This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Cheesy Mexican Hot Dog Taquitos, also known as “crispy dogs”, are a fun kid-friendly recipe. Even better is that they are ready in less than 30 minutes with just four ingredients. Wrapped in corn tortillas with cheddar cheese, then baked in the oven or air fryer, these Tex Mex franks are even better when you dunk them in salsa or guacamole!
Mexican Hot Dog Taquitos – aka Crispy Dogs
What do you do when you bought that 30-pack of corn tortillas and you already made Instant Pot Ground Beef Taco Meat?
Make Mexican Hot Dog Taquitos! It’s a Tex Mex-inspired twist on the classic baked hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls (aka pigs in a blanket). Only these are hot dogs wrapped in tortillas!
In Mexico, they are actually known as “crispy dogs”, and in our house they disappear in seconds. With only four ingredients, they are one of our favorite quick and easy dinners recipes. Just roll them up and after about fifteen minutes in the oven or five minutes in the air fryer, you have a super simple dinner the kids will absolutely love eating. Whether you bake or air-fry them, the corn tortilla gets nice and crispy, while the cheese becomes melty and delicious.
Serve them with your favorite dips like salsa or guacamole for a fun way to change up Taco Tuesday! And they are sure to be a crowd-pleaser for parties, too, since they are one of the best game day recipes!
How to Make Mexican Hot Dog Taquitos
They really couldn’t be easier. You’ll love how quick and easy they are to assemble and cook.
Get everything ready. Preheat your oven or air fryer to 400°F. Warm the corn tortillas in the microwave (wrapped in a damp towel) or in the oven (wrapped in foil) until they are pliable.
Wrap the hot dogs. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the corn tortillas. Lay a hot dog on top of a cheese-covered tortilla and roll it up as tightly as possible.
Brush with oil. Lay the hot dogs in tortillas seam-side down on a baking sheet or in the basket of your air fryer. If they ubnroll, you can secure them with a couple of toothpicks. Brush the outsides lightly with oil.
Cook the crispy dogs. Choose your cooking method anf follow the directions belfor. When they are done, the hot dog should be hot all the way through, cheese melty, and tortilla lightly browned and crispy. Serve with your favorite dips or toppings.
- Bake hot dogs in oven. Bake at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes.
- Air fry hot dogs. Cook at 400°F for about 5 minutes.
Tips for Success
Soften the tortillas. You’ll need to warm the corn tortillas to make them pliable to roll up without cracking. To do this, you can wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave them for 30 seconds to a minute. Or wrap them in foil and place them in the oven while it is preheating.
Keep the taquitos rolled up. You should be able to roll up the taquitos and place them seam side down on the baking sheet or in the air fryer basket and they should stay closed. But if you find that they continue to unroll, you can use one or two toothpicks to secure them.
Make them crispy. Brushing the oil on the outside will make them brown and crisp nicely. You can also spray them with cooking spray or use an oil mister if you want to use a bit less oil.
Serving suggestions
- Dunk them in salsa. Mango Avocado Salsa is always a favorite here, or stick with a classic Restaurant Style Homemade Salsa.
- Or dip in guac. This Kid-Friendly Guacamole doesn’t have big chunks of peppers or onions to turn off those picky eaters.
- Give them a drizzle. Put some Greek yogurt or sour cream in a sandwich bag, snip off the corner, and squeeze over the taquitos. Or try Avocado Crema.
- Pair with a side. Mexican Pepper Jack Baked Cauli-Tots is a perfect side dish.
- Serve at a party. Cut them in half for a fun finger food if you want to serve these hot dog taquitos as an appetizer or game day snack.
- Keep is classic. If your kids are like mine, then it’s all about the ketchup with hot dogs, regardless of whether you are going for a Mexican-inspired meal. My Homemade Ketchup can be stirred together in five minutes.
- Pour a cocktail. The adults can enjoy a Skinny Grapefruit Margarita!
What Air Fryer Do I Use?
More Taquitos, Tacos, and Tostadas
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
- Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
- Chicken Tostadas
- Chili Lime Fish Stick Tacos