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

Air fryers are a convenient way to make fajitas, with minimal clean-up required afterwards. You can make chicken, steak, or vegetarian fajitas in an air fryer, and they can be served in a variety of ways, including in tortillas, over rice, or in a salad.

Choosing and preparing your ingredients

Choosing your ingredients

Chicken fajitas are usually made with chicken breast, but you can also use chicken tenders or chicken strips. If you're looking for an alternative to chicken, you can use sirloin steak or tofu strips.

For the vegetables, you'll need bell peppers (red, yellow, and/or green), sliced into strips or slices. You can also add a red onion, sliced into wedges or slices. Some recipes also include zucchini, sliced into strips, or a red chilli, sliced.

Preparing your ingredients

If you're making your own fajita seasoning, you'll need ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and oregano. You can also add garlic granules, ground coriander, and Cajun seasoning. Alternatively, you can use a store-bought fajita seasoning mix.

Drizzle olive oil or vegetable oil over your chicken and vegetables. Then, season with your chosen spices and toss to combine. Make sure everything is well coated.

Air fryer settings and timings

The air fryer is a convenient way to cook fajitas, and the settings and timings can vary slightly depending on the model of your air fryer and your personal preferences. Here are the step-by-step instructions, along with some tips on settings and timings:

• Preheat the Air Fryer: Most recipes recommend preheating your air fryer. The suggested temperatures vary, ranging from 350°F (175°C) to 400°F (200°C). Check your air fryer's instructions and adjust the temperature accordingly.
• Prepare the Ingredients: Cut your chosen protein (chicken, steak, or tofu) into strips or slices. For chicken, it is recommended to use boneless and skinless breasts or tenders. For vegetables, bell peppers, onions, and zucchini are popular choices. Cut them into thin strips, slices, or wedges. You can also add spices and seasonings like garlic, cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Combine and Coat: In a large bowl, combine your protein and vegetables. Drizzle oil over the mixture and add your chosen spices and seasonings. Toss or mix well to ensure everything is evenly coated.
• Load the Air Fryer Basket: Place the coated ingredients into the air fryer basket. It is important not to overcrowd the basket to allow for even cooking. If needed, cook in batches to avoid overcrowding.
• Air Fry: Set the temperature and time according to your recipe and air fryer model. Most recipes suggest cooking for around 15-20 minutes, but this may vary. It is recommended to shake or stir the ingredients halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking. The ideal temperature seems to be around 360°F to 400°F, but again, this can vary based on your air fryer and desired doneness.
• Check for Doneness: Use a kitchen thermometer to check the internal temperature of the protein. For chicken, an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) indicates that it is safely cooked. For steak, use a meat thermometer to check if it has reached your desired level of doneness.
• Rest and Serve: Once cooked, transfer the ingredients to a plate and let them rest for a few minutes. You can then serve them in warmed tortillas with your choice of toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, avocado slices, cheese, or sour cream. You can also get creative and serve them over rice or a bed of lettuce for a fajita bowl.

Remember to always refer to your air fryer's instructions and adjust the settings and timings as needed. Enjoy experimenting with different proteins, vegetables, and seasonings to create your perfect air-fried fajita feast!

Serving suggestions

There are many ways to serve air fryer fajitas. You can serve them in the traditional way, wrapped in tortillas, or you can get creative and serve them over rice or salad. You can also make fajita bowls using quinoa and lettuce as the base, topped with salsa, guacamole, and cilantro.

For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free tortilla bread or skip the wraps and have the fajita mixture with crisp tacos or rice instead.

You can also add toppings of your choice, such as salsa, sliced avocado, cheese, lime crema, pineapple salsa, lime wedges, or fresh cilantro.

Making your own fajita seasoning

Here's a simple recipe for fajita seasoning that you can make at home:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 4 teaspoons ground cumin
• 4 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions:

• Measure out all the spices and put them in a bowl.
• Stir the spices until they are well combined.
• Store the seasoning in an airtight jar for up to a year.

This seasoning is perfect for chicken, beef, or shrimp fajitas. You can also add it to soup or use it to make a delicious marinade.

Feel free to adjust the amounts of each spice to suit your taste preferences. You can also experiment with adding other spices like cinnamon or red chili flakes for an extra kick.

Enjoy your homemade fajitas!

Tips and tricks for cooking with an air fryer

Preheat your air fryer

Just like a conventional oven, it is best to preheat your air fryer before cooking. This will help ensure that your food browns or crisps up nicely. However, unlike an oven, it only takes a couple of minutes to preheat an air fryer. Some models have a light to indicate when the unit is preheated. You can also choose to skip preheating altogether, as some people do, and see which method gives you the best results.

Use oil sparingly

Use a light hand when applying oil to your food. Excess oil will end up in the drawer under the grate, and if there is too much buildup, it might smoke. If your food already has fat on it (e.g. skin-on chicken), you might not need to add any extra oil. Vegetables, however, benefit from a light coating of oil, as it helps them brown nicely.

Don't overcrowd the basket

Although it can be tempting to add extra food to the air fryer, doing so will result in a pile of soggy, unappetising food. Working in small batches will give you crispier results, and food will cook faster. It will also help to ensure that your food cooks evenly.

Shake and flip

Shaking the basket periodically will help to ensure that smaller items, like fries, cook evenly. Flipping larger items, like breaded fish fillets, will have the same effect. This is important for even cooking and will help to avoid overcooking or undercooking your food.

Use the right tools

Avoid using cooking sprays, as these can damage the non-stick coating of the air fryer basket. Instead, use a hand-pump spray bottle filled with oil, which will also help you cut down on the amount of oil you use. Only use utensils that are safe for non-stick surfaces, such as silicone or silicone-tipped utensils.

Clean your air fryer regularly

It is important to clean your air fryer after every use, as a build-up of oil can make the unit smoke. Wash the basket and drawer with soap and water, or, if they are not too dirty, wipe them down with a paper towel. Most models have parts that are dishwasher-safe, so be sure to check your manual.

Frequently asked questions