This Mexican-style chicken flautas recipe makes a great appetizer or main dish, with a shredded chicken, onion and tomato filling wrapped in a tortilla and fried to perfection. Top it with shredded lettuce and fresh pico de gallo.
» Try these other Mexican-style favorites at home: Verde Wet Burritos, crunchy Chilaquiles, and a side of guacamole.
Tacos will always be my first love when it comes to Mexican food, and most Mexicans would probably say the same thing. It’s a main staple of Mexican cuisine. But when you turn those tacos into crispy flautas, I am equally happy.
They are easy to eat, crunchy, and so tasty. These chicken flautas are very versatile, just like fajitas. Make it with chicken, beef, pork, beans or even just cheese. Use corn or flour tortillas, It’s up to you.
What Are Flautas?
A flauta, which actually means ‘flute’ in Spanish, is a small, rolled-up corn tortilla that includes a filling usually made with beef, chicken or pork that is stewed in tomato and onion.
After rolling, the flauta is fried in oil to give it a nice crispy exterior and seal in all the delicious juices from the filling.
It is served as an appetizer, either covered with or on top of a bed of shredded lettuce, with pico de gallo and maybe some shredded cheese on top. It’s typically eaten with your hands (like you’re holding a flute!).
I have had flautas that were served as a main dish, however, and if that’s how you want to serve them, by all means!
This Mexican specialty, also called flautas de pollo, is one of the most popular Mexican snacks. They are really great snacks for parties because they’re so easy to eat while standing. You don’t even need a plate to eat them on.
You might be wondering what the difference is between taquitos and flautas. The differences are minor, and sometimes the terms are even used interchangeably.
Taquitos are generally made with corn tortillas, while flautas are usually made with flour tortillas.
Flautas are also often longer in size than taquitos. You will definitely still find corn tortillas being used for flautas, however.
We choose to use flour tortillas for our flautas. I think that’s a slightly more authentic choice, but it’s up to you.
Ingredients You’ll Need
I love that these crunchy flautas are made from a small amount of ingredients. Try your hand at them, they really are quite easy.
- Chicken breast – Shredded
- Tomatoes – We used canned tomatoes for ease.
- Onion – Chopped white or yellow onion.
- Garlic
- Flour tortillas – We choose to use flour tortillas for our flautas. I think that’s a slightly more authentic choice, but it’s up to you.
- Cooking oil
- Garnish – Shredded lettuce, Cotija or Monterey Jack cheese, and sour cream.
How to Make Flautas
Flautas are very easy to make. It takes no time at all to saute the onions and garlic, then simmer down the tomato sauce and add the shredded chicken.
You can really use any type of meat you want – or make them vegetarian. Shredded chicken, barbacoa, carnitas… they all work in this dish.
With corn tortillas, you’ll want to fry them quickly in oil to make them more pliable, before adding the filling and rolling them. But with flour tortillas, there’s no need to do this extra step.
Be sure not to use too much filling in the flauta and to spread it evenly. You want to get a tight roll, without filling sticking out the ends.
Then you just need to heat the oil on medium heat and put the rolled tortillas with the seam side down.
Watch them carefully to be sure they don’t burn. It’s also best not to allow them to touch in the pan. They need their space. Once they’re done, serve right away – they’re best when hot! I like to put fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, cojita cheese and sour cream on top.
By the way, if you don’t want to add the extra oil by frying these flautas, you can bake them in the oven for 15 minutes on 350, or even in the air fryer. They’ll still be crispy and delicious, either way.
Tips & Notes
- Be sure not to use too much filling in the flauta and to spread it evenly. You want to get a tight roll, without filling sticking out the ends.
- Watch them carefully to be sure they don’t burn. It’s also best not to allow them to touch in the pan. They need their space.
- Once they’re done, serve right away – they’re best when hot!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between flautas and taquitos?
The differences are minor, and sometimes the terms are even used interchangeably. Taquitos are generally made with corn tortillas, while flautas are usually made with flour tortillas. Flautas are also often longer in size than taquitos. You will definitely still find corn tortillas being used for flautas, however.
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Mexican-Style Chicken Flautas
Ingredients
- 1 cup shredded chicken breast
- 1/2 cup canned chopped tomatoes
- 1/4 cup chopped onion white or yellow
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 6 flour tortillas
- 1/2 cup cooking oil I use avocado oil
- Shredded lettuce for garnish
- Grated Cotija or Monterey Jack cheese for garnish
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Saute the onions on medium heat until translucent (around 5 minutes), then add the minced garlic and simmer for 2 more minutes.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and the shredded chicken. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to cook down slightly. Remove from heat.
- Add ⅙ of the filling to each flour tortilla. It’s best to add the filling closer to one side, so they can easily be rolled tightly. Be sure not to use too much filling in the flauta and to spread it evenly.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add each flauta, seam side down to the pan. Cook for 3-5 minutes, rolling them occasionally to obtain an even fry.
- Remove from pan to cool on a wire rack. Garnish with shredded lettuce, cheese and pico de gallo. Serve with salsa and/or sour cream.
Notes
- You can use flour or corn tortillas. I prefer small flour tortillas.
- You can use whatever protein you like – shredded chicken, beef or pork, or ground beef, or cheese.
Nutrition
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Laura is a home cook who loves making new recipes and finding new favorite things to eat, whether at home or abroad. She also runs a popular travel blog and spends a lot of her time traveling for food.
Wow! These are amazing. So authentic. Easy. And the best part, off the charts GOOD. My husband and I love Mexican food and eat it often, but homemade flautas seemed daunting. But, Laura, you made it easy and delicious! Thank you for sharing.
So glad you liked them!
These are great!! They got me out of a big recipe rut too!
These look really great. My family would love these, I’m sure. Saved the recipe. Thanks!
We are having a Mexican night tonight, and these flautas are on the menu! Thanks so much for sharing!