Step 1

Preheat an XL air fryer or similar sized air fryer to 400F (or preheat an oven to 375F and spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray); set aside.

Step 2

To a large bowl, add the cream cheese, chipotles in adobo sauce, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Alternatively, if preferred you can use a handheld electric mixture but if your cream cheese is well softened, this shouldn't be necessary.

Step 3

Add the shredded chicken and mix to combine.

Step 4

Add the shredded cheese and mix to combine; set aside.

Step 5

Place the tortillas on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a thin dishtowel, and heat on high power for 30 seconds. The tortillas should now be soft and pliable and less prone to ripping or tearing. If not, heat in additional 10-second bursts until they are soft.

Step 6

Keep the softened tortillas under the dishtowel, and grab one tortilla, one-at-at-time, adding about 2 tablespoons of filling mixture vertically down one side, and roll it tightly to form a taquito.

Step 7

Repeat with about 7 to 8 tortillas and then place the 7 or 8 taquitos in the basket of an XL air fryer, not touching, and not crowded. Reduce the load in order to not touch or not crowd them.

Step 8

Spray them lightly with olive oil cooking spray or another neutral oil such as grape seed and/or with an oil mister.

Step 9

Air fry for 5 minutes.***

Step 10

Remove the basket, flip over the taquitos with a tongs, spray them again lightly with olive oil cooking spray, return the basket to the air fryer, and air fry for an additional 2 to 5 minutes. Check after 2 minutes to see how they look. Since all air fryers are a bit different, make sure your taquitos have crisped up but aren't burning.

Step 11

Garnish with or add Mexican crema or sour cream (thin it if desired with a few drops of milk), salsa, pico de gallo, avocado or guacamole, or cilantro as desired.

Step 12

Air fryer chicken taquitos are best hot and fresh out of the air fryer. They become soggier as time passes. Reheating is possible by placing them in the air fryer again for 1-2 minutes to help encourage them to crisp up again although it's not quite the same. Technically they'll keep airtight for up to 5 days in the fridge or for up to 4 months in the freezer, although fresh is best.