Oh, how we love Mexican food! My whole family are huge fans of Mexican food of any kind at all and quesadillas are super high on the list of favorites. Quesadillas are always a “go-to” meal in our home because they are so quick, easy and filling!
This delicious Air Fryer Chicken Quesadilla comes together in just a few minutes with just a few ingredients. Perfect for fast dinners or a snack, they’re so easy for even kids to make on their own.
These Crispy Chicken Cheese Quesadillas can easily be made on a griddle, frying pan, or air fryer. The air fryer gives this quesadilla a lovely crispy goodness on the outside while doing a great job of melting the inside to warm gooey goodness.
This recipe is easy to make and when finished, you will have a wonderfully crispy chicken quesadilla that makes a great meal or afternoon snack. Add any toppings you like to make them your own!
Making quesadillas in the air fryer is open to many interpretations. It’s variation can completely depend on what is in your fridge, the size of your air fryer, and your own personal tastes.
Use my instructions as a guideline, have fun with it and go make it your own.
If you are looking for some other chicken air fryer recipes you can check out our Air Fryer Whole Chicken and our Air Fryer Chicken Fingers recipes for more dinner options the family will love.
You can use pre-made frozen fajita chicken like I did for this specific recipe or you can make your own shredded fajita chicken with store bought rotisserie chicken. They do come out better with the shredded chicken in my opinion, but for sake of time – I went the pre-made route.
Air Fryer Chicken Quesadilla Recipe
This specific recipe was created with the busy family in mind. I used a lot of pre-made items like frozen veggies and pre-packaged fajita strips.
When time allows, it’s just as easy to make these quesadillas with the fresh ingredients.
It does add a little to the time – but your own shredded cheese from a block of cheese and fresh veggies can make a big difference in the flavors!
Ingredients
Soft Taco Shells
Chicken Fajita Strips
1/2 cup sliced green peppers
1/2 cup sliced onions ( I use the frozen fajita blend)
Shredded Mexican Cheese
Vegetable oil
Salsa (optional)
Sour Cream (optional)
PRO TIPS
- Some air fryers are more powerful than others and the top tortilla can often “fly” off during cooking. You can weigh the quesadilla down with a metal trivet/rack, or hold everything together with a few toothpicks.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer and tortillas, cooking time may vary. Start checking on your quesadilla around 3 minutes.
Air Fryer Chicken Quesadilla Recipe
This specific recipe was created with the busy family in mind. I used a lot of pre-made items like frozen veggies and pre-packaged fajita strips.
But when time allows I definitely prefer these quesadillas with the freshest ingredients.
It does add to the time – but fresh shredded cheese and veggies can make a big difference in the flavors!
Ingredients
- Soft Taco Shells
- Chicken Fajita Strips
- 1/2 cup sliced green peppers
- 1/2 cup sliced onions ( I use the frozen fajita blend)
- Shredded Mexican Cheese
- Vegetable oil
- Salsa (optional)
- Sour Cream (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat Air Fryer on 370 for about 3 minutes.
2. Spray pan lightly with vegetable oil.
3. Place 1 soft taco shell in pan.
4. Place shredded cheese on shell. (you can use as much or as little as you’d like.)
5. Lay out fajita chicken strips so they are in a single layer.
6. Put your onions and green peppers on top of your chicken.
7. Add more shredded cheese.
8. Place another soft taco shell on top and spray lightly with vegetable oil and place an anchor over the top tortilla.
9. Set timer for 3 minutes and let the quesadilla cook. (You can set it for less time if you want to test out the level of crispiness, 4 minutes does make it pretty crispy!)
10. Flip over carefully with large spatula.
11. Spray lightly with vegetable oil and place rack on top of shell to hold it in place.
12. Set timer for another 3 minutes.
13. If it’s not crispy enough for you, leave in for a couple of extra minutes.
14. Remove and cut into 4 slices or 6 slices.
15. Serve with Salsa and sour cream if desired.
Air Fryer Chicken Quesadilla
Easy to make and wonderful to eat! These chicken quesadillas are a healthier option and come our moist in the middle with a crunchy exterior.
Ingredients
- Soft Taco Shells
- Chicken Fajita Strips
- 1/2 cup sliced green peppers
- 1/2 cup sliced onions ( I use the frozen fajita blend)
- Shredded Mexican Cheese
- Salsa (optional)
- Sour Cream (optional)
- Simple Living XL 5L Air Fryer
Instructions
Preheat Air Fryer on 370 degrees for about 3 minutes.
Spray pan lightly with vegetable oil.
Place 1 soft taco shell in pan.
Place shredded cheese on shell. (you can use as much or as little as you'd like.)
Lay out fajita chicken strips so they are in a single layer.
Put your onions and green peppers on top of your chicken.
Add more shredded cheese.
Place another soft taco shell on top and spray lightly with vegetable oil. ( I put the rack that came with the air fryer on top of the shell to hold it in place. If you don't, the fan will suck it up. Trust me on this one!)
Set timer for 4 minutes.
Flip over carefully with large spatula.
Spray lightly with vegetable oil and place rack on top of shell to hold it in place.
Set timer for 4 minutes.
If it's not crispy enough for you, leave in for a couple of extra minutes.
Remove and cut into 4 slices or 6 slices.
Serve with Salsa and sour cream if desired.
Notes
You can of course swap out the chicken with pulled pork or steak strips as well if you prefer!
How To Keep A Quesadilla From Flying Away In An Air Fryer
Many people have noted that when they were done cooking their quesadilla in the air fryer and opened it, they would find the quesadilla at the top of the air fryer! This is a common problem, so you are not alone if it happens to you.
Below are a few solutions for helping keep your quesadilla from flying around in your air fryer.
The easiest solution is to use the rack that your air fryer came with and place it on top of the quesadilla just before you are ready to cook it.
If your air fryer did not come with a rack – then there are a few other things you can try to use to keep the quesadilla from flying around.
1. A fork or knife
2. A trivet small
3. A small baking rack
Just remember to use caution when removing these items when you are done cooking your quesadilla as they will be hot! You should use tongs or an oven mitt to remove them! (Ask me how I know this!)
Jen
I make them in my air fryer. I find it best to throw the first tortilla in the air fryer and bake it crispy before turning it over and then putting the ingredients on that and placing my second tortilla on top. This saves me from having to flip the tortilla during the process 🙂
Diana
Lovely recipe. Can’t wait to try it. Thank you for all your really useful tips. Ive just got an air fryer for the first time and I’m sure your tips will all come in useful Thanks for sharing.
GLENDA LUSK
I LOOK FORWARD TO TRYING THIS RECIPE FOR QUESADILLA. IT SOUNDS DELICIOUS AND QUICK. THANK YOU
Naomi
Would any changes be needed to cook in Emeril’s 360 air fryer?
Jill
Hi Naomi, I am not familiar with that one and am not really sure if there is a lot of difference between air fryer brands….I would recommended trying it the way it has been recommended in the recipe and adjust if needed.
Lori
Did you thaw the veggies or put them frozen?
Jill
Great question! I actually made this right when I got home from the store so they were pretty thawed out. I did not make this with straight up frozen veggies…so I would say to thaw them a bit – but do not cook them or 100% thaw them before adding them to the quesadilla.
Barb B.
This was good, but I think 3 minutes on each side would be better. My tortilla was the large one. It was so crisp when I cut it, some of crumbled in tiny pieces.
Jill
Thanks Barb – glad you enjoyed it overall. The timing may var a bit from air fryer to air fryer and also based on how much spray you use. I kind of overdid it with the spray to keep it from drying out too much. My family likes the crispiness which is why I finally settled on 4 minutes, but you do bring up a good point so I am going to add a note in there about time variances. Thank you so much for offering your feedback! Jill
Janet
I am cooking this now! I used toothpicks to hold top tortilla down and i put fryer on 320 for 5 mins each side.
Jill
How did it turnout for you Janet? Did the toothpicks hold the tortilla down for you – curious to know!
Jodie
I didn’t get the rack with my air fryer what could I use to hold the top tortilla on?
Mary Walker
Ho Jodie – first if your air fryer was supposed to come with a rack, I would definitely contact the manufacturer to make sure they send you one! You can really use anything that has a tiny bit of weight to it – something like a metal trivet or coaster should work.
macy dugan
is this chicken frozen? I know you can do thawed or frozen in the air fryer and I didn’t know if it mattered.
Mary Walker
No, this one is not frozen. I purchased it by the meats like where the sausage and bacon is.
Lori
These were fabulous!
Mary Walker
Thank you.
Sylvia
Just got my Chef Emeril air fryer bought on QVC.
I’ve not had one before since my house is about 80 % food intake ‘ fry-free cooking.
So an air fryer should prove to be an interesting new adventure in our culinary
creative journey.
THANKS soooo much for your quesadilla recipe.
Will be back to PLUM CRAZY again soon.
Jess
YUM! I bet these are amazing! 🙂
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Kimberly
These look delicious! The air fryer sounds really easy to use too! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday this week! 🙂