As someone who is celiac, lactose intolerant and allergic to almonds, it is so important that all my recipes cater to people with multiple dietary restrictions and food allergies! These Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos are gluten free, nut free, with a dairy free option and low fat option.

These Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos are a quick and easy twist on the classic BBQ chicken taco and perfect to celebrate taco tuesday! These crispy tacos are filled with bbq sauce, cream cheese, cheddar cheese and chicken. The best thing about Tthese crispy air fryer tacos are that they are ready in just 5-7 minutes. Perfect for those busy weeknights when time is tight, just like my gluten free BBQ tacos.

why you’ll love this recipe

Effortless Prep: Forget about long prep times! Use leftover shredded chicken or a rotisserie chicken to save time in this Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos recipe.
One-Pan Wonder: Ditch the mess and pots! This recipe uses only the air fryer for cooking and prep, minimizing dishes to just the air fryer basket.
Meal Prep Magic: Double the recipe and assemble the tacos ahead of time for grab-and-go lunches or quick dinners throughout the week.
Gluten-Free Friendly: Naturally gluten-free corn tortillas cater to everyone’s dietary needs.
Low-Fat Options: Swap regular cream cheese and cheddar for fat-free versions for a lighter calorie count without sacrificing flavor.
Dairy-Free Delight: Substitute dairy-free cream cheese and cheese for a delicious alternative that caters to dietary restrictions.
Spice It Up: Adjust the heat level with your favorite hot sauce or BBQ sauce variety for a personalized touch.
Use your favorite taco toppings: Add toppings such as sour cream, salsa verde, refried beans, pico de gallo, lime juice, green chile or fresh cilantro.

ingredients & substitutions

Chicken: Shredded cooked chicken or leftover chicken is perfect for these Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos. To make the chicken from scratch, cook boneless skinless chicken breasts in the air fryer or crock pot on medium heat until it is cooked and able to shred or dice. Use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store to save even more time. Substitute with tofu crumbles for vegetarian Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos. You can use gluten free chicken tenders for a crunchier taco!

BBQ Sauce: Your favorite store-bought sauce. Make sure to buy a gluten free one for the gluten free recipe.

Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese adds richness. Use dairy free for the dairy free recipe. Use fat free for a low fat recipe. Substitute with mashed avocado for dairy-free version.

Cheddar Cheese: Use shredded dairy free cheddar cheese for a dairy free recipe. Use shredded fat free cheese for a low fat recipe. I like to use the daiya dairy free shreds for the dairy free version.

Corn Tortillas: Use soft corn tortillas. Naturally gluten-free option. You can use soft flour tortillas if you are not gluten free. If you use hard taco shells you can skip the air fryer beause they are alrady crispy. Use mini corn tortillas for mini tacos.

taste & texture

Sweet and smoky BBQ sauce coats the juicy chicken. Creamy cheese and tangy cheddar melt to give the tacos a creamy inside. Crispy corn tortillas hold it all in, offering a satisfying crunch with each bite of the crispy chicken tacos.

directions

Step 1

Cook the chicken: If you haven’t already, cook your chicken breasts in the crock pot with chicken stock. Cook for 3-4 hours on high or until the chicken is fully cooked and easy to shred. Shred or dice chicken and add to a small bowl.

Step 2

Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, BBQ sauce, softened cream cheese, and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated.

Step 3

Assemble the tacos: Divide the chicken mixture evenly among the tortillas. Fold them in half to enclose the filling. If the corn tortillas are stiff and not able to fold, microwave for 30 seconds so they are soft before stuffing.

Step 4

Air fry: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the filled and folded tacos in the air fryer basket in a single layer, without overcrowding. Option to spray the top of the tacos with olive oil spray or non-stick cooking spray and sprinkle with garlic powder and onion powder for extra seasoning.

Step 5

Air fry for 3-5 minutes per side, or until the tortillas are golden brown and crispy and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

expert tips & tricks

These Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos can also be cooked in a regular oven on a baking sheet at 400°F for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy instead of air frying.
If the corn tortillas are hard to fold over or stiff, warm tortillas in the microwave for 30-45 seconds to make them softer.
Swap the bbq sauce for buffalo sauce for buffalo chicken tacos.
I like to sprinkle the tortillas with chili powder before baking for a spicy kick.

how to make this lower carb

For low-carb Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos, ditch the corn tortillas and use lettuce wraps or low-carb tortillas instead.

how to make this low fat or healthier

For low-fat Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos, swap regular cream cheese and cheddar for fat-free versions. You can also use leaner cuts of chicken like chicken breast and reduce the amount of BBQ sauce used.

how to make this vegan

To make these Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos vegan, replace the chicken with seasoned crumbled tofu or jackfruit and dairy-free cream cheese and cheese alternatives. Remember to check the ingredient labels to ensure everything is plant-based!

how to serve, store and meal prep

Serve your Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tacos immediately with your favorite toppings like red onion, cilantro, avocado, and salsa. Leftovers? Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze them individually in freezer bags for up to 3 months. Reheat frozen tacos directly in the air fryer at 400°F for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through. To meal prep, assemble the tacos without cooking and store them in the fridge for up to 2 days. When ready, simply air fry them as usual for a quick and tasty meal!

If you love these tacos you’ll love these baked chicken tacos by Frozen Bananas too!