Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas (2024)

FAQs

Should I cut chicken for fajitas before cooking? ›

Slicing will save you cook time.

When it comes to skillet fajitas, you want to cook everything hot and fast. You can avoid overcooking and drying out the chicken by slicing the peppers, onions, and chicken into 1/4-inch strips. For the chicken breast, cutting across the meat's grain will make for more tender fajitas.

After testing a variety of temperatures, I found that 375 degrees F is the best temperature for air frying chicken. Because the air fryer uses convection heat, you do not need to set it as high as you would an oven (in a regular oven, 425 degrees F is best for baking chicken, like Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast).

Rubbery chicken can result from a cooking error or the overall quality of the chicken you buy. Fortunately, strategies such as moist cooking and buying slow-grown chickens can prevent you from having a chewy meal. And always make sure your chicken isn't undercooked!

Reheat chicken fajitas in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes, or until warm through.

The question of “what is a fajita” would usually be referred to as sliced skirt steak, the cut of beef first used in the dish. In restaurants, the meat is usually cooked with onions and bell peppers and toppings that are served on the side.

The best way to cut chicken breasts for fajitas is to slice each breast in half widthwise to create cutlets, then thinly slice each cutlet into strips. This way, the chicken is the same width and size as the bell peppers and onions which makes for a nice eating experience.

You can cook chicken tenderloins in the air fryer very easily by seasoning them with olive oil and herbs of your choice and then directly putting them in the air fryer preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Let them cook for 20 minutes, flipping over halfway through.

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

The #1 tip for the best chicken breasts in an air fryer is: Don't overcook them! Chicken breasts should be cooked to 160°F, but if you cook them all the way to that temperature in the air fryer, carryover cooking will take them beyond that temp and cause them to dry out.

What's the best way to tenderize fajitas? ›

Sorry, but fajita sizzle isn't real. TikTokers have discovered restaurants just add water or a sauce to make it appear like the dish is cooking. A viral TikTok showed a restaurant worker pouring water onto a dish to make it steam and sizzle.

The best way to avoid drying out the chicken is to slice it first, so it cooks quicker. Then add a little bit of oil before air frying. Make sure you don't air fry it too long - you want it to be thoroughly heated to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), but not more than that.

Cooking steak, mushrooms and peppers over high heat results in flavorful fajitas.

After your chicken breasts are done cooking, let them rest for at least half the time that you cooked them for before slicing into them. This will ensure that the breasts stay super juicy and flavorful, and that they're fully cooked. Trust me, waiting the few extra minutes pays off big time — every time.

While it's possible to cook the steak as a whole strip, I find it better to slice it with the grain into five- to six-inch pieces, which are easier to handle on the grill.

If you're short on time and need to marinate your chicken quickly, you can poke holes in the chicken or slice it thinly to help the marinade penetrate in as little time as possible.

A chicken breast tastes great when it's roasted whole on the bone, but you may choose to separate the breast into two pieces to make portioning easier later. It's also easy to take the breast off the bone if you prefer boneless skinless chicken breasts—perfect for these easy chicken breast recipes.