Make taco night twice as good in the air fryer!! YUM! Stuffed corn tortillas with juicy chicken and cheese, crisped up in the air fryer for the ultimate in crunch. Taco Tuesday has gotten even better with these Air fryer Tacos! Did you know you could make hard taco shells in air fryer? So why should you make tacos in the air fryer? The hard shells get extra crispy! Did you know that you should never serve corn tortillas straight from the box? They need to be cooked first!
These are similar to doing Oven Baked Tacos; however, if you use the air fryer it’s going to give them a much more crispy taste. They tasted more like restaurant style tacos. This chicken was so tender, moist, and juicy. It actually tasted like I cooked this chicken on the grill. I love I can just put it in the air fryer and let it go. No need to watch or turn the meat. Just leave it and go prep the other stuff you need for the tacos. You are gonna love these air fryer chicken tacos!
I love using an air fryer because they cook fast and create a nice crisp on food without a ton of oil. Plus, they are easy to use and clean up is a breeze!
Serve with Spanish Rice, Cheesy Refried Bean Casserole and some Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars for dessert. Here are some other good accompaniments for this recipe homemade Classic Mexican Guacamole and Mexican Salsa.
Not what you are looking for? Try these other great Air Fryer Recipes:
PrintAir Fryer Tacos
Make taco night twice as good in the air fryer!! YUM! Feel free to change out the chicken to any protein you prefer. Enjoy!!
- Prep Time: :10
- Cook Time: :30
- Total Time: :40
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Chicken for Tacos
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp chile powder, optional
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt or to taste
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs see notes for other meats
Instructions
In a large dish, bowl, or a ziplock bag, whisk together the orange juice, garlic, oil, vinegar, coriander, paprika, oregano, cumin, pepper, and salt. Add the chicken thighs and marinate covered in the fridge for 2 hours. Do not marinate for more than 4 hours otherwise the chicken will start to break down.
Remove the chicken from the marinade, lightly brush the basket with oil, and place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 360°F for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and chop or shred. If the chicken is slightly underdone, don’t worry, it’s getting cooked again (see notes).
If needed, warm your tortilla shells in the microwave to make them pliable. Rub both sides with oil (or spray with cooking spray), lay flat and top half of the tortilla evenly with chicken and a layer of cheese (if desired). Gently fold the tortilla in half, and place in the air fryer basket, flat.
Air fry on 400°F for 6-7 minutes, flipping once, or until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese is melted. Repeat as needed. The tortillas will continue to crisp up as they cool. Let rest on a rack while you are prepping your remaining tacos.
Baking Method – Preheat oven to 425 F and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden and crispy. Flip tacos mid-way through (remember to brush or spray tacos with oil).
Stovetop Frying Method – Turn your oven on low to keep tacos warm. In a large pan, heat 3-4 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. When hot, place as many tacos that will fit in the pan (leaving some room in between to flip). Fry on each side for 2-4 minutes until golden and crispy. Place on a baking sheet and put in the oven while you finish the rest.
Notes
To substitute chicken breasts: 10 minutes, flipping halfway through
To substitute beef: Slice 1 lb steak of choice into strips, marinate for up to 2 hours, air fry for 5-6 minutes at 400°F.
To substitute pork: Slice 1 lb thick cut pork chops into strips, marinate for up to 2 hours, air fry for 8-10 minutes at 375°F.
We like to undercook the chicken during step 2 because it will get cooked more when you’re cooking the crispy taco part. If you want your chicken perfectly done inside the crispy taco, I recommend cooking it for 10 minutes at 360°F and then chopping the chicken. It will still be slightly pink.
Storage: Chicken will store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. No need to reheat the chicken before making the tacos in the air fryer.