These cheese and beef taquitos come together with just four ingredients in under 30 minutes. Make them in the air fryer or pan-fry on the stovetop for crispy, melty bites everyone will enjoy.
Our Favorite Cheese and Beef Taquitos
Quick, simple, and satisfying — these taquitos are perfect as an appetizer, snack, or casual meal.
They use seasoned ground beef and shredded cheese rolled in corn tortillas, then crisped either in the air fryer or in a skillet until golden and crunchy.
Why You’ll Love ’Em
Just 4 ingredients: Ground beef, taco seasoning, corn tortillas, and shredded cheese — that’s all you need.
Two cooking methods: Air fry for an easy, lower-oil option or pan-fry for a classic crispy finish.
Ready quickly: From start to finish in under 30 minutes, with most cooks finishing in about 18 minutes total.
Ingredients – What You Need
Gather a few simple pantry staples to make these taquitos:
- Ground beef: The base of the filling.
- Taco seasoning: Use your favorite mix or a pre-made blend to add flavor.
- Corn tortillas: Six-inch corn tortillas work well for traditional taquitos.
- Shredded cheese: Monterey Jack is used here, but Mexican blend, cheddar, or pepper jack are good alternatives.
- Canola or vegetable oil: Only needed if you choose to pan-fry.
Optional Garnishes
- Pico de gallo
- Guacamole
- Shredded lettuce
- Sour cream
How to Make Cheese & Beef Taquitos
Cook the ground beef
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it into small pieces. Sprinkle with taco seasoning and cook 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fully browned.
Transfer the cooked beef to a plate lined with paper towels to drain and set aside.
Prepare the tortillas
Wrap the tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave 10–15 seconds. Warming them briefly keeps the tortillas flexible and prevents tearing while rolling.
Assemble the taquitos
Place 1 tablespoon of cooked beef and 1–2 tablespoons of shredded cheese in the center of each warmed tortilla. Roll the tortilla tightly and secure the seam so it stays closed while cooking.
Air fry or pan-fry
Air fryer method:
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange the taquitos seam-side down in a single layer. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F for 6–8 minutes, until golden and crisp.
Skillet method:
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add enough canola or vegetable oil to coat the bottom. Place the taquitos seam-side down and fry 2–3 minutes, then flip and fry another 1–2 minutes, or until both sides are golden. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Garnish & serve
Top with pico de gallo, guacamole, shredded lettuce, or sour cream as desired. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Top Tips
Air fryer vs. skillet: Air frying is the easiest method and uses less oil, but pan-frying gives a classic crispiness — both work great.
Vegetarian option: Use refried beans or mashed whole beans instead of beef to keep the filling from falling out while cooking.
Cheese-only taquitos: For cheese-only taquitos, cut the cheese into thick strips (about half the size of a cheese stick) to help prevent excessive oozing during cooking.
Storage
These taquitos are best eaten fresh, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat: Refresh in the air fryer at 400°F for about 2 minutes, or reheat in a skillet until warmed through and crisp.
More of our Favorite…
Mexican Inspired Recipes
- Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
- Mexican Corn Salad
- Air Fryer Quesadilla
- Ground Beef Quesadilla
Cheese and Beef Taquitos
Ingredients
- ¼ lb. ground beef
- 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
- 3 — 6 inch corn tortillas
- 3 oz. shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- ½ cup canola or vegetable oil (for pan frying)
Optional Garnish
- Pico de gallo
- Guacamole
- Shredded lettuce
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add ground beef, break into small pieces, sprinkle taco seasoning, and cook 5–7 minutes until browned.
- Drain beef on a paper-towel-lined plate and set aside.
- Warm tortillas wrapped in a damp paper towel in the microwave 10–15 seconds to make them pliable.
- Place 1 tablespoon beef and 1–2 tablespoons cheese in the center of a tortilla. Roll tightly and seal the seam.
Air Fryer
- Spray the air fryer basket and arrange taquitos seam-side down. Lightly spray the tops and air fry at 400°F for 6–8 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Garnish and serve immediately.
Skillet
- Heat a skillet with oil over medium-high. Place taquitos seam-side down and fry 2–3 minutes, flip and fry another 1–2 minutes until golden.
- Drain on paper towels, garnish, and serve right away.
Tips & Notes
- Air frying is the easiest method and minimizes cleanup.
- For vegetarian taquitos, use refried beans or gently mashed whole beans so the filling stays inside while cooking.
- For cheese-only taquitos, use thick cheese strips about half the size of a cheese stick to reduce melting out during cooking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
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