Air Fryer Hard Shell Tacos: Fast And Easy?

Tacos are a fun and versatile meal, and you can make hard shell tacos in an air fryer. You can use corn or flour tortillas, and the process is simple and quick. You can make crispy shells without the mess of hot oil in a skillet, and they are ready in less than 10 minutes. You can also fill your tacos with whatever you like, from meat to beans and cheese, and even vegetarian options.

How to make hard shell tacos in an air fryer

Ingredients and Tools

To make hard shell tacos in an air fryer, you will need:

• Corn tortillas (or flour tortillas if you prefer)
• Oil (olive oil, avocado oil, or cooking spray)
• Taco fillings of your choice (e.g. seasoned ground beef, black beans, shredded chicken, etc.)
• Taco toppings of your choice (e.g. sour cream, salsa, avocado, hot sauce, cheese, etc.)
• A pastry brush (optional)
• Taco molds or aluminum foil (if you don't want your tacos to open up)

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Prepare the Tortillas

• If using corn tortillas, wrap them in a damp paper towel and heat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. This step ensures that your tortillas don't crack when folded. You can also heat them in a dry skillet for 20-30 seconds on each side until pliable.
• If using flour tortillas, you may need to adjust the cooking time in the air fryer to get them crispy.

Step 2: Fill and Shape the Tortillas

• Fill each tortilla with your desired taco fillings, such as meat and cheese.
• Fold the tortillas over to form a taco shape.
• If you want to prevent your tacos from opening up during cooking, you can use toothpicks to hold them closed. Alternatively, you can use taco molds or create small tents with aluminum foil to drape the shells over as they cook.

Step 3: Cook the Tacos in the Air Fryer

• Preheat your air fryer to 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Lightly coat each tortilla with oil on both sides using a pastry brush or cooking spray.
• Place the tacos in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Cook in batches if necessary.
• Air fry for 4-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the tortillas are golden, crispy, and cooked to your desired level of doneness.

Step 4: Add Toppings and Serve

• Once the tacos are cooked, carefully remove them from the air fryer and top with your favorite toppings.
• Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious, crispy hard shell tacos!

Tips:

• If you want extra crispy tacos, increase the cooking time by 1-2 minutes.
• If using an air fryer with racks, you can place the tortillas over the rack, hanging down, to air fry.
• You can season your taco shells before cooking by sprinkling on onion soup mix, buffalo wing mix, taco seasoning, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, or chipotle chili powder.
• Store leftover taco shells in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-4 days.

Filling ideas for hard shell tacos

Once you've made your hard taco shells in the air fryer, it's time to fill them with your favourite ingredients.

One popular option is to fill your tacos with ground beef. To make this filling, cook the beef in a pan with onion, garlic powder, onion powder, chilli powder, oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. You can also add canned tomatoes for extra flavour and texture. If you're making this filling, you might want to put out a toppings bar so that everyone can add their preferred extras to their tacos. Some popular toppings include lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.

If you're vegetarian, you could fill your tacos with beans and cheese, or you could use chicken, grilled carne asada, crispy fried fish, or blackened Portobello mushrooms.

One tip for assembling your tacos is to put the cheese in first. This acts as a kind of glue, helping to keep the weakest part of the tortilla from cracking or breaking apart.

How to store leftover hard shell tacos

If you have leftover hard shell tacos, you can store them in an airtight container or a tightly sealed storage bag. Keep them on your kitchen counter for 2-4 days. It is not recommended to freeze cooked taco shells as they will become mealy and fall apart once they thaw.

To reheat your leftover tacos, place them in the oven or air fryer and heat at 300-350°F until hot. This should take around 5 minutes.

How to prevent cracking when making hard shell tacos

Making hard shell tacos in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to get deliciously crispy shells. However, corn tortillas can be prone to cracking, so here are some tips to prevent that from happening:

Warm the Tortillas First

Before filling and shaping your tortillas, it's important to warm them up. This makes the tortillas more pliable and less likely to crack. You can do this by wrapping them in a damp paper towel and heating them in the microwave for about 30 seconds to a minute. Alternatively, heat them in a dry skillet for around 20-30 seconds on each side until they're soft and pliable.

Use a Taco Mould or Aluminium Foil

To get the classic taco shape, you can use a taco mould or create your own by making small tents out of aluminium foil. Drape the warmed tortilla over the mould or foil and place it in the air fryer basket. This will help the tortilla hold its shape without cracking.

Avoid Overcrowding the Air Fryer Basket

When cooking your tacos, make sure you don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave adequate space for air to circulate, which will help ensure even cooking and prevent cracking. You may need to cook your tacos in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.

Adjust the Timing

Keep an eye on your tacos while they're cooking and adjust the timing as needed. If your tortillas start to crack, reheat them for a few seconds to soften them again. You can also increase the cooking time by a minute or two if you want extra crispy shells, but be careful not to overcook them, as this can lead to cracking.

Use Flour Tortillas

While corn tortillas are traditional for hard shell tacos, flour tortillas are less prone to cracking. You can use flour tortillas and still get a crispy shell, but you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly.

How to heat hard shell tacos

Using an Air Fryer

To heat hard taco shells in an air fryer, start by preheating the appliance to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, arrange the shells in a single layer in the air fryer basket and heat them for about two minutes.

Using an Oven

Alternatively, you can heat hard taco shells in a conventional oven. Simply set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place the shells directly on the oven racks, hanging them over two grates to create a space for your fillings. Bake for four to five minutes, keeping an eye on them to ensure they only turn slightly golden and crisp.

Preparing the Shells

Before heating your taco shells, it is important to prepare them properly to prevent cracking. If using corn tortillas, wrap them in a towel and heat in the microwave for about a minute until very warm and pliable. For flour tortillas, it is still recommended to warm them so they are soft and flexible before filling and heating.

Filling the Tacos

Once your shells are warmed and pliable, you can fill them with your desired ingredients. Popular options include seasoned ground beef, shredded chicken, black beans, or pulled pork. Don't forget to add cheese to your tacos before heating them, as this will help the cheese melt and get crispy around the edges.

Reheating Tacos

If you have leftover tacos, you can easily reheat them in the air fryer or oven. Place them in the air fryer or oven and heat at 300 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they are warmed through. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.

Frequently asked questions