Air Fryer Chicken Crispanada (Taco Bell Copycat)
Enjoy this crispy, flavorful Air Fryer Chicken Crispanada inspired by Taco Bell's famous dish! Perfect for those who love easy dinner recipes and crave delicious meals with a twist, this recipe combines tender, spiced chicken thighs with melty cheese sauce, all wrapped in a crisped tortilla using the air fryer.
Ingredients
- For the Cheese Sauce:
- – 2 tbsp butter
- – 2 tbsp plain/all-purpose flour
- – ½ tbsp sweet paprika
- – 1 tsp taco seasoning
- – 1 cup 250 ml milk
- – 1 cup 120 g grated cheddar or Red Leicester cheese
- For the Chicken:
- – 6 skinless boneless chicken thighs
- – 1 tbsp brown sugar
- – 1 tbsp taco seasoning or fajita seasoning
- – 1 tsp sweet paprika
- – 1 tsp salt
- – 1 tsp garlic powder
- – 2 tbsp olive oil or as needed
- – 1 tbsp lime juice
- For the Crispanadas:
- – 2 tbsp flour
- – 2 tbsp water
- – 1 beaten egg
- – Olive oil in a spray bottle as needed
- – 8 small soft flour tortillas or up to 10
- – 2 tbsp grated cheese optional
- – Pinch sweet paprika optional
Instructions
- Make Cheese Sauce:
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, sweet paprika, and taco seasoning. Cook for 1–2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in grated cheese until melted and smooth. Set aside.
- Prepare Chicken:
- Mix brown sugar, taco seasoning, sweet paprika, salt, and garlic powder in a bowl. Rub the spice mixture all over chicken thighs. Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook chicken until browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes per side. Remove from heat, slice, and toss with lime juice.
- Assemble Crispanadas:
- In a small bowl, mix flour and water to make a slurry. Brush edges of each tortilla with slurry, then add sliced chicken, cheese sauce, and optional grated cheese inside. Fold tortillas in half and press edges firmly to seal, using beaten egg as glue if needed. Lightly spray with olive oil and sprinkle with paprika if desired.
- Air Fry:
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Arrange crispanadas in the basket in a single layer (work in batches if necessary). Air fry for 8–10 minutes or until golden and crispy, flipping halfway.
- Serve:
- Serve hot with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.