Air Fryer Jalapeño Taquitos

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 12

Cook Time: 8

Pepper Steam Time: 25

Total Time: 45

Servings: taquitos

Calories: 209kcal

Author: Emily

Air Fryer Jalapeño Popper Taquitos are a cheesy, bacony, roasted jalapeño peppery delight!

Prepare a baking sheet with foil, turn on the oven broiler to high and place the upper rack in the oven to the highest point. Rinse the jalapeños and cut off the stems (otherwise they might catch on fire under the broiler 🔥).
Place the jalapeños on the baking sheet and place under the broiler for 5 minutes. Flip the jalapeños over and continue to broil for another 5 minutes. Flip one more time to the side that needs the most char and broil for 5 more minutes. Remove the jalapeños from the pan and place them in a sealable plastic bag for 10 minutes to steam. After 10 minutes, remove the peppers from the bag. Be careful, they are hot! Place the jalapeños on a cutting board and remove the skin from each one. Don't worry about being perfect, just get as much off as you can. Cut off the top of the jalapeños, remove the seeds and cut each one in half.
Place all three of the cheeses and the chopped green onions into a medium mixing bowl and stir together until everything is combined. Set the bowl aside. Wrap the tortillas in a wet paper towel and microwave for 30-60 seconds to warm them up. This will make it easier to roll them. Leave them wrapped in the paper towel until you are ready to use them.

Take one of the jalapeño halves and place it on top of a warm tortilla. Sprinkle some of the bacon pieces on top of the jalapeño. Add a dollop of the cheese mixture on top of the bacon. Roll the tortilla in a tight roll and place a toothpick on either end (this will help the taquito stay rolled while frying). Repeat this process with all of the tortillas.
Spray the basket of your air fryer with non-stick spray. Place the rolled taquitos in the basket making sure there is a little room between each one and spray again with non-stick spray. Cook at 400°F for 4 minutes. Carefully remove the toothpicks with tongs, flip the taquitos, spray and cook for an additional 4 minutes. If you have a small air fryer like me, you will probably have to cook 2 batches.
Once the taquitos are done, remove them from the basket and take out the toothpicks. Allow them to cool slightly before serving. Garnish with salsa and sour cream if desired. Enjoy!

My secret to keeping taquitos rolled while cooking is toothpicks! One toothpick on either side of the rolls keeps the taquito nice and secure until it has been air fried. Just don't forget to remove the toothpicks after cooking.
Non-stick spray is your friend! You always want to spray the basket and food before air frying (unless otherwise noted) so that nothing sticks to the basket and the outside of your food gets nice and crispy.
Tongs help make it safe and easy for pulling out hot food from an air fryer. Always be careful and use a utensil because it’s hot in there!
Preheating the air fryer can make a difference. Preheating will help with even cooking and less wait time in the beginning. If you don’t preheat, the first batch will cook differently than the next, etc.
Always read the instruction manual that came with your Air Fryer and follow all safety guidelines.