Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas are a quick and easy weeknight dinner packed full of flavor with fajita seasoning, sweet bell pepper, and onion then served in warm corn tortillas or as a healthy salad. Ready in under 30 minutes!


Chicken Fajitas in an air fryer basket

One recipe I make over and over on a regular basis is fajitas, mainly because they’re quick and easy to make during a busy weeknight.

I always keep a small jar of my fajita seasoning in the pantry so I’m ready to make flank steak fajitas or chicken fajita pasta.

With Cinco de Mayo coming up, I thought it would be an appropriate time to share my recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas.

Fajitas (pronounced fah-hee-tahs) are a Tex-Mex dish of grilled meat with fajita seasoning, colorful sweet bell peppers, and onions.

Sometimes I’ll serve Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas as intended on warm corn tortillas topped with sour cream, guacamole, and cilantro.

Other times I make my Chicken Fajita Salad.

Unlike steak fajitas, you don’t need to marinate chicken fajitas. Just slice, toss with oil and seasoning, then cook for 10 minutes.

This air fryer recipe for two makes 2 large salad portions or 4 chicken fajitas on corn tortillas.

Serve them with homemade Spanish rice and frozen mango margaritas to make it a full meal.


Chicken Fajitas in corn tortillas on silver plate

What is an air fryer?

An air fryer is a countertop appliance similar to a convection oven. It uses hot air rather than oil to “fry” anything.

This rapid air circulation makes the food crisp, similar to deep frying but without the oil.

Sometimes I’ll use it to reheat tater tots or chicken strips. Other times I make a quick snack of homemade pita chips to serve with hummus.

You can even make air fryer cheesecake, air fryer chicken wings, or even air fryer eggs in one!

At first glance it may seem like a trendy appliance you’ll only use once, but honestly I use mine several times a week.

It’s also the perfect appliance when cooking for one or two because the basket is just the right size for small portions.

Which air fryer to buy?

The air fryer I personally use is Gourmia with a 6 quart basket (although mine is an older model so it looks different).

However, there are plenty of brands in the market. The key is knowing the quirks of how your air fryer works so you can adjust recipes if needed.


Chicken Fajitas in an air fryer basket

Why Make Fajitas in Air Fryer

As much as I love cooking the traditional way, I choose my air fryer over baking because my gas oven is an inferno.

It’s not an issue in the winter, but oh boy does it get hot during the summer.

Making chicken fajitas in air fryer means my kitchen remains cool without making my a/c work overtime (and causing a huge spike in my electric bill).

Sure, I could fry everything on the stove but cooking in the air fryer means I can put everything in the basket and walk away where as on the stove, you have to stir every few minutes so your food doesn’t burn.

Second, air fryers don’t require preheating so instead of waiting 15 minutes you can start cooking right away.

And because chicken cooks relatively fast, you can cook it with the pepper and onion all at once then have dinner ready from slicing to cooking in under 30 minutes.


Chicken, bell pepper, and onion in a bowl with oil and fajita seasoning

Ingredients For Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas

To make your chicken fajitas in an air fryer, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • Boneless skinless chicken: I prefer chicken thighs because dark meat is juicier and is more forgiving if you overcook it slightly. However, you can also use chicken breast.
  • Sweet bell pepper: Use red, orange, or yellow bell pepper because they are sweeter than green. You only need one pepper, so pick one color or use a little of all three.
  • Sliced onion: Use white, yellow, or red.
  • Olive oil: This is how your chicken and vegetables “fry” in the air fryer. You can also use vegetable or canola oil.
  • Fajita seasoning: This is where most of your flavor will come from! Make your own then keep a jar on hand.
  • Salt Although most seasoning mixes have salt in them, sometimes it may not be enough. I like to lightly salt my chicken first.
  • Lime: Acidity is what makes your fajitas go from flat to great.
  • Sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, and corn tortillas: You’ll need these for serving.

Do you cut chicken before or after cooking for fajitas?

Because you’re cooking your chicken at the same time as your pepper and onion, you’ll want to cut it into strips first, pretty much the same size as your pepper strips.

That way everything cooks evenly at the same time.


Chicken Fajitas in corn tortillas on silver plate

How To Cook Chicken Fajitas In Air Fryer

To make your quick and easy chicken fajitas air fryer style:

  1. Toss together chicken, bell pepper, and onion in a large bowl with your oil and fajita seasoning.
  2. Add to your basket: and air fry at 400F for 10-15 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
  3. Prep your tortillas or salad while your chicken and vegetables are cooking.
  4. Squeeze lime juice onto chicken mixture then serve with sour cream, guacamole, and cilantro.

The cooking time depends on how thick your chicken is and how your air fryer model works. Mine is always done at 10 minutes, but you may need the extra 5 minutes.

Can you double this recipe?

If you decide to double air fryer fajitas, you’ll need to cook it in two batches. If you overcrowd the basket too much, your food will steam rather than fry.

Why are my chicken fajitas chewy?

If your chicken is chewy, that means you overcooked your chicken. Make sure you’re not cooking it past 165F.

If your air fryer cooks hotter than most models, you can cook it for 5-8 minutes then check with a digital thermometer.

Can you make steak fajitas in the air fryer?

Not in the mood for chicken? Follow the directions for my steak fajitas (marinade and all).

When you’re ready to cook the steak, add to your basket then cook at 370F for 5 minutes. Flip then cook another 3-5 minutes or until desired doneness. Remove from the basket then rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

While the meat is resting, add the vegetables and cook at 400F for 8-10 minutes or until fork tender.

Can you make shrimp fajitas in the air fryer?

What cooks faster than chicken? Shrimp!

Because shrimp cooks quickly, you don’t want to cook it for the full 10 minutes. Instead, toss the vegetables with half of the oil and seasoning then cook at 400F for 5 minutes.

Toss the shrimp with the remaining oil and seasoning then add to the basket. Cook for another 5 minutes or until shrimp are pink and cooked.

How To Warm Corn Tortillas

Nothing ruins fajitas more than cold tortillas! The easiest way to warm your tortillas is on the stove.

Warm a large dry skillet over medium heat (do not add oil) and heat with nothing in it for 1-2 minutes or until hot.

Add one tortilla and cook until brown on one side, roughly 20-30 seconds. Flip and cook until the other side is brown, another 20-30 seconds.

Don’t cook them too long or they’ll be crunchy when they cool (in that case, you’ll be making chicken tostadas instead).

Chicken Fajitas in an air fryer basket

Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas are a quick and easy weeknight dinner packed full of flavor with fajita seasoning, sweet bell pepper, and onion then served in warm corn tortillas or as a healthy salad. Ready in under 30 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 2 small boneless skinless chicken thighs or 1 large boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch wide strips
  • 1 sweet bell pepper, sliced (red, orange, yellow, or a combination)
  • Half of a small yellow or white onion, sliced (roughly 1/2 cup sliced)
  • 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon fajita seasoning (get recipe here)
  • Salt, to taste (preferably kosher)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 4 warm corn tortillas
  • Sour cream, guacamole, and cilantro, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, add the chicken, bell pepper, onion, oil, and fajita seasoning. Mix until completely coated.

    Optional: Depending on how much salt is in your seasoning, you may want to lightly salt your chicken first.
  2. Add to the basket of a 6 quart air fryer. Cook at 400F for 10-15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165F.

    If you double this recipe, cook in two batches. Overcrowding your basket means your food will steam, not fry.
  3. Once cooked, toss with the lime juice. Serve on warm tortillas with sour cream, guacamole, and cilantro.

Notes

  • For a full meal, serve with Homemade Spanish Rice and Mango Margaritas.
  • Instead of corn tortillas, add cooked chicken and vegetables to Chicken Fajita Salad.
  • To make steak fajitas, follow my directions for Flank Steak Fajitas about marinading the meat then add only the steak to your basket. Cook at 370F for 5 minutes then flip and cook another 3-5 minutes or until desired doneness. Remove from the basket then rest for 10 minutes before slicing. While the meat is resting, cook the vegetables at 400F for 8-10 minutes or until fork tender.
  • To make shrimp fajitas, toss the vegetables with half the oil and seasoning. Cook at 400F for 5 minutes. Toss 1/2 pound (8 ounces) cleaned shrimp with the remaining oil and seasoning then add to the basket. Cook another 5 minutes or until shrimp are pink and cooked through.

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