If you like Mexican dishes, you’ll love these frozen tamales made in air fryer. Reheating frozen tamales in air fryer is the best way to reheat, rather than using the traditional steaming method. It gives you warm and crispy tamales in no time.
Tamales are popular Mexican food with meats, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, herbs, etc fillings. You can also make tamales from scratch and enjoy the fresh tamales. This recipe is worth making from scratch if you have time. However, you can purchase frozen tamales as well to save time and effort.
What is tamale?
A lot of us might not know about tamales. It’s a popular Mexican dish made of corn-based dough which is steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf. Tamales dough is filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, herbs, chilies, etc, wrapped in the husk or banana leaf, and steamed in the seasoned liquid. Tamales are basically served as a main dish.
How do you cook frozen tamales in air fryer?
Cooking frozen tamales is super easy. Take your favorite frozen tamales brand and start cooking them. Here’s the step-by-step process to cook frozen tamales.
Ingredients for frozen tamales in air fryer:
- 2-3 frozen tamales
Instructions for frozen tamales in air fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 190C/375F for 2 minutes.
- Place the frozen tamales in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook them at 190C/375F for 15 minutes. Flip them halfway through the cooking process.
- Remove the tamales and serve them while they are still hot.
- Enjoy them warm.
You can find the frozen tamales recipe in the printable card below:
What to serve with tamales?
These frozen tamales have filling and it makes a great meal on their own. However, you can pair tamales with some of your favorite side dishes. Or you can simply serve them with your favorite dipping sauce.
Tips
- Do not skip to preheat the air fryer before cooking any food. It helps to heat up the food evenly.
- To keep the frozen tamales moist while cooking in the air fryer add some water to the bottom of the air fryer.
- Freshly made tamales are the best. So, it’s better if you cook as many tamales as you are planning to have.
Other air fryer recipes you may like:
Here are some of the frequently asked questions:
Can I reheat tamales in the air fryer?
Of course, you can reheat frozen tamales in the air fryer. Add some water to the bottom of the air fryer for moist tamales.
How long to cook tamales in air fryer?
The frozen tamales cooking time is 15 minutes at a temperature of 190C/375F.
What is the best way to thaw frozen tamales?
- Place the frozen tamales in the refrigerator overnight for the best result.
- Another best way to thaw frozen tamales is in a microwave.
- Let the frozen tamales thaw on the countertop for 2-3 hours.
If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below.
You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more easy & Tasty air fryer recipes.

How To Make Frozen Tamales In Air Fryer - TopAirFryerRecipes
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 2-3 frozen tamales
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 190C/375F for 2 minutes.
- Place the frozen tamales in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook them at 190C/375F for 15 minutes. Flip them halfway through the cooking process.
- Remove the tamales and serve them while they are still hot.
- Enjoy them warm.
Notes
Calories- 230 kcal | Fat- 11g | Saturated Fat- 2g | Protein- 3g | Carbohydrates-25mg | Sodium- 163mg | Fiber- 1g | Iron- 7mg |
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