What Is a Chicken Flauta?

Chicken flautas are just one type of flauta — a crowd-pleasing Mexican dish prepared in many different ways.

Flautas are made from tortillas that are filled before being rolled and fried. The word “flauta” is Spanish for “flute” — and you’ll immediately understand why if you’ve ever ordered this cuisine at a Mexican restaurant!

Flautas are a Mexican dish made by deep-frying a tortilla after wrapping it around a savory filling. Because small tortillas are often used, many flautas are usually included in a single serving. In addition to being widely popular in Mexico, variations of this dish can be found in South America and the American Southwest.

Are Flautas Authentic Mexican Food?

Flautas are authentic Mexican food as they originated in Sinaloa, a state in northern Mexico. Flautas consist of a corn tortilla filled with various ingredients. In this Grilla Grills chicken flauta recipe, we’re going with smoked chicken. Other common fillings are mashed potatoes or beef.

What Is the Difference Between Flautas and Taquitos?

If you love Mexican food, you’ve probably wondered about the differences between taquitos and flautas. Many devout Mexican cuisine foodies will distinguish between the two based on:

• Shape: Both taquitos and flautas make cylindrical shapes when rolled around filling. You can tell the difference between the two by observing the flauta’s ends — one is wider than the other, creating a cone shape.
• Size:While flautas are made using larger, burrito-size tortillas that resemble a flute when rolled, taquitos are often made with shorter, taco-size tortillas and are considered appetizers rather than the main meal.
• Type of tortilla:The variety of tortilla you use is the most notable difference between the two Mexican dishes. Flautas are generally made using flour tortillas, while taquitos are often prepared with corn tortillas.

How Do You Eat Smoked Chicken Flautas?

Crispy chicken flautas are eaten not with a fork or knife but with your fingers. In fact, one of the reasons they’re called “flutes” is because you hold them in your fingers like you’re playing the flute to eat them. That makes them perfect for a backyard barbeque or a weeknight movie snack.

Flautas are typically served with various condiments or toppings on a bed of crisp lettuce. Shredded cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, avocado and sour cream are classic options.

Serve these chicken flautas hot and smoked as party food or as a main entree the whole family will enjoy! Shop our site to get the accessories and grill you need to become a star in your backyard.