Taquitos are a popular finger food consisting of a small rolled tortilla filled with meat, cheese, beans, or other fillings. They make for a tasty appetizer or snack. But like most fried and highly processed foods, they can be high in calories. So how many calories are actually in 6 taquitos? Let’s take a closer look.
What are Taquitos?
Taquitos (Spanish for “small tacos”) are made of corn or flour tortillas that are filled with shredded beef, chicken, pork carnitas, cheese, beans, or other fillings, then tightly rolled into cigar shapes. The stuffed tortillas are fried or baked until the exterior is crisp while the interior remains soft and warm.
Common taquito fillings include:
- Shredded beef
- Shredded chicken
- Carnitas (shredded pork)
- Cheese – cheddar, Monterey Jack, queso fresco
- Potatoes
- Beans – refried, black, pinto
- Vegetables – spinach, corn, peppers
The filled tortillas are often garnished with guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and other typical taco toppings. Taquitos make for great appetizers, snacks, or party finger foods. You can eat them by hand and dip them in salsa or other dips.
Some key features that distinguish taquitos from other Mexican foods:
- They are smaller than regular tacos and use smaller tortillas.
- The tortilla is rolled tight rather than folded over as with a taco.
- Taquitos contain only one or two ingredients rather than a mix.
- They are always fried or baked until crispy.
The name comes from the Spanish words “taco” meaning stuffing wrapped in tortilla, and the diminutive “-ito” suffix meaning little. So taquito literally translates to “little taco.”
Nutrition Facts for Taquitos
Taquitos can vary in their nutrition profile depending on the brand, specific fillings used, cooking method (fried vs baked), and size.
In general, a typical fried beef or chicken taquito provides around:
- 150-200 calories
- 10-15 g fat
- 10-15 g carbs
- 5-10 g protein
As you can see, they are fairly high in calories and fat compared to foods like fresh tacos loaded with lean meat and veggies. The frying significantly increases the fat and calorie content.
However, baked taquitos are lower in fat and calories. A baked chicken or cheese taquito may provide around:
- 70-130 calories
- 2-6 g fat
- 10-15 g carbs
- 5-10 g protein
So baking instead of frying can cut more than 50% of the calories and 75% of the fat!
The other factor is size. Some brands make bite-size taquitos that are 2-3 inches long. Larger ones meant for entrée servings can be 6 inches or longer. The mini taquitos will be lower in calories than the jumbo ones.
Calories in 6 Taquitos
Now that we know the average nutrition stats for one taquito, let’s calculate the calories for six of them.
If we take a middle-of-the-road estimate of 170 calories per fried beef or chicken taquito:
170 calories x 6 taquitos = 1,020 calories
So six average fried taquitos would provide about 1,020 calories.
The total calories can range depending on size and ingredients:
- 6 mini crunchy beef taquitos (2 in. long) = around 720 calories
- 6 jumbo steak and cheese taquitos = around 1,200 calories
- 6 baked chicken taquitos = around 840 calories
As you can see, the smallest taquitos clock in around 720 calories for six pieces, while the largest jumbo steak and cheese ones go up to 1,200 calories. Choosing baked over fried saves you around 180 calories for six taquitos.
Calories Based on Different Fillings
The filling you choose also impacts the total calories:
- 6 fried beef taquitos = 1,020 calories
- 6 fried chicken taquitos = 1,020 calories
- 6 fried cheese taquitos = 1,110 calories
- 6 fried bean and cheese taquitos = 1,020 calories
- 6 baked potato taquitos = 780 calories
As shown above, cheese and cheese combos add the most calories, followed by meat fillings. Veggie fillings like potatoes have the fewest calories.
Daily Calorie Needs
To put the 1,020 calories for six fried taquitos into context, here’s how that fits into the average daily calorie needs:
- Women: require 2,000 calories per day on average.
- Men: require 2,500 calories per day on average.
So 1,020 calories from six taquitos provides:
- 51% of the average woman’s daily needs.
- 41% of the average man’s daily needs.
This assumes no other food is consumed. Realistically, the taquitos would be a snack or part of a meal. But it still represents a large portion of one’s daily calorie allotment.
As a general guide, nutritionists recommend getting no more than 10% of total calories from saturated fat. For a 2,000 calorie diet, that’s 22 grams of sat fat. And for a 2,500 calorie diet, it’s 28 grams.
Fried taquitos provide about 5-8 grams of saturated fat per serving. So six taquitos could supply up to 48 grams of sat fat, exceeding the daily amounts above.
Tips for Enjoying Taquitos in Moderation
Here are some tips to keep your taquito habit in check:
- Choose baked instead of fried.
- Go for smaller “bite size” rather than jumbo.
- Stick to fillings like chicken, carnitas, or veggie combos instead of just beef and cheese.
- Portion out on a plate rather than eating straight from the package.
- Dip in salsa rather than sour cream or cheese sauce.
- Serve as a starter to a meal rather than as a main course.
- Pair with fresh veggies and guacamole for added nutrition.
- Balance out the rest of your diet with lean protein and produce.
- Limit yourself to 2-3 taquitos at a time.
Healthier Baked Taquito Recipe
To lighten up this tasty snack, try making these baked chicken taquitos at home:
Ingredients:
- 8 small flour tortillas
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 1 avocado, diced
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- In a bowl, mix together chicken, cheese, avocado, lime juice, cilantro, chili powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper until combined.
- Place about 1/4 cup chicken mixture into each tortilla. Roll up tightly and place seam side down on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Spray tops lightly with cooking spray and bake 15 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
- Remove from oven and serve with salsa, guacamole, and light sour cream if desired.
Nutrition for 1 taquito:
- 150 calories
- 7g fat
- 12g carbs
- 10g protein
So you can cut the calories in half and boost nutrition by making your own healthy baked version!
The Bottom Line
So how many calories are in 6 taquitos? On average, 6 fried beef or chicken taquitos provide about 1,020 calories. This ranges from 720 calories for mini taquitos up to 1,200 calories for jumbo steak and cheese ones.
Baked taquitos are lower, coming in around 840 calories for 6 pieces. To enjoy taquitos as part of a healthy diet, go for baked over fried, stick to veggie and lean protein fillings, and keep your portion sizes in check. Making them at home lets you control the ingredients and calories.