These beef taquitos are easy to make with seasoned shredded beef, cheese and corn tortillas. They can be baked or fried for a delicious Mexican dinner any night!
I love Mexican recipes! Whether it’s shredded beef tacos, beef enchiladas or ground beef tacos, I love them all.
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Homemade Taquitos
It’s quite often I find myself craving Mexican food so it’s a good thing I keep adding new recipes to my arsenal! Baked chicken taquito, black bean taquitos and chicken flautas are family favorites around here, so I knew my kids would love this beef taquitos recipe.
Making the Instant Pot shredded beef for the filling couldn’t be easier when you know how to use Instant Pot. Pressure cooking the beef makes it so tender and flavorful. When combined with salsa verde and chili powder, it’s perfect for filling a delicious crunchy rolled-up shell for taquitos.
Why This Recipe Works
- Fry or bake: With versatile options for making these shredded beef taquitos, it’s your choice!
- Party favorite: Everyone loves crispy taquitos with beef and cheese, these will be your new go-to appetizer, game-day snack or dinner idea!
- Simple to make: Once the beef is cooked, just roll and cook them in your preferred method. Serve with pico de gallo and guacamole and watch them disappear.
- Make ahead and freezer friendly: Skip ever buying frozen taquitos at the store again! Make an extra batch and always have some on hand for easy lunches or snacks.
Recipe Ingredients
Cheesy, beefy taquitos are made with simple ingredients! Here is what you will need:
- Boneless beef chuck roast: You will need a 2 lb roast that is cut into 3 pieces.
- Water or beef broth: This is needed to bring your Instant Pot to pressure. Beef broth will add another layer of flavor.
- Salsa: I love to use my homemade salsa verde but you can store bought or whatever salsa is your preference.
- Chili powder: Will be used to season your beef.
- Corn tortillas: Traditionally taquitos are made with corn tortillas and I love how crisp it gets when fried.
- Shredded cheese: Any kind of cheese works, cheddar cheese, Monterey jack, or even Pepper jack cheese if you like it a little spicier.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use flour tortillas if you prefer. They are already much softer than corn tortillas, so there’s no need to microwave them.
- You can make these with ground beef taco meat or use leftover meat from my birria tacos recipe.
- To make a vegetarian version, swap the beef with black beans and/or refried beans!
- For additional layers of flavor, you can add onion or onion powder, garlic, cumin, and even hot sauce or green chilies, if preferred.
- Use whatever cheese you like. Shredded cheddar cheese or pepper jack cheese are always great options.
- Serve with pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, or cilantro.
How to Make Beef Taquitos
Once your shredded beef for taquitos is ready, these come together quickly!
- Cook beef: Season your beef roast and follow directions to cook it on HIGH in your Instant Pot. After it is done, remove it from the pot, shred it, remove one cup of liquid from the pot and the add your shredded beef back to the pot.
- Add beef and cheese to the tortilla: To the center of your tortilla, add a Tablespoon of cheese and then add about 2 Tablespoons of the beef on top. Do not overfill as it will cause the tortilla to break.
- Roll tortillas: Roll the tortillas and then thread a toothpick through the center to hold the tortilla together. If the tortillas start to break, warm them up briefly in the microwave again to keep them pliable.
- Fry the beef taquitos: Place 1″ of oil in a deep skillet or pot and heat to 350°F. Working with 3-5 taquitos at time place in the hot oil and cook until browned, flipping occasionally. If they start to brown too fast, turn down the heat. For baking instructions see FAQs.
- Soak up excess grease: As they finish cooking remove the beef taquitos to a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up any excess grease.
- Serve: Serve with all your favorite Mexican dinner favorites like salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and fresh cilantro.
Cooking Tips
- Searing the beef before pressure cooking is optional. It does give it a bit of a crispier outer edge, seals in moisture, and adds flavor. However, it’s not necessary for this recipe.
- Before shredding the beef, be sure to remove any noticeable fat. It just makes for a better taste experience when you’re not chewing on those bits.
- Use damp paper towels to wrap the tortillas in before warming them up in the microwave. This will help keep the corn tortillas pliable and soft so they can be rolled easily.
- Do not overfill them with the beef mixture or the taquitos will break.
- When frying the taquitos it’s nearly impossible to ensure the seam sides are down, so use a toothpick to close the seam.
How to Store Taquitos
To store: Place any leftover taquitos in an airtight container. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Once you’re ready to enjoy again, reheat in the oven at 250 degrees for 5-10 minutes. You could use the microwave, however they will not crisp up again.
To freeze: These are great freezer-friendly appetizers. Forget the frozen food section, make a big batch of your own and freeze them for later! Store in a Ziploc bag for up to 3 months. Keep them separated with parchment paper that way they won’t freeze in a clump and you can take out what you need. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
FAQs
If you’d rather cook the beef low and slow, then use the slow cooker in the morning and come back to it at the end of the day. Add all of the ingredients and 1/2 cup of liquid and cook on low for 8-10 hours until it shreds easily.
If you prefer a lighter version, make beef taquitos in the oven. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, seam side facing down, and spray with olive oil and a little sprinkling of sea salt. Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 5-10 minutes until the shells are nice and crispy.
Yes! Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and place the beef taquitos in a single layer with the same down. Spray with cooking spray, air fry for 5 minutes, flip, spray again and air fry for 2 minutes more. Repeat in batches.
If you’re not going to use all your beef for filling taquitos, use the rest for things like topping your sheet pan nachos, replace the pork pulled with beef in these pork sandwiches or BBQ pork quesadillas. Use it instead of ground beef in your chili recipe. Add it to your grilled cheese. Top your pizza, salads, and macaroni and cheese!
More Mexican favorites include green chili burritos, Instant Pot chicken taco bowls and steak fajitas.
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Beef Taquitos
Equipment
- Toothpicks
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless beef chuck roast , cut into 3 pieces
- 1 cup water , or beef broth
- 1 cup salsa verde
- 2 teaspoons chili powder , more if desired
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 24 corn tortillas
- 1.5 cups shredded cheese
For serving: pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, cilantro
Instructions
Cooking beef
- Place the chuck roast into an Instant Pot (I'm using a 6 quart). You can sear the sides on sauté mode if desired. Then pour water into the pot and sprinkle the salt and chili powder on top. Then drizzle over the salsa verde.
- Place the lid on top and seal the valve. Cook on high pressure for 60 minutes. Once the time is up, allow the steam to naturally release (about 10 minutes).
- Remove roast from the Instant Pot and discard any fat. Shred the meat with two forks and then place back in the pot. Turn to warm until ready to serve.
- Remove about a cup of liquid (save the broth if desired) and then place the beef back into the Instant Pot and stir together. Place lid on until ready to serve.
Assembly
- Place 1" of oil in a skillet and heat to 350°F. Wrap the tortillas in a damp paper towel and then microwave for 1 minute.
- Add a Tablespoon of cheese to the center of the tortilla if desired. Then add about 2 Tablespoons of the beef on top. Be careful not to overfill or the tortillas will break.
- Wrap the tortillas and then thread a toothpick through the center to hold the tortilla. If the tortillas are breaking, warm them in the microwave again to keep them pliable.
- Place taquitos in the hot oil, 3-5 taquitos at a time. Cook until browned, flipping occasionally. Turn down the heat if they are browning too fast.
- Remove taquitos and place on a plate lined with paper towels.
- Serve topped with your favorite toppings such as cheese, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Appetizers, Beef, Cinco De Mayo, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Instant Pot, Instant Pot, Mexican, Mini appetizers, Nut-Free, Stovetop
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
My kids loved these! I made a huge batch and put them in the freezer so they could grab and cook them whenever as a snack!
The perfect freezer snack!
These were SUPER EASY to make! My kids loved them, I’m going to have to make extra next time!
Yay, so glad they were a hit! :)
One of my favorite apps! Love these. So delicious! Using the Instant Pot to cook the beef makes this go so quickly and so easily!