Air Fryer Chicken Tacos are a delicious crispy experience packed with shredded chicken and your favorite taco toppings. Made in just minutes, you can have a taco dinner to rave about all week!
Making chicken tacos in the air fryer is a delicious way to get a tasty meal in minutes. Air Fryer Tostadas are a close second.
While I love making this recipe with any leftover taco meat I have on hand, I included a chicken taco meat recipe on the printable recipe card below.
If you find yourself with leftover tortillas after dinner, make sure to check out my Air Fryer Tortilla Chips, Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Chips, Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza, and Tortilla French Toast.
Why This Recipe Works
- It's simple. Air fryer shredded chicken tacos are made with just a few ingredients and steps. You can easily assemble and cook these tacos to perfection with little effort.
- It's fast! When I want to fry up taco shells with the stovetop method, it can take a long time to get all of the shells finished and tacos assembled for my family. With the Air fryer, the time and mess are greatly reduced.
- It's a healthier choice. It's no surprise that the air fryer is a healthier method for deep frying in oil because there is much less oil involved, but it's always great to be reminded that it's okay to grab an extra taco.
Jump to:
🥘 Ingredients
For the Chicken Taco Meat
Taco seasoning- You can use homemade taco seasoning or storebought.
Chicken breasts- Chicken breasts will be cooked and shredded into the filling.
Enchilada sauce- This will give the taco filling more moisture and flavor.
For the Air Fried Tacos
Corn tortillas- You can use corn or flour tortillas.
Shredded chicken taco meat- If you have taco meat already on hand, you can use it or follow along with the directions included on the recipe card for slow cooker taco meat.
Shredded cheddar cheese- Any cheese will work, but we like to use shredded cheddar.
Shredded lettuce- Buy already shredded lettuce or buy an iceberg head of lettuce and shred it yourself.
Diced tomatoes- For added color, freshness, and taste.
For the Optional Toppings
All of these topping ideas are optional and not "necessary," but they do help to create a more colorful and flavorful taco experience.
- Sliced avocado
- Sliced black olives
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
For specific quantities, see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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- Air Fryer 6qt or 8qt
- Slow Cooker *optional
- Mixing Bowl
🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make air fryer chicken tacos with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Prepare your shredded chicken taco meat by using the slow cooker or air fryer methods listed on the recipe card below, or use shredded chicken taco meat that you may already have on hand.
Microwave your corn tortillas for about 30 seconds before using them to make them a little easier to fold without breaking.
Rub one side of the tortilla with about ¼ teaspoon of olive oil, then place that side down onto your work surface. If you feel as though too much oil was used, you can rub another tortilla over the top to transfer a good portion to that one too.
Place your chicken taco meat on the non-oiled side of the tortillas and then top with some shredded cheddar cheese.
Fold the tacos in half, and place them into the air fryer basket.
Air fry your tacos for 4 minutes, flipping them over halfway through the cooking process. Make sure to leave a little space between the tacos so that they don't overlap. You should be able to cook between 2 and 5 depending on the size of your air fryer.
Set your cooked tacos aside and repeat until all have been cooked.
Serve warm with your favorite toppings.
📖 Variations
Different meats: You can use any prepared taco meat filling that you have on hand. We love this recipe with shredded chicken and ground beef taco meat too!
Street tacos: If desired, swap out the corn tortilla for small street taco sized flour tortillas. The recipe will still be delicious!
Taco seasoning: If you want, you can whip up your own batch of homemade taco seasoning for your chicken taco meat.
🍴 Recipe Tips
If you are using leftover chicken taco meat (or any leftover cold taco meat for that matter), then you do not need to reheat it before using it in this recipe. You can use the meat while it is cold, assuming it was properly cooked.
👩🏻🍳 Storage
These tacos are best when served immediately after being made but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days in the fridge.
🍳Reheating
If you have leftover crispy chicken tacos on hand, I recommend reheating them in the air fryer for about 2 minutes at 370 degrees F. You may need to adjust the time depending on how many you cook, how full they are, and what type of air fryer you use.
💭 FAQs
Yes! You can use ground taco meat for this recipe (it doesn't have to be exclusively chicken because you could easily use ground beef). Just cook up the meat in a skillet on the stove until its fully cooked through.
This recipe would be great served alongside some Spanish rice, refried beans, or any other number of delicious Mexican side dishes.
An easy way to shred your chicken is the two forks method. Place the breast on a cutting board and run the prongs of two forks over the top of the chicken, pulling them away from one another as you go.
More great air fryer recipes to check out soon
- Easy Air Fryer Mini Pizzas
- Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
- Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Tacos
Equipment
- Air Fryer 6qt or 8qt
- Slow Cooker *optional
Ingredients
For the Chicken Taco Meat
- 3 Tablespoons Taco seasoning ($0.44)
- 3 Large Chicken breasts ($5.97)
- 1 can (14oz) Enchilada sauce ($1.98)
For the Air Fried Tacos
- 12 Corn tortillas ($0.96)
- 2 cups Shredded chicken taco meat ($0.00)
- 4 ounces Shredded cheddar cheese ($0.99)
- 1 cup Shredded lettuce ($0.66)
- ½ cup Diced Tomatoes ($0.58)
Optional toppings
- Sliced avocado
- Sliced black olives
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
Instructions
Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Meat
- Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Top with taco seasoning, evenly sprinkling it over the breasts. Pour the enchilada sauce over the top.
- Cook on low or 7-8 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. Shred chicken and serve/use as desired.
Air Fryer Chicken for Tacos
- Rub your chciken breasts in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and then coat well in taco seasoning.
- Place the chicken breasts into a greased air fryer basket.
- Cook for 20-25 minutes at 360 degrees F.
- Shred cooked chicken and place into a bowl before stirring together with the enchilada sauce until well coated.
Making Air Fryer Tacos
- Microwave your corn tortillas for about 30 seconds before using them to make them a little easier to fold without breaking.
- Rub one side of the tortilla with about ¼ teaspoon of olive oil and then place that side down onto your work surface. If you feel as though too much oil was used, you can rub another tortilla over the top to transfer a good portion to that one too.
- Place your chicken taco meat on the non-oiled side of the tortillas and then top with some shredded cheddar cheese.
- Fold the tacos in half, and place them into the air fryer basket.
- Air fry your tacos for 4 minutes, flipping them over halfway through the cooking process. Make sure to leave a little space between the tacos so that they don't overlap. You should be able to cook between 2 and 5 depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Set your cooked tacos aside and repeat until all have been cooked. Serve warm with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Variations
- Different meats: You can use any prepared taco meat filling that you have on hand. We love this recipe with shredded chicken and ground beef taco meat too!
- Street tacos: If desired, swap out the corn tortilla for small street taco sized flour tortillas. The recipe will still be delicious!
- Taco seasoning: If you want, you can whip up your own batch of homemade taco seasoning for your chicken taco meat.
Recipe Tips
- These tacos are best when served immediately after being made but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days in the fridge.
- If you have leftover crispy chicken tacos on hand, I recommend reheating them in the air fryer for about 2 minutes at 370 degrees F. You may need to adjust the time depending on how many you cook, how full they are, and what type of air fryer you use.
- If you are using leftover chicken taco meat (or any leftover cold taco meat for that matter, ) then you do not need to reheat it before using it in this recipe. You can use the meat while it is cold, assuming that it was properly cooked previously.
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