Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
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Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas is the perfect recipe for a busy week night dinner! Tender, flavorful, and perfectly charred chicken with a blend of peppers and onions! Use these to throw in a tortilla, on a salad, or even in a burrito bowl situation!
The last few months have been a little out of the ordinary around here and extra easy while being somewhat healthy has been on the top of my list when it comes to cooking. It’s also been so hot and humid outside that turning on the oven or even heating the stove top seems like a bit too much. Southern summers are not for the weak. Spoiler alert: I’m weak. Ha!
My Air Fryer has come to the rescue for total ease and keeping the kitchen cooler these past few months! I love my Air Fryer even though I don’t have a lot of recipes on here for it yet. It is something we use a ton of the time. These Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas are so delish for weeknight meals and will shine on Taco Tuesday! I’ve been making them this way almost all summer long at least once a week. f
If you want to turn these fajitas into a full dinner bowl, try my Chicken Fajita Bowl with rice, black beans, and lime crema.
For extra ease, slice the chicken, peppers, and onions and put them in a container in the fridge early in the week so that it’s ready to go on nights. All I have to do is throw the seasoning together and dump it all in. Dinner done in under 20 minutes!
Chicken Fajitas are something that I used to swear could only be made in the skillet, but the Air Fryer method is just so easy that I may never go back to my trusty skillet! As you can see in the photos that the vegetables have just enough char as well as the chicken. Just the way I like it.
What you’ll need for Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
- Air Fryer: Click here for the one I love and use! I use a 7 quart Air Fryer which is the largest one on the market (that could change tomorrow though). I recommend cooking in two batches if you have a smaller air fryer.
- Fajita seasoning: Perfect blend of spices! I prefer my homemade blend to highlight my own flavor profile, but you can use your own blend or even a packet from the store will do just fine.
- Chicken tenders/breast: I prefer chicken tenders for this recipe because they just stay a bit more, well, tender and they are quick to slice up, but whole chicken breast works just as well.
- Cornstarch
- Avocado Oil
- Peppers (blend of yellow, red, and/or yellow)
- Onion
- Cooking spray (I prefer avocado oil spray in the air fryer)
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
Start out by thinly slicing chicken tenders or whole chicken breast into thin slices. If using the tenderloin remove the “tendon” by holding the white “nub” with a paper towel, place a fork so your holding the “white tendon nub” (haha I’m so technical) in between the fork prongs, pull the “white tendon nub” up while holding it with a paper towel and then push the fork down. The whole tendon part is easily removed this way. You can google youtube videos if you don’t know how. I realize now that it’s actually pretty hard to write how to do it. Make sure to hold the tendon part with the piece of a paper towel because otherwise you can’t, that sucker is pretty dang slippery.
Slice 3 peppers and 1 large onion into as uniformly as possible pieces just to ensure a fairly even cook. Thinner slices will get a bit more “char” than thicker slices, but super thin slices will almost disappear/burn.
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In a large bowl or dish add sliced chicken, 2 teaspoons of oil, and one tablespoon of cornstarch. In a small bowl stir together fajita seasoning.
Homemade Fajita seasoning:
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprkia
- 1-1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- cayenne pepper (1/8 tsp for a little heat optional)
Next, mix together chicken, seasoning, and cornstarch super well. I prefer using my hands to really coat vegetables or meat with seasoning well, but you can use a spoon. I like to use food safe gloves because touching raw chicken is not my favorite pastime.
After you mix the seasoning into the chicken really well add the peppers and onion into the same dish along with a pinch of salt and pepper and 1 teaspoon of oil. Mix all together.
Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 390 degrees. Spray basket lightly with avocado oil cooking spray then place the chicken, pepper, and onion mixture into the basket. Cook for 12 minutes total, but stop and shake basket (or give it a good stir with a spoon) to move the food around the basket while it’s cooking. This helps it cook evenly/get a good char on some of the chicken and vegetables.
And voila! Seriously the easiest and quickest ever. If you have some on hand squeeze a lime over the top and add a couple tablespoons of chopped cilantro. It really just adds a lil extra somethin, somethin, but it’s totally not necessary.
I honestly think that this might be one of the prettiest recipes to come out of my kitchen. I love Chicken Fajitas for their simplicity. Fresh and bright flavors that make my taste buds dance! They’re healthy and delicious without even trying to be. Guess what else? They totally impress guests!
Throw on tortillas with a little quick pico and some rice and/or beans! Best dinner.
If you make this recipe, let me know how it goes below in the comment section!
Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast or tenderloins cut into thin slices
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 red onion
- 2-3 medium bell peppers (green, yellow, and/or red) (use only 2 peppers if they are huge, 3 if they are small/medium size- about 3 cups total)
- 3 tsp oil (2tsp for chicken, 1tsp for peppers/onions)
- avocado oil cooking spray (other cooking spray works, but I prefer avocado oil spray in the air fryer)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- juice of one lime and cilantro (optional for extra delicious)
Fajita Seasoning
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1½ tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Cut onions, peppers, and chicken into thin slices. Dry chicken extra with paper towels if needed.
- Add chicken to a bowl and sprinkles with fajita seasoning, cornstarch, and drizzle with 2 tsp oil. Stir together extra well so that chicken is coated nicely. I like to use my hands (with food safe gloves on) just to make sure it's completely coated, but a spoon works.
- Add peppers and onions to bowl and drizzle with 1 tsp oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir all together.
- Preheat Air Fryer to 400 degrees. When preheated spray basket with cooking spray then add chicken mixture. Cook for 10-12 minutes, but during the cook time stop and shake basket to ensure cooking and char on the chicken evenly.
These were so easy to make and so delicious! I prepped the veggies over the weekend so the midweek dinner was super fast and minimal labor. Win, win! I ate them over a bed of lettuce and my family made burritos. Excited for the leftovers tomorrow!! Thanks for another dinner victory 🙂
So happy you enjoyed, Jenn! I agree if you slice up all the veggies on a prep day it really makes this dish just about zero effort during the week on busy nights!
Hi Star,
Thanks for an incredible recipe. I appreciated all the hints. I have a small airfryer. I cooked the veggies first because they needed more time and the 2nd batch was the chicken.
This is a restaurant quality recipe. without the price or the calories. I appreciated the fact that it could be gluten free ( for the celiac group, check your spices because a few discount companies add wheat…I have had great luck with McCormicks) My husband loved it
I will share this with my Weight Watchers group.
I cannot wait to try more of your recipes.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Li! Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and write such a nice review! I hope you enjoy other recipes of mine too! Have a great weekend. =)
These look amazing but I don’t have an airfryer. Can you give the directions for the skillet version??
Hi Eliza! I’m sorry I don’t have an exact recipe for the skillet version, BUT in my “chicken fajita pasta” recipe I make the chicken and the peppers/onions in the skillet before doing the “pasta” part. You can follow that recipe up until it comes to adding in the pasta part and it’ll turn out delicious! Heres the link to that: https://theskinnyishdish.com/one-pot-creamy-chicken-fajita-pasta/
Hope this helps a little! I will try to update this post (or create a new one) when I have more solid information for a skillet and/or oven version.
I made this in my skillet. I just cooked my chicken first on medium high and then once that was done put the chicken on a plate. Then cook the veggies and make sure to scrap up any yummy chicken bits.
She did it again! So flavorful, easy, & delicious. Thank you!
So easy and so delicious! This one is going to be in my rotation a lot now!
I loved this recipe! It was so quick and easy. I did too large of a batch for my air fryer so the char wasn’t there as much but the taste was still fantastic. I will cook in two batches next time!
These are amazing! Such an easy weeknight meal to throw together. Not to mention the flavor is wonderful and the leftovers were great too!
Love this. So easy and delicious!!!!
I was so excited to try out this new recipe and it did not disappoint! The seasoning blend is spot on. These tastes just like our favorite Mexican restaurant’s fajitas!
I’m not seeing how to cook the veggies?
Thank you!
This was awesome!!!!!! My husband requested round 2 tonight and I will oblige. Great as leftovers. I always enjoy making your recipes and look forward to whatever else you are going to be creating!
Thank you so much!
These chicken fajitas did not disappoint.
Delicious!!!!
Could I prep this all the way up to the put-in-air-fryer step and freeze? I am trying to find recipes to prep for a long road/camping trip! (Any other suggestions are welcome) Love all your recipies! Thank you!
Totally! Mix the seasoning, oil, and chicken together. Then place in the bottom of a gallon sized freezer safe bag followed by the vegetables. Seal the ziplock bag, squeezing out as much of the air as you can as you do so. The day before you’d like to cook the fajitas, move the bag of fajita mix to the fridge to thaw. Then cook the same as in the recipe directions. If it’s a little “wet” from being frozen and thawed just pat dry with a paper towel or two. If its too wet it’ll steam while cooking.
This looks delicious, I’ll try but my husband always wants carbs on the side do you have any recipe for the yellow rice.
Thank you so much for all your recipes I love them !
Just posted a delicious Mexican Rice recipe! Also this cilantro lime rice recipe is perfection!
These were so good. Followed recipe exactly. Will def make again. Whole family liked it. Am going to try this with shrimp. So so good. Thank you!
so happy you enjoyed, Theresa! Thank you for letting me know. Let me know how it is with the shrimp too!
These turned out great. I used chicken thighs since that’s what I had. So easy and quick! I will definitely be making these again.
I would really like to know how to make this recipe without an air fryer. My oven is a convection oven, but I’m not sure how to convert. Can you help me?
I can’t wait to try these !
I was told to not use cooking spray in my Air Fryer. Now what?
avocado oil cooking spray works best in the air fryer. You can skip it if you’d like as well.
if i want to do BEEF fajitas what is the TEMP AND TIME?
I haven’t tested this particular with beef, sorry. If I had to take a guess and where I would start I’d say same temp and do a couple of minutes less then check for doneness.