Air-Fried Fajitas: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air fryers are a convenient way to make fajitas. They can be used to cook the chicken, steak, shrimp, or vegetables that go into a fajita, and even to warm the tortillas. The air fryer's ability to cook food quickly and make it crispy, with minimal washing up afterward, makes it a great option for busy mid-week dinners.

Chicken fajitas

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 2-3 bell peppers (any colour)
• 1 red onion
• 2-3 tbsp oil (olive or avocado)
• Fajita seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 (6-inch) flour tortillas, warmed (optional)

Instructions:

• Cut the chicken, peppers, and onion into thin, evenly sized slices. Remove the "tendon" from the chicken by holding the white "nub" with a paper towel and a fork, then pulling it up and pushing the fork down.
• In a large bowl, combine the chicken, peppers, onion, oil, and fajita seasoning. Toss to coat the ingredients evenly.
• Place the mixture into the air fryer basket. You may need to cook in batches if your air fryer is on the smaller side.
• Cook at 360-400°F for 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway through. For softer veggies, add 2 minutes to the cooking time.
• Serve the chicken and veggies in tortillas or over rice/salad with desired toppings such as salsa, guacamole, cheese, or sour cream.

Steak fajitas

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. skirt steak or flank steak, sliced across the grain into 1/4-inch strips
• 2-4 tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 1 tbsp. lime juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. chili powder
• 2 bell peppers, sliced
• 1 red or yellow onion, sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Flour tortillas, for serving

Optional ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp. jalapeño chile powder
• 1/4 tsp. ground coriander
• Cheese
• Cilantro
• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Guacamole
• Pico de gallo

Instructions:

• Combine the olive oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and any optional spices in a resealable plastic bag. Add the steak, onion, and bell pepper. Coat with the marinade, remove excess air, and seal the bag. Refrigerate for 8 hours to overnight, or for a minimum of 30 minutes.
• Line the air fryer basket with perforated parchment paper or foil. If using foil, roll up the sides to allow air to circulate.
• Add the marinated vegetables and steak to the air fryer basket. Cook at 360-400°F for 5 minutes.
• Remove the basket and shake to ensure even cooking. Cook for an additional 4-10 minutes, or until the steak is done to your liking.
• Serve the fajita filling with warm tortillas and your choice of toppings.

Tips:

• For a less messy option, use a silicone liner to prevent sticking.
• If you prefer a dry rub to a marinade, combine the spices and rub them onto the steak before cooking.
• To cook the steak and vegetables separately, cook the vegetables first for 10 minutes, then add the steak for the final 7-10 minutes of cooking time.
• For a well-done steak, aim for an internal temperature of 140°F, which will result in a mostly brown center with a tiny bit of pink.

Marinating the meat

For the marinade, you can use a mixture of olive oil, lime juice, soy sauce, and spices such as garlic, cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika. Pineapple juice is also a great addition to the marinade as it helps to tenderize the steak. Place the steak in a large zip-top bag or bowl, add the marinade, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. The longer you leave it, the more tender and flavourful the steak will be.

Once the steak has finished marinating, remove it from the refrigerator and pat it dry with paper towels before adding it to the air fryer.

Using foil in the air fryer

Using foil in an air fryer can be helpful, especially when cooking greasy foods or breaded bites that leave crumbs everywhere. However, it is essential to use it correctly to avoid fire hazards, chemical leaching, and undercooked food.

Firstly, always check your air fryer model's instruction booklet, as some models warn against using foil altogether. For example, Philips does not recommend using foil, while Frigidaire says it's okay as long as you line the basket and not the bottom of the fryer.

If you are using foil, follow these four basic rules:

• Never let the foil touch the heating element. Anything that comes into contact with a hot fan or heater can cause a fire.
• Don't cover the entire basket in foil. Instead, trim the foil to size, using the removable basket as a cutting template. This will help you achieve the perfect fit for the bottom of your air fryer.
• Weigh down the foil with food. If you have loose foil that is not weighed down, it could blow around your machine and come into contact with the heating elements, causing a malfunction.
• Avoid using foil when cooking acidic foods or foods marinated in highly acidic ingredients. Acidic foods such as tomatoes, peppers, or citrus can react with aluminum when heated in the air fryer, causing aluminum to leach into your food and potentially leaving a metallic taste and posing health risks.

Homemade fajita seasoning

Fajita seasoning is a blend of spices that can be used as a dry rub or marinade for fajitas. It typically includes a combination of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper, with some recipes calling for additional ingredients like salt, sugar, oregano, or cornstarch.

Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika (either sweet or smoked)
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar (optional)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Cayenne pepper to taste
• Salt to taste (optional)

Instructions:

Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Store the seasoning in an airtight container.

Usage:

To use the fajita seasoning, you can follow these steps:

• In a plastic bag, add 2 pounds of chicken (breasts or thighs).
• Add ¼ cup minced cilantro, 3 tablespoons of lime juice, and 2 tablespoons of the fajita seasoning.
• Mash and mix until the chicken is evenly coated.
• Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 1 hour in the refrigerator.
• In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering.
• Add the chicken and cook until crispy and browned on one side, about 8 minutes.
• Flip the chicken and cook until browned on the second side and cooked to your desired doneness, about 8 to 10 minutes longer.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes before cutting into strips.
• In the same skillet, add sliced bell peppers and onions. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Serve the chicken and vegetables with tortillas, avocado, cilantro, sour cream, or your favorite toppings.

Feel free to adjust the measurements and add or omit ingredients based on your personal preference and taste. Enjoy experimenting with your homemade fajita seasoning!

Frequently asked questions