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.
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), Chipotle Blender Hollandaise, Cucumber Pico de Gallo, or Roasted Garlic Guacamole. And why not pair these tacos with some Restaurant Style Refried Beans from a Can? And if you like these Air Fryer Tacos, you should definitely try Doritos Walking Tacos.
Jump to:
Top Tips for Crispy Air Fryer Tacos using Flour Tortillas
Making crispy tacos in the air fryer requires a little finesse. I’ve tested several strategies out 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. 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 Needed for Air Fryer Tacos
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. But here’s the recipe I use often. Makes 8 tacos.
- 8 flour tortillas (I used La Banderita, ~6 inches diameter)
- 1 large chicken breast, cooked and shredded (or leftover Rotisserie chicken)
- 3(ish) cups cheddar cheese, shredded (I shred my own)
- Cooking spray
Instructions - How to Make Air Fryer 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.
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.
If necessary, preheat your air fryer. Add the tacos to the air fryer.
Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for, 12-14 minutes, flipping the tacos at around the 8-minute mark.
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.
Variations - What fillings can I use to make Air Fried Tacos?
I encourage you to make this recipe your own. I used some leftover shredded chicken, but choose whatever protein you like! Try using 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
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
So many great topping options! I recommend:
Pico de Gallo (or try this Cucumber Pico de Gallo!)
Homemade Guacamole
Taco Sauce or Hot Sauce
Salsa (try this Roasted Green Tomato Salsa!)
Sour Cream
Creamy Green Sauce (with Jalapeno and Spring Onion)
If you're looking for slammin' sides to serve with Crispy Air Fryer Tacos, definitely give these a try!
Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Refried Beans, Restaurant Style
Instant Pot Spanish Rice
Other Air Fryer Snacks!
Crispy Air Fryer Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 flour tortillas (I used La Banderita, ~6 inches diameter)
- 1 large chicken breast, cooked and shredded (or use leftover Rotisserie chicken)
- 3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded (I shred my own)
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- If necessary, preheat your air fryer. Add the tacos to the air fryer.
- Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for, 12-14 minutes, flipping the tacos at around the 8-minute mark.
- 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.
Leave a Reply