cheese.
• Cook breaded chicken according to package instructions.
• Chop chicken and toss in sauce. Warm corn tortillas.
• Fill each tortilla with chicken and cheese, roll, and secure with a toothpick.
• Fry in oil and enjoy.

1. Prep fresh ingredients by shredding lettuce, chopping cilantro, slicing fresh jalapenos, and shredding pepper jack cheese. Prepare the crispy honey chicken according to package instruction. Chop chicken into small pieces if needed and toss in sauce.

2. Wrap corn tortillas in a dish cloth and microwave for 15-20 seconds to warm slightly, this makes them easier to roll without them tearing.

3. Top each tortilla with a few pieces of chicken and cheese, gently roll, and secure the seam with a toothpick.

4. In a small Dutch oven or saucepan heat oil over medium-high heat until warm. To check if the oil is ready, add a drop of water to the hot oil, if it bubbles it is ready. Place the rolled taquitos into the oil, fry for 4-6 minutes until golden brown. Repeat in batches if needed, watch the heat so the oil doesn’t burn.

5. Serve fried taquitos immediately topped topped with shredded lettuce, cilantro, jalapenos, and fresh guacamole.

If you like these Crispy Honey and Pepper Jack Chicken Taquitos, try these other easy recipes…

Crispy Nashville Hot Chicken Taquitos

Sesame Ginger Orange Chicken Salad

Copycat Chipotle Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Recipe

The Best Lightened Up Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

How to Make Torchy’s Green Chile Queso Dip Recipe

The Best Ground Beef Taquitos in the Air Fryer

Tools I used for this chicken recipe:

• Le Creuset 5 1/2-Qt. Dutch Oven – my favorite Dutch oven for frying as the sides are high so I can get a shallow level of oil and control any splatters, enamel cast iron is also a great conductor of even heat so the oil does not burn.
• Tongs – A must kitchen utensil, I love the locking technology for storing these in drawers. The different lengths are perfect depending on the recipe, I like a pair of long tongs while frying.
• USA Pan Half Sheet Pan – my go-to sheet pans, these are truly non-stick and clean up nicely. I like to use these to set my taquitos on before and after frying.

More Family Favorite Chicken Recipes:

• Copycat Panda Express Air Fryer Orange Chicken – hand breaded chicken air fried until crispy with a homemade orange sauce!
• Spicy Chopped Thai Chicken Salad (Panera Inspired) – a light and refreshing salad loaded with all the toppings.
• Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Recipe – crispy chicken in the air fryer with a homemade teriyaki sauce.

These lightly fried taquitos are the perfect finger food for game day! Serve along side these other delicious appetizer ideas for a tasty snack spread – Baked Buffalo Chicken Wontons, Crispy Oven Baked Shrimp & Cream Cheese Rangoons, Creamy Cottage Cheese Queso Dip, Easy Loaded Doritos Nachos with Beef. The Best Ground Beef Taquitos in the Air Fryer, or Air Fryer Frozen Cheese Curds!

Recipe FAQs:

How do you fry taquitos without them falling apart?

Use a toothpick to secure the taquitos are the seam before placing them in the oil. Toothpicks can be fried and removed before serving.

Are taquitos supposed to be crunchy or soft?

Traditionally, taquitos are deep fried to give them their delicious crunchy outside.

What are good topping ideas for the chicken taquitos?

Shredded romaine or iceberg lettuce, fresh or pickled jalapenos, Pico de Gallo, fresh guacamole, cilantro, green onions, crumbled cotija cheese, queso, or salsa are all great topping ideas.

How do you store leftover chicken taquitos?

Leftover taquitos can be cooled completely and store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the fridge for 3-4 days. These are best reheated in the oven or air fryer.