Get ready to elevate your snack game with these irresistible Buffalo Chicken Taquitos! Perfect for the big game, a lively Friday night gathering, or simply a delicious weeknight meal, any buffalo chicken enthusiast will fall head over heels for these crispy, flavorful bites.
If you’re as passionate about buffalo chicken as we are, you absolutely must explore our other delicious creations. Complement your taquitos with a slice of our savory Buffalo Chicken Pizza, spice things up with our dynamic Buffalo Chicken Tacos, or indulge in the comforting flavors of our classic Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches. Each recipe promises that signature spicy, tangy kick you crave.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
There’s something inherently festive about buffalo chicken. The moment that vibrant orange sauce and the irresistible aroma hit, it instantly screams “game day,” “party time,” or simply “comfort food craving.” And for good reason! I confess, I’m a complete addict when it comes to buffalo flavor – that perfect balance of spicy heat from the sauce, combined with the cooling, tangy richness of blue cheese, is simply unbeatable. Offer me anything buffalo chicken, and I’m guaranteed to be a devoted fan.
These Buffalo Chicken Taquitos are absolutely no exception to my unwavering love. They encapsulate everything wonderful about buffalo chicken in a conveniently crispy, rollable package. While they are undeniably the ultimate snack for cheering on your favorite team, they’re equally fantastic as an effortless, flavor-packed dinner on a casual Friday night. Forget complicated recipes or lengthy prep times; these taquitos are super easy, incredibly fast to assemble, and consistently deliver delicious results. You truly can’t go wrong with such a winning combination of speed, simplicity, and incredible taste!
And if these delightful baked buffalo chicken taquitos capture your heart, don’t miss out on trying our equally amazing Chicken Flautas or the savory indulgence of these Baked Chicken Bacon Ranch Taquitos!
Key Ingredients for Flavorful Taquitos
Crafting the perfect Buffalo Chicken Taquito starts with selecting the right ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is crucial:
- Cream Cheese: This is the secret to a wonderfully creamy filling. I’ve primarily tested this recipe with full-fat cream cheese, which provides the richest texture and flavor. However, a low-fat variety should also work well if you’re looking for a lighter option. The most important tip here is to ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature before you begin; this makes it significantly easier to cream and incorporate smoothly with the other ingredients, preventing any lumps in your filling.
- Buffalo Sauce: The heart and soul of this dish! I personally love and use Frank’s Wing Sauce for its authentic flavor profile and balanced heat. However, feel free to use any buffalo sauce that you know and love. Adjust the amount to your personal preference for spiciness – some prefer a mild kick, while others crave fiery heat.
- Ranch Dressing: While my original recipe didn’t include ranch (and used slightly less buffalo sauce), I’ve since discovered its incredible benefits. Ranch dressing not only introduces an extra layer of luscious creaminess to the filling, but its distinctive blend of herbs and spices also adds a complex, savory depth that beautifully complements the tang and heat of the buffalo sauce. It truly elevates the overall flavor, making these taquitos even more irresistible. You can use your favorite store-bought ranch or try a homemade version like our Ranch Dressing and Dip Bar.
- Monterey Jack Cheese: This cheese is chosen for a specific reason – it melts beautifully, creating a wonderfully cheesy texture without overpowering the robust buffalo flavors. Its mild, slightly sweet, and buttery notes make it an ideal choice for blending seamlessly into the filling. Shredded Monterey Jack provides that perfect gooeyness essential for a satisfying taquito.
- Blue Cheese: Ah, the quintessential partner to buffalo chicken! The sharp, pungent, and creamy notes of blue cheese are truly meant for the spicy, tangy profile of buffalo sauce. This classic combination creates a harmonious flavor explosion that many adore. If, however, blue cheese isn’t to your liking, don’t worry! You can certainly omit it entirely, or substitute it with a bit more Monterey Jack or even a sharp cheddar for a different cheesy twist. But for the traditional buffalo experience, blue cheese is a must.
- Chicken: For ultimate convenience and time-saving, I highly recommend using pre-cooked, shredded chicken. This could be chicken you’ve cooked and shredded yourself in advance, or for an even quicker solution, simply pick up a rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store. It’s an absolute game-changer for speeding up prep time, allowing you to get these delicious taquitos on the table faster.
- Tortillas: My go-to choice is flour tortillas, typically 8-inch, because they are incredibly easy to work with and my family consistently prefers their soft yet crispy texture when baked. If you lean towards corn tortillas for a more traditional taquito, they are an excellent option! Just be sure to warm them up first – a quick microwave or pan-fry will make them much more pliable and prevent them from cracking when rolled. Keep in mind that corn tortillas are generally smaller than flour tortillas, so using them will likely yield more than 8 taquitos.
How to Assemble and Bake Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
Making these crispy, flavorful taquitos is surprisingly simple! Follow these easy steps for a delicious outcome:
- Prepare Your Workspace and Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to a steady 400°F (200°C). As it heats, line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. This makes for super easy cleanup! Then, lightly spray the foil with a nonstick cooking spray to prevent any sticking.
- Cream the Cream Cheese: I find it best to start by gently creaming the room-temperature cream cheese in a medium-sized mixing bowl. This step ensures it’s soft, smooth, and much easier to incorporate evenly with the other ingredients, preventing any stubborn lumps in your filling. While you can use a hand mixer for extra speed, a sturdy rubber spatula or a fork will work perfectly, as long as the cream cheese is adequately softened.
- Combine the Wet Ingredients: To the softened cream cheese, add your buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. Mix thoroughly until all three ingredients are beautifully combined and you have a smooth, consistent base for your filling.
- Fold in the Cheeses and Chicken: Now, add the shredded Monterey Jack cheese, the crumbled blue cheese (if using), and your pre-cooked, shredded chicken to the buffalo-ranch mixture.
- Mix the Filling: Stir everything together gently but thoroughly until all the ingredients are well-distributed and coated in the creamy, spicy sauce. You want every bite to have that perfect blend of flavors.
- Fill and Roll the Tortillas: Take your tortillas and, if needed, warm them briefly in the microwave (see ‘Tips and Tricks’ below) to make them more pliable. Divide the buffalo chicken mixture into 8 equal portions. Spoon one portion down the center of each 8-inch flour tortilla. Carefully roll each tortilla up tightly, ensuring the filling is snug inside.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the rolled taquitos onto your prepared baking sheet, making sure the seam side is facing down. This crucial step helps prevent them from unrolling during baking. Once all taquitos are on the sheet, lightly spray their tops with a bit more nonstick cooking spray to encourage golden-brown crispiness.
- Bake to Crispy Perfection: Bake the taquitos in your preheated oven for 15 minutes. After this initial bake, use a pair of tongs to carefully turn each taquito over. Return them to the oven and continue baking for another 5-7 minutes, or until they achieve a beautiful golden-brown color and are wonderfully crispy. For extra crispiness, you can even switch your oven to broil for the last minute or two (watch them carefully to prevent burning!).
Pro Tips for Perfect Taquitos Every Time
Achieving perfectly crispy and delicious taquitos is easier than you think with these expert tips:
- Warming Tortillas for Easy Rolling: If you find your tortillas are stiff, prone to tearing, or keep unrolling, they likely need a bit of warmth. A simple solution is to microwave them for about 15-30 seconds (or a stack of 2-3 at a time) until they are soft and pliable. This flexibility will make rolling them much easier and prevent cracks, ensuring your filling stays put.
- Dealing with Escaping Filling: It’s quite common for a little bit of the delicious filling to gently squish out of the ends of the taquitos as they bake and the cheese melts. Don’t worry, this is completely normal! Once you take them out of the oven, simply use the back of a spoon to gently press any escaped filling back into the ends of the taquitos. It tidies them up and ensures you don’t lose any of that yummy goodness.
- Adjusting Taquito Size: If you’re aiming for smaller, more bite-sized appetizers, simply opt for 6-inch flour tortillas instead of the larger 8-inch ones. This adjustment makes them ideal for party platters and easy snacking.
- Crispiness Boost: For an extra layer of crunch, consider using an air fryer! Place taquitos in a single layer in your air fryer basket, spray with a little oil, and air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 8-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp.
- Freezing for Future Feasts: These taquitos are fantastic for meal prepping! Assemble them as directed, but instead of baking, place them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for about an hour until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to bake, you can cook them straight from frozen; just add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time until heated through and crispy.
- Spice Level Customization: Want more heat? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of your favorite hot sauce directly into the chicken mixture. For a milder version, reduce the amount of buffalo sauce or use a milder brand.
Serving Suggestions & Perfect Pairings
These Buffalo Chicken Taquitos are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways. Here’s how to serve them for maximum enjoyment:
- Serve Warm: Taquitos are always best enjoyed warm, straight out of the oven. I recommend letting them cool for about 5 minutes before diving in, as this allows the filling to set slightly and prevents burning your mouth.
- Appetizer vs. Main Course: While perfect as a hearty appetizer, these taquitos can easily be the star of a casual meal. For a more bite-sized appetizer presentation, you can cut each baked taquito into two or three smaller pieces. This makes them ideal for dipping and sharing at parties.
- Dipping Sauces are a Must: The classic pairing for buffalo chicken is, of course, blue cheese dressing, and it’s our absolute favorite for dipping these taquitos. The cool, tangy creaminess perfectly contrasts the spicy, savory filling. If blue cheese isn’t your preference, ranch dressing is another fantastic option, offering a milder, herb-infused counterpoint. For those who crave even more kick, try mixing a bit of extra buffalo sauce into your ranch dressing – it creates an incredibly zesty and flavorful dip!
- Garnish for Freshness: A sprinkle of freshly sliced green onions or chopped cilantro adds a pop of color and a fresh, aromatic finish that brightens the rich flavors of the taquitos.
- Pair with Sides: When serving as a main dish, consider pairing them with a crisp green salad to cut through the richness, or a side of seasoned rice or black beans for a more substantial meal.
More Winning Game Day Recipes
Planning the ultimate game day spread? These taquitos are just the beginning! Explore more crowd-pleasing recipes that are guaranteed to be a hit:
Crockpot BBQ Grape Jelly Meatballs
Chili Dog Nachos
Homemade Pizza Rolls
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls
Jalapeno Stuffed Taco Soft Pretzel Sticks
The BEST Homemade Pizza Dough
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Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
Pin Recipe
Crispy baked Buffalo Chicken Taquitos, filled with a creamy, spicy chicken and cheese mixture. Perfect for game day, parties, or a fun weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup buffalo sauce
- 2 tablespoons prepared ranch dressing
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese (optional, but highly recommended)
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (approximately 10 oz)
- 8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and spray generously with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, buffalo sauce, and ranch dressing. Mix well until smooth.
- Add in the shredded Monterey Jack cheese, crumbled blue cheese (if using), and cooked, shredded chicken. Stir until all ingredients are evenly combined.
- Place 2-3 tablespoons of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll each tortilla tightly to form a taquito. If tortillas are stiff, microwave them for 15-30 seconds to soften them before rolling.
- Place the rolled taquitos on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring the seam side is down to prevent unrolling. Lightly spray the tops of the taquitos with cooking spray.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Using tongs, carefully turn the taquitos over and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. For extra crispness, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Serve warm with blue cheese dressing, ranch dressing, or a spicy ranch dip for dipping.
Recipe Notes:
This recipe has been slightly adapted from its original publication. The updated version includes ranch dressing and a slightly adjusted buffalo sauce amount for enhanced creaminess and flavor balance.
Nutrition information is provided as an estimate only. Actual values may vary based on specific brands and products used. Please use nutritional information as a general guide.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 276 kcal (14%),
Carbohydrates: 24g (8%),
Protein: 15g (30%),
Fat: 14g (22%),
Saturated Fat: 7g (44%),
Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g,
Trans Fat: 0g,
Cholesterol: 47mg (16%),
Sodium: 700mg (30%),
Fiber: 1g (4%),
Sugar: 1g (1%)