Mesquite Pork Taquitos | Air Fryer Recipes

The Starving Chef is supported by Hungry People like you. When you make a purchase through an affiliate link on my site, I may earn a little bit of cash on the side (at no extra cost to you) to help keep my kitchen running. Read our disclosures here.

taquitos

Who else got an Air Fryer for Christmas? Oil-less fryers are all the rage right now as they are the perfect alternative to deep frying foods to achieve that desired *crunch.* It works almost like a mini convection oven, circulating the hot air all around the food to make it perfectly crisp.

While air fryers are popular among health food enthusiasts because of it’s “oil free” way of cooking – it should be noted that there are certain recipes that do work better when just a tiny bit of oil is involved. For these taquitos, I misted them lightly with cooking spray just before baking.

The taquitos are filled with a tender, smoky pork tenderloin that I actually pressure cooked with my Instant Pot. However you cook your pork loin is up to you – if you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can use a slow cooker or roasting pan in the oven to roast your pork loin.

The secret to the smoky flavor of these taquitos is actually something called “liquid smoke” – it’s an item I’ve seen popping up in the grocery stores I go to, usually with the BBQ or condiments. It works similarly to Worcestershire sauce, which you can substitute if you can’t find liquid smoke, to really hit on that umami flavor. Paired with a satisfying crunch, the air fryer creates a delicious, and healthy, way to make the best taquitos around.

taquitos

Mesquite Pork Taquitos | Air Fryer Recipes

The Starving Chef
The taquitos are filled with a tender, smoky pork tenderloin that I actually pressure cooked with my Instant Pot. The meat is then rolled into tortillas and air fried!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine Air Fryer, American, Mexican
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Cook pork loin by desired method a day ahead then chill. Shred the cooked pork loin. In a small bowl, whisk together the spicy honey, soy sauce, liquid smoke, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, cumin and paprika. Pour the sauce over the shredded pork.
  • Line a baking sheet with foil and spread out the shredded meat. Broil for about 10 minutes, until hot and beginning to char in places. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
  • Warm the corn tortillas in the microwave for 30 seconds. Measure out about 2-3 tablespoons of the pork onto the corn tortilla. Roll the tortilla tightly. Use a toothpick to secure the tortilla edge, as needed.
  • Place the taquitos into the air fryer in a single layer (or dual layers with the expansion ring, if your fryer has one) and bake at 400 F for 15-20 minutes, until the taquitos are crispy and the edges are just beginning to brown. Serve hot with a side of sour cream and enjoy!

Video

Keyword air fryer, pork, tortilla
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!