Air Fryer Chicken Tacos

This Air fryer Chicken Tacos is made with deliciously seasoned Mexican chicken, pico de gallo and avocado. A super easy weeknight dinner that will become a family favorite!

Air Fryer Chicken Tacos

These tacos is the ultimate easy recipe - made with super delicious and flavorful meat, a simple pico de gallo, avocado and sour cream on corn tortillas. They aren't fussy and not too many toppings. They are great serving for a crowd, Cinco de Mayo or just weeknight dinner.

Why you'll love this recipe?

Like all air fryer dinner recipes, this is one of the easiest and tastiest dinners, like the air fryer teriyaki chicken plus they are made in 30 minutes (if you skip marinating time). It is the perfect Taco Tuesday recipe.

1. Air fryer dinner - There are lots of ways to make Mexican spiced chicken thighs with no breading, but here we are doing it the simplest way ---> Air frying! It's my favorite to meal prep, because it's so versatile.
2. Simple yet flavorful - The air fryer taco meat is made with only 4 ingredients ---> thighs, taco seasoning, lime juice and some vegetable oil. The seasoning is our homemade taco seasoning recipe that is incredibly popular and amazing delicious.
3. Customizable - Add any and all of your favorite Tex-Mex toppings to make these your own.
4. Easy to make ahead - Do you like to meal prep? This air fryer meat works perfectly for spicy salads, burrito bowls or quesadillas.

Looking for more 30 minute dinner ideas? Check out our round up blog post of 30 minute chicken recipes for quick and easy chicken dinner ideas.

HOW TO HEAT TORTILLAS IN AIR FRYER?

Wrap corn or flour tortillas in aluminium foil and place in a pre heated 350 degree fryer for 3 to 4 minutes.

How to cook moist, tender thighs in air fryer?

1. Marinade - Marinading the meat with salt, spices and lime juice helps tenderize the meat, flavors the meat all the way through, so the meat tastes completely seasoned and not bland inside.
2. Don't over cook - Poultry is considered cooked at 165 degrees F. The time given in the recipe ensures not overcooking the chicken.
3. High heat - The high heat makes sure that the meat is cooked outside with hot blast of air from the air fryer yet keeping the inside moist.

Can I use chicken breasts?

Sure can! As I mention in recipes with boneless chicken thighs, I love to use thighs because they are juicy, moist and almost impossible to over cook. If using boneless, skinless breasts ---> Cook them at 380 degrees for 6 minutes, flip over and cook for an additional 6 minutes, or until completely cooked.

How to cook in a skillet?

Heat a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce oil used for marination and drizzle the remaining in the hot skillet. Place marinated meat in skillet spacing evenly apart. Let cook until browned on bottom, about 6 minutes. Turn over, reduce heat to medium if needed. Continue to cook until cooked through (165 degrees in thickest portion), about 6 minutes longer.

How to Grill or Bake?

Grill - Grill marinated meat over medium heat until a thermometer registers 165 degrees in centre (flip half way), about 10 to 12 minutes.

Oven - Place on a greased baking sheet, cook at 425 degrees, until cooked through, about 25 to 30 minutes.

How much chicken do I need for tacos?

This recipe make 6 tacos using about 3 boneless skinless thighs (which weighs ¾th to 1 pound, depending on the size). Feel free to double or triple the recipe depending on how many people you’re serving (and if you have too much, it does make great leftovers!).

INGREDIENTS

1. Chicken thighs - 3 boneless skinless thighs (¾th to 1 pound) is perfect for this recipe.
2. Seasoning - We highly recommend using this homemade taco seasoning recipe. It is by far more flavorful than any store bought ones.
3. Lime - Use freshly squeezed lime juice and not any anything from a bottle. It makes a huge difference.
4. Pico de gallo - Use homemade pico de gallo or store bought.
5. Tortillas - We recommend using white or yellow corn tortillas.
6. Avocado and Sour cream

PRO TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• The recipe is best with thighs. They are more fattier and almost impossible to overcook.
• Tortillas - Corn tortillas as our go-to for a good taco. You can even use flour or almond flour tortillas (we love the ones from Costco).
• Taco seasoning - We highly recommend our homemade seasoning recipe. If using store bought seasoning, then use about 1 to 2 tablespoons (depends on the salt).
• Sour cream - Mix sour cream with a squeeze of lime juice, salt and a dash water.

HOW TO MAKE?

Marinade chicken - Toss thighs with Mexican seasoning, lime juice and vegetable oil. Marinade for about 30 minutes at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours in the refrigerator.

Cook - Place marinated meat in a pre heated 400 degree air fryer and cook for 6 minutes, flip over and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Rest for a few minutes and chop.

Pico de gallo - Use store bought pico or make your own (recipe link included)

Warm tortillas - Warm tortillas in microwave, air fryer or char on stove top.

Sour cream sauce - Stir sour cream with lime juice, salt and water to thin it a bit.

Assemble - Load tortillas with cooked meat, pico de gallo, sliced avocado and sour cream sauce.

How to serve this chicken?

1. Make Burrito Bowls - Top with cilantro lime rice with diced meat, corn, pico de gallo, black beans, shredded cheddar, avocado crema, jalapeños, cilantro and sour cream.
2. Lettuce wraps - Skip rice and assemble everything in lettuce cups.
3. Salad - Toss chopped lettuce, red onion, meat, tomato, corn, chili peppers and black beans with a drizzle of sour cream sauce.
4. Quesadillas - Make quesadillas with Mexican cheese blend, some pico de gallo and jalapeños.
5. Sandwich - Replace flour tortillas with sandwich bread to make grilled cheese sandwich.

HOW TO STORE LEFTOVERS?

This is a small batch recipe which feeds a family of 2 to 3. But, if you have leftovers or making a double batch, then refrigerate leftovers in an air tight container for up to 4 days.

HOW TO FREEZE?

Prepare the recipe as described, and then cool. Freeze whole or chop and store freezer safe bags for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.

To reheat in air fryer -  Place room temperature cooked chicken in a pre heated 375 degree air fryer and cook for 2 to 4 minutes or until heated through. Colder meat might take an additional minute.

To reheat in microwave - Place in a microwave safe plate and cook until heated through.

What is a good side dish?

I like to serve cilantro lime rice, Air Fryer Corn on the Cob, guacamole or refried beans. Quick, easy, and so delicious vegetarian recipes for taco Tuesday.

Did you make this recipe? I’d love your feedback! Please let me know by leaving a comment or review below or snap a photo and share on Instagram.

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