How to Make Vegan Taquitos With Filling (Baked & Air-Fried Options!)

One of my favorite childhood memories is my mom making taquitos when I arrived home from school. But, of course, those taquitos were frozen and by no means vegan. Since then, I learned how to 'veganize' my favorite foods, but vegan taquitos taste much better than I remember. My oil-free vegan taquitos are baked or air-fried with various filling options. 

Taquitos, also called rolled tacos, are traditionally fried, but I bake or air-fry my vegan taquitos. 

My mom, for example, used to give us guacamole, salsa, and hot sauce to dip our taquitos. 

Regardless of what fillings and toppings are chosen, vegan taquitos make a great snack, lunch, or dinner. And, kids LOVE them! 

Vegan Taquito Fillings 

I decided to fill my taquitos with the lentil taco meat from my Vegan Lentil Tacos recipe for tonight's taquitos. Additionally, I suggest other filling options that taste great in these tiny rolled tacos. 

OTHER POSSIBLE TAQUITO FILLINGS (CHOOSE YOUR VEGAN FILLING)

• Potato Tacos (a filling made of potatoes, seasonings, onions, and jalapenos)
• Walnut Meat Tacos (a filing made from raw walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs)
• Tofu Tacos (grilled taco flavored tofu)
• Tempeh Tacos (grilled tempeh marinated in a southwest marinade)
• Mushroom Chorizo Tacos (a combination of mushrooms, walnuts, and seasonings)
• Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Avocado-Cilantro Cream (roasted cauliflower and herbs)

How to make vegan lentil taco filling for vegan taquitos

• Brown, Red, or Green Lentils 
• White Onion
• Garlic
• Jalapeño 
• Rotel Fire Roasted Tomatoes with Green Chilies
• Organic Vegetable Broth
• Vegan Taco Seasoning 

How to bake taquitos

First, choose the type of tortilla. If using corn tortillas, heat them in a pan or microwave before filling to make them more pliable (so they don't break).

On the other hand, flour tortillas don't need heating before use because of their sturdiness. However, since the taquitos require hand rolling, allow the chosen filling to cool before handling.  

Unlike a standard taco, vegan taquitos use a small amount of filling on one side of the tortilla. Then, roll each taquito tightly.

I brush each taquito with fresh lime juice and sprinkle it with chili powder as an added fun extra. 

• Use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper on a baking sheet
• Bake at 400 degrees
• Cook for 20 minutes until crisp

BENEFITS TO BAKING

• Can bake several taquitos at one time

NEGATIVES TO BAKING

• It takes twice the time as the air-fryer
• Not as crispy as the air-fryer

How to make air-fried taquitos 

The vegan taquitos are rolled, brushed with lime juice, and sprinkled with chili powder like the baked version. However, instead of placing on a silicone baking, place a single layer of taquitos in the base of the air fryer. 

BENEFITS TO AIR-FRYING

• Very crispy like a fried taquito
• It takes half the time of an oven

NEGATIVES TO AIR-FRYING

• Can only air-fry 3 to 4 taquitos at a time

What to serve with vegan taquitos

Once cooked, serve the vegan taquitos with a salad dressed in Vegan Southwest Dressing, homemade guacamole, jalapeños, and lime wedges. 

OTHER POPULAR TOPPINGS FOR VEGAN TAQUITOS

• Sour Cream (vegan)
• Fruit Salsa Recipe
• Tomatillo Salsa
• Nacho Cheese Sauce(vegan)
• Southwest Dressing (vegan)

So, the next time you consider Taco Tuesday, think about making taquitos instead of tacos. Not only are vegan taquitos crunchy, but they also taste fabulous. When planning a meal for the family, kids love vegan taquitos,

FAQs

• Vegan Enchiladas
• Green Plant-Based Potato and Kale Enchiladas
• Mexican Lasagna
• Mexican Corn Salad
• Southwest Salad
• Vegan Taco Salad
• Vegan 7 Layer Taco Dip
• Chili Cheese Dip
• Vegan Tortilla Soup
• Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

Yield: 6 servings

Vegan Taquitos

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Switch up Taco Tuesday with oil-free, crunchy vegan taquitos. With various filling choices, tortilla choices, and even two cooking options, this vegan taquito recipe is fabulous, especially for the kids.

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Ingredients

Vegan Lentil Taco Meat

• 1 1/2 cups Brown, Red, or Green Lentils, rinsed and picked over
• 1 large, diced White Onion
• 2 cloves, minced Garlic
• 1 Jalapeño de-seeded
• 2 cans Rotel Fire Roasted Tomatoes with Green Chilies
• 4 cups Organic Vegetable Broth
• 2 packages Vegan Taco Seasoning or use your own brew

Other Ingredients

• 1 package Corn or Flour Tortillas (12 tortillas)
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• Chilii powder (sprinkled)
• 3 Jalapeños, de-seeded and sliced
• Salsa of choice or hot sauce 
• Vegan sour cream 

Other Taquito Fillings (Instead of lentil taco filling)

• Mushroom Chorizo Filling
• Potato Taco Filling
• Roasted Cauliflower Filling
• Walnut Taco Filling
• Tofu Taco Filling
• Tempeh Taco Filling

Instructions

Corn tortillas or flour tortillas?

1. Using corn tortillas, they need to be heated in a skillet or microwave to soften them before rolling the taquitos.
2. Flour tortillas do not need to be heated.

Lentil Taco Meat (or choose one of the other filling options)

1. Sauté the onion in a medium-sized saute pan with garlic and jalapeno.
2. You do not need oil.
3. The vegetables sweat and produce moisture.
4. You can always splash with vegetable broth, but don't waste the fat and calories on oil.
5. When the onions begin to be translucent, add the lentils and 3 cups of the vegetable broth, 1 can of the tomatoes, and the seasoning packages, stir, and bring to a boil.
6. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low and cook, covered for 30 minutes.

LENTIL MEAT STEP 2

1. After 30 minutes, remove the top of the saute pan, and stir the contents.
2. Add the next can of tomatoes.
3. Continue to cook on low, stirring often.
4. Use the remaining vegetable broth if the mixture appears dry.
5. The goal is for it to have a thick consistency.
6. Allow cooling completely before rolling taquitos.
   

Rolling and cooking the taquitos

1. Place each tortilla (corn or flour on a flat surface.
2. Add a small amount of taco filling on one side of the tortilla (about 4 Tablespoons) and tightly roll each tortilla.
3. Brush each taquito with lime juice and sprinkle with chili powder.

Choose your cooking method: Air-fryer or oven
Air-fryer

1. Set as many taquitos (fold down) in the base of the air-fryer.
2. Cook at 400 degrees for 7-10 minutes until crispy
3. Remove from the air-fryer and cover to keep warm while the other taquitos cook.
   

OVEN

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
2. Place a silicone baking mat or parchment paper on a baking sheet.
3. Lay each taquito fold it down on the baking sheet.
4. Cook for 20 minutes until crispy.

Notes

OTHER POSSIBLE TAQUITO FILLINGS (CHOOSE YOUR VEGAN FILLING)

• Potato Tacos (a filling made of potatoes, seasonings, onions, and jalapenos)
• Walnut Meat Tacos (a filing made from raw walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs)
• Tofu Tacos (grilled taco flavored tofu)
• Tempeh Tacos (grilled tempeh marinated in a southwest marinade)
• Mushroom Chorizo Tacos (a combination of mushrooms, walnuts, and seasonings)
• Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Avocado-Cilantro Cream (roasted cauliflower and herbs)

 

Nutrition Information

Yield

6 servings

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 351Total Fat 1gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 10mgSodium 321mgCarbohydrates 24gFiber 7gSugar 3gProtein 16g

Nutrition facts may not be 100% accurate.

Did you make this recipe?

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Kathy Carmichael

Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me