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–+ servings
closeup view of a platter of air fryer chicken tacos with toppings
5 from 4 votes
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Air Fryer Tacos

Make the best Air Fryer Tacos with this easy recipe, featuring perfectly seasoned shredded chicken thighs, melty cheese, and crispy air fried taco shells.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time28 minutes
6 servings (2 tacos each)

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • 1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese or other cheese
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1/2 cup diced fresh tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 1 lime cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Place the chicken thighs in a bowl or on a plate. Pour oil over the chicken.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika and salt until combined. Pour the spices over the chicken. Mix the chicken until it is completely covered in the spices.
  • Grease the bottom of an air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket. Cook at 380°F/190°C for 15-18 minutes, until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165F/74°C.
  • Remove the chicken from the air fryer and place on a cutting board. Shred with two forks or chop into small pieces. Wash and dry the air fryer basket to be sure it doesn't smoke later.
  • Divide the cooked chicken and cheese between 12 corn tortillas, and fold each in half.
  • Spray the air fryer basket with spray oil and place the tacos into it in a single layer. You will need to do this part in batches. Spray the tops of the tacos with more oil so that they get crispy.
  • Air Fry at 400°F/200°C for 4-5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the shells are crisp.
  • Top the tacos with red onion, tomatoes, sour cream, cilantro and lime before serving.

Video

Notes

  • In place of the spices here, use 4 teaspoons of your favorite taco seasoning. You can also season the chicken however you like. 
  • Chicken breast can be used, but you may need more or less cook time, depending on the size of the pieces. 
  • The toppings here are just a suggestion. You can add any taco toppings that you enjoy. 
  • You can use a toothpick to secure the corn tortilla so it doesn't fly open during cooking if you wish. I typically just check on the corn tortillas after a few minutes and push down any tortillas into the melted cheese. If you want to make tacos without cheese, you will definitely want to secure the tortillas with toothpicks. 
  • Oil is important as it keeps things from sticking, and allows the tacos to get crunchy and crispy. I prefer to use an all-natural oil cooking spray. 
  • Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the "Air Fry" function.
  • Pro Tip: Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Sometimes airfrying is a trial and error process. Check your food as it cooks to learn your air fryer better!  When cooking a new recipe or food items be sure to check your food often to help avoid over/under cooking.
Have oven recipes that you’d like to convert to an air fryer recipe? Use our Air Fryer Calculator to help you estimate cooking times and temps! Calculator here: https://airfryereats.com/air-fryer-conversion-air-fryer-calculator/

Nutrition Information

Serving 2tacos | Calories 352kcal | Carbohydrates 28g | Protein 23g | Fat 17g | Saturated Fat 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat 2g | Monounsaturated Fat 5g | Trans Fat 0.01g | Cholesterol 102mg | Sodium 421mg | Potassium 398mg | Fiber 4g | Sugar 2g | Vitamin A 713IU | Vitamin C 6mg | Calcium 213mg | Iron 2mg
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