Bean and Cheese Taquitos

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onions. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and translucent.

Add the pinto beans and their cooking liquid, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cumin to the skillet. Stir the mixture well to combine all the ingredients. Cook for an additional 3 - 4 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Using a hand masher, mash the bean mixture until it is smooth with some chunks remaining. If the beans seem too liquidy, continue cooking them in the skillet until the excess liquid reduces. This is important because if the beans are too runny, they may ooze out of the taquitos.

Warm the corn tortillas. You can do this in a nonstick skillet, a microwave, or a comal. As you warm the tortillas, store them in a tortilla warmer to keep them soft and pliable while you assemble the taquitos.

Take a warm corn tortilla and pour 1 heaping tablespoon of the bean mixture onto it. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese on top of the bean mixture. Then, roll the tortilla tightly and secure the seams with a toothpick.

Choose your cooking method: - To fry: Pour enough oil into the bottom of a deep skillet or frying pan so that the oil reaches ¼ of the way up the taquitos. Heat the oil over medium - high heat until it reaches 350°F. Working in batches, add 3 - 4 taquitos to the hot oil. Fry them for about 1 - 2 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time, until they are golden brown. Transfer the fried taquitos to a large plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels to soak up any excess oil. - To bake: Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the taquitos on a large baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Generously brush or spray the tops of the taquitos with cooking oil. Bake the taquitos for 15 - 17 minutes on the bottom rack of the oven, or until they are crispy and golden brown. - To air fry: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the taquitos in a single layer in the air fryer basket, seam side down. Spray the tops of the taquitos with cooking spray. Air fry the taquitos for 5 minutes, then flip them over, spray them again, and air fry for an additional 5 minutes. Transfer the air - fried taquitos to a plate and repeat the process with the remaining taquitos.

Once the taquitos are cooked, remove and discard the toothpicks. Serve the taquitos on a plate with your desired toppings.