Air-Fried Tacos: Quick, Crunchy, And Delicious!

Tacos are a quick, easy, and tasty meal for any night of the week. But did you know you can make your own crispy hard shell tacos at home? Using an air fryer, you can create crunchy, juicy, and flavoursome tacos with a fraction of the oil and mess of deep-frying. This guide will take you through the steps to making your own fried tacos in an air fryer.

Choosing your fillings

The best part about making tacos is choosing your fillings. You can go for the classic ground beef option or get creative with different proteins and vegetables. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Classic Ground Beef

This is the most common filling for tacos. Simply cook the ground beef in a skillet until it is browned, draining any excess grease. Then, add your favourite taco seasoning and a bit of water. Stir everything together until well combined. You can also use ground turkey or chicken as an alternative to beef.

Chicken

If you're looking for a change from the classic beef taco, why not try chicken? You can marinate boneless, skinless chicken thighs in a mixture of orange juice, vinegar, and spices for a juicy and flavourful option. Then, cook the chicken in your air fryer and shred it before adding it to your tacos.

Fish

For a lighter option, fish tacos are a great choice. You can air fry fish fillets and add them to your tacos with some fresh salsa and a squeeze of lime.

Beans

For a vegetarian option, beans are a great source of protein. You can use black beans, refried beans, or even make your own homemade beans. Add some cheese, salsa, and guacamole for a delicious and satisfying filling.

Vegetables

If you want to pack your tacos with veggies, the options are endless. Sautéed onions and bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and corn are all great choices. You can also add fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados to your tacos for added crunch and nutrition.

Cheese

No taco is complete without a generous sprinkling of cheese. Shredded cheddar, Mexican cheese blends, or even a dollop of cream cheese can take your tacos to the next level.

Remember, the beauty of tacos is that you can mix and match your fillings to create your perfect combination. Get creative and experiment with different flavours and textures to find your favourite!

Preparing your fillings

The first step in preparing your fillings is to decide on your protein. You can use ground beef, ground turkey, chicken, or steak. If you're using beef, turkey or chicken, you'll want to cook the meat in a skillet over medium heat until it's browned, then drain any grease and add in your taco seasoning and a little water. If you're using steak, you'll want to slice it into strips first and then follow the same steps as for the other proteins.

Once your protein is cooked, it's time to prepare your other fillings and toppings. This can include shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, guacamole, hot sauce, and cilantro. You can also add in some black beans or refried beans for extra protein and fibre.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can even make your own taco seasoning by mixing together orange juice, vinegar, garlic, chile powder, coriander, smoked paprika, oregano, cumin, pepper, and salt. This will give your tacos a unique and delicious flavour that you can't get from store-bought seasoning.

Now it's time to assemble your tacos. Take your warm tortilla and fill it with your desired amount of protein and other fillings. Be careful not to overfill the tortilla, as this can make it difficult to fold and may cause it to crack.

Preparing your tortillas

Choosing the Right Tortillas

Start by selecting the right type of tortillas for your fried tacos. Corn tortillas are the preferred choice for crispy, crunchy tacos. You can use either yellow or white corn tortillas, depending on your preference. If you want to make soft tacos, flour tortillas are a better option.

Warming the Tortillas

Before filling and folding your tortillas, it's essential to warm them up. This step ensures that your tortillas are pliable and less likely to crack or break. There are two common methods for warming tortillas:

• Microwave Method: Place four to eight tortillas on a microwave-safe plate and cover them with a damp paper towel. Microwave them for about 20 seconds to one minute, depending on the number of tortillas.
• Stovetop Method: If you don't have a microwave, you can use a dry skillet. Heat each tortilla for about 20-30 seconds on each side over medium heat until they become soft and pliable.

Filling and Folding the Tortillas

Once your tortillas are warm and pliable, it's time to fill and fold them. Place your desired amount of filling, such as cooked ground beef or chicken, in the centre of each tortilla. You can also add cheese, beans, or other ingredients of your choice. Be careful not to overfill, as this can make it difficult to fold and may cause your tacos to break apart during frying. After filling, carefully fold each tortilla in half, creating a taco shape.

Brushing with Oil

To achieve that crispy texture, brush the outside of your folded tortillas with a thin layer of oil. You can use olive oil or a cooking spray. This step ensures that your tortillas will fry evenly and develop a golden, crispy exterior.

Securing the Tacos (Optional)

If you're concerned about your tacos opening up during the air frying process, you can secure them with toothpicks. Insert the toothpicks at the seams of the folded tortillas to hold them closed. However, this step is optional, and you may find that warming the tortillas and filling them carefully is sufficient to keep them closed.

Now that your tortillas are prepared, you're ready to move on to the next step of air frying your tacos! Remember to adjust the filling amount and folding technique based on your preferred taco style and ingredients. Enjoy crafting your delicious air-fried tacos!

Filling your tacos

The fun part about making tacos is that you can fill them with whatever you like! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Meat fillings

For a meaty option, you can use ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, chicken thighs, pork chops, or steak. Cook your chosen meat in a skillet, crumbling it as you go if necessary, and drain any grease. You can then add in your favourite taco seasoning or make your own by mixing in orange juice, vinegar, garlic, chile powder, coriander, smoked paprika, oregano, cumin, pepper, and salt.

Vegetarian fillings

If you would prefer a vegetarian option, you can fill your tacos with beans and cheese.

Toppings

You can add your toppings before or after cooking your tacos in the air fryer. If you're adding them before, you can include lettuce, cheese, salsa, guacamole, onions, cilantro, hot sauce, avocado slices, lime wedges, and tomatoes. If you're adding them after, you can stick to toppings that don't need to be cooked, like lettuce, diced tomatoes, and onion.

Step-by-step filling instructions

• Warm up your tortillas in the microwave or on a skillet so they don't crack.
• Rub both sides of the tortillas with oil or spray with cooking spray.
• Lay the tortillas flat and top half of each tortilla with your chosen fillings.
• Gently fold the tortillas in half.
• Place the folded tacos in the air fryer basket, making sure they are in a single layer.
• Cook at 355-400°F for 4-6 minutes, flipping once.
• If you're adding toppings after cooking, carefully remove the tacos from the air fryer and top with your favourite ingredients.

And there you have it! Delicious, crispy tacos made in an air fryer.

Cooking your tacos

Now that you have your ingredients ready, it's time to cook your tacos!

Firstly, get your fillings and toppings ready to go. Cook your ground beef, turkey, or chicken and use taco seasoning to make your taco meat. You can also use beans, chicken, or any other filling of your choice.

Next, prepare your tortillas. If you're using corn tortillas, wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave them briefly to make them pliable and ensure they don't crack. You can also heat them in a dry skillet for about 20-30 seconds on each side. If you're using flour tortillas, you'll also want to warm them so they're soft and pliable.

Now it's time to assemble your tacos. Fill each tortilla with your chosen filling and cheese, then fold it over to form a taco. If you're using hard taco shells, simply fill the shells with your desired ingredients.

Before placing your tacos in the air fryer, lightly coat the air fryer basket with oil spray or brush it with oil. You can also line the basket with aluminium foil, making sure the sides are up to allow air circulation. Place your tacos in the basket in a single layer.

Cook your tacos at 355-400°F for 4-6 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The exact cooking time will depend on your air fryer and the type of tortilla you're using. If you're using corn tortillas, they may take a little longer, around 8 minutes.

Once your tacos are crispy and the cheese is melted, carefully remove them from the air fryer. If you've cooked your tacos in batches, keep the first batch warm in a low oven while you cook the rest.

Finally, it's time to add your desired toppings. You can add lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, guacamole, hot sauce, or any other toppings of your choice. Enjoy your delicious air-fried tacos!

Frequently asked questions