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Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos with Avocado Crema

Cheesy Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos with Avocado Crema is an easy recipe made in 35 minutes that’s a good source of protein with 280 calories!

Cheesy Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos drizzled with an Avocado Crema and garnished with sliced jalapenos and red onion

Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos drizzled with an Avocado Crema, a fun fall recipe the family will love. These chicken taquitos are made in 35 minutes and each serving has 28 grams of protein.

Do you have TV shows that inspire you? Or when you’re done watching them leave, you’re left with all the feels?

Basically, anything on the Food Network does that for me. It inspires me and gets those creative juices flowing. I was watching the Food Network Star sometime last year and there was this sweet-talking Italian man on the show, which meant I was mesmerized by every word he said. For one of the challenges, he made a Butternut Squash Chicken Enchilada and wowed the judges with its flavor.

Ever since then that recipe has been in my “notes” tab of “things to make” on my phone. Well no more waiting, today is the day!

A bowl of shredded chicken and butternut squash filling next to tortillas for taquitos

I figured as we are about to head into the fall months or harvest, it’s time to start whipping out those winter squash recipes. One of my favorite winter squashes to make besides acorn squash is butternut squash.

Butternut squash has a slightly sweet taste to it and a nice earthy squash flavor. There is just something so comforting about it and honestly butternut squash goes with just about anything. And today’s recipe will prove that to you.

In today’s recipe, Butternut Squash goes Tex-Mex and believe me you will be floored by the end results.

Cheesy Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos drizzled with an Avocado Crema and garnished with sliced jalapenos and red onion

I have always been a lover of Tex-Mex food and if you’ve been here a while you should know that by now with the 50+ recipes I have on JHE that are Tex-Mex inspired.

Have you ever wondered what’s so good about Mexican food? Why you can’t seem to put the chips filled with queso down? Why you just need to have one more bite of those cheesy enchiladas? Well…let me tell you!

Dairy! That’s why!

Cheese. Cream. Milk. Butter. It just makes everything taste better. The fall months are filled with these ingredients!

Just think of all the things you love that are comfort food. Most of them, if not ALL of them have dairy inside of them. The best part about dairy is it’s an easy, wholesome and natural choice for your family. It has calcium, protein, and other important nutrients plus you always know it’s fresh! Not only it is a good choice for your family but believe me it will make the crowd go wild, because let’s be honest, who can resist a big bowl of cheesy mac and cheese or gooey grilled cheese. That is just pure joy right there!

Top view of avocado crema ingredients in a food processor bowl and side view of a plate of taquitos topped with sliced jalapeno and red onion

OK, back to the subject.

These Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos are filled with shredded chicken, a few surprising spices, butternut squash and cheese!  Then they are finished with an avocado crema that totally takes these taquitos over the top, in my humble opinion. The crema is made from tangy Greek yogurt, fresh creamy avocado, lime juice, red pepper flakes, and a little bite of cumin.

Y’all these taquitos will take you to flavor town and back. They are perfect for a fun game day appetizer or a quick weeknight meal. Taquitos are super simple to make. In fact, I don’t know why I haven’t made them before!

A plate of butternut squash chicken taquitos and one bitten taquito in a hand

Wanna know the best part about this recipe? Each serving size has around 300 calories and around 30 grams of protein.

I call that one winner of a dish if you ask me!

If you want to surprise your family, sneak in a few veggies, but also deliver on taste then these Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos are definitely a worthy recipe. It’s something a little different, but I guarantee your kids will love it. My 5-year-old sure did. And just a warning, the avocado crema is a little addicting, as in my little guy almost finished the bowl by himself. So you may want to double the recipe. Just sayin.

Bon Appetit y’all!

Cheesy Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos drizzled with an Avocado Crema garnished with sliced jalapenos and red onion

**Created with America’s Dairy Farm Families and Importers, in partnership with the Innovation Center for U.S.Dairy. However, like always all opinions are 100% mine! Thank you for supporting the brands that support Joyful Healthy Eats. ***

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Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos with Avocado Crema - web-6

Cheesy Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos with Avocado Crema

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Krista @ JoyfulHealthyEats.com
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Yield: 13 taquitos 1x
  • Category: Chicken, Kid Friendly, Appetizer
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Description

Cheesy Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos drizzled with an Avocado Crema. A fun fall recipe the family will love.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 cups finely diced butternut squash
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, cooked and shredded
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese
  • 13 whole wheat tortillas

Avocado Crema:

  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Optional: garnish with fresh cilantro, sliced red onion, or sliced jalapeno

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
  2. Heat a medium skillet to medium high heat, add olive oil and red onion. Sauté until onions are translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
  3. Next add in the butternut squash and cook until the squash is just tender, about 7-10 minutes. Stirring throughout. Season with salt.é
  4. Add the butternut squash mixture to a large bowl, along with the shredded chicken breast. Add in ground cinnamon, cumin, and Mexican cheese. Gently toss to make sure spices coat the chicken and squash.
  5. Add about 1/3 cup of the chicken squash mixture to each tortilla and tightly roll. Place the tortilla seam side down on a baking sheet. Repeat process until all the tortilla shells are used up and chicken mixture is gone.
  6. Gently brush the top of each tortilla with canola oil.
  7. Bake for stuffed tortillas at 450 degrees F for 10-12 minutes.
  8. Remove from the oven and let rest to cool.
  9. In the meantime, to a food process or blender add plain Greek yogurt, avocado, fresh lime juice, ground cumin, red pepper flakes, and salt. Blend until smooth.
  10. Serve butternut squash chicken taquitos with avocado crema mixture.
  11. Optional: garnish with sliced red onion, fresh cilantro, and jalapeno.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 taquitos
  • Calories: 280
  • Sugar: 2 g
  • Sodium: 808 mg
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 16 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 28 g
  • Cholesterol: 50 mg

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IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, BE SURE TO SNAP A PIC AND HASHTAG IT #JOYFULHEALTHYEATS. I LOVE SEEING WHAT YOU MAKE!

Want more Tex-Mex Recipes?

Easy One Pan Southwestern Chicken and Rice

Steak Fajita Burrito Bowl

One Pot Mexican Shakshuka

Cheesy Butternut Squash Chicken Taquitos drizzled with an Avocado Crema and garnished with sliced jalapeno and red onion with recipe title text for Butternut Squash and Chicken Taquitos with Avocado Crema

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This post is created with America’s Dairy Farm Families and Importers, in partnership with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. However, the views and opinions included are my own.

This post is created with America’s Dairy Farm Families and Importers, in partnership with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. However, the views and opinions included are my own.