Fajitas are a hard-sear dish, and the trick in a basket is to cook the vegetables first and the steak fast at the end. Peppers and onions want ten minutes to blister and sweeten. Steak strips want six, and not one more. Done in that order, everything lands hot and charred at the same moment, ready for warm tortillas.
Everything you need
- 500 g rump or sirloin steak, in finger-width strips
- 3 peppers, mixed colours, in strips
- 1 red onion, in thick slices
- 2 tbsp (27 g) olive oil
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp (5 g) smoked paprika
- 1 tsp (3 g) garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1¼ tsp fine salt
- 2 lime, 1 juiced, 1 in wedges
- 8 flour tortillas, warmed
Single layer, always. Crowding the basket steams food instead of crisping it. Tap any ingredient to open its converter.
Method
0 of 6 done-
Mix the cumin, paprika, garlic powder, oregano and salt. Toss the peppers and onion with half the oil and a third of the spice mix.
For this step
- 3 peppers
- 1 red onion
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp (5 g) smoked paprika
- 1 tsp (3 g) garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1¼ tsp fine salt
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Toss the steak strips with the rest of the oil and spices. Set aside while the vegetables cook.
For this step
- 500 g rump or sirloin steak
-
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C / 400°F for 3 minutes. Air fry the vegetables for 10 minutes, shaking once, until soft with blistered edges.
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Push the vegetables to the sides and add the steak strips in the middle in one layer.
For this step
- 500 g rump or sirloin steak
-
Cook 5 to 6 minutes, shaking once, until the steak is browned outside and just pink inside.
For this step
- 500 g rump or sirloin steak
-
Squeeze the lime over the whole basket, toss, and serve straight into warm tortillas with guacamole, sour cream and coriander.
For this step
- 2 lime
- 8 flour tortillas
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Air fryer notes
- Cook at 200°C / 400°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
- Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
- Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.
Cook's tips
- Six minutes on the steak is the whole game. Strips this thin go from juicy to grey in the time it takes to warm tortillas, so warm them first.
- Cut the steak against the grain into strips no thicker than your finger. Fajitas fail at the cutting board, not in the basket.
Make it your own
- Chicken thigh strips instead of steak: give them 9 to 10 minutes.
- Toss the finished fajita mix with a knob of butter for the restaurant-sizzle richness.
Storing & reheating
Fridge for 3 days. Reheat hard and fast at 200°C for 3 minutes. The mix is also excellent cold over rice as a lunch bowl.
Frequently asked
How long does steak take in an air fryer for fajitas?
Finger-width strips need only 5 to 6 minutes at 200°C / 400°F in a preheated basket. Cook the vegetables first, since they need nearly twice as long.
What cut of beef is best for fajitas?
Skirt is traditional, rump and sirloin are easier to find and behave well. Whatever the cut, slice thin against the grain and don't overcook it.
Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.
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A note on cooking safely. Recipes are provided for informational purposes only and are not medical or nutritional advice. Cooking times, temperatures and quantities are suggestions: use your own judgement, and check that meat, poultry, fish and eggs are properly cooked before serving.
Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making dietary changes, particularly if you have allergies, a medical condition or specific nutritional requirements.