Air-Fryer Chicken Fajitas: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Chicken fajitas are a tasty, quick, and easy meal to make in an air fryer. They are perfect for a busy weeknight dinner, and you can even make them keto or low-carb by skipping the tortilla. The cooking time depends on the thickness of the chicken strips and the model of your air fryer, but it usually takes around 15 minutes to cook the chicken and vegetables. You can also make the fajita seasoning yourself if you have the right spices.

Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas

Chicken fajita ingredients

Chicken fajitas are a classic Mexican dish that can be made in an air fryer for added convenience and ease. The key ingredients for chicken fajitas are chicken, vegetables, oil, and fajita seasoning.

For the chicken, it is recommended to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips or 1/4-inch thick slices. The chicken can be seasoned with a homemade fajita seasoning mix or a store-bought option. If making your own seasoning, a mixture of chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper can be combined.

The vegetables typically used in chicken fajitas include bell peppers and onions, cut into strips or slices. Some recipes suggest using red, orange, yellow, and green peppers to add colour and variety. It is important not to slice the vegetables too thinly, as they may burn during the cooking process.

Oil is used to coat the chicken and vegetables before adding the fajita seasoning. Any type of oil can be used, such as canola, vegetable, avocado, or sunflower oil, or olive oil.

Once the chicken and vegetables are seasoned and coated, they are placed into the air fryer basket and cooked for around 15 minutes, depending on the model of the air fryer and the thickness of the chicken strips. It is important to not overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking.

Air fryer settings

Firstly, it is recommended to preheat your air fryer. Set the temperature to 380°F to 390°F (200°C) and preheat for about 5 minutes. This ensures even cooking when you add your ingredients. While the air fryer is preheating, prepare your chicken and vegetables by slicing them into strips or chunks, ensuring they are not too thin to avoid burning. You can use chicken breasts or chicken thighs, and for vegetables, bell peppers and onions are a great combination.

Once your air fryer is preheated, it's time to season your ingredients. In a large bowl, mix the chicken and vegetables with olive oil, fajita seasoning, and any additional spices or flavours like lime juice and chipotle paste. Ensure everything is well coated. You can also marinate the chicken in this mixture for at least 10 minutes to enhance the flavour.

Now, you're ready to place the ingredients into the air fryer basket. Make sure they are in a single layer and not overcrowded. Overfilling the basket may cause steaming instead of baking and charring. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.

Set your air fryer temperature to 380°F to 390°F (200°C) and cook for 15 to 18 minutes. It is essential to toss or shake the basket halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking. If you prefer softer vegetables, you may need to add a couple of extra minutes to the cooking time.

To check if your chicken fajitas are done, use a fork and knife to cut through a piece of chicken. It should be cooked through, with no pink remaining. The vegetables should be slightly soft but still retain some crunch. If needed, continue cooking in small increments until your desired doneness is achieved.

Cooking time

The cooking time for chicken fajitas in an air fryer depends on the thickness of the chicken strips, the type of air fryer you are using, and the quantity of food being cooked.

It is recommended that you preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes. The ideal temperature for cooking chicken fajitas is 380°F to 390°F (200°C). If you are using a smaller air fryer, you may need to add a couple of minutes to the cooking time to account for the reduced airflow. It is also important not to overcrowd your air fryer basket. If the basket is too full, the food will "steam" rather than "bake" and char.

The cooking time for chicken fajitas in an air fryer is typically between 15 and 18 minutes. It is important to toss or shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking. If you are cooking the chicken and vegetables together, it is recommended to cook them for 10 minutes, add the vegetables, and then cook for another 5 minutes. This will result in slightly soft vegetables with some crunch.

If you are cooking the chicken and vegetables separately, the chicken will take about 12 minutes to cook, shaking the basket halfway through. The vegetables will take about 14 minutes to cook, again shaking the basket halfway through. You can add two minutes to the vegetable cooking time if you prefer softer veggies.

To check if your chicken is cooked, you can use a fork and knife to cut through a small piece and ensure that the meat is cooked in the middle. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 °F.

Serving suggestions

Chicken fajitas cooked in an air fryer are perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. They are tender, flavorful, and perfectly charred with crunchy peppers and onions. The cooking time depends on the thickness of the chicken strips, the capacity of the air fryer, and the model of your air fryer. It is recommended to cook the chicken fajitas for about 15 minutes, tossing halfway through, and then add a couple of minutes of cooking time if needed.

Chicken fajitas are a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions:

• Tortillas: Chicken fajitas can be served in small tortillas, either wheat or corn tortillas. If you are avoiding gluten, you can use gluten-free tortilla bread. You can also toast the tortillas in the air fryer, but it is not necessary.
• Toppings: There are several toppings that you can add to your chicken fajitas. Some options include guacamole, pico de gallo, pineapple salsa, lime crema, lime wedges, fresh cilantro, and your favorite fajita toppings. You can also squeeze a bit of lime juice over each fajita to add extra flavor.
• Sides: Chicken fajitas can be served with a variety of sides. Some options include rice, quinoa, or a salad with greens. You can also serve them with chicken wings or chips.
• Dietary Restrictions: If you are following a keto or low-carb diet, you can enjoy chicken fajitas without any bread, similar to a chicken fajita bowl.
• Leftovers: Any leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator and eaten within four days.
• Customizations: Chicken fajitas are a customizable dish. You can use store-bought fajita seasoning or make your own homemade seasoning mix. You can also use different types of chicken, such as chicken breasts or chicken thighs, and cut them into strips or slices. Additionally, you can use a variety of peppers and onions, such as bell peppers, sweet peppers, or red onions.

Recipe reviews

Little Sunny Kitchen

Little Sunny Kitchen's recipe for air fryer chicken fajitas is a "HUGE hit" with one user's family. The recipe is also praised for being easy and delicious. The site recommends using a preheated 390°F (200°C) air fryer and cooking the fajitas for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. The site also suggests making your own seasoning mix, which one user says is "a keeper".

RecipeTeacher

One user says RecipeTeacher's "Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas" are "absolutely awesome". The recipe is praised for being easy, and the user says they will be making it again. The recipe calls for a preheated air fryer set to 380° and the fajitas are cooked for 15 to 18 minutes, with everything being tossed every few minutes.

The Skinnyish Dish

The Skinnyish Dish's recipe is described as "delish", "really good", "so so yummy", and "easy and delicious". One user says they cooked the recipe in two batches because their air fryer was a bit small. The recipe is also recommended for busy weeknights, with one user saying it's "perfect" for such occasions.

Liana's Kitchen

Liana's Kitchen's recipe is hailed as a success, with one user saying their fajitas turned out "so well". The recipe calls for a preheated air fryer set to 200°C/390°F and the chicken and vegetables are cooked for a total of 15 minutes, with the chicken being shaken halfway through. The recipe also includes instructions for making a fajita spice mix, which one user says is "incredibly flavourful".

The Recipe Well

The Recipe Well's recipe is described as "quick, easy and healthy". One user says it's one of their "go-to dinners" and that it's "perfectly cooked" and "healthy". The recipe calls for a preheated air fryer and the fajitas are cooked for 15 minutes, being tossed halfway through. The site also includes instructions for making a homemade spice blend, which is said to be "worth the extra couple minutes".

Frequently asked questions