Air Fryer Queso Chicken Tacos

These air fryer queso chicken tacos are dangerously delicious and packed with tender, juicy chicken and lots of flavorful ingredients, making them a great dinner option for the entire family. 

I love putting my Air Fryer to use, so obviously, I had to do that for these tacos too, and to my surprise, the chicken turned out just as tender and soft as the slow cooker version. 

Tacos can be perfect to make and enjoy when you’re craving for some spicy, savory Mexican food, but don’t want to eat out or order in. You can load them up with your favorite toppings and ingredients, and even prep the chicken in advance if you want to. 

These queso chicken tacos are an absolute favorite with everyone in my family, and once you give them a try, I’m sure you’ll love them too. Whip them up when you’re hosting, and they’re going to be a total crowd pleaser- it’s a promise! 

If you love Mexican food, try my recipe for easy instant pot chili no beans, air fryer mexican corn dip, mexican air fryer sweet potatoes, or air fryer tomatillo salsa verde.

What’s Great About Queso Chicken Tacos

These queso chicken tacos might be flavorful, but that’s not all. There’s so much more that I love about them. 

• Super easy to make: These tacos actually need minimal prep time and effort, and are super easy and fun to put together. You can actually get your kids involved with this recipe too.  
• Perfect for taco night: These tacos are perfect for taco Tuesdays or practically any other night of the week. It’s as simple as seasoning your chicken, air frying it and putting the tacos together with your choice of fillings. 
• Super customizable: If you’re trying to feed a family with different food choices and preferences, these tacos are a winner there too! You can have a variety of toppings (almost all of them easy to prep) and everyone gets to customize and enjoy their own choice of taco toppings. 
• Quick cooking: My favorite part about this recipe is the fact that it is quick and easy to make. You can actually prep the chicken and toppings in advance and put the queso chicken tacos together whenever you want to. 

Ingredients For the Queso Chicken Tacos Recipe

Ready to give this easy taco recipe a try? Here’s all you’ll need. 

Remember the step-by-step directions and detailed ingredient list are below, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, as well as the nutritional information.

• Chicken: Skinless chicken breasts or tenders are the perfect choice for this recipe. You can also use chicken thighs if you have those at hand- they’re more flavorful and juicy. 
• Red onions: Sliced or chopped red onions add a nice crunch element to the queso chicken tacos. 
• Sour cream: Sour cream brings that much needed creaminess and tanginess to the flavor. 
• Salsa: Fresh salsa lends a nice touch of freshness and tanginess to the tacos. 
• Tortillas: You can use flour tortillas or corn tortillas- it all depends on what you prefer and have at hand. 
• Taco seasoning: Use any taco seasoning of your choice. I also like to experiment and play around with other seasonings to get different flavors. 
• Mexican cheese: Mexican cheese blend is the perfect choice for these tacos. If you don’t have it, use a nice melty cheese of your choice. 
• Lime: Lime juice adds that much needed brightness and tanginess to the tacos. 
• Balsamic vinegar: Balsamic vinegar, when used as a marinade for the chicken, brings a beautiful umami flavor to the dish. 
• Olive oil: Stick to using the good old olive oil for the marinade. This will not just add some richness and flavor to the chicken, but is also a healthy ingredient choice. 
• Cilantro: Fresh chopped cilantro brings that nice pop of color and freshness to the tacos. This one’s an absolute must-have garnish. 

How To Make Air Fryer Queso Chicken Tacos

Here’s step-by-step directions on how to make Air Fryer Queso Chicken Tacos:

Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, combine the chicken with taco seasoning, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar, ensuring the chicken is evenly coated. Allow it to marinate for about 20-30 minutes.

Air Fry the Chicken: Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F (187°C). Place the marinated chicken in the air fryer basket and air fry for 8-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) when checked with a meat thermometer.

Shred the Chicken: Once cooked, remove the chicken from the air fryer and shred it using two forks.

Warm the Tortillas: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F (177°C). Place the tortillas in the air fryer and warm them for 1-2 minutes until they are heated through. Add cheese on top of the tortillas during the last 30 seconds to melt.

Assemble the Tacos: Place the shredded chicken on top of the warmed tortillas. Add diced red onions, salsa, and fresh cilantro for extra flavor and texture. Drizzle with sour cream and garnish with additional fresh cilantro for presentation. Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious tacos!

Pro Tips for the Queso Chicken Tacos Recipe

These queso chicken tacos are incredibly easy to make, but you might want to have these tips and tricks handy too! 

• To get the perfectly soft and juicy chicken, you’ll need to make sure that you cook it just enough, or you’ll risk drying it out. 
• Remember that smaller and more tender cuts of chicken (like thighs) take a shorter time to cook as opposed to chicken breasts, which have longer, tougher fibers. 
• Use two forks to shred the chicken after it is done cooking. You can also choose to use a food processor for this if you want to speed things up. 
• You can also use crunchy taco shells or mini corn tortillas to bring a bit of fun element to the tacos. 

How Do I Store the Queso Chicken Tacos?

Your leftover shredded chicken can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Just remember to use a clean container, preferably an airtight one. The best way to reheat the queso chicken tacos is to microwave them until they’re warm. 

How Do I Serve the Queso Chicken Tacos?

These queso chicken tacos taste fantastic on their own. You don’t really need to go the extra mile to pair them with anything. If you really want to though, here are a few good ideas to get you started. 

• With Dipping Sauces: All tacos taste great when paired with a dip or a sauce on the side. You can use hot sauce, ranch, sour cream, guacamole or any other dip of your choice. 
• In a Burrito Bowl: Don’t have tortillas but still want to enjoy the taco dish? Put them together with some rice and you’ve got yourself a burrito bowl. Just make sure you layer all the ingredients nicely in a bowl, and you’re good to go. 
• With Mexican Salads & Rice Dishes: These tacos can also be a wonderful side to any of your Mexican salads and rice dishes. You can also pair them with some nachos or a crunchy salad to make it more filling, particularly when you’re entertaining. 

FAQs

What Other Cheese Can I Use? Nacho cheese and Velveeta cheese are two great alternatives to Mexican blend cheese. You can use these, or just stick to using shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese. 

What Toppings Can I Add? You can play around with a variety of toppings for this recipe. Chopped lettuce, chilis, jalapenos, olives, sliced bell peppers, hot sauce, diced avocados and even chopped tomatoes. 

Can I Prep the Queso Chicken Tacos in Advance? You sure can! I would recommend marinating the chicken overnight if you want to cut down the cooking time the next day. You can also freeze the marinated chicken for up to a week, and then use it for the recipe when you want to, after it has been defrosted. 

More Taco Recipes

• AIR FRYER TACO STICKS
• AIR FRYER TACO CUPS
• AIR FRYER DESSERT TACO SHELLS
• AIR FRYER COPYCAT TACO BELL CRUNCHWRAP SUPREME
• NINJA FOODI AIR FRYER TACO PIE
• AIR FRYER TACO STUFFED PASTA SHELLS

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