Chicken Flautas, traditionally known as Flautas De Pollo, is a Mexican dish that’s insanely delicious. Mexican food is on of my favorite, always delivering punchy flavors to keep your taste buds excited. This Chicken Flautas recipe is my take on a traditional Mexican dish as a way to share my love of Mexican food.
I’ve always wondered how can I have such an affinity for Mexican food without living there or being part of that rich culture. Every time I meet a Mexican person, I make sure to first tell them how I admire their rich food and culture.
So today’s recipe is by no means my own, it’s my version and appreciation to delicious Mexican food! These Sheet Pan Fajitas are another example of amazing Mexican deliciousness! Fajita Bowl with chicken is another must try! My ultimate Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe is ONE to try!
WHAT IS A FLAUTA?
A flauta describes a Mexican dish that is made using a tortilla that is tightly wrapped around a shredded meat and cheese filling. Once the tortilla and meat cheese filling has been assembled, the tortilla is then fried.
CHICKEN FLAUTAS / FLAUTAS DE POLLO
This is a great recipe to keep as a regular either for a delicious family dinner or to impress guests. It’s a good recipe to use if you want to try out a new recipe that’s just a little bit different from the more well-known Mexican dishes.
What’s really great about this recipe, and what makes it so handy, is it can be made ahead of time and then frozen until you need it. You can then easily cook them from frozen by simply whipping them in the oven. No de-frosting is necessary. You will have to prepare the toppings fresh before serving, however, as you can’t freeze that part.
Chicken flautas ‘do contain some spice (like many Mexican dishes), but you can choose how much spice you want to add depending on personal preference. You can test out how much works for you.
If you would like to make this flautas recipe completely vegetarian , you can very easily substitute the chicken for beans and make vegetarian flautas’.
MAKE FLAUTAS RECIPE
This recipe is straightforward to prepare, but it results in a super delicious dish you will be making regularly whenever you feel like homemade Mexican.
The first step in this recipe is to shred the chicken. You can roast your own whole chicken or chicken breast in the oven first or, you can use a rotisserie chicken bought from the store. I recommend using rotisserie chicken. They always taste great, making this recipe a lot more simple and less time-consuming.
Mix together the shredded chicken, cheese, filling ingredients, and spices in a bowl. This makes up the chicken mixture.
Before loading the mixture into the middle of each tortilla, brush both sides of the tortillas with vegetable oil. This is important, as this recipe bakes the tortillas instead of frying them. Coating both sides means they still come out lovely and crispy.
Once you have loaded your chicken filling mix onto the wrap in a line along the middle, roll the tortilla tightly.
Line a baking/ oven dish with a baking sheet and lay your flautas out evenly on the baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, remove from heat and let cool slightly for a few minutes.
You can also cook this recipe using an air fryer if you have one. In fact, they turn out beautifully using the air fryer.
While your flauta de Pollo is baking, prepare your toppings ready for serving.
Serve with your chicken salsa, avocado, and cream cheese.
TIPS FOR PERFECT FLAUTAS
When you’re trying out a new recipe, it’s always a bonus if it comes out just perfectly. Here are some tips so your flautas’ come out just right.
- You can use Rotisserie Chicken instead of cooking the chicken breasts. Make sure you add the same spices however, and proceed to adding the cheese.
- Make sure to fully coat the tortillas with enough oil and coat it all over. This ensures that it will crips up nicely, in the same way as deep-frying it would (though this method reduces the amount of oil needed).
- When you are placing your flautas’ in the oven, place them with the seam side (or tortilla edge) down. This stops the wraps from unraveling while cooking. Alternatively, you could use toothpicks to secure them whilst cooking.
- Warm the tortillas in the microwave very slightly before brushing them with oil. Doing this makes them easier to work with, and it will be easier to roll tortilla.
- Don’t overfill your tortillas with the filling; you will find it hard to roll them, and they are more likely to unravel in the cooking process.
Chicken Flautas FAQ’S
Whats the difference between Flautas and Taquitos?
There isn’t a huge difference, really. Flautas use flour torillas while Taqitos use corn tortillas. However, many restaurants use them interchangeably. However, I recommend using flour tortillas for this recipe.
How do you pronounce flautas?
It’s not as difficult to pronounce as you might initially think. It’s pronounced: Fl -ow-tahs.
How to roll Flautas?
Once you have placed your filling in the middle of the tortilla (not too full), fold the sides in. This makes sure your filling won’t leak out. Once the sides have been folded in, roll the tortilla. Immediately place the tortilla seam side down on the baking tray, so it doesn’t unravel.
Fried vs. baked flautas, which to do?
Traditionally, flautas’ would be deep-fried. They taste absolutely delicious. My recipe, also delicious bakes the flautas’. This recipe still uses oil to get them to crisp up nicely, though just not nearly as much as deep-frying. The air fryer will also give them this great crisp without using as much oil as the deep fryer. Baking or using the air fryer is definitely the healthier option and less messy than deep-frying, in my opinion.
Can I freeze Flautas?
Yes! Chicken Flautas are great to prepare and freeze raw, or even bake and freeze them after they’ve cooled down from baking. If you’re freezing them raw, go ahead and bake them straight from frozen adding 3-4 minutes more on your baking time.
If you’re freezing them cooked, then simply heat them back in the oven once they’ve defrosted for 2 minutes.
This really is a great Mexican recipe to try out. Hopefully, I’ve done due justice to Mexican food and you’ll all love this recipe as much as I do.
Also check this amazing Easy Guacamole Recipe to serve with this Flautas! YUM!
MEXICAN RECIPES
30 Mins Mexican Tilapia Fish Dinner
Mexican Style Lentil Detox Salad (Vegan)
Chicken Fajita with Mango Salsa
Juicy Burger with Fajita Toppings
Chicken Flautas
Chicken Flautas known as Flautas De Pollo, is a Mexican dish that's insanely delicious. This Chicken Flautas recipe and video is my take on a traditional Mexican dish as a way to share my love of Mexican food.
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Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 pound chicken breast or 1 1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken see notes below
- 1/4 Teaspoon salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1 Teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves fresh garlic
- 3 tablespoons cilantro minced
Assemble the Flautas
- 12 flour tortillas small size anywhere 5-7 inches
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- 3 tablespoons olive oil for brushing the tortillas
Flautas Toppings
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup salsa Homemade salsa is best
- 2 avocados chopped or guacamole
- 2 Tablespoons red onion minced
- 1/4 cup cilantro minced
Instructions
-
Cut your chicken breast into half an inch thick slices that are about 2 inches long.
-
season the chicken breasts with all the dry spice and toss well.
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Preheat the olive oil in a skillet and add in the chicken and garlic together, toss and cook until the chicken is well done. This should take about 5-7 minutes. Add in the cilantro and mix well.
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In a separate bowl, add the cooked chicken and mix in the cheese.
-
take your flour tortillas and brush each side with oil.
-
Place a filling in the center of each tortilla and roll the tortilla into a cylinder shape or cigar shape.
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Place the rolled tortillas on an oiled baking sheet.
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
-
Continue with the remaining filling and tortillas.
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Bake the flautas for 18-20 minutes flipping them halfway.
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serve the chicken flautas on a plate with the different toppings and enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
TIPS FOR PERFECT FLAUTAS
When you're trying out a new recipe, it's always a bonus if it comes out just perfectly. Here are some tips so your flautas' come out just right.
- You can use Rotisserie Chicken instead of cooking the chicken breasts. Make sure you add the same spices however, and proceed to adding the cheese.
- Make sure to fully coat the tortillas with enough oil and coat it all over. This ensures that it will crips up nicely, in the same way as deep-frying it would (though this method reduces the amount of oil needed).
- When you are placing your flautas' in the oven, place them with the seam side (or tortilla edge) down. This stops the wraps from unraveling while cooking. Alternatively, you could use toothpicks to secure them whilst cooking.
- Warm the tortillas in the microwave very slightly before brushing them with oil. Doing this makes them easier to work with, and it will be easier to roll tortilla.
- Don't overfill your tortillas with the filling; you will find it hard to roll them, and they are more likely to unravel in the cooking process
Whats the difference between Flautas and Taquitos?
There isn't a huge difference, really. Flautas use flour torillas while Taqitos use corn tortillas. However, many restaurants use them interchangeably. However, I recommend using flour tortillas for this recipe.
How do you pronounce flautas?
It's not as difficult to pronounce as you might initially think. It's pronounced: Fl -ow-tahs.
How to roll Flautas?
Once you have placed your filling in the middle of the tortilla (not too full), fold the sides in. This makes sure your filling won't leak out. Once the sides have been folded in, roll the tortilla. Immediately place the tortilla seam side down on the baking tray, so it doesn't unravel.
Fried vs. baked flautas, which to do?
Traditionally, flautas' would be deep-fried. They taste absolutely delicious. My recipe, also delicious bakes the flautas'. This recipe still uses oil to get them to crisp up nicely, though just not nearly as much as deep-frying. The air fryer will also give them this great crisp without using as much oil as the deep fryer. Baking or using the air fryer is definitely the healthier option and less messy than deep-frying, in my opinion.
Can I freeze Flautas?
Yes! Chicken Flautas are great to prepare and freeze raw, or even bake and freeze them after they've cooled down from baking. If you're freezing them raw, go ahead and bake them straight from frozen adding 3-4 minutes more on your baking time.
If you're freezing them cooked, then simply heat them back in the oven once they've defrosted for 2 minutes.Â
Sandhya
These Flautas look so delicious and comforting. My family would finish them in no time.
Jac
Kids loved these so much! Thanks 🙂
Jenn Allen
These are so light and crispy and delicious and I love that they are healthier than deep fried options! A new fav in our house!
Sara Welch
I needed a good dinner recipe for tonight so I am thrilled to have found your post! Looks delish; worthy of a restaurant, indeed!
Julie
This is such an easy recipe. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
Cate
These look so flavorful and easy to make! Can’t wait to make these thanks for the recipe.
Cyndy
Perfect for Cinco de Mayo! Can’t wait to make these for the family tomorrow.
Beth
These are perfect for Cinco de mayo! My teens are going to love this recipe! Beyond excited to make these!
Kevin
I was looking for one more recipe to add to my Cinco de Mayo menu and these are it! They look so good and I cannot wait to dig in!