With a few simple tricks, you absolutely can make delicious fajita vegetables in an air fryer! Air fryers are a great kitchen appliance that can be used to quickly cook food using little to no oil. This makes them a healthy alternative to deep frying. While air fryers are ideal for cooking things like french fries and chicken wings, they can also be used to make tasty veggies perfect for fajitas or fajita bowls.
What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a small countertop convection oven that uses hot air to cook food. The hot air rapidly circulates around food to produce a crispy finished product similar to deep frying, but without all the oil. Air fryers cook food much quicker than a traditional oven.
Air fryers work by using a heating element and fan to quickly circulate hot air around the food at high speed. This allows the outside of foods to quickly crisp up through a process called the Maillard reaction. The inside of foods are then cooked through using conduction heat.
Common air fryer features include:
- A basket to hold the food – Often removable for easy transfer
- Temperature and timer controls
- A nonstick cooking basket to prevent sticking and allow air circulation
- Low wattage of around 1500 Watts
- Dishwasher safe parts for easy cleanup
Air fryers produce similar results to deep frying but are considered a much healthier cooking method. They use up to 80% less oil than traditional frying.
Benefits of Cooking in an Air Fryer
There are many benefits to using an air fryer:
- Lower Fat – Air fryers greatly reduce the amount of fat needed compared to deep frying, as the rapid air circulation mimics frying.
- Healthier – Less oil means fewer calories and less fat intake.
- Food Safety – The enclosed heating system poses less risk of burns or spattering hot oil.
- Quick Cooking – The rapid air circulation cooks food much faster than an oven.
- Crispy Texture – Air frying gives foods a crispy fried texture without the grease.
- Easy Clean Up – Air fryers have minimal oil splatter compared to pan frying.
When it comes to fajita veggies, air frying is an easy way to quickly cook them while retaining a crisp-tender texture. The circulating air will help caramelize and char the vegetables for delicious flavor too.
What Vegetables to Use
Traditional fajita recipes call for a sizzle skillet mix of bell peppers and onions. However, you can take some creative license and use any vegetables you love in an air fryer fajita recipe. Here are some of the best options:
- Bell peppers – Go for a mix of colors like red, orange, yellow and green.
- Onions – Yellow, white or red all work great.
- Zucchini – Adds great texture and flavor.
- Squash – Try yellow squash or zucchini.
- Corn – Brings a sweet pop of flavor.
- Tomatoes – Cherry or grape tomatoes add juiciness.
- Jalapenos – Bring the heat if you want spicy fajitas.
- Mushrooms – Meaty portobello or white mushrooms are perfect.
Get creative with veggie combos! Almost any firm, fresh vegetables will cook up deliciously in the air fryer. Just stay away from leafy greens or vegetables with high water content that will cook down too much. Keep vegetables chopped uniformly in similar sized pieces so they cook evenly.
How to Prep the Vegetables
Proper prep is key for air frying success:
- Wash and dry veggies thoroughly.
- Trim ends and remove any seeds/membranes.
- Cut into uniform bite-sized pieces.
- Chop onions, peppers, squash, zucchini into 1-inch chunks.
- Halve or quarter small tomatoes.
- Slice corn kernels off the cob.
- Cut mushrooms into 1/2-inch slices.
Having the veggies in similar sized pieces allows for even cooking. Leaving the skin on peppers, zucchini and other veggies adds color and nutrients.
Toss in Oil and Seasonings
While air frying uses minimal oil, you’ll still want a light coating on the vegetables:
- Toss chopped veggies with 1-2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil.
- Season with salt, pepper, taco seasoning, fajita seasoning or chili powder.
- Mix well so veggies are evenly coated in oil and seasonings.
Use just enough oil to lightly coat the vegetables – around 1-2 tablespoons for 4 servings. This helps the seasoning adhere and promotes even cooking and caramelization.
Air Fryer Time and Temperature
Air frying fajita veggies is super quick and easy. Simply:
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Add veggie mix to fryer basket in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd.
- Air fry for 8-12 minutes, checking frequently and shaking basket.
- Cook until tender with nice charring on the edges.
Shaking the basket mid-way through will help ensure even cooking. Cook times vary based on the size and density of the vegetables, so start checking at 8 minutes for doneness. Smaller vegetables like diced peppers and onions may only need 8-10 minutes. Denser veggies like squash and potatoes may need closer to 12 minutes.
Make Fajita Bowls
Now comes the best part – build flavor-packed fajita bowls! After air frying, pile your sizzling veggies into tortillas, over rice or quinoa, or on salad for healthy low-carb bowls. Some tasty add-ins include:
- Salsa, guacamole, sour cream
- Beans, corn
- Shredded cheese, queso fresco
- Avocado, lettuce, lime juice
- Cooked ground turkey or beef
- Cilantro, hot sauce
Let the air fried veggie goodness shine by keeping add-ins simple. A squeeze of lime, sprinkle of cilantro and dollop of guac is all you need!
Helpful Air Fryer Tips
Follow these tips for air fryer success:
- Don’t overcrowd – Cook in batches for even cooking.
- Toss or flip ingredients midway through cooking.
- Spritz a bit of oil spray on ingredients if they aren’t browning.
- Brush or spray the fryer basket with oil for less sticking.
- Let air fryer preheat fully before adding food.
- Adjust cook times as needed based on your model.
Cleaning Your Air Fryer
Since air fryers use little oil, cleanup is quick and easy. Here are some tips:
- Unplug and let cool fully before cleaning.
- Remove basket and wash with hot soapy water.
- Clean the fryer body with a cloth dampened with hot water and mild detergent.
- Avoid immersing the base in water.
- Brush or wipe down the heating element to remove residue.
- Dry all parts fully before reassembling.
A quick wipe down is all you need to keep your air fryer looking like new! Be sure to read your model’s manual for any specific care instructions.
Common Air Fryer FAQs
If you’re new to air frying, here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What size air fryer should I get?
Consider how many people you normally cook for. A 3-quart to 5-quart air fryer can cook 1-3 servings per batch. A 5-quart to 7-quart size is ideal for 3-5 servings.
What foods work best?
Air fryers excel at cooking frozen foods like fries and nuggets. They’re also great for fresh veggies, chicken wings and pieces, chops, fish, and more.
Can you bake in an air fryer?
Yes, air fryers can bake foods like fries, fish sticks, and chicken nuggets with less oil. Baking smaller items like cookies in an air fryer is also possible.
Does air frying make food crispy?
The rapid hot air circulation mimics deep frying for crispy edges and texture. Foods like fries, chicken wings, and veggies develop a delicious crispness in an air fryer.
Is air fried food healthy?
Air frying is healthier than deep frying since it uses little oil. But like any cooking, the ingredients you use determine the nutrition. Air fried fresh veggies are a healthy choice!
Conclusion
Enjoy all the flavors of fajitas at home by cooking veggies in your air fryer! Peppers, onions, squash, mushrooms and more develop a delicious char while cooking up tender-crisp. Toss veggies in just a bit of oil and seasoning for full flavor in half the time of oven roasting. Air fried veggies are endlessly versatile – pile them into fajita bowls, tacos, lettuce wraps, quesadillas or nachos. With a few easy tips, you’ll be air frying flavorful fajita veggies like a pro in no time!