Posted by If you’re looking for a quick, healthy, and flavorful dinner, look no further than these Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas! This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen. The air fryer cooks the chicken to perfection, keeping it juicy and full of flavor, while the peppers and onions remain crisp and vibrant. Not only are these fajitas packed with flavor, but they are also low-carb, keto-friendly, paleo, Whole30 compliant, and low in fat.
Why Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas?
Air frying is a fantastic way to create crispy, delicious meals with less oil, making it a healthier option. Using an air fryer for fajitas offers several benefits:
- Fast cooking: The air fryer significantly reduces cooking time compared to traditional methods.
- Healthy: Requires minimal oil while still giving you that perfect char and crispness on your ingredients.
- Easy cleanup: With just a few simple steps and one cooking basket, cleaning up is a breeze.
- Consistent cooking: Air fryers circulate hot air around your food, ensuring everything cooks evenly without needing constant attention.
Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
- Chicken strips: For the best results, use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Both options work well in this recipe.
- Bell peppers: A mix of red, yellow, and green bell peppers adds a colorful touch and a nice balance of sweetness and crunch to the fajitas.
- Onion: Red or yellow onions work best. They bring a mild sweetness that pairs perfectly with the fajita seasoning.
- Vegetable oil: While this recipe uses canola oil, you can substitute it with healthier options such as avocado oil or olive oil.
- Fajita seasoning: Making your own homemade fajita seasoning mix is always a good idea. Not only does it taste fresher, but it’s also healthier since you can control the salt and eliminate preservatives.
How to Prepare Chicken Fajitas in the Air Fryer
Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C). Preheating ensures the food starts cooking immediately and helps achieve that crispy texture on the outside without drying out the chicken.
Step 2: Prepare the Ingredients
While your air fryer is preheating, it’s time to prepare the vegetables and chicken.
- Cut the chicken: Slice the chicken breasts into thin strips, about ½ inch thick. Thinner strips cook faster and evenly, making them perfect for fajitas.
- Slice the vegetables: Slice your bell peppers into ½-inch strips, and cut the onion into wedges. Ensure the vegetables are not sliced too thin to prevent them from overcooking or burning.
Step 3: Season Everything Generously
The flavor of your fajitas comes from a good seasoning mix, so don’t be shy with it!
- Place the sliced chicken and vegetables into a large bowl. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (or oil of your choice) over the mixture.
- Add 3 tablespoons of fajita seasoning. If you prefer, you can make your own homemade fajita seasoning, which usually contains chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of cayenne.
- Toss the chicken and veggies in the bowl, ensuring that each piece is well coated with oil and seasoning.
Step 4: Air Fry to Perfection
- Place the seasoned chicken and vegetables in the air fryer basket. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket, as this will prevent proper air circulation, and your food may steam rather than get crispy. If needed, cook in batches.
- Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.
- Note on cooking time: Depending on the thickness of your chicken strips and the model of your air fryer, you may need to adjust the cooking time. Thicker strips may require an additional 2-3 minutes, while thinner ones might cook faster.
Step 5: Check for Doneness
The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C). While you can check the doneness by cutting into a piece, it’s always best to use a kitchen thermometer for accuracy. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken strip to ensure it has reached the safe temperature. If not, return the chicken to the air fryer for a couple more minutes.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Once cooked, serve the chicken and veggies immediately. You can enjoy your fajitas with a variety of sides and toppings. Here are some ideas:
- Tortillas: Warm some flour or corn tortillas to wrap your fajitas.
- Guacamole or avocado slices: Add some creaminess with freshly sliced avocado or homemade guacamole.
- Pico de gallo: A fresh tomato salsa will enhance the flavor of the fajitas.
- Sour cream: Add a dollop for richness.
- Cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheese on top if you prefer.
Variations and Substitutions
- Protein options: While chicken is a classic fajita filling, you can easily substitute it with beef, shrimp, or tofu. If using shrimp, reduce the cooking time to avoid overcooking.
- Vegetables: Bell peppers and onions are the usual fajita veggies, but you can experiment with others like zucchini, mushrooms, or cherry tomatoes.
- Low-carb option: For a keto-friendly version, skip the tortillas and serve the chicken fajitas in lettuce wraps or on a bed of cauliflower rice.
- Spice level: If you love spicy food, add some sliced jalapeños or extra cayenne pepper to your fajita seasoning.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Fajitas
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: If your air fryer is too full, the chicken and vegetables won’t cook evenly, and you won’t get that nice caramelized char. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Shake the basket: Remember to toss the chicken and veggies halfway through cooking to ensure they brown evenly on all sides.
- Use a meat thermometer: This ensures that your chicken is perfectly cooked every time.
- Homemade fajita seasoning: Pre-make a large batch of fajita seasoning and store it in an airtight container. It’s great for fajitas and can also be used to season other proteins and veggies.
Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
- Preparation Time: 5 minutes
- Cooking Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips (about 1 pound/450g)
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into ½-inch strips
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced into ½-inch strips
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced into ½-inch strips
- 1 red onion, sliced into wedges
- 3 tablespoons fajita seasoning
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C).
- Drizzle oil over the chicken strips, then add fajita seasoning. Toss to coat the chicken evenly. Add the veggies and mix to ensure everything is well-seasoned.
- Place the chicken and veggies in the air fryer basket. Cook for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Serve with warm tortillas, guacamole, or pico de gallo.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
- Calories: 154 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Protein: 11g
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Cholesterol: 43mg
- Sodium: 42mg
- Potassium: 216mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Vitamin A: 630 IU
- Vitamin C: 60mg
- Calcium: 13mg
- Iron: 1mg
