Ingredients
For the Taquitos:
- 1 ½ cups cooked, shredded chicken breast (about 10 oz)
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
- 4 oz canned diced green chiles, drained
- ¼ cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Free Keto Meal Plan : KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS STEP BY STEP GUIDE
For the Cheese Shells:
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese (use about ¼ cup per taquito)
Free Keto Meal Plan : KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS STEP BY STEP GUIDE
Optional Toppings:
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced avocado or guacamole
- Sour cream
- Salsa or pico de gallo
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Filling:
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, green chiles, cream cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Make the Cheese Shells:
- Spoon ¼ cup of shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese onto the prepared baking sheet, flattening it slightly to form a small circle about 4 inches in diameter.
- Repeat to create about 6–8 cheese circles. Make sure to leave space between them, as they will spread as they melt.
- Bake the cheese rounds for 5–7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and edges start to turn golden brown.
- Fill and Roll the Taquitos:
- Let the cheese shells cool for about 1 minute to become flexible, but not too long as they may harden.
- Place 1–2 tablespoons of the chicken filling along one edge of each cheese shell. Gently roll the cheese around the filling to form taquitos.
- Place each rolled taquito seam-side down back on the baking sheet.
- Bake Again (Optional for Crispiness):
- Bake the assembled taquitos for an additional 3–5 minutes to ensure they hold together and get extra crispy.
- Serve:
- Garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve with avocado, sour cream, and salsa if desired.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve with avocado, sour cream, and salsa if desired.
Free Keto Meal Plan : KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS STEP BY STEP GUIDE
Nutritional Information (Per Taquito)
- Calories: ~150
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Fat: 11g
Weight Watchers SmartPoints
For Weight Watchers SmartPoints calculations:
- Chicken breast: 0 points (for lean, skinless breast)
- Monterey Jack cheese (1 cup): 16 SmartPoints
- Cream cheese (¼ cup): 8 SmartPoints
- Mozzarella (1 ½ cups): 20 SmartPoints
- Green chiles, spices, and toppings: typically 0 points (but sour cream or avocado will add points if used)
This recipe yields approximately 6–8 taquitos, with each taquito totaling around 6–8 SmartPoints depending on cheese and filling adjustments.
Free Keto Meal Plan : KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS STEP BY STEP GUIDE