Crispy Air Fryer Tacos

Air Fryer Tacos are delicious and turn out beautifully crisp every time -  if you know the prep tricks. Two quick steps before assembling Air Fryer Tacos are key to achieving consistent, crispy results when using flour tortillas in the air fryer.

There is a fun simplicity about Air Fryer Tacos that is addicting. You only really need three ingredients to make them - protein of your choice, shredded cheese, and flour tortillas. But there are two key prep steps that shouldn’t be skipped because I’ve found they result in the most consistently crispy results. 

You’ll definitely want some salsa or sauce to dip these Air Fryer Tacos in. I highly recommend this Creamy Green Sauce (pictured) or this Roasted Garlic Guacamole. And you must try pairing these tacos with some Restaurant Style Refried Beans from a Can or this Black Bean Soup made with Canned Beans.

Top Tips for Crispy Tacos using Flour Tortillas in the Air Fryer

Making crispy tacos in the air fryer requires a little finesse. I’ve tested several strategies and these are my top tips to achieve crispy taco success when using your air fryer. 

• Warm your tortillas first to make them pliable. My preferred method is to heat them over the open flame on my gas stovetop (plus they get a nice little char). You can also heat them up in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel for around 20-30 seconds. Don't skip this step - it prevents the tortillas from cracking when you fold them into tacos.
• Lightly spray BOTH sides of the tortillas before assembling. Grab your trusty cooking spray and lightly mist both sides of your tortillas before adding the filling. Doing so prepares the exterior for crispness and helps prevent the interior from getting soggy from the filling. You could also lightly brush with olive or canola oil, just make sure to hit both sides.

Ingredients

What ingredients you decide to use in this Air Fryer Taco recipe aren't as important as following the instructions and top tips. This is one of those technique-driven recipes where you can feel free to get creative with the ingredients.

• Flour tortillas - The tortillas I typically use for this recipe are La Banderita and they are approximately 6 inches in diameter.
• Shredded chicken - Prepare your own shredded chicken for this recipe, use leftovers, or use Rotisserie chicken.
• Cheddar cheese - Or use pepper jack or any other good melting cheese you prefer.
• Cooking spray - A little oil is key to getting the exterior of those tacos crisp. Using cooking spray is convenient, but you can also use oil and brush it on to the tortillas.

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below - keep scrolling!

Variations

What fillings can I use to make Air Fried Tacos? I encourage you to make this recipe your own. I used leftover shredded chicken, but choose whatever protein you like! These chicken recipes are also great if you love chicken as much as I do: Grilled Ranch Chicken or Instant Pot Salsa Chicken!

• Shredded or ground beef
• Shredded or ground turkey
• Shredded or ground pork
• Chorizo
• Black or pinto beans
• Chickpeas
• Sauteed peppers and onions

Same goes for the cheese! Choose one that melts nicely like the following, and avoid using pre-shredded cheese.

• Oaxaca
• Monterey jack
• Pepper jack 

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tacos

Warm up your tortillas first to make them pliable (you can do this over the open flame of a gas stove or in your microwave). 

Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to fry in batches (I usually cook four at a time). Spray both sides of each tortilla lightly with cooking spray (only do this with the ones you plan on cooking immediately) and set on a flat pan.

Spritz a baking sheet with cooking spray. 

1. Step 1: Add some cheese to half of each tortilla. Follow this with some shredded chicken. Top with a little more cheese and fold the tortilla over the filling. 

2. Step 2: If necessary, preheat your air fryer. Add the tacos to the air fryer.

3. Step 3: Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for, 12-14 minutes, flipping the tacos at around the 8-minute mark. 

4. Step 4: Remove from the air fryer and let sit for 2 minutes before digging in. Repeat with remaining tacos, if necessary. 

Serve with your favorite salsa or guacamole. 

Equipment 

An air fryer! I snagged this Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fry Oven discounted on Amazon's Treasure Truck. It's been worth every penny. 

One of the first things I made in it was this Pork Enchilada Hot Dish and I have to say, the broiler function is money. And don't sleep on this Mini Naan Pizza recipe - it was made for the Air Fryer!

Note: While I'm using an oven-style air fryer, this recipe also works with basket-style air fryers (but depending on the size, you may have to fry in smaller batches).

Leftovers

... just don’t reheat well. Plan on making what you need. 

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