Air Fryer Nachos make the easiest, cheesiest snack around! Crunchy tortilla chips are loaded with cheese and piled high with your favorite toppings. You could even add leftover chicken or ground beef and have a healthy 10 minute meal made right in the air fryer.
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I absolutely love using my air fryer to make delicious snacks. It's great for everything from chicken wings to french fries, and it even makes incredibly delicious nachos.
Nachos have always been a family favorite snack! My dad used to make them after church and we'd all gather around the table scooping the gooey cheese with crunchy tortilla chips. But now that I'm older, and making my own nachos, I choose to make them in the air fryer!
It's an easy snack you can make in just 10 minutes and it's totally customizable. You can you any type of cheese you like, layer on your favorite toppings, or add pre-cooked meat and turn these delicious air fryer nachos into one of your new favorite meals.
The best part about this air fryer nacho recipe is how versatile it is. It's great for kids when they get home from school, can be a light dinner, and also makes a fantastic game day snack to pair with pigs in a blanket and potato skins.
Why This Recipe Works
- They're ready in just 10 minutes
- No need to preheat the oven
- Super versatile, you can add any of your favorite toppings
- Family favorite- chips + cheese = happy family
- Simply add a protein and you have a delicious meal in 10 minutes
Air Fryer Nacho Key Ingredients
- Homemade tortilla chips: I make mine with flour tortillas, but you can use corn as well. If you don't want to make your own, store bought chips work great
- Cheese: I always shred my own cheese, but shredded cheese is a wonderful shortcut
- Beans: A great vegetarian and vegan source of protein! I used black beans but any kind, such as pinto beans or kidney beans will also work
- Taco seasoning: You can use either homemade or a pre-made packet
- Corn: Both frozen and canned corn will work here
- Avocado: This is added for a healthy fat and extra creaminess
- Salsa: I always use hot salsa, but make sure to use your favorite!
- Salt: You need this to season your homemade tortilla chips
- Jalapeno peppers: Added at the end for an extra kick, but leave out if you don't like spice
How To Make Air Fryer Nachos
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F
- While the air fryer is heating up, spray your tortillas lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle ½ teaspoon of salt over each tortilla
- Cut the seasoned tortillas into triangles and place them into the basket of your pre-heated air fryer
- Set the timer for 5 minutes and let the chips cook, shaking them halfway through
- While the chips are cooking, prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Drain the beans and add them to a small mixing bowl, then season with taco seasoning and stir to coat. Set that aside while you dice the avocado into small chunks
- Once the chips are cooked, take the air fryer basket out but leave the chips in
- Load the chips up with the corn, seasoned beans, jalapeno, and cheese. Cook them in the air fryer for 2 minutes, until the cheese is melted
- Take the air fryer basket out and finish your nachos off with the diced avocado and salsa and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- You can also make the homemade chips with low carb tortillas
- Use your favorite store-bought tortilla chips if you don't want to make them
- Heat your salsa on the stove or in the microwave before topping your nachos to help the melted cheese stay melty
- Do not add salsa to the chips before air frying or you'll have soggy nachos
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or a piece of aluminum foil for easy clean up and removal
- Use a thin spatula, like a fish spatula, to remove the nachos if you didn't line your air fryer basket
Recipe Variations
This recipes is just a starting point because the best part is you can customize them any way you like! You probably have your favorite nacho toppings, but here's some more ideas:
- Black olives
- Chopped tomatoes
- Rotisserie chicken
- Leftover taco meat
- Green onions
- Bell peppers
- Refried beans
- Green chilies
- Pico de gallo
- Sour cream
- Fresh cilantro
- Nacho cheese sauce
Best cheese to use:
- Cheddar cheese
- Monterey jack
- Mexican cheese blend
- Pepper jack
Storing and Reheating Air Fryer Nachos
Nachos make a quick snack, but they don't store very well. If you have to keep leftovers, place them into an airtight container and keep in the fridge for 1-2 days.
When you're ready to reheat, preheat your air fryer to 300 degrees F, remove any of the cold toppings from your nachos (sour cream, avocado, salsa, etc.), and place the chips into a single layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the cheese is melty again, then enjoy!
FAQS
Can I use corn tortilla chips?
Yes, you absolutely can use corn tortilla chips! If you do that these air fryer loaded nachos would also be gluten free.
How do I make nachos without them getting soggy?
Crispy nachos are the way to go, and in order to achieve that you have to leave off any watery toppings until the very end. Do not add things like salsa, sour cream, or nacho cheese sauce until right before you eat them. These ingredients will make the chips soggy and unappetizing.
Can I bake these if I don't have an air fryer?
Yes, you can totally make them in an oven. Line a baking sheet with a piece of aluminum foil and add a single layer of chips, sprinkle the cheese between layers of chips and bake at 400 degrees F for 5-6 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Take the tray out, add additional toppings, and then place the baking sheet back into the oven to warm up the other toppings. Finish with salsa if desired and enjoy.
What is the best air fryer to use?
I use a Cosori 5.8 basket style and it works perfectly. You could also use a Ninja Foodi, which is a tray style.
More Air Fryer Snacks
- Air fryer chicken wings- BBQ style
- English muffin pizzas
- Buffalo drumsticks
- Gluten free mozzarella sticks
Did you make these loaded air fryer nachos? If you did, I’d really appreciate you leaving a comment and star rating down below! Additionally, you can also follow me on Instagram and tag me if you make this or any other of my easy air fryer recipes.
*post was updated 1/23/23 to include more tips and clearer instructions*
PrintEasy Air-Fryer Nachos | 10 minutes
Air fryer nachos make the best easy snack. They have crunchy chips, gooey cheese, and are loaded with your favorite toppings. If you want to turn these into a meal, simply add leftover chicken or ground beef and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 Minutes
- Total Time: 10 Minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Air-fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 3 Flour tortillas
- 1 ½ Teaspoons Salt
- 1 cup Black Beans (drained of excess liquid)
- 2 Teaspoons Taco seasoning
- ⅓ cup Corn (canned or frozen)
- ½ cup Shredded Cheese
- ¼ cup Diced Avocado
- 2 Tablespoons Sliced Jalapeno
- Salsa
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F
- While the air fryer is heating up, spray your tortillas lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle ½ teaspoon of salt over each tortilla
- Cut the seasoned tortillas into triangles and place them into the basket of your pre-heated air fryer
- Set the timer for 5 minutes and let the chips cook, shaking them halfway through
- While the chips are cooking, prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Drain the beans and add them to a small mixing bowl, then season with taco seasoning and stir to coat. Set that aside while you dice the avocado into small chunks
- Once the chips are cooked, take the air fryer basket out but leave the chips in
- Load the chips up with the corn, seasoned beans, jalapeno, and cheese. Cook the nachos in the air fryer for 2 minutes, until the cheese is melted
- Take the air fryer basket out and finish your nachos off with the diced avocado and salsa and enjoy!
Notes
- You can also make the homemade chips with low carb tortillas
- Don't skip seasoning the chips, this adds an essential layer of flavor
- Use your favorite tortilla chips if you don't want to make them
- Be sure to drain the beans before seasoning
- Heat your salsa on the stove or in the microwave before topping your nachos to help the melted cheese stay melty
- Do not add salsa to the chips before air frying or you'll have soggy nachos
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or a piece of aluminum foil for easy clean up and removal
- Use a thin spatula, like a fish spatula, to remove the nachos if you didn't line your air fryer basket
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quarter of the nachos
- Calories: 275
Keywords: Air fryer loaded Nachos, Healthy Nacho Recipe, Air fryer Tortilla Chips
Lauren says
Super quick to make! For some reason when I’ve air-fried tortillas in the past it hasn’t worked, but I followed Nicole’s directions and they came out perfectly! I added cubed chicken with my black beans when seasoning them—delish! Glad I made extra to take for lunch tomorrow!
★★★★★
Nicole Radcliffe says
Awesome! So, so happy the directions worked for you! Enjoy your leftovers 🙂