Baked Chicken Taquitos

Here is another winning recipe from the Our Best Bites cookbook! This is an awesome recipe to use up leftover chicken (or to make shredded chicken for). You can make the mixture up ahead of time during the day when you have time, and then roll them up just before baking. I haven't tried it, but I think you make these up to the point of baking and freeze them. Taquitos are traditionally deep fried, but these babies are baked in the oven, making them much healthier. My kids love them because they are easy to eat.

Baked Chicken Taquitos
recipe from Our Best Bites
Ingredients:
1/3 cup (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 cup green salsa
1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic, or garlic powder
3 Tablespoon chopped cilantro
2 Tablespoon sliced green onions
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup grated pepper jack or cheddar (or colby jack) cheese
small corn or flour tortillas
kosher salt
cooking spray
Directions:
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it’s soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well. You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge.

Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or are coming unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing. The flour tortillas are much easier to work with and don't crack as much as the corn tortillas.
Place 2-3 Tablespoons of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges. Roll the tortilla, tucking it tight as you go.Keep rolling...And there you go. If you have mixture coming out the ends try to use less next time.
Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top. Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.
Let the them cool for about 5 minutes before serving. The inside mixture will be piping hot so be careful when you take that first bite!
See the cheesy, creamy filling?

Delicious. Serve with salsa or sour cream, or try this creamy lime-cilantro dressing.

Enjoy!