Taquito
Small tortillas rolled with filling and fried until crisp
Taquitos are a Mexican dish of tortillas wrapped around a filling such as beef, chicken, or cheese, then fried until crunchy. They are often topped with guacamole, sour cream, or salsa, and are eaten as a snack or light meal in Mexico and the United States.
- Taquitos are rolled tortillas filled with beef, chicken, or cheese
- They are fried until crisp and often topped with guacamole or sour cream
- The dish is popular in Mexico and the United States
- Flautas are similar but usually larger than taquitos
- Taquitos were among the first Mexican foods sold frozen in the US
What is Taquito?
A taquito is a small tortilla wrapped tightly around a savory filling, most often beef, chicken, or cheese. The rolled tortilla is fried in oil until the outside turns crisp and golden. Taquitos are usually made with corn tortillas, and their size is smaller than similar dishes called flautas. They are commonly served with toppings like guacamole, sour cream, salsa, shredded lettuce, or crumbled cheese. The result is a crunchy, flavorful snack or meal with a warm, seasoned filling inside.
Where does Taquito come from?
The word 'taquito' was used in New Mexico Spanish as early as 1917. The dish, as a rolled and fried tortilla with filling, was described in 1929 in stories about Mexican communities in the United States. Vendors at train stations were known for selling them. In the 1930s and 1940s, restaurants in Los Angeles and San Diego helped popularize taquitos, with recipes passed down through families and adapted for quick meals. The dish later became widely available as a frozen food in the United States.
How is Taquito made?
To make taquitos, a filling such as seasoned beef, shredded chicken, or cheese is placed on a tortilla. The tortilla is rolled up tightly around the filling and then fried in hot oil until the outside is crisp and golden. After frying, taquitos are drained and often served with toppings like guacamole, crema (a type of Mexican sour cream), salsa, or grated cheese. The process creates a crunchy exterior with a warm, flavorful center.
How and when is Taquito eaten?
Taquitos are enjoyed as a snack, lunch, or light dinner. They are often served in casual settings, from street stalls to family tables. Common accompaniments include guacamole, salsa, sour cream, shredded lettuce, or crumbled cheese. In Mexico, they may be called tacos dorados or flautas, with the latter usually referring to longer versions. People eat them with their hands, sometimes dipping them into sauces or piling on toppings.
Kinds of Taquito
While taquitos are usually made with corn tortillas, larger versions called flautas may use flour tortillas. Fillings vary, with beef, chicken, and cheese being the most common. In some regions, taquitos are topped with cabbage or different types of salsa. In Mexican border cities like Tijuana and Mexicali, the word 'taquitos' can mean small tacos sold at stands, rather than the rolled and fried dish.
What Taquito means
Taquitos are a familiar part of everyday Mexican and Mexican-American food culture. They became popular as a convenient street food and later as a frozen product in the United States. The dish is associated with quick meals and gatherings, and is often found at casual restaurants and food stands. In Mexico, crispy fried versions are called tacos dorados or flautas, and are topped with local cheeses and salsas.
Questions people ask about Taquito
What are taquitos made of?
Taquitos are made by wrapping a corn tortilla around a filling such as beef, chicken, or cheese, then frying until crisp.
Where did taquitos originate?
Taquitos come from Mexico, with early mentions in New Mexico and popularization in California during the 20th century.
How are taquitos served?
They are usually topped with guacamole, sour cream, salsa, or cheese, and eaten as a snack or meal.
What is the difference between taquitos and flautas?
Flautas are similar to taquitos but are typically larger, and may use flour tortillas instead of corn.
Are taquitos always made with meat?
No, while beef and chicken are common, taquitos can also be filled with cheese or other ingredients.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Taquito", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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