Chicken Shrimp Beef Air Fryer Fajitas

Air fryer fajitas beef, shrimp, or with chicken and a dry rub is an easy meal to make. Add sliced air fryer onions and bell peppers in your Ninja Foodi or Cosori machines. 

Ninja Foodi Fajitas Air Fryer

We will show you 3 different styles we’ve made thus far. Whether you use strips of beef, shrimp or make our chicken fajita tacos, they are high in protein with TONS of flavor. You choose which one you like the best.

You can make this in any brand you have. I currently use an AirWave (seen below), Cosori and Ninja Foodi air crisp. They all basically work the same, the biggest difference is the size of the air fryer basket.

This is just one of many great air fryer beef recipes we love for dinner, but that isn’t the only meat you can make this popular Mexican dish with. We also have made this with strips of beef or steak and both are amazing. With any of the 3 choices, the trick with the meat is to make it bite size. Not only does this make it easier to serve and eat but it absorbs more flavor too.

How long to air fry shrimp fajitas?

This is yet another style we enjoy, with seafood. The timing stays the same as in the recipe card so nothing changes as far as that goes. You may want to vary the seasonings to maybe some Old Bay, salt and pepper but use what you love I always say.

If you do choose to use seafood don’t buy the precooked type. You want raw so you aren’t basically cooking it twice and drying the meat out. This is a great way to add all the things with veggies too. I mean onions and bell peppers are the obvious ones but you could go well beyond that.

The bag said there were 41-60 pieces in each one so I’d guess there was a total of 100 or so. Only prep for these is to rinse them, remove the tails, lay on paper towels and pat dry so the seasonings will stick well.

Both are made quite similarly. You use the same dry rub and olive oil as listed below in the printable recipe card. Just the meat is swapped out. I used 2 bags of precooked, thawed out bags of medium shrimp.

I would suggest trying them both and serving it next to some brown rice or inside of tortillas. It is one of our very favorite meals and it really isn’t very expensive at all to feed all of us. Serve a larger group in no time. You can just make them in batches so it’s fresh every time someone wants another serving.

Air Fryer Fajitas Beef Time

About 7 minutes give or take how thick your slices are of course. Most want pieces to be as tender as possible. That means you do want pink in the middle. The longer they cook the less moist they will become so stay close and check after about 3 minutes in case yours are thinner than mine.

How long to cook chicken fajitas in air fryer?

About 5 minutes is typical for this meat as well cut into thin strips seasoned well. You don’t really need a meat thermometer since they are smaller in size but the best way to check the insides is to cut in half and if the juices run clear you are good to go. No pink inside poultry is okay.

Air Fryer Fajitas Ingredients

Fajita seasoning packets can make some of the best dry rub for beef.  We’ve made this fajita marinade to soak in a few hours before too but if you don’t want to wait this dry rub isn’t as messy and a quick way to add a ton of flavor. Your choice.

1. Beef cut into thin slices – you could slice t bone or flank steak, any kind really works
   1. or medium defrosted, precooked shrimp with tails removed
2. Olive oil
3. Cumin
4. Bell peppers and onions
   1. you can add large chunks of zucchini too
   2. chopped shallots work well, onions…
5. Garlic salt
6. Paprika
7. Garlic powder
8. Dry Sriracha
9. Salt

Add as much or little chili powder you want for heat. We like ours mild medium so we don’t add much.

How to Cook Air Fryer Steak Fajitas

We will start with how to make steak fajitas in air fryer.

• First, slice meat. Then toss with olive oil
• Then mix your dry marinade together and dump that in to season everything too.
• Mix so all meat is coated well.
• Next add slices of onion and bell peppers so everything gets flavorful throughout.
• Preheat air fryer at 360 for 5 minutes for best results or meat will take longer and won’t get as crisp on the outsides.
• Add veggies into air fryer basket so it doesn’t overlap and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add meat and air fry about 10 minutes has worked well for us depending on how thick our beef strips are.
• Timing will depend on how well done you like your meat.

Can You Make Air Fryer Fajitas Vegetarian?

You could chop up some broccoli, smaller pieces of cauliflower, leeks and leave the protein out if you’d rather too. It is important to have just one layer so everything gets done at the same time. Consider the varieties you are cooking and how long each takes.

Pair firmer like broccoli and cauliflower together vs. broccoli and squash that take less time. The thinner you slice your vegetables the softer they will be in the end too. So, slice accordingly.

If you wanted to really add more veggies into your basket full of air fryer chicken fajitas you certainly could add other options as well. When I do I will add any additional cook time details but I’d imagine it would be on the lower end. Maybe 6 minutes would do it.

What goes with fajitas?

1. We serve ours inside small flour tortillas topped with:
   1. slices of avocado or guacamole
   2. sour cream
   3. pico de gallo salsa
   4. cheese

What cut of beef is best for fajitas?

Rump, skirt, or flank steaks are typically the best cuts of beef for fajitas! Skirt steak is tenderer and more flavorful than flank most people say. It can be cooked well done too without getting too tough.

What is the difference between skirt steak and flank steak?

Skirt steak is a thin long cut of beef from the muscles of the cow. It has a more beefy flavor than flank. To get the tenderest texture it should really only be cooked to rare or medium rare.

Other ways you cook fajitas

• Well we have made Instant Pot fajitas as well and those were yummy.
• In the past we’ve enjoyed crockpot chicken fajitas and now we’re here to show you the air fryer method too.
• We’ve made sheet pan steak fajitas too in our oven too.
• It’s great in our steak fajita cups too.

Other easy dinner recipes made in the air fryer you’ll love

Other air fryer dinner recipes you should try:

• Our air fryer scallops bring a meal to the next level
• Kids love air fryer hot dogs 
• This air fryer roast beef is on our list to try next
• Then try air fryer chicken thighs for a healthy meal

Follow directions for both air fryer recipe ideas and let us know what you think:

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