Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
Let’s be real for a second: the sound of sizzling fajitas arriving at your table in a restaurant is possibly one of the top five best sounds in the world. It signals that something spicy, savory, and downright delicious is about to happen. But on a Tuesday night, when work ran late and the kids are hungry, the idea of firing up a cast-iron skillet and smoking out the kitchen feels like a non-starter.
Enter the air fryer. This countertop hero doesn’t just reheat leftovers; it completely revolutionizes how we make restaurant favorites at home. Air fryer chicken fajitas are vibrant, packed with flavor, and—best of all—incredibly fast. You get that signature char on the peppers and juicy, tender chicken without the mess of oil splattering all over your stove. It’s a one-basket wonder that delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Ready to reclaim your weeknight dinner routine? Let’s get cooking.
Why This Recipe Works
We love this recipe because it strips away the complications of traditional fajitas while keeping all the flavor. Here is why it will become a staple in your rotation:
- Speed: From chopping block to dinner table in just over 30 minutes.
- Texture: The hot circulating air mimics a grill, giving you charred veggies and seared chicken without needing an open flame.
- Healthy: We swap heavy grease for a light coating of avocado oil, letting the fresh ingredients shine.
Ingredients
To make this magic happen, you’ll need a handful of fresh ingredients. The colors alone are enough to brighten up your kitchen!
- Chicken: 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 350-400g).
- Seasoning: 2 tablespoons fajita seasoning (salt-free) and 1 teaspoon salt.
- Veggies:
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper
- 1/2 green bell pepper
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/2 red onion
- Oil: 2 tablespoons avocado oil (excellent for high-heat cooking).
Instructions
Follow these steps for sizzling success.
1. Preheat the Air Fryer
Start by preheating your air fryer to 380°F (190°C) for about 3-5 minutes. Getting the basket hot before the food goes in is the secret to that nice sear we’re looking for.
2. Prep the Ingredients
While the air fryer warms up, slice your chicken breasts into thin, uniform strips. Do the same for your yellow, green, and red bell peppers, as well as the red onion.
Keeping everything roughly the same size ensures it all cooks evenly.
3. Season Everything
Grab a large mixing bowl. Combine the avocado oil, salt-free fajita seasoning, and salt.
Toss the chicken strips and sliced veggies into the bowl and mix well until everything is evenly coated in that delicious spice blend.
4. Load the Basket
Place the seasoned chicken and vegetable mixture into the air fryer basket. Spread them out into a single layer as best as you can. If your basket is small, you might need to do this in two batches to avoid overcrowding (which leads to steaming rather than searing).
5. The First Cook
Cook at 380°F (190°C) for 11 minutes.
6. Shake and Flip
After the first 11 minutes, pull the basket out. Give it a good shake or use tongs to flip the chicken and veggies. This ensures all sides get equal exposure to the heat.
7. The Final Crisp
Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for an additional 11 minutes. Keep an eye on it towards the end—you want the chicken cooked through and the vegetables tender with slightly charred edges.
8. Serve and Enjoy
Remove your fajita mix from the air fryer immediately. Serve them piping hot with warm tortillas and your favorite fixings like salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.
Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (190°C) for about 3-5 minutes.
- Slice the chicken breasts into thin strips.
- Slice the yellow, green, and red bell peppers, as well as the red onion.
- In a large bowl, combine the avocado oil, fajita seasoning, and salt. Add the chicken and vegetables.
- Toss until evenly coated.
- Place the seasoned chicken and vegetables in the air fryer basket, spreading them out into a single layer.
- Cook in the air fryer at 380°F (190°C) for 11 minutes.
- After 11 minutes, carefully remove the basket and shake it or use tongs to turn the chicken and vegetables.
- Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for an additional 11 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender and slightly charred.
- Once cooked, remove the chicken fajitas from the air fryer and serve immediately with warm tortillas, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and any other desired toppings.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
We know that even simple recipes can spark questions. Here are some answers to help you troubleshoot and customize.
Yes, absolutely! We are all about saving time here. You can use a packet of pre-made fajita seasoning. Just double-check the label—if your packet already contains salt, skip the extra teaspoon of salt listed in the ingredients so your dinner doesn’t turn into a salt lick.
Please do! This recipe is a great way to clean out the veggie drawer. Sliced zucchini, portobello mushrooms, or even cherry tomatoes work wonderfully. Just aim to cut them in sizes similar to the peppers so they cook at the same rate.
Nope. Marinating is totally optional here. The fajita seasoning is potent enough to flavor the chicken instantly. However, if you’re a planner and want to toss the chicken in lime juice and spices a few hours ahead, it certainly won’t hurt!
Yes, you can. Chicken thighs are naturally juicier and more forgiving if overcooked slightly. They might take a minute or two longer to crisp up depending on how thick you slice them, so just check for doneness before serving.
While fajitas are definitely best enjoyed fresh and sizzling, meal prepping is a smart move. You can slice and season the raw chicken and veggies ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When dinner time rolls around, just dump them in the air fryer and go!
