Description
These baked chicken flautas are a delicious and crispy Mexican-inspired appetizer made with shredded chicken, creamy cheeses, and warm spices all wrapped in soft flour tortillas and baked to golden perfection. They offer a lighter twist on traditional fried flautas by using the oven for a healthier, yet equally satisfying result.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, grated
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon chili powder or taco seasoning
- â…“ cup salsa of choice
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Assembly
- 8 flour tortillas (soft taco size)
- Neutral cooking oil, as needed for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly brush it with neutral cooking oil to prevent sticking and help crisp the flautas as they bake.
- Make Filling: In a medium bowl, mix together the shredded cooked chicken, grated Monterey Jack cheese, softened cream cheese, chili powder or taco seasoning, and salsa. Season the mixture with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, ensuring the filling is well-flavored and creamy.
- Fill Tortillas: Spoon an even amount of the chicken filling down the center of each flour tortilla. Roll each tortilla up tightly around the filling and place them seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet to keep them from unrolling during baking.
- Bake: Lightly brush the tops and sides of the rolled flautas with neutral cooking oil for a golden and crispy crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the flautas are golden brown and crispy on the outside.
- Serve: Serve the baked chicken flautas hot with your favorite dipping sauces such as salsa, guacamole, or sour cream for a tasty and satisfying appetizer or snack.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can broil the flautas for the last 1-2 minutes of baking but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- If you prefer a spicier flavor, add diced jalapeños or a few dashes of hot sauce to the filling.
- Use corn tortillas instead of flour to make the recipe gluten-free, but be careful when rolling as they are more fragile.
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature to mix easily into the filling.
- Leftover flautas can be reheated in a toaster oven or oven to retain crispiness rather than the microwave.
