Oven-Baked Refried Bean and Cheese Vegetarian Taquitos Recipe

By
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/23/22
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 12 servings

Vegetarian taquitos made with refried beans, cheese, and hot sauce wrapped in corn tortillas and baked in the oven.

I find that taquitos, (similar to flautas), particularly vegetarian taquitos, are one of those foods that are somehow more than just the sum of their parts. By that I mean, by looking at the recipe below, you'd have no way of knowing just how amazing these vegetarian taquitos are, either for an appetizer or a meal on the lighter side. Of course, I'm biased because I absolutely love Mexican food. 

Personally, I like my taquitos on the fat side and light on the cheese. Most recipes will tell you to only put about 1 tablespoon of filling in each corn tortilla before you roll it up, but I usually put more like two or three, hence why the filling is spilling out over the ends so beautifully in the photo.

Looking for more vegetarian Mexican food? Check out this complete list of of meatless Mexican meals here, or this guide to vegetarian foods for your Cinco de Mayo party. 

Ingredients

  • 1 (14-ounce) can refried beans

  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce, more for serving if desired

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas

  • 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons oil

  • Salsa, optional

  • Sour cream, optional

  • Guacamole, optional

  • Thinly sliced scallions, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. First, mash together the beans with the hot sauce and salt. Putting a bit of salsa or leftover enchilada sauce in there, if you happen to have some on hand wouldn't hurt either. 

  2. Next, warm up your corn tortillas to soften this. You can do this in the microwave for about 15 seconds per tortilla, or, wrap about 3 tortillas in paper towels and microwave them for 30 seconds. They should be soft, but not crisp or flaky. If your corn tortillas are breaking, too stiff, or difficult to work with, moisten a few paper towels, wrap the tortillas in paper towels and microwave for a few more seconds.

  3. Next, take a warmed corn tortilla and spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of the bean mixture in a single line a little away from the center of the tortilla. Sprinkle with about 1 1/2 teaspoons of shredded cheese.

  4. Next, roll your taquitos. Starting with the end closest to the filling, roll them up.

Now you can choose to either bake or fry your taquitos.

To bake your vegetarian bean taquitos:
Preheat your oven to 425 F. I like to use a toaster oven, since the taquitos are so small and don't take up too much space. You don't need to grease your baking pan, but if you brush it lightly with olive oil, you'l be rewarded with a bit of extra flavor. Bake your simple taquitos for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisped. Enjoy.

To fry your vegetarian bean taquitos:
Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a small frying pan. Carefully place individual taquitos into the oil, using a toothpick to hold them together, if you need. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

Like these vegetarian taquitos? Here's a few more vegetarian and vegan Mexican food recipes you might like:

See also: 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
84 Calories
6g Fat
6g Carbs
3g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 84
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 7%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 5mg 2%
Sodium 203mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 2mg 12%
Calcium 45mg 3%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 120mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)