Do you ever want to just toss some chicken breasts and veggies in a bowl, add some olive oil and a few spices, air fry it, and be ready to eat in less than 15 minutes? Well, we have a simple, delicious recipe for you: Air Fryer Cajun Chicken with Vegetables!
What is Cajun food as opposed to Creole food?
Cajun food was brought to Louisiana by the French who migrated there in the late 1700s from Canada. The migrating French were known as Cajuns and they can be identified by their Cajun-French accents, their vibrant music, and their delightful cuisine. Cajun food is rustic food, very robust and unique, spicy but not too spicy, and it is found along the bayous of Louisiana. It’s a combination of French and Southern cuisines.
Creole food is also native to Louisiana and is found in restaurants throughout New Orleans. The main difference in the way they taste is, creole food typically uses tomatoes and tomato-based sauces while cajun food does not.
What is cajun seasoning made of?
Cajun seasoning is made from a mixture of salt, pepper, garlic powder,, paprika, onion powder, cayenne, oregano and thyme. You can make your own cajun seasoning and make it as salty or as spicy as you want.
Is cajun chicken with vegetables healthy?
Cajun chicken with vegetables is very healthy since chicken and vegetables alike are rich in so many important nutrients. Keep in mind though, that cajun seasoning has a lot of salt in it. If you are making your own homemade cajun seasoning, you can cut back on the salt if needed. Chicken and vegetables are both excellent for a very healthy diet.
Can I cook chicken and vegetable chunks together in an air fryer?
You may cook both chicken and vegetable chunks together in an air fryer, although the chicken chunks take 5-6 minutes longer than the vegetables.
What you will need to cook cajun chicken with vegetables in the air fryer:
- Colorful vegetables including red and yellow peppers and zucchini
- a chicken breast, or more for more than 2 people
- Olive oil
- Your favorite cajun seasoning, home-made or store bought
What temperature do you use to cook cajun chicken with vegetables?
Set the air fryer to 360 degrees F and the cajun chicken and vegetables will cook in about 13 minutes.
How do you cook cajun chicken with vegetables in an air fryer?
Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees F. Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized chunks and toss into a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and the cajun seasoning. Cut the peppers in half and remove all the seeds then cut into strips and halve the strips. Cut the ends from the zucchini, then slice into bite-sized chunks. Toss all the veggies into a bowl and drizzle some olive oil over them before placing in the air fryer basket. Cook the veggies with the chicken for an extra 6 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through baking. Serve hot, and enjoy!
Can I use chicken thighs or other parts of the chicken instead of breasts in this recipe?
You may substitute chicken thighs for the chicken breast in cajun chicken with vegetables. Cut the thighs into chunks and the total cooking time with be the same as for the chicken breasts. If you choose to leave the small thighs uncut with the bone in, you will need to adjust the total cooking time by an extra 3 minutes. You may also use chicken tenders, legs, wings, or even turkey as a substitute for breasts, making the recipe very versatile.
How do you know when the chicken is done?
The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (this should take around 13 minutes at 360 degrees F). When you cut into the middle of the chunks of chicken, the juices should run clear when done.
Can you stack chicken chunks and vegetables chunks in an air fryer?
You may stack chicken chunks with vegetable chunks in the air fryer, but no more than about halfway full in the basket.
Does chicken stay tender when cooked in an air fryer?
The cajun chicken chunks will stay moist and tender when cooked at 360 degrees F for 13 minutes.
Can you use frozen chicken to cook cajun chicken with vegetables in an air fryer?
You may use frozen chicken to cook cajun chicken with vegetables in an air fryer after thawing the chicken first. When you cut the chicken breasts into chunks the chicken will thaw quickly.
Is it safe to eat rare or undercooked chicken in cajun chicken with vegetables?
It is never safe to eat rare or undercooked chicken. Salmonella is a common food-borne bacteria found in undercooked chicken and can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps and vomiting. The USDA recommends cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Where do I put the oil in the air fryer?
The olive oil will be drizzled directly on the chicken chunks and vegetables so you will not need to spray olive oil in the basket of the air fryer on this recipe.
Can you freeze cajun chicken with vegetables after cooking in an air fryer?
After cooling the cajun chicken with vegetables to room temperature you may freeze it, although the vegetables may become mushy. Place in an airtight container. An alternative is to freeze just the cajun chicken chunks, then cook new fresh vegetables when warming up the leftover chicken.
How long can you safely store cajun chicken with vegetables after cooking?
You may safely store leftover cajun chicken with vegetables in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
What can I serve with cajun chicken with vegetables?
Cajun chicken with vegetables is best served over rice with a squeeze of fresh lemon. Try serving cajun chicken with vegetables over fresh pasta or with hasselback potatoes.
Tips to making great cajun chicken with vegetables in an air fryer:
- Cajun seasoning can be salty. Taste test before adding more seasoning to this recipe.
- You can replace cajun seasoning with Italian seasoning, taco spice seasoning, or lemon pepper for other great tastes.
- You can make your own homemade cajun seasoning if you want less salt or less spice than the store-bought variety.
- Try substituting your favorite quick-cooking vegetables to this recipe, like bell pepper, onion and broccoli.
Air Fryer Cajun Chicken with Vegetables
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 red pepper
- 1 yellow pepper
- 1 zucchini
- 1 chicken breast
- olive oil
- 2 tsp cajun seasoning
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into chunks and toss in a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and cajun seasoning.
- Once thoroughly coated, place the chicken into the air fryer at 360°F for 7 mins.
- Wash and cut the peppers in half. Remove all seeds before cutting into strips and then halve the strips.
- Wash the zucchini and cut off the ends before slicing to desired thickness.
- Throw all the chopped vegetables into a bowl and toss with a drizzle of olive oil before adding to the basket and cooking with the chicken for an extra 6 mins. Shake the basket halfway through cooking.
- Enjoy!
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