These Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas make a quick yet sensational weeknight dinner for two! Coat the chicken and veggies in a homemade spice paste, then let the air fryer do the rest. Serve with warmed tortillas and your favorite toppings!
Note from Danielle
It’s not often I add new recipes into my air fryer rotation anymore. She’s reliable, but she hasn’t handled any experiments lately. Until I met these fajitas!
Does my sister know about this recipe yet? Because it’s right up her alley:
- ready in 30 minutes (she works all day and needs dinner fast)
- minimal ingredients, or she could buy pre-cut veggies if needed
- she can use whatever tortillas or toppings she already has
For those of you looking for smaller quantity recipes, I think you’ll like this one too. No leftovers to deal with, and you can serve it exactly how you and your partner want. Enjoy!
👉 Here in the post, you’ll find detailed info and helpful tips based on my personal experience with this recipe.
🖨️ For the printable recipe card with ingredients list and concise instructions, keep scrolling or hit the ‘Jump to Recipe’ button at the top of the page.
🙋♀️ Frequently asked questions about this recipe are located after the recipe card.
For some authentic fajita recipes, try one of these:
Fajitas are a Tex-Mex creation originally made with sizzling strips of marinated flank steak served alongside sautéed peppers and onions, stuffed into a tortilla. Modern variations often swap protein for other options such as shrimp or chicken (like this recipe!).
When you’re ready for more fajitas, I highly recommend checking out these more authentic versions from other lovely recipe bloggers:
- Chicken Fajitas from Muy Bueno
- Classic Steak Fajitas from ¡Hola! Jalapeño
- 30-Minute Chicken Fajitas from Isabel Eats
Recipe Overview
Total Time: 25 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Method: Air Fryer
Prep: Meal Plan Filler
Ingredients in these Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas:
The ingredients in this recipe are pretty common, especially if you often cook Tex-Mex or Mexican inspired cuisine. The spice paste is made with all spices I already had on hand. Otherwise, you’ll just need some chicken thighs and a handful of fresh ingredients.
Here’s a breakdown of what I used in this recipe, plus a little note on each:
- avocado oil – This is the base of the spice paste. I recommend avocado oil over olive oil, so it doesn’t burn in the air fryer.
- chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, ground cumin, dried oregano & salt – These are the seasonings in the spice paste. You can slightly adjust them if needed (omit the cayenne, for example), but don’t do anything too drastic or you’ll miss out on the fajita flavors.
- lime – You NEED the acidity and flavor of lime with any kind of fajitas. It simply won’t taste the same without it!
- boneless skinless chicken thighs – With a higher fat content, thighs will stay juicier after cooking with the high heat of the air fryer. They also hold up better to reheating.
- onion – The recipe says yellow, but you could also use a red onion if that’s all you have, though it will be a bit sweeter after cooking.
- bell peppers – After some roasting and charred edges, I loveeee the flavor of bell peppers even more. Red is going to be the sweetest. If you want to sub one of them for green, that works too! It’ll just have a very slightly different taste.
- your favorite toppings, such as guacamole, sour cream, cilantro – Definitely use your favorite. I’m not here to tell you how to top your fajitas. Just don’t skip the extra lime juice!
Related: We’ve got so many excellent chicken air fryer recipes, so I made a list! You gotta browse my list of 10 Must Try Air Fryer Chicken Recipes!
Equipment you’ll need to make these Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas:
Besides common kitchen tools, you’ll definitely need an air fryer for this recipe. I do have some recommendations on equipment and brands to look for:
- sharp chef’s knife – If I had to pick one thing in my kitchen to use forever, it would be my Misen Chef’s Knife (affiliate link!). This knife is super high quality while being affordable. I’ve had mine for years (and there’s a lifetime guarantee!).
- plastic cutting board – When handling, trimming or cutting raw meat, I usually use a plastic cutting board that can go into the dishwasher for best cleaning. Save the wooden cutting boards for produce and cooked proteins.
- wooden cutting board – For chopping the produce in this recipe, I recommend this Greener Chef XL Bamboo Cutting Board (affiliate link!). The XL size is perfect but not too huge. I use it for everything except cutting raw meat. Hand wash only!
- air fryer – Any air fryer with at least a 5 to 6 quart capacity will work for this recipe. I’ve had my Cosori Turboblaze 6 Quart Air Fryer (affiliate link!) for a while now, and it always gets the job done!
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas:
It’s everything you want in a weeknight dinner: one bowl prep, cooks in 15 minutes, and tastes incredible. Get your toppings prepared as the fajitas cook, and you’ll have everything ready in just 30 minutes. Here’s a breakdown of the recipe process, start to finish:
1
Make the spice paste:
In a large bowl, combine the avocado oil, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt and lime juice.
Bowl Tip:
If you plan to let the seasoned chicken and veggies marinate in the fridge, be sure to grab a bowl that comes with a lid for this step! This way, no transferring or plastic wrap is required.
2
Mix the fajitas:
Add the chicken, onion, and bell peppers to the same bowl, and toss well until everything is covered in the spice paste.
Make-Ahead Tip
You can marinate the chicken and veggies in the spice mix (covered tightly with plastic wrap or a lid) in the fridge for about 24 hours.
How to warm corn or flour tortillas for fajitas:
Anytime between the end of step 2 and the end of step 3 is a great time to start warming up tortillas.
Here are some options for warming tortillas while your air fryer is busy:
- on the stovetop – Wrap the tortillas in foil and set the packet on a warmer set to medium. Flip packet every couple minutes or so.
- in the oven – Wrap the tortillas in foil and place the packet into the oven set at 350F for about 15 minutes.
- in the microwave – Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 20-30 seconds, watching closely.
3
Air fry:
Transfer everything to the air fryer basket or rack and cook for 15 minutes at 400F. Toss or stir the meat and veggies twice during air frying to make sure everything cooks evenly.
What Danielle does:
I like to use the time while the fajitas are cooking to prepare the toppings, and do a couple other things:
- mash avocados
- heat refried beans
- chop cilantro
- find the salsa
- eat some chips
4
Serve:
Serve the fajitas with large soft flour tortillas and your choice of toppings, depending on what your house likes. Ideas ⬇️
Toppings I LOVE
- Guacamole: I simply must recommend this Homemade Mexican Guacamole Recipe from My Latina Table. Exactly how I learned to make it when I was younger!
- Cilantro: We love cilantro around here. I like to grow it in my garden! Finely chop it up with your Misen Chef’s Knife (affiliate link!)!
- Lime juice: A fresh hit of lime juice is basically essential for fajitas. Serve each plate with a wedge so everyone can squeeze their own.
Best tips for making Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas:
Here are my best tips for making these chicken fajitas successfully in your own kitchen:
- Cut everything into similar sized pieces. That way, all the veggies cook at the same rate and you won’t have larger, undercooked pieces of chicken.
- Don’t forget to toss the chicken & veggies once or twice while air frying for the most even cooking.
- Don’t cook a double recipe. Overcrowding the air fryer will cause steaming, rather than roasting and browning. Nobody wants steamed fajitas, I’m sure!
What to serve with Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas:
This fajita recipe makes a delightful meal all by itself (with tortilla and toppings, of course!), but I’ve got a couple more ideas on what you could serve on the side:
- Make it a fajita bowl and serve with an air fryer flour tortilla bowl. I recommend making the tortilla bowls ahead of time; it’s okay for them to sit out on the counter for a bit.
- This pan roasted corn pasta salad has a similar flavor profile, with more fresh ingredients. This would work great as an app if you’re waiting for more batches or want the fajitas to go a little further. Leftovers will save really well!
- If you’re serving some vegetarian/vegan friends as well, the roasted chickpeas and vegetables from this Roasted Chickpea Taco Salad Bowls recipe would work perfectly, and use all the same toppings as the fajitas!
If you like this…
If you like this recipe, you’ll love my Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas. Just as satisfying as the restaurant version, but with way less oil than a fried chimichanga.
Ways to customize this recipe:
Here are some ideas on ways to customize this fajita recipe to your own tastes:
Ways to meal prep this recipe:
There are a couple ways to save time by preparing part of this recipe ahead of time. Here are some options:
- Raw meat & veggie prep: Prepare the recipe through Step 2, and then cover the bowl and store in the fridge to marinate for up to 24 hours.
- Complete prep: Make the recipe start to finish, saving one or both portions as needed, without any toppings. You can gently reheat the chicken and veggies in the air fryer at 350F for 7-8 minutes (works best if you used chicken thighs!).
Meal Planning Tip + Free Templates Reminder ⬇️
This is a quick weeknight dinner recipe that’s clutch when it’s just two or three of you, or when you don’t feel like dealing with leftovers!
Don’t forget, Project Meal Plan offers the following free templates. You don’t even have to sign up for anything! We have:
- 🗓️ Weekly Meal Planner
- 📓 Monthly Meal Planner
- 🛒 Shopping List Organizer
Is this recipe freezer-friendly?
You can freeze the raw chicken and veggie mixture with seasoning paste in an airtight zip top freezer bag for up to 3 months for best quality. For best results, thaw overnight in the fridge before proceeding with the recipe.
How to store leftover fajitas:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Try to store any toppings or fresh ingredients separately from the ingredients you plan to reheat.
How to reheat leftover chicken fajitas:
You can reheat the cooked chicken and veggies in the air fryer at 350F for 7-8 minutes (works best if you used chicken thighs!). If the mixture seems dry, mix in a drizzle of water before transferring to the air fryer.
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Print
Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
These Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas make a quick but sensational weeknight dinner for two! Coat the chicken, peppers and onions in a homemade spice paste, then let the air fryer do the rest.
- Total Time25 minutes
- Yield2 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
- juice 1/2 lime (save more wedges for serving)
- 2–3 boneless skinless chicken thighs (1 pound max), cut into strips
- 1 small yellow onion, peeled and cut into small wedges
- 1 red bell pepper, seeds & stem removed, cut into chunks
- 1 yellow or orange bell pepper, seeds & stem removed, cut into chunks
- your favorite toppings, such as guacamole, sour cream, cilantro, etc
Instructions
- Make the spice paste: In a large bowl, combine the avocado oil (1 teaspoon), chili powder (1 teaspoon), garlic powder (1/2 teaspoon), cayenne pepper (1/4 teaspoon), ground cumin (1/4 teaspoon), dried oregano (1/4 teaspoon), salt (1/4 teaspoon) and lime juice (from 1/2 lime).
- Mix the fajitas: Add the chicken (2-3 thighs, cut into strips), onion (1 small yellow, cut into wedges), and bell peppers (2, seeds & stem removed, cut into chunks) to the same bowl, and toss well until everything is completely covered in the spice paste.
- Air fry: Transfer to an air fryer basket or rack and cook for 15 minutes at 400F. Don’t worry about preheating. Toss the meat and veggies twice during air frying to make sure everything cooks evenly.
- Serve & store: Serve with large soft flour tortillas and your choice of sour cream, shredded cheese, fresh or jarred salsa, and sliced avocado or guacamole. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition information estimated with My Fitness Pal, and does not include any toppings or tortilla.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Dish
- Method: Air Fry
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe
- Calories: 359
- Fat: 17g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Protein: 38g
Did You Make This?
I love seeing what you made! Leave a review below, and be sure to tag me at @ProjectMealPlan when you share a photo!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs?
This recipe was specifically written for chicken thighs, but it is possible to use chicken breast strips as well. Be careful not to overcook, as chicken breasts are more likely to dry out.
I would also avoid reheating if chicken breasts are used.
Can I double this recipe?
While yes, you can double the recipe, it is important that you do not cook both batches together all at once. You must cook one batch at a time so the air fryer is not over-crowded.
Recipe developed by Rachel Phipps. Photography by Christine Ma.
