Air-Fryer Chicken Taquitos

• 70 g Cooked chicken breast, shredded (2.5 oz)
• 15 g Light cream cheese (1 tbsp)
• 15 g Reduced-fat cheddar, grated (0.5 oz)
• 25 g Salsa (0.9 oz)
• 4 g Lime juice (¾ tsp)
• 0.5 g Ground cumin (¼ tsp)
• 0.5 g Chili powder (⅛ tsp)
• 0.3 g Salt (a pinch)
• 60 g (3 small tortillas) Corn tortillas
• 3 g Olive oil (⅔ tsp)
• 40 g Nonfat Greek yogurt (2¾ tbsp)
• 3 g raw Fresh cilantro (3 tbsp chopped)

You'll need: Air fryer (or oven and baking sheet), Bowl, Plate and plastic wrap, Pastry brush, Toothpicks.

Method

1. Mix the filling

   Mix the chicken, cream cheese, cheddar, salsa, half the lime juice, cumin, chili powder and salt until it holds together in a thick paste.

   Drain the salsa first. A wet filling splits the tortillas.

2. Soften the tortillas

   Stack the tortillas on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 20–30 seconds, until soft and bendy. Keep them covered until you roll.

   Work one at a time. Corn tortillas crack once they cool.

3. Fill and roll tightly

   Heat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F). Spoon the chicken filling in a line down one edge of each tortilla and roll up as tightly as you can, seam side down. Brush the outsides lightly with the olive oil. Secure with a toothpick if the seam opens.

   Roll tight and place seam side down in the basket. The weight keeps them shut.

4. Air-fry until crisp

   Arrange the taquitos in the air fryer in one layer, not touching. Cook at 200°C (400°F) for 8–10 minutes, turning halfway, until golden brown and crisp. No air fryer? Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F) at the start and bake on a lined baking sheet instead, turning halfway; it takes about 5 minutes longer.

   Don't crowd the basket. The air has to circulate to crisp all sides.

5. Mix the dip and serve

   Stir the yogurt with the chopped cilantro and the rest of the lime juice. Remove the toothpicks and dip the taquitos while hot.

   Check the toothpicks are out before you serve. They are easy to forget.

Swaps

• Cooked chicken breast, shredded → Canned white chicken, drainedQuicker; slightly saltier.
• Reduced-fat cheddar, grated → Pepper jack, gratedA gentle kick for about 10 kcal more.