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Introducing a delightful and flavorful dish that encapsulates the essence of Mexican cuisine: Homemade Chicken Flautas. These crispy, rolled tortillas filled with tender, seasoned chicken are a celebration of taste and texture. With their golden-brown exteriors and savory filling, these flautas offer a delightful harmony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds and bring the authentic essence of homemade goodness to your table. Whether enjoyed as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or a satisfying main course, Homemade Chicken Flautas are a delicious embodiment of comfort and culinary delight.

Homemade Chicken Flautas vs. Taquitos

Mexican cuisine is perhaps one of my favorite meal types. It's always my first choice when eating out. Since we are trying to really watch what we eat as well as the ingredients we use I have been trying to make what I can at home.

I LOVE Taquitos and I always thought that they were the same as Flautas, just people called them different names. Boy was I wrong lol.

Of course with anything if you ask 5 people you might get 3 different answers.  

Taquitos are made with corn tortillas and corn tortillas are ultimately my favorite but I decided to give it a shot and try to make my own Homemade Chicken Flautas.

I chose chicken for this recipe since we often have extra skinless boneless chicken on hand. I try to shop the Sprouts BOGO Free sale for this, and stock up! I love the quality of their chicken and of course if you can get it around $1 per lb, which is what this final price is, then go for it! (This is an older photo but shows their chicken sale at Sprouts).

Is a Flauta a Flour Tortilla?

Traditionally, flautas use flour tortillas while taquitos use corn tortillas. Try this Homemade Blue Corn Tortilla Recipe.

How do you keep flautas crispy?

To keep flautas crispy, here are some tips to consider:

1. Properly Fry Them: Ensure the oil is at the right temperature before frying. Use a deep pan with enough oil to submerge the flautas completely. Fry them in small batches, so they don't overcrowd the pan, which can lower the oil temperature. Cooking at the right temperature (usually around 350-375°F or 175-190°C) helps them become crispy rather than soggy.
2. Use Paper Towels: Once the flautas are fried, transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels. The paper towels will help absorb excess oil, preventing them from becoming greasy and retaining crispness.
3. Elevated Rack: If possible, place the fried flautas on a wire rack set over a baking sheet instead of directly on a plate. This allows air to circulate around them, preventing condensation and helping them stay crispy.
4. Reheat Properly: If reheating flautas, avoid using the microwave, as it can make them soft. Instead, preheat the oven and reheat the flautas on a baking sheet. This method helps retain their crispiness.
5. Serve Immediately: Serve the flautas immediately after frying. If you're preparing them ahead of time, wait to fry them until just before serving to maintain their crispiness.
6. Storage: If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat them in the oven rather than the microwave for better crispiness when ready to enjoy again.

How Do You Keep Flautas Warm?

To keep flautas warm before serving or when preparing them in advance, you can use a few methods to retain their warmth without compromising their texture:

1. Oven Method: Preheat your oven to a low temperature, around 200°F (95°C). Place the cooked flautas on a baking sheet and keep them in the oven. This method keeps them warm without making them soggy. Cover them lightly with foil to prevent them from drying out while maintaining their warmth.
2. Stovetop Method: Use a skillet or frying pan on low heat. Arrange the cooked flautas in a single layer in the pan and cover with a lid. This helps retain their warmth without drying them out. Be sure to check them occasionally to ensure they don’t overheat or become too dry.
3. Keep Warm in a Slow Cooker: If you're serving a larger batch or preparing ahead for a gathering, a slow cooker set on the “warm” setting can be used. Place a clean kitchen towel or parchment paper at the bottom of the slow cooker to absorb excess moisture. Arrange the flautas inside, layering with another clean towel or parchment paper between each layer. Cover the slow cooker with its lid to keep the warmth in.
4. Use a Warming Drawer: If your oven has a warming drawer function, this can also be an effective way to keep the flautas warm without drying them out. Simply place the cooked flautas inside the warming drawer until ready to serve.

Remember, regardless of the method you choose, it's important to monitor the flautas to prevent them from overheating or becoming too dry. Covering them lightly to retain moisture while keeping them warm is key to maintaining their quality before serving.

How Do You Roll Tortillas for Flautas?

Start rolling the tortilla tightly over the filling. Once you've rolled it over the filling once, fold in the sides towards the center and continue rolling until you have a compact cylinder shape.

Ingredients and Tools Needed:

• Corn or flour tortillas
• Prepared filling (such as shredded chicken, beef, or vegetables)
• Oil for frying
• Toothpicks or kitchen twine (optional)
• Filling ingredients (optional; could include cheese, salsa, beans, etc.)

My Spin on this Recipe

I wanted to change up my meals any way, and I always use beef in Taquitos so I decided to try chicken in the Flautas. They turned out amazing and the whole family loved them. The fact that they were baked in the oven and not fried was even better. To prevent them from unraveling while frying, you can use toothpicks or kitchen twine to secure the flautas. If using toothpicks, gently insert them through the seam side of the flauta.

When you are making flautas it's very easy to change up the recipe and add just about any ingredients you want.  You can serve this up with a side of Mexican rice, but if you're wanting to cut the carbs you can serve it up with Homemade Guacamole or Black Bean Salsa. Get the recipe HERE!

Those are two of my favorites because I can use fresh ingredients from my garden. Now I didn't make these spicy, but you can certainly add some kick to this recipe if you like. These are great to make up ahead and freeze too.

Can You Microwave Flautas?

While you can technically microwave flautas to reheat them, it's not the ideal method if you want to maintain their crispy texture. Microwaving tends to make fried foods like flautas lose their crispiness and can make them soggy.

If you must use a microwave to reheat flautas, here's a way to minimize the loss of crispiness:

1. Place the flautas on a microwave-safe plate and cover them lightly with a damp paper towel. The moisture from the towel can help prevent the flautas from drying out excessively.
2. Heat them in short intervals (around 20-30 seconds at a time) on medium power. Check them after each interval to avoid overheating.
3. Understand that while this method might warm the flautas, it's unlikely to restore their original crispy texture. They may end up softer than desired.

For better results in retaining crispiness, consider using the oven instead of the microwave. Preheat your oven to a low temperature (around 300°F/150°C), place the flautas on a baking sheet, and reheat them for several minutes until warmed through. This method may take longer but helps maintain a crispier texture compared to microwaving.

Print Your Recipe Here!

More Mexican Dishes

• Homemade Tomatillo Sauce Recipe {Sala Verde)
• No Lard Instant Pot Refried Beans
• Slow Cooker Restaurant Style Salsa
• Family Famous Black Bean And Corn Salsa
• Chicken Enchiladas with Poblano Cream Sauce
• Seven Layer Mexican Dip
• Homemade Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Ingredients
• Pico de gallo Canning Recipe
• Instant Pot Black Beans
• Slow Cooker Turkey Enchilada Bake
• Homemade Jalapeno Cornbread Recipe from Scratch
• Southwestern Turkey Skillet Meal