These chicken flautas are a hit with everyone who tries them. The crispy flour tortillas rolled around the tastiest creamy cheesy chicken filling will make everyone want more.
The flour tortilla wrap is nice and crunchy. It’s balanced perfectly with the creamy, cheesy, taco flavor filling.
With some taco toppings on top, you have a quick and tasty meal or an appetizer for a lot of people. Regardless of who’s eating them there’s not going to be any left behind – they’re always a hit at our house!.
These chicken flautas are made with crispy flour tortillas rolled around the tastiest chicken filling made with cream cheese and chives. Everyone loves them!
*This chili powder is a spice blend sold in the USA and Canada that is relatively mild. It’s not the same as chili powder sold in the UK or the rest of the world (where it’s very spicy because it’s just pure ground chili).
**It’s important to use freshly grated cheese because pre-grated cheeses are coated in an anti-caking agent that stops them from melting well.
Chicken flautas are a crispy, flavorful treat that have become a staple in Mexican restaurants across the globe But what exactly is a chicken flauta? And what makes it different from its close cousins like taquitos and chimichangas? In this article, I’ll take a deep dive into everything you need to know about chicken flautas
What is a Chicken Flauta?
A chicken flauta is a rolled and fried tortilla that has chicken that has been spiced and other tasty things inside it. Its name comes from the Spanish word for “flute” or “recorder,” which is a good way to describe the long, cylindrical shape of the dish. Spread chicken that has been seasoned on a tortilla, roll it up into a tight cylinder, and then fry it until the outside is golden brown and crispy.
The end result is a satisfying fusion of textures and flavors: a crunchy exterior giving way to a savory, succulent interior. Flautas make for great appetizers, snacks, or even a main course when served with typical Mexican sides like rice and beans. They’re similar to their close relative, the taquito, but are generally a bit larger in diameter.
Key Ingredients in Chicken Flautas
While variations abound, a classic chicken flauta contains just a few core ingredients
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Tortillas – Usually corn tortillas are preferred, but flour tortillas can also be used, especially in the Americanized versions. The tortilla acts as the wrap that holds everything together.
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Shredded chicken: Thighs or breasts of cooked chicken that have been cut up and seasoned. Chicken provides the base flavor and texture.
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Spices and seasonings – Onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, oregano, and salt are commonly used to add lots of Mexican flair.
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Cheese – Oftentimes cheese like Oaxaca, queso fresco, or cheddar is added into the chicken or as a topping for extra creaminess and savoriness.
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Adding salsa or chiles to the filling can add heat and flavor. Chopped green chiles or salsa are often used.
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Toppings – The finishing touches like guacamole, sour cream, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, etc.
How Are Chicken Flautas Made?
Making chicken flautas is a relatively simple process, perfect for whetting your appetite before digging into the finished product. Just follow these basic steps:
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Prep the fillings – Start by cooking and shredding chicken breasts or thighs. Then mix the shredded chicken in a bowl with desired seasonings, salsa or chiles, cheese, etc.
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Warm the tortillas. Make sure they are soft and bendable so they can be rolled up without breaking. The microwave works great for this.
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Roll ’em up – Place some of the filling onto the bottom third of the tortilla, then roll it up nice and tight. Secure with toothpicks if needed.
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Fry ’em – In medium hot oil (350°F), fry the flautas until golden brown, flipping occasionally. This gives them their signature crunch!
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Finish with toppings – Top with desired garnishes like guacamole, crema, shredded lettuce. Enjoy your handheld flute of flavor!
Flautas vs. Taquitos – What’s the Difference?
Taquitos and flautas are very similar in concept – both are filled, rolled, and fried tortillas. So what sets them apart? There are a few key differences:
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Tortillas – Flautas use larger, thinner tortillas (usually corn) and wrap more tightly for a long, thin cylinder. Taquitos are generally smaller in diameter and can use corn or flour tortillas.
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Size – Due to the thinner tortilla, flautas tend to be longer and slimmer than taquitos.
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Frying – Flautas are most often deep-fried, while taquitos can also be baked.
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Fillings – Although chicken is common for both, taquitos can have a greater variety of fillings like beef, pork, potatoes, etc.
Regional Variations of Chicken Flautas
One of the great things about flautas is how they take on local flavors and ingredients in different parts of Mexico and the American Southwest. Here are some of the tasty regional varieties:
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Northern Mexico – Flour tortillas and white cheese are common here. They also tend to be larger.
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Central Mexico – Corn tortillas and spicy salsa fillings give these flautas a kick. Oaxaca cheese is popular.
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Southern Mexico – Smaller, thinner flautas with tangy pickled onions and jalapeños mixed into the chicken.
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New Mexico – Green chiles and melted cheese are stuffed into the center for an explosion of Southwest flavor.
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California – Avocado, queso fresco, and crema add a California twist. Cilantro-lime rice on the side!
Serving Suggestions for Chicken Flautas
Chicken flautas lend themselves to endless creative presentations. Here are some of my favorite serving ideas:
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For appetizers, cut the flautas into bite-sized pieces and serve them with fun dipping sauces.
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Make it a meal by pairing flautas with Mexican rice, beans, salad, and chips and salsa. Great weeknight dinner!
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For parties, use larger tortillas and fillings to make “flauta bites” – bigger appetizer portions perfect for sharing.
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For a fun twist, wrap different fillings (think breakfast! – eggs, potato, bacon) in different colored tortillas like spinach or tomato.
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For kids, flautas go great with taco fixings or nachos. The mini size makes them fun finger food.
The possibilities are endless with these Mexican eats. Now that you’re a chicken flauta expert, get rolling in the kitchen and enjoy this crave-worthy fiesta! ¿Qué aproveche!
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Are Flautas The Same As Taquitos?
They’re very similar. The main difference is that flautas typically use slightly larger flour tortillas than the small corn tortillas that are used with taquitos.
These chicken flautas are made of:
Flour Tortillas: I like using 8-inch flour tortillas in this recipe. They’re flexible and easy to bend, which makes them so easy to roll. They also crisp up beautifully in both the oven and on the stove.
Cream Cheese: This isn’t a traditional ingredient for flautas, but I like using it because it holds the filling together so well. That makes it a lot easier for the flautas to stay rolled while you’re pan frying them. It’s also a delicious and creamy addition that tastes great with all the spices!.
Sour Cream: This adds to the creaminess without being too heavy or thick.
Green Onions: These add a bit of freshness, which is wonderful in breaking up the creamy flavors. You could also substitute this for fresh cilantro.
Spices: We make our own taco seasoning mix with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground black pepper, fine sea salt, ground cumin, and dried oregano.
You could swap this for a store bought taco blend, but I think the flavor is so much better with homemade blends. If you’d like it to be spicy, feel free to add some cayenne or red pepper flakes.
I like to cook a boneless, skinless chicken breast and shred it, but you could also use rotisserie chicken or chicken from a can.
Cheese: Freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese is my favorite cheese for this recipe. It has lots of flavor, which pairs really well with the seasonings. You could also use Monterey Jack cheese if you prefer.
It is best to use freshly grated cheese because pre-grated cheeses have an anti-caking agent on them that makes them not melt well.
How To Bake Flautas De Pollo
I think they turn out the best when they’re baked on a cooking rack, but they’ll turn out delicious without one, too.
Just be sure to leave plenty of space between each flauta so that the air has room to circulate. It also helps to spray them with oil and sprinkle some flaky salt on top.
Then just bake them as instructed until they’re golden brown and crispy, and the cheese inside is hot and melted.
Quick, Easy, and Absolutely Delicious CHICKEN FLAUTAS & SALSA – A Recipe You CAN’T Miss!
FAQ
What is the difference between taquito and flautas?
Flautas are made by rolling a filling inside a larger tortilla, while taquitos are made with smaller tortillas. Shape: Flautas are long and thin, while taquitos are shorter and rounder. Tortilla type: Flautas can be made with either flour or corn tortillas, while taquitos are typically made with corn tortillas.
Are flautas soft or crunchy?
Yeah, taquitos are usually folded, while flautas are rolled. Also flautas are usually deep fried and sometimes thinner, they’re supposed to be crunchy, while tacos (in Mexico at least) are not crunchy at all, the tortillas might have some oil but they’re usually not stiff.
What is in a chicken flautas?
In most cases, the filling is made from pulled chicken or beef, your favorite Mexican chili pepper, or just cheese. Iceberg lettuce shreds, tomato slices, avocado slices, onion slices, sour cream, queso fresco or cotija cheese, and your choice of salsa are what’s usually on top.
What is the difference between flautas and enchiladas?
Both flautas and enchiladas are Mexican dishes made with rolled tortillas, but they are mostly different in how they are made and the texture they have afterward. Flautas are typically deep-fried until crispy, while enchiladas are soft, having been simmered in a sauce. Flautas are often made with flour tortillas, though corn can also be used, and are filled with ingredients like shredded chicken or beef.