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

Tacos are a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of fillings and toppings, and an air fryer is a great way to cook them. You can make tacos in an air fryer using either soft tortillas or hard taco shells, and you can fill them with chicken, beef, or pork. Air-fried tacos are quick and easy to make, and the air fryer gives the tacos a crispy texture without the need for deep-frying.

Choosing your taco filling

When it comes to choosing your taco filling, the options are endless. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Meat Options:

If you're a meat lover, you have a variety of options to choose from. You can go for the classic ground beef option, or switch it up with chicken, pork, or steak. For chicken, you can use shredded rotisserie chicken or cook your own chicken breasts. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even try using shrimp or fish as your protein.

Vegetarian Options:

For a vegetarian-friendly option, you can fill your tacos with beans, such as black beans or refried beans. You can also try other plant-based proteins like tofu or seitan. Vegetables such as onions, peppers, and mushrooms can also be a great addition to your vegetarian tacos.

Cheese:

No taco is complete without a generous amount of cheese. You can go for shredded Mexican cheese, cheddar cheese, or Monterey Jack. If you're feeling indulgent, you can even add a slice of creamy avocado or guacamole on top.

Toppings:

The fun part about tacos is that you can get creative with your toppings. Here are some popular options:

• Salsa: Adds a tangy and spicy kick to your taco.
• Sour cream: Brings a creamy and cooling element to balance the spices.
• Hot sauce: For those who like it extra spicy.
• Lettuce: Adds a crunchy texture and a fresh taste.
• Tomatoes: Provide a juicy and colourful addition to your taco.
• Onions: Chopped onions add a sharp flavour and a crunchy texture.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro leaves add a bright, herbal flavour.

Remember, the beauty of tacos is that you can customise them to your liking. You can mix and match different ingredients to create your perfect taco combination. Get creative, experiment with different flavours, and most importantly, enjoy the process of crafting your ideal taco filling!

Preparing your taco filling

For a chicken filling, you can marinate boneless skinless chicken thighs in a mixture of orange juice, vinegar, and spices for 2 hours. You can also add in garlic, chilli powder, coriander, paprika, oregano, cumin, pepper, and salt for extra flavour. Then, lightly oil the air fryer basket and cook the chicken, flipping it once. You can slightly undercook the chicken as it will be cooked again when the taco is assembled. After cooking, shred or chop the chicken into small pieces.

For a beef filling, brown some ground beef in a skillet and add in taco seasoning. You can also add in cheese, black beans or refried beans, and salsa.

For a vegetarian option, heat some oil in a skillet and add in diced onion. Cook until soft and translucent, then add in minced garlic and chopped green chillies. Add in Mexican-style hot tomato sauce, shredded chicken, Mexican cheese blend, and Neufchâtel cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

Once you have your filling, it's time to assemble your tacos! Warm up your tortillas so they don't crack and break when you fold them. You can wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave them briefly. Then, oil the tortillas on both sides and add in your filling. You can also add cheese, folding the tortilla carefully over the filling.

Now you're ready to crisp up your tacos in the air fryer! Place the folded tacos in the air fryer basket and cook until crispy, flipping them once. They will continue to crisp as they cool, so you can take them out once they feel crunchy.

Finish your tacos with your choice of toppings and enjoy!

Preparing your taco shells

Choosing the Right Taco Shells:

Start by selecting the type of taco shells you want to use. You can choose between hard taco shells, corn tortillas, or flour tortillas. Hard taco shells are the classic choice and are readily available in stores. Corn tortillas are an excellent option if you want a crunchy texture, while flour tortillas are better for soft tacos.

Preheating the Air Fryer:

Before placing your taco shells in the air fryer, decide whether you want to preheat it. Preheating will make your shells crisp up faster, so keep a close eye on them to prevent overcooking. If you're making soft tacos, you might want to skip preheating to avoid overcooking the tortillas.

Preparing the Taco Shells:

If you're using hard taco shells, you can fill them with your desired ingredients before placing them in the air fryer. However, if you're using tortillas, there are a few extra steps to ensure they're crispy and delicious:

• Warm and soften your tortillas by wrapping them in a damp paper towel and microwaving them briefly. This step is crucial, as it makes the tortillas pliable and prevents cracking.
• Lightly coat both sides of the tortillas with oil or cooking spray. This step will help achieve an even crispiness and prevent sticking.
• If using corn tortillas, you might want to rub both sides with oil and place them flat in the air fryer basket to crisp up before filling. This step is especially important if you want to make your own crispy hard shell tacos from corn tortillas.
• For flour tortillas, you can fill them with your desired ingredients and then place them in the air fryer.

Cooking the Taco Shells:

Once your taco shells are prepared, it's time to cook them:

• Place the filled hard taco shells or assembled soft tacos in the air fryer basket. Ensure they are in a single layer and not overcrowded.
• Set the air fryer temperature to between 360°F and 400°F. The exact temperature may vary depending on your air fryer and the desired crispiness.
• Cook the tacos for around 4 to 7 minutes. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don't burn. The tortillas will continue to crisp up as they cool, so you can take them out when they are almost at your desired level of crispiness.

Customizing Your Tacos:

The beauty of making tacos in an air fryer is the ability to customize them to your liking:

• You can add your favourite toppings, such as lettuce, cheese, salsa, onions, cilantro, tomatoes, or hot sauce, before or after cooking.
• If you prefer your lettuce fresh, it's best to add it after cooking, as it may wilt slightly during the cooking process.
• For a truly restaurant-style experience, top your tacos with Mexican hot sauce instead of bottled "taco sauces."

Remember, the key to successful taco shells in the air fryer is experimentation. Don't be afraid to try different types of tortillas, fillings, and cooking times to find the perfect combination that suits your taste buds!

Assembling your tacos

Warming the Tortillas:

Start by warming up your tortillas. This is an important step to ensure they don't crack or break when folded. Wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave briefly. You can also place them in the microwave with a slight dampness to soften them. This will make them more pliable and less likely to break.

Filling the Tortillas:

Once your tortillas are warm and pliable, it's time to fill them. If you're making chicken tacos, shred or chop your cooked chicken into small pieces. You can also use ground beef, shredded chicken, or other proteins of your choice. Place your filling on one side of the tortilla, adding any additional ingredients like cheese, beans, or vegetables.

Folding the Tortillas:

Gently fold the tortilla in half, being careful not to tear it. You want to create a neat semi-circle shape. If you are using stand-and-stuff taco shells, they will be easier to fill and stand up better in the air fryer.

Adding Toppings:

At this point, you can choose to add your toppings before or after air frying. Some people prefer to add all the ingredients, including lettuce, before placing the tacos in the air fryer. This will give you toasted, melted toppings. Others prefer to add the toppings after air frying to maintain the freshness of ingredients like lettuce. It's a matter of personal preference, so feel free to experiment!

Air Frying the Tacos:

Place the folded tacos into your air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. Set the temperature to 360-400°F and cook for 4-7 minutes. Flip the tacos once during cooking to ensure even crisping. The tacos will continue to crisp as they cool, so you can take them out when they are golden brown and have reached your desired level of crispness.

Final Touches:

Once your tacos are air-fried to perfection, it's time to add any final toppings. This could include cheese, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or hot sauce. Serve them warm and enjoy the delicious combination of crispy tortillas, melted cheese, and fresh toppings!

Cooking your tacos

There are many ways to cook your tacos in an air fryer, depending on the type of taco you want to make. You can make soft tacos, hard-shelled tacos, or even air-fried tacos in a crescent roll.

For soft tacos, you can fill your tortilla with your chosen ingredients and then place it in the air fryer. You can also just crisp up the tortilla in the air fryer and then fill it with your ingredients afterward.

If you want to make hard-shelled tacos, you can crisp up corn tortillas in the air fryer. First, warm up your tortillas—this is key so they don't crack and break. Wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave briefly. Then, oil both sides of the tortillas, fill them, fold them over, and place them in the air fryer. You can also make your own hard taco shells by cutting and shaping corn tortillas and then air-frying them.

For air-fried tacos in a crescent roll, first, preheat your air fryer to 300°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat, crumbling the beef, until the meat is no longer pink. Then, stir in cheese, salsa, chiles, garlic powder, hot pepper sauce, salt, and cumin. Unroll crescent roll dough and separate it into four rectangles. Press the perforations to seal, and place a 1/2 cup of the meat mixture in the center of each rectangle. Bring the four corners to the center, twist, and pinch to seal. Place them in the air fryer in batches and cook until golden brown.

You can also make chicken tacos in an air fryer. First, marinate boneless skinless chicken thighs in a mixture of orange juice, vinegar, and spices for 2 hours. Lightly oil the air fryer basket and cook the chicken, flipping once. You can slightly undercook the chicken if you want, as it will cook again when the taco is assembled. After the chicken is cooked, shred or chop it into small pieces. Warm up your tortillas, oil them on both sides, and then fill them with chicken and cheese. Place the folded tacos in the air fryer basket and crisp them up, flipping once.

If you want to add toppings to your tacos before air-frying, you can do so, but be aware that some people disagree with this method. If you add all your ingredients before air-frying, the lettuce will not come out as wilted as you might think, as the tacos are only cooked for a few minutes.

Frequently asked questions