Yes, this is my second taquito post in two days… but both are so delicious I couldn’t share one and not the other. These creamy chicken and spinach taquitos incorporate all the traditional Mexican ingredients with roasted chicken, spicy salsa and velvety cheese, but with a twist: spinach and an extra special sauce. Chicken, 3 cheeses and spinach tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce, and wrapped in a soft flour tortilla (is your mouth watering?). Next time you want to order Mexican take-out, don’t! Make these to please yourself, your family, friends or whoever is lucky enough to enjoy these taquitos with you.

The filling is a mix of the chicken spinach mixture and the special sauce giving the impression of a fresh chicken salad making them perfect for lunch or dinner. What I love about these is that they are lighter than a traditional Mexican dish. Though Mexican flavors are delicious, sometimes we crave something a little more simple, in the best way! My family begs me to make one of my (healthier and fresh) Mexican dishes at least once every few weeks. These creamy chicken and spinach taquitos are like the healthier yet indulgent Mexican dish you’ve never had.

Simple and Sensational

It can be difficult to make a simple and light dish that doesn’t compromise on flavor and that has that delicioso Mexican touch. The key to making something simple AND sensational is to use flavorful ingredients that stand alone, thay way you don’t have to pile 100 ingredients to make something taste good. Here are some great ingredients that will do just the trick:

• Spicy peppers like jalapenos
• Using cream cheese in a creamy sauce to add smoothness AND cheesiness.
• Use roasted chicken instead of boiled.
• Choose your tortillas wisely, flour tortillas are more bland than corn tortillas.
• Use cheddar or monterey jack instead of only mozzarella (I like to mix the cheeses).
• SALT, sometimes a pinch of salt gives a dish exactly what it needs.
• A squeeze of lime or lemon can add a touch of acid and intensifies your other flavors.
• Use ingredients that have different flavor profiles not a bunch of bland ingredients, for example add corn to chicken for sweetness or pickled veggies for acid, instead of having to add acid or sugar into your recipe.

Shopping List

For the Chicken Filling

• Roasted chicken, you can buy skinned and boned chicken breast then roast yourself or buy already roasted chicken
• 3 cheese mixture: cheddar, mozzarella and pepper jack
• Spinach
• Salt & Pepper
• 15 flour tortillas

For the Creamy Salsa

• Cream cheese
• Sour Cream
• Salsa
• Garlic powder
• Chili Powder
• Agave

Prep, Roll & Bake

These taquitos might take a little time in length, but they are so easy to cook and assemble, and if you’re careful they can be mess-free. I’m sure everybody’s mom will be happy about that. All it takes is tossing a few ingredients together, blending the sauce, rolling the taquitos and then baking them! There’s no garlic to chop, chicken to debone, or loose filling that falls out as you assemble. Let’s not pretend we aren’t thrilled about that okay…

Step 1: Prep the Filling

To prep the filling you have to make the chicken mixture, make the creamy salsa and toss them both together! Voila!

Shred the roasted chicken and toss with three cheeses and chopped spinach. To make the sauce, blend cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, agave and spices until super creamy. Now, just toss them both together until all of the chicken mixture is nicely coated. Before assembling the taquitos, don’t forget to warm the tortillas between two damp paper towels in the microwave.

Step 2: Fill and Roll the Taquitos

Now that you have your filling and tortillas ready to go, you can start assembling the taquitos. Place a couple spoonfuls of the filling on the edge of the tortilla. Roll the tortilla and place them seam side down on the baking tray. Repeat until tray is full then brush with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.

Step 3: Bake until Crispy

Bake the taquitos at 425°F for about 15 minutes or until edges are crispy, and the center is still slightly soft because they will harden as they cool! Serve them with guacamole, my Sweet and sour Apple Slaw and EXTRA creamy salsa, of course.

A Side to Remember

I love to serve these creamy chicken and spinach taquitos with my Sweet & Sour Apple Slaw, it adds a brightness that is just so good with these indulgent taquitos. It’s sweet and crunchy with a hint of acid; I personally love side dishes that incorporate fruit, especially with rich Mexican dishes. You also must serve these with guacamole and extra salsa, you can’t have a taquito without a dip.

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