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Crispy Cheesy Beef Taquitos (Flautas)

A stack of four golden, crispy cheesy beef flautas, freshly fried and served on a white plate.
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Make crispy, cheesy beef taquitos, also known as flautas, using slow-cooked shredded beef filling. You can bake or fry these for a perfect game day appetizer or weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 1.5 lbs chuck roast or ground beef
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 small onion, quartered
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Mexican blend cheese
  • 12 small corn tortillas (for taquitos) or 12 flour tortillas (for flautas)
  • Vegetable oil, for frying, or cooking spray, for baking/air frying
  • Optional toppings: Sour cream, salsa, guacamole, shredded lettuce

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Beef: Place the beef roast, beef broth, onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the beef shreds easily. If using ground beef, brown it first, drain the fat, then add the remaining ingredients and simmer until liquid reduces.
  2. Shred and Mix Filling: Remove the beef and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker (or pan) and mix well with the cooking liquid until the beef is moist but not soupy. Stir in the shredded cheese until it is just melted into the beef mixture.
  3. Warm Tortillas: Warm the tortillas briefly in a microwave or a dry skillet. This makes them pliable and prevents cracking when rolling.
  4. Roll the Taquitos/Flautas: Place about 2-3 tablespoons of the beef and cheese mixture near one edge of a tortilla. Roll the tortilla tightly around the filling. Secure the seam with a toothpick if necessary, especially with corn tortillas.
  5. Cook: For crispy beef taquitos, heat about 1 inch of oil in a skillet to 350°F (175°C). Fry the rolls seam-side down first for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and crisp. For oven baked beef taquitos, place them seam-side down on a baking sheet, lightly spray with oil, and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway. For air fryer flautas, cook at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes, flipping once.
  6. Serve: Remove toothpicks before serving. Serve immediately with your choice of sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.

Notes

  • To keep the taquitos rolled during frying, ensure you roll them tightly and secure the seam with a toothpick inserted vertically through the roll.
  • If you prefer a thicker filling, drain off some of the excess cooking liquid before mixing in the cheese.
  • Corn tortillas yield traditional taquitos; flour tortillas yield flautas.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameal.com/cheesy-beef-flautas-or-beef-taquitos-recipe/