Grain Free Taquitos

With a background in nutrition and health coaching, I'm always getting asked for healthy swaps for certain foods. One of those main food groups is Mexican food! When you're getting Mexican food from a restaurant, it can have inflammatory oils and lots of unwanted added ingredients. That's why I am bringing you Grain Free Taquitos with Salsa Verde Chicken! Not only are these easy to make, but they're healthy, gluten-free, and paleo-friendly.

This recipe is made with Siete grain-free tortillas that crisp up nicely. They’re filled with a mild salsa verde chicken mixture that adds a ton of flavor without too much spice. Plus, with minimal ingredients, they can be whipped up in under an hour. 

They’re great as a meal, snack, or served up at a party, paired with tacos, chicken tortilla soup, or a green chili enchilada casserole! 

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Easy to make: This recipe only has a few ingredients and takes under an hour to get on the table.

Dietary Restrictions: It is important to me that people who have food allergies, or sensitivities, or are just choosing to avoid certain foods, have options when they come to my house or are cooking for themselves. This recipe is delicious and gluten free or grain-free.

Kid-friendly: This recipe is very mild so that your whole family can enjoy it! Serve it with their favorite salsa or just plain if they are a bit pickier.

Ingredients You Will Need

Chicken Breast: I love using chicken breast for this recipe because it is a lean protein that is easily shredded and stays very juicy. Lean protein is important to have in your diet because it helps with muscle development and tissue repair.

Grain-Free Tortillas: I like Siete Foods almond flour tortillas best because they're completely grain free, made with quality ingredients that are all paleo-friendly, and crisp up nicely in this recipe! They can be found at many stores. I find them the cheapest at Costco.

Salsa Verde: This is what I use to cook the chicken in so that it has some green chili flavors to it! I like Trader Joe's Salsa Verde best because it only has eight ingredients and no added sugars. This version is very mild, so if you like spice, feel free to grab one that you prefer.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425° F. This is a higher temperature than I normally cook on, but you want a very hot oven.

Cook the chicken in the Instant Pot with one cup of water and one cup of Salsa Verde on high for 12-14 minutes. The time may vary on the size of your chicken breast. If you don't have an Instant Pot you can also grill or bake the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Shred the chicken completely when it is cooked all the way through. I then like to add 1-2 tablespoon of the cooking liquid from the Instant Pot (or 1 cup Salsa Verde if using another cooking method).

Roll the taquitos. This needs to be done delicately because the tortillas can break easily. Add 2-3 tablespoon of chicken to a flat tortilla and roll it up. Place the open size of the tortilla on a casserole dish. Repeat this step until you have made the desired amount of taquitos.

Bake the taquitos for 20-25 minutes or until the edges of the tortillas are browned. At this point, you can also turn on the oven to broil and broil for about three minutes. Be careful to watch the food while you are doing this because they can burn easily. This part is optional but makes the taquitos extra crispy!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Troubleshooting: Be gentle with the tortillas and be sure not to add too much chicken. These tortillas can rip very easily, which is why it is important to handle with care.

Make it faster: You can use any shredded chicken on hand that you have. I usually have some shredded chicken frozen, so I can just defrost and add the salsa verde. You can use rotisserie chicken, too!

Serving: I like to serve these with dairy-free sour cream, extra hot salsa verde, or some guacamole! If you're serving them as a meal, I like adding some fajita veggies to be sure I get some veggies on my plate, as well.

Recipe Variations

Alternate tortillas: If you're not eating grain-free, you can also use corn tortillas to make this recipe. Cook times may vary.

Air frying: You can also air fry these taquitos! Place them in your air fryer open side down so that they stay closed. Spray with a small amount of avocado oil and cook on 400°F for 12-15 minutes, being sure to check every five minutes.

Storage Tips

Once the taquitos are completely cooled, you can store them in an airtight container for up to five days. To reheat, I recommend either using your air fryer for five minutes or broiling in your oven for five minutes, being sure to watch closely because they can burn quickly.

You can also freeze these prior to cooking. I place them on a sheet tray in a single layer and freeze them. Then, I move them to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container.

What To Serve It With

Main Dishes: Tortilla Soup

Sides: Guacamole

FAQs About Recipe

What are grain-free tortillas made of?

They are typically made of cassava flour or almond flour, tapioca flour, water, and sometimes xanthan gum to make them more pliable. I prefer the almond flour tortillas from Siete Foods for this recipe.

Are taquitos healthy?

Healthy is a relative term, so it depends on how you define healthy. I would consider these taquitos healthy because they are grain-free and the tortillas are made with high-quality ingredients.

Why are my taquitos not crispy?

The first reason may be that your meat or filling has too much moisture. Be sure that you're not adding too much liquid to the salsa verde. Another reason might be that you're not cooking at a high enough temperature. For this recipe, I do use a high temperature and have the option to broil at the end.