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Delicious homemadeAir FryerIndian Fry Breadcooked to perfection in an air fryer! Also known as "Navajo tacos" and "Indian fry bread," this Southwestern favorite can be served savory with traditional taco toppings or sweet with honey and powdered sugar.
This is a great lower calorie version of fry bread made without any extra oil in the air fryer.
Make a meal out of these Navajo Tacos by pairing them with this low calorie taco soup or Instant Pot chicken quinoa soup.
Jump to:
- Navajo Tacos
- What Is Indian Fry Bread?
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients You Need
- Step By Step Photos
- How To Make Indian Fry Bread
- Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions About Navajo Fry Bread
- More Easy Air Fryer Recipes You Might Enjoy
- Air Fryer Indian Fry Bread (Navajo Tacos)
- #respond
Navajo Tacos
Navajo tacos, or Indian Fry Bread, are a menu staple among restaurants and food trucks throughout the Southwest, and for good reason! It's delicious.
This air fryer fry bread is perfectly crisped on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Fortunately, this recipe for fry bread is so quick and easy you can make it at home in a matter of minutes.
Traditionally, Navajo tacos are a deep-fried bread. But I worked on a recipe to make perfectly crispy-on-the-outside and soft-on-the-inside Navajo tacos in the air fryer.
This simple bread tastes amazing with both savory and sweet toppings. Top with your favorite toppings like taco meat or refried beans with sour cream. Drizzle with honey and a cinnamon sugar mixture for a sweet treat.
More delicious bread recipes from my site: Whole Wheat Bread Sticks
What Is Indian Fry Bread?
Indian fry bread recipes date back many generations. The recipe originated in the Navajo Nation and is still a beloved food enjoyed throughout the American Southwest generations later. Traditional Native American fry bread recipes call for just a few basic ingredients to make the perfect vessel for taco toppings, sweet treats and so much more.
Related recipes to try: Low Calorie Taco Salad
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe is inspired by authentic Native American fry bread recipes.It's a great way to try a regional food you can't get as easily anywhere else.
Cooking fry bread in an air fryer means no deep frying and not much oil. It's delicious topped with savory AND sweet toppings. The options are endless. Some of my favorite toppings are this slow cooker chicken tacos meat, ground turkey taco meat with charro beans, slow cooker chicken tinga, or sprinkled with cinnamon sugar or honey.
More recipes to try: Low Carb Corn Tortillas
Ingredients You Need
Fry Bread:
- All-purpose flour: The main ingredient and the structure of this basic dough recipe.
- Baking powder: A leavening agent that makes bread rise.
- Salt: Helps the dough rise evenly creating a cohesive, pita-like bread.
- Warm water: Adds moisture to the dry dough ingredients so they form into a firm dough.
- Vegetable oil: Since we are air frying rather than deep-frying, vegetable oil coats the dough to achieve a lightly crisped and golden crust on the surface of each piece of fry bread.
- Oil sprayer: This is more of a piece of equipment than an ingredient. Spraying the tops of the bread with oil before air frying helps give them a crispy exterior. I love this refillable oil sprayer. You can also use a silicone brush to brush them lightly with oil.
Savory Toppings:
- Taco meat: Use your favorite taco seasoning for the ground meat. This is a great way to re-purpose leftovers from taco night!
- Shredded cheese: Like mild cheddar cheese or a Mexican blend.
- Chopped lettuce, diced onion, diced tomato: Use these classic taco toppings or a variety of your favorites.
Sweet Toppings:
- Honey
- Powdered sugar
- Maple syrup
- Agave
- Cinnamon
Step By Step Photos
Knead until the dough forms a ball.
Cut dough and form golf ball size balls.
Form a small flat disc and cook.
Top with taco meat, lettuce, cheese, onion and tomatoes.
How To Make Indian Fry Bread
Step 1. Mix dry ingredients:In a mixing bowl, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 2 teaspoons of baking powder.
Step 2. Add wet ingredients:Using a bread hook, mix in ¾ cup of warm water and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
Step 3. Knead the dough:Knead the mixture on medium-slow for 5-10 minutes until the dough forms a ball and no longer sticks to the bowl. Make sure not to over-knead the dough. Stop as soon as a firm dough ball forms.
Step 4. Let dough rest:Place the dough ball in an oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let the dough rest for 2 hours.
Step 5. Form dough balls:Cut the dough and form golf ball-sized balls.
Step 6. Flatten dough:Using your hands, compress the dough balls to form flat discs that are ¼” thick. Cut ⅛th of an inch slit down the middle of each piece of dough before cooking. This will prevent the bread from curling up.
Step 7. Air fry:Place the flattened dough in the air fryer basket, spray with oil, and cook at 330°F for 7 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 3 minutes until golden brown.
Step 8.Top with taco ingredients:Once cooked, top the fry bread with prepared taco meat, shredded cheese, chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, and diced onions.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructionsbelow!
Tips
- Avoid over-kneading the dough. Stir the dough ingredients until a firm ball of dough forms and then stop.
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer basket or overlap the balls of dough. For the dough to cook evenly, it needs to have room to rise. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to work in batches.
- The high heat in the air fryer can cause the dough to curl up. To keep Indian fry bread flat, cut ⅛th of an inch slit down the middle of each piece of dough before cooking.
- Fry bread is best served fresh from the fryer (or in this case air fryer) but you can plop room temperature fry bread in the microwave for 15 seconds or so to warm it back up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Navajo Fry Bread
Can I make fry bread dough in advance?
You can, but keep in mind that fried doughs are best served fresh.
Why is my fry bread tough and chewy?
This was most likely caused by over-kneading the dough. Be sure to stop working the dough as soon as the ingredients are mixed well.
Is Bannock the same as fry bread?
Yes and no. While the ingredients for traditional Bannock recipes and fry bread are very similar, Bannock is usually baked (similar to a scone), and fry bread is fried. Also, Bannock traces back to European fur traders, and fry bread originated in the Navajo Nation.
How do I store fry bread?
Wrap homemade fry bread loosely in plastic wrap and keep it on the countertop for 1 to 2 days, or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze baked fry bread?
Yes! Individually wrap each piece of fry bread tightly in plastic wrap and store them all in an airtight container in the freezer for 3-4 months.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes You Might Enjoy
- Low Calorie Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Low Calorie Air Fryer Fries
- Air Fryer Pork Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast
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Air Fryer Indian Fry Bread (Navajo Tacos)
4.59 from 24 votes
By Kate
Delicious homemade air fryer Indian fry bread recipe is also known as Navajo tacos and Indian fry bread. A Southwestern favorite.
Pin Recipe Print Recipe Save Recipe
Prep 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Cook 20 minutes mins
Additional Time 1 hour hr 36 minutes mins
Total 4 hours hrs 11 minutes mins
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 193kcal
Special Equipment
Oil Sprayer (I love this refillable one)
Ingredients
For the fry bread:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
For the toppings:
- 1 pound prepared taco meat
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 ½ cups chopped lettuce
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ½ cup diced onion
Instructions
In a mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.
Using a bread hook, mix in the water and oil. Knead on medium-slow for 5-10 minutes until the dough forms a ball and no longer sticks to the bowl. Do not over-knead, stop as soon as a firm ball dough is formed.
Place dough ball in an oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let dough rest for 2 hours.
Cut the dough and form in golf ball size balls.
Using your hands, compress the dough balls to form a small flat bread ¼” thick. Cut ⅛th of an inch slit down the middle of each piece of dough before air frying (this will keep the bread from curling up).
Place in air fryer basket and spray with oil. Cook on 330°F for 7 minutes, flip and cook for 3 more minutes.
Top with taco meat, lettuce, cheese, onion and tomatoes.
Notes
- Avoid over-kneading the dough. Stir the dough ingredients until a firm ball of dough forms and then stop.
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer basket or overlap the balls of dough. For the dough to cook evenly, it needs to have room to rise. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to work in batches.
- The high heat in the air fryer can cause the dough to curl up. To keep Indian fry bread flat, cut ⅛th of an inch slit down the middle of each piece of dough before cooking.
- Fry bread is best served fresh from the fryer (or in this case air fryer) but you can plop room temperature fry bread in the microwave for 15 seconds or so to warm it back up.
- Storing: Wrap homemade fry bread loosely in plastic wrap and keep it on the countertop for 1 to 2 days, or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Individually wrap each piece of fry bread tightly in plastic wrap and store them all in an airtight container in the freezer for 3-4 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 193kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 13gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 354mgFiber: 1g
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
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