Easy Chicken Flautas

Quick Summary
Flautas are crispy, rolled-up tortillas filled with chicken and cheese, and they’re so easy to make at home! You can bake, fry, or pop them in the air fryer for perfect, crispy flautas every time.

What is a Flauta?

If you haven’t tried a flauta before, you’re in for a treat! The word “flautas” means “flutes” in Spanish, and they do resemble a flute—long, thin, and flute-shaped. Typically, flautas are made by filling tortillas with meat and cheese, then frying them to perfection. They’re perfect as an appetizer or a main dish and are fantastic when dipped in guacamole, sour cream, and salsa.

You might wonder: what’s the difference between flautas and taquitos? Well, flautas are made with flour tortillas, while taquitos are made with corn tortillas. But honestly, you could easily make these with corn tortillas if you prefer! Either way, they’re delicious.

I’m sure you’ll love these Easy Chicken Flautas. My boys absolutely love homemade flautas, and we make them all the time!

Flauta Fillings

Each flauta has just a small amount of filling, so I make sure to pack it with lots of flavor. For these chicken flautas, I use:

• Onion
• Jalapeño
• Shredded cooked chicken (I like to use rotisserie chicken to keep it quick and easy)
• Green chiles
• Fresh lime juice
• Shredded cheese (Mexican blend, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, or Pepper Jack all work well)
• Seasonings (ground cumin, chili powder, salt, garlic powder, and paprika)

And if you want to switch it up, feel free to use shredded beef or pork instead of chicken!

How to Make Flautas

Making Easy Chicken Flautas is simple and fun. Here’s how I do it:

1. Cook the onion and jalapeño: Heat a little olive oil in a pan and sauté the onion and jalapeño until they’re softened.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked onion, jalapeño, chicken, seasonings, green chiles, and lime juice. Stir in the shredded cheese.
3. Prepare the tortillas: I recommend using fresh tortillas so they don’t tear. I also heat them up in the microwave for about 30 seconds to make them pliable.
4. Assemble the flautas: Place a tortilla on a flat surface, add about 3 tablespoons of filling to the bottom third of each tortilla, then tightly roll them up. Place them seam-side down on a wire rack. Repeat until all the filling is used up.

Bake, Fry, or Air Fry!

If you’ve had flautas in a restaurant before, they were probably deep-fried, which is delicious but not the only way to make them! You can also bake or air fry them for a healthier option that still results in crispy, golden flautas.

• Baked flautas: Place the rolled-up flautas on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, and spray them generously with oil. Bake in a hot oven until they’re nice and crispy. If you like them extra crispy, broil them for a minute or two—but watch them closely!
• Fried flautas: Heat canola or vegetable oil in a large skillet, and use tongs to carefully place the flautas one by one in the hot oil. Once they’re golden brown, set them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• Air fryer flautas: Spray each flauta with oil and arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at about 375°F (190°C) for 7 minutes, rotating halfway through. You’ll likely need to make these in batches.

Flauta Toppings

Toppings make flautas even more fun! I love putting out a bunch of options so everyone can customize their plate. Here are some of my favorites:

• Pico de Gallo or salsa
• The best guacamole
• Sour cream
• Chopped green onion
• Shredded lettuce
• Queso fresco
• Cilantro
• A dash of hot sauce

What to Serve with Flautas

Flautas are perfect as an appetizer, but they can also make a hearty main dish. If we’re serving them as a main, I like to round out the meal with a few side dishes. Here are some ideas for sides:

• Mexican rice
• Refried beans
• Chips and salsa

These sides complement the flautas beautifully and turn them into a full, satisfying meal.

How to Store

If you have any leftovers (though I usually don’t!), store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them in the microwave, heat them on the stovetop in a pan for a few minutes, or even use the air fryer again for extra crispiness. You can also heat them up in the oven.

For longer storage, you can freeze them! Just let the flautas cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat them, you can reheat directly from frozen in the oven, air fryer, or microwave.

I hope this recipe helps you make some delicious Easy Chicken Flautas at home. They’re crispy, cheesy, and packed with flavor—what’s not to love? Enjoy!