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These crispy beef flautas have been enjoyed for generations – they’re fried to perfection and ready to eat in under 30 minutes!
A Crunchy Roll to Love!
We Love Grandma’s flautas!! We’ve been eating and enjoying this recipe for generations – and now our kids love them too.
If you are unfamiliar with this recipe, flautas (translated flutes) is a Mexican dish made from tortillas filled with meat or poultry, cheese, and other fillings. It is then fried for a crispy finish that is beyond delicious.
Ours are filled with beef, but we also have a Chicken Flautas recipe we love just as much! For a full meal, we will also make either Chicken Enchiladas or Cheese Enchiladas, Spanish Rice of course Homemade Salsa!
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- For any meal. Flautas are perfect to serve as an appetizer, lunch, or dinner dish!
- Alternative fillings. They can be filled with any fillings you prefer but this recipe calls for shredded beef.
- Crunchy and addictive. This recipe hits it out of the park. The crunch from the fried tortilla and the creamy melted cheese mixed in with the beef makes it one of our FAVORITE Mexican dinner ideas.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 10 minutes COOK TIME: 15 minutes
- vegetable oil or canola oil – for frying
- 3 cups shredded beef – or use Shredded Chicken or Shredded Pork
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese – or another favorite like pepper jack cheese, cheddar cheese, or Monterey jack cheese
- ½ cup salsa – store-bought or homemade
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced chiles – Optionally, include diced onions or jalapenos.
- garlic salt with parsley flakes, salt, and black pepper to taste – or add red pepper flakes, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, or cumin for added spice
- 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas (or flour tortillas) – Sometimes corn tortillas can crack when rolling. Warm them in a pan or a griddle, or heat for about 20 seconds in the microwave. If it cracks the tortilla is too cold or it is stale.
- optional toppings – Guacamole, Salsa, Pico de Gallo, Avocado Cream Sauce, Salsa Verde, sour cream, a squeeze of lime juice, or cotija cheese
How to Make Flautas
- PREP. Preheat the oven to the warm setting or about 200°F. Fill a large saucepan with about ¾ inch oil. Heat over medium heat to 375°F.
- FILL. In a medium bowl, combine 3 cups shredded beef, 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese, ½ cup salsa, store-bought or homemade, 1 can diced chiles, garlic salt with parsley flakes, and black pepper to taste.
- ROLL. Working with 4 tortillas at a time, spread a heaping spoonful of filling along the middle of each tortilla. Roll the tortillas tightly around the filling and secure each one with a toothpick.
- FRY. Using tongs, hold each flauta in hot oil until firm, then release to continue cooking. Cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes, then remove to a paper towel–lined plate and immediately season with salt.
- SERVE. Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while assembling and cooking the remaining tortillas. Serve warm with toppings.
Air Fryer Directions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400° F.
- Roll the flautas as directed in the recipe.
- Lightly spray the flautas with cooking spray or brush them with a little bit of oil.
- Place the flautas in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, until golden brown and crispy, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
- Repeat with the other batches.
Complete The Meal
Sides
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Flautas
Equipment
Ingredients
- vegetable or canola oil, for frying
- 3 cups shredded beef, or shredded cooked chicken
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
- ½ cup salsa, store-bought or homemade
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced chiles
- garlic salt with parsley flakes, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas, (or flour tortillas)
- salt, to taste
Toppings
- shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, green salsa, guacamole, Cilantro Ranch dressing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to the warm setting or about 200°F.
- Fill a large saucepan with about ¾ inch oil. Heat over medium heat to 375°F.
- In a medium bowl, combine shredded beef, cheese, salsa, diced chiles, garlic salt, and pepper.
- Working with 4 tortillas at a time, spread a heaping spoonful of filling along the middle of each tortilla. Roll the tortillas tightly around the filling and secure each one with a toothpick.
- Using tongs, hold each flauta in hot oil until firm, then release to continue cooking. Cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes, then remove to a paper towel–lined plate and immediately season with salt.
- Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while assembling and cooking the remaining tortillas. Serve warm with toppings.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Prepare the shredded beef filling up to 48 hours in advance store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to fill and fry.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for 1-2 months.
So simple and delicious. Made a few slight modifications based on what I did and did not have in the house. I used cooked ground beef rather than shredded, and I didn’t have the chiles so I just added a little bit more salsa. Otherwise, made them as instructed in the air fryer and they were a huge hit with my family. We topped them with light sour cream, shredded lettuce, and tomato. The teens have already requested that I make them again. I think this would also be a really easy recipe to modify for other flavors– e.g. buffalo chicken, Korean BBQ, etc.
Loved this since the first time I made it. My boyfriend did as well. I make this at least once a week and there are never any left-overs.
YUMMY.
I love how it turned out! So crispy and delicious. I’m addicted to these 😍
YUM! I had leftover shredded chicken and decided to make these and I am so happy I did. Everyone loved them- I just wish I made more!
This was SO delicious and the most perfect weeknight dinner!
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Crispy and delicious, and SO easy to make. These were a big hit with my family.