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

Chicken fajitas are a quick, easy, and tasty meal to make in an air fryer. The air fryer is a convenient way to cook food, as it cooks food faster than an oven, and there is less washing up to do afterward. Chicken fajitas are a great option for a weeknight dinner, as they can be made in under 30 minutes. The chicken is succulent and juicy, and the vegetables are crisp. You can serve chicken fajitas in a tortilla or over rice or lettuce, with toppings such as salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.

Chicken and vegetable preparation

Next, you will need to season the chicken and vegetables. You can use a store-bought fajita seasoning, or make your own by combining chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and a pinch of sugar. The sugar will help the fajitas caramelize and give them a beautiful color. If you are using a store-bought seasoning, coat the chicken and vegetables generously and make sure everything is well coated. If you are using a homemade seasoning, you will need to coat the chicken and vegetables with olive oil first, and then sprinkle on the seasoning.

Seasoning and coating

Firstly, prepare the chicken by slicing it into strips or 1/4-inch thick slices. Boneless, skinless chicken breast works well for this recipe. Then, cut up the vegetables. Bell peppers and onions are commonly used, but feel free to add other vegetables of your choice. It is recommended to slice the vegetables into strips or chunks, avoiding thin slices to prevent burning.

Once the chicken and vegetables are prepared, it's time to season them. Drizzle or coat them generously with oil. Any type of oil can be used, such as olive oil, vegetable oil, avocado oil, or sunflower oil. Ensure that the oil coats the chicken and vegetables evenly.

Now, it's time to add the fajita seasoning. You can use a store-bought fajita seasoning mix, or make your own by combining spices like chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and a pinch of sugar. The sugar will add a beautiful colour to the dish as it caramelises during cooking. Mix the spices with the chicken and vegetables, making sure everything is well coated. Be generous with the seasoning to ensure a flavourful dish.

If you have time, you can let the chicken and vegetables marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight. This will allow the flavours to penetrate the meat and vegetables, resulting in a more intense flavour. However, this step is optional, and the dish will still be delicious if cooked immediately after seasoning.

Air fryer settings

To cook chicken fajitas in an air fryer, you'll need to preheat the appliance and then cook the ingredients for around 15 minutes, tossing or shaking the basket halfway through.

First, preheat your air fryer. Most sources suggest preheating to 380°F or 390°F (200°C). One source recommends a lower temperature of 360°F. Preheat for around 5 minutes.

Once preheated, add your seasoned ingredients to the air fryer basket or tray. Set the air fryer to the same temperature and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing or shaking the basket halfway through. The cooking time depends on the thickness of your chicken strips and the model of your air fryer, so you may need to cook for a few extra minutes. Check your chicken is cooked by cutting through a small piece with a fork and knife to see if it's cooked in the middle.

Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket. If you fill the basket with layers of chicken and vegetables, the food will "steam" rather than "roast" or "bake" and char.

Cooking time

The cooking time for chicken fajitas in an air fryer depends on the model of the air fryer and the thickness of the chicken strips. It is recommended to preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes. The air fryer basket or tray should not be overcrowded to avoid steaming the food instead of baking or roasting it.

After preheating, the air fryer basket or tray should be filled with the seasoned chicken and vegetables. The air fryer should then be set to 360°F to 390°F (200°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing or shaking the basket halfway through. The fajitas are done when the chicken is well cooked in the middle.

The air fryer is a convenient way to cook chicken fajitas as it cooks and crisps the food quickly. It also requires minimal washing up afterward. The chicken fajitas can be served in tortillas or over rice or lettuce, with toppings such as salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or avocado slices.

For those who prefer their fajitas with a little kick, a homemade fajita seasoning mix can be made with common ingredients such as chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and a pinch of sugar. The sugar will caramelize during the air frying process, adding a beautiful color to the dish.

Serving suggestions

Chicken fajitas cooked in an air fryer can be served in a variety of ways. The most traditional way is to serve them in a tortilla wrap, with wheat, corn, or gluten-free tortillas all being suitable options. You can also serve them with rice or lettuce, or over a salad.

For a lighter option, you can skip the tortilla and create a fajita bowl. This can be done by using quinoa and lettuce as the base, or cooked quinoa and shredded romaine lettuce.

Fajitas are usually served with toppings such as salsa, sour cream, guacamole, avocado slices, lime wedges, fresh cilantro, and cheese. You can also add pineapple salsa, lime crema, pico de gallo, or Mexican corn salad.

If you are making the fajitas in advance, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, use the air fryer's reheat function and set the temperature to 400°F for five minutes.

Frequently asked questions