Delicious Antojitos are a perfect appetizer for any occasion. Antojitos are tortillas filled with cream cheese, diced vegetables and cheddar cheese are rolled, baked and cut into bite-sized pieces for a quick and easy appetizer.
In Mexico, Antojitos is a catch all word for Mexican street food. I understand that Antojitos translates to “little cravings”.
These Antojitos are quick and easy to make, so if you’re still looking for some football food inspiration, this would be a perfect addition to your menu for Sunday’s big game.
This antojitos recipe starts with a mixture of cream cheese, mixed with finely diced red pepper, jalapeño and green onion. This mixture is spread on large tortillas and topped with cheddar cheese. They are then rolled, baked until melty and slightly crisp and then cut into bite-sized pieces.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Tortillas – start with large flour tortillas. I use plain, but you could use flavoured (tomato, spinach) if you like.
Breadcrumbs – The bread crumbs simply act to bind the filling together a bit (make it firmer when warm). If you don’t have any bread crumbs, just omit. Your filling will be a wee bit looser, but it won’t affect the finished taste at all if you leave them out.
Hot Sauce – Any hot sauce you have on hand is fine, or leave out if you’re not wanting the extra bit of spice. I used Tabasco™ sauce – a half dozen drops or so. Sriracha would also work. Adjust the amount based on the how big a spice punch your sauce packs.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to dice your vegetables fairly small, so your tortillas can be rolled tightly and evenly.
- If you’re like me, you may be tempted to up the cheddar cheese in the filling, as it doesn’t seem like a lot the first time you make them. Trust me though, it’s enough. It’s a good balance with the other ingredients and it keeps these bites from getting too greasy.
- With 1/4 cup diced jalapeno, these rolls are pleasantly spicy. They are unlikely to be too spicy for most adults. Kids used to eating jalapeno or similarly spicy foods, should also find them fine. If you’re feeding a really heat-averse group, reduce to 2 – 3 Tbsp. or so.
- Note that the recipe above makes 12 individual pieces (from 3 rolls). They are a fairly generous size though, so you won’t need a bunch per person. But, you can easily double/triple recipe as needed, to make more!
Make Ahead
Make these ahead by wrapping well with plastic wrap and refrigerating up to 24 hours, after rolling, but before brushing with butter/baking. Allow a few extra cooking minutes if they are cold when they go in the oven. You can also make these ahead and freeze them. Double wrap with plastic wrap and freeze, after rolling, but before brushing with butter/baking. Thaw at room temperature or in the fridge overnight before baking.
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Get the Recipe: Antojitos
Ingredients
For filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese, regular, not whipped - at room temperature
- 1/4 cup red pepper, finely diced (about 1/4 of a large pepper)
- 1/4 cup jalapeño pepper, finely diced (about 1 medium pepper)
- 1/3 cup green onion, finely diced (1/2 bunch)
- 3 Tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 3 Tablespoons dried bread crumbs
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
- Salt and pepper
For assembly:
- 3 large tortilla shells, (about 9- diameter)
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
For dip:
- Sour cream
- Diced green onion
- Sriracha, (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. (regular bake setting/not fan assisted)
- Place cream cheese in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave for 10-15 seconds, just to soften (give it another 5-10 seconds if cream cheese is cold, but be careful not to melt!). Add the rest of the filling ingredients to the bowl and mix thoroughly to combine. Be sure to add salt and pepper, to taste.
- Lay out 3 large tortillas. Divide the filling between the 3 tortillas. Using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the filling over the tortilla, getting as close the edge as you can. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over-top, dividing it between the 3 tortillas.
- Roll up tortillas: With the tortilla in front of you, fold in about 3/4-inch of the tortilla over the filling at the 3-o'clock and 9 o'clock position, just to straighten up the sides a bit. Then, starting with the edge closest to you, roll the tortilla up jelly-roll style. Place on a baking sheet, with the seam down. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
- Cut the tortillas: Brush tortillas with melted butter, then make 3 slices about halfway through (not all the way through!) the roll as shown here - / | (so with tortilla horizontally in front of you, about one quarter in from the left, make one diagonal slice to the right, then make one slice in the middle straight up and down and then one quarter in from the right, make one diagonal slice to the left.
- Bake tortillas for 18-20 minutes, or until crisp and golden. Remove from oven and finish cutting through the slices you made before baking to make 4 pieces from each roll.
- Serve with sour cream garnished with diced green onion and a splash of Srirarcha, if you like.
- These can be made ahead. Wrap well in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for a day or double wrap and freeze. Thaw at room temperature in wrapping, then brush with butter, slice and bake as usual.
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Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
Can you serve these cold at a party?
Hi Shelley and yes, these are very nice cold, as well.
These were delicious and super easy to make! I added some taco seasoning in mine and that was great.
So glad you enjoyed them, Priya :) Thanks so much!
How did I miss this post? These are way more than football food – they are a great lunch, dinner, picnic, camping, travel or party appetizer! So pretty too – thanks Jennifer – have a wonderful week.
Thanks Tricia and yes, these would be perfect to have in the freezer for whenever! Have a great week, too :)
What tasty bites and just perfect for football season!
Thanks Laura :)
The Super Bowl may be over (and my team may have lost), but I can NEVER get enough small bites! LOVE these antojitos, Jennifer!! I always called them roll ups, so thanks for teaching me a new word! ;) Totally making these one day this week and calling it dinner! Pinned! Cheers!
Thanks Cheyanne and sorry that your team lost :( I think these would make an excellent dinner!
Sounds nice.
Thanks Liz! :)
These sound so easy and totally love that you can freeze them. I love your section, Cook’s Notes! So helpful!
Thanks so much, Mary Ann :)
I actually think I might start to like football with snacks like this — I need to come watch sports at your house jennifer :)
Thanks Sue and it works for me. Everything is better with good food ;)
When do you put the shredded cheese? After you spread out the filling on the tortilla?
Ooops. Forgot that part. Fixed now. Sorry Carolyn. Thanks for the heads up :)
No problem! Excited to try these for Super Bowl Sunday :)