Air Fryer Nachos {Easy and Cheesy!} - iFoodReal.com (original) (raw)

Air Fryer Nachos are easy, cheesy, loaded, and have the flexibility of making them exactly the way you like. In under 8 minutes with almost no clean-up afterward, you’ll have layers of the best tasting crispy nachos you’ve ever made!

Looking for more Tex Mex inspiration? Try these black bean nachos, ground chicken tacos, and this taco skillet, too!

Table of contents

• Why Make Nachos in Air Fryer?
• Ingredients for Nachos Air Fryer
• How to Make Air Fryer Nachos
• Optional Add-In’s and Variations
• Tips for Best Results
• FAQs
• What Are Some Other Nacho Toppings Ideas?
• How to Store Leftover Nachos Air Fryer?
• More Air Fryer Recipes to Try

If you make nothing else in your air fryer except these air fryer nachos, I promise it’s worth owning an air fryer! Crispy loaded nachos, melty cheese, and all of your favorite toppings, with virtually no clean-up, is every nacho lover’s dream!

In under 10 minutes, you can have a giant serving (because who wants to share their nachos?!) all to yourself to satisfy your late-night munchies or make it a shareable snack for movie night, game day, or even a fun snack for the kids when they come home from school.

Why Make Nachos in Air Fryer?

• Make ’em how you like ’em: Nachos are completely customizable whether you like them with just cheese or loaded up with the works.
• Healthy: Yes, you can have healthy nachos. Just by adding as many veggies as your heart desires.
• Quick and easy: You can’t go wrong with having a batch of nachos ready in 8 minutes and with little to no clean-up!
• Make it a meal: Add some protein on top and it goes from a snack to a complete meal in no time.
• Favorite game day snack: Perfect for watching the big game with other favorite appetizers like healthy pizza, healthy buffalo chicken dip and wings!

Ingredients for Nachos Air Fryer

• Tortilla chips: Most tortilla chips are made from corn, but for certified gluten-free check the package.
• Cheese: Freshly grated from a block, I use either marble, cheddar cheese, or a Tex Mex combination blend.
• Jarred jalapeños: Also called pickled. You want to drain them before adding them and then decide how many you want to add!
• Green onions: Finely chop a couple of sprigs for a mildly pungent flavor.
• Diced tomatoes: I always just grab a couple of tomatoes from the fridge or counter and dice them myself rather than opening up an entire can. Plus, I’m not dealing with all of that extra juice.

For serving: Salsa and sour cream are top picks in this house but for more topping ideas keep reading!

How to Make Air Fryer Nachos

• Prep: Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees F and line the basket with parchment paper.

• Add the first layer of chips: Lay down half of the chips in a single layer, overlapping each other. This way, nothing falls through the cracks. Top with half of the jalapenos, green onions, and cheese.
• Add the other half of the chips: On top of the first layer of chips and toppings, add another single layer. Then, sprinkle on the remaining cheese and jalapeno (we’ll save the rest of the green onions for later).
• Air fry the nachos: for 3-4 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Check at 3 minutes. Each model and size of air fryer is different so the length of fry time may differ. I use a large 5.8-quart Cosori air fryer.

• Garnish and serve: Top with diced tomatoes and the rest of the green onions and serve with sour cream and salsa. Enjoy!

Easy serving tip: Serve it right in the air fryer basket (be careful it’s hot) and have everyone dig in. Or, use the sides of the parchment paper to carefully lift the nachos out of the basket and transfer them to a platter.

Optional Add-In’s and Variations

Like I said, this air fryer loaded nachos recipe is super flexible and there are so many ways to make it your own 🙂

Leftovers can be made into loaded nachos too! Try Black bean quinoa casserole leftovers for delicious results.

• Meat protein. Add some leftover taco ground beef, ground turkey, or shredded chicken cooked in pressure cooker for added protein. It’s a great way to use up any leftover meat. If you’re making from scratch, a sprinkling of taco seasoning is all you need to liven it up for this recipe.
• Vegetarian protein. If you want to add more protein without the meat, think about adding in some beans. Black beans, pinto beans, navy, or kidney beans.
• Serve with Instant Pot refried beans. Either for dipping or add some in as a topping!
• Have any leftover chili? Pour some buffalo chicken chili, turkey chili, or Instant Pot chili right over top!
• Make a vegan version by using vegan cheese, or completely omitting the cheese and loading it up with everything else!
• For BBQ nachos top with my Instant Pot BBQ chicken and use a little extra healthy BBQ sauce.
• Pork carnitas nachos can be made by using this easy Instant Pot pork carnitas recipe first.

Make homemade tortilla chips in the air fryer. Simply cut your corn tortillas into quarters, which should give you triangles. Then lay them in a single layer (not overlapping!), spray with oil, and air fry for 7-9 minutes. They should be slightly golden on the edges but will continue to crisp up as they cool. A very similar process to the shrimp tostadas, only in chip-size!

Tips for Best Results

• The thicker the chip, the sturdier it will be. Corn tortilla chips are great for this, as they’ll hold up to all of the yummy toppings. Thinner chips may collapse under all of that pressure. Don’t get me wrong, we’ll still eat them…but just a bit messier 🙂
• Another layer? Yes, please! If you’re really going for it, and your air fryer is big enough, you could probably go for the third layer of chips and cheese.
• Parchment paper sheets: I love using these pre-cut 12 x 16 parchment sheets. They are very sturdy and convenient, especially when it comes to cleaning. Use any extra sheets for an air fryer breakfast casserole.

FAQs

What is the best cheese for air fryer nachos?

You want cheese that melts easily and has that Tex Mex quality. Cheeses like Colby Jack, Monterrey Jack, cheddar, etc. I always recommend grating your cheese from a block so that it melts better. You could also use queso fresco if you can get your hands on it, or salty feta if that’s your thing!

Can I use foil vs. parchment paper?

Absolutely. You can use it the same way you would the parchment paper. If you crumple the edges a bit, you could make yourself a foil bowl right in the basket.

Can I reheat nachos in air fryer?

You can reheat these nachos in the air fryer to crisp back up again. Place them in the basket as you did the first time and air fry them until they’ve warmed through. Just a couple of minutes will do.

Can I make nachos in oven or grill?

Campfire nachos are great! Depending on how hot the grill is from cooking anything else prior, you may find placing them on indirect heat better. Either way, place them in a foil container or a foil-lined baking sheet and grill for a couple of minutes until the cheese has melted. It is such a fun way to make them. The oven is also doable, especially if you’re looking to serve an extra-large crowd!

What Are Some Other Nacho Toppings Ideas?

Are you a person who likes to load up the nachos to the point where someone asks, “would you like some nachos with your toppings?” Or, are you more of the one and done type?

In my family, we’re a mix! Here are some of our favourite toppings and dips:

• Green olives or black olives
• Pico de gallo
• Diced avocado
• Guacamole
• Mango salsa
• Fresh peach salsa
• Black bean salsa
• Salsa guacamole
• Avocado cilantro dressing

How to Store Leftover Nachos Air Fryer?

The great thing about the air fryer is it’s smaller than the oven which means you’re only making a certain amount. Just like air fryer sweet potato fries, you could probably nosh on them yourself with no leftovers! Ok, maybe you and a buddy.

To store: If you happen to have leftovers, keep them stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. They will be soggy so reheating them before enjoying them again is recommended.

To reheat: Place them back in the air fryer to crisp up for a couple of minutes.

More Air Fryer Recipes to Try

• ▢ 3-4 cups tortilla chips
• ▢ 2 cups marble or Tex Mex cheese, shredded
• ▢ 1/4 cup jarred jalapenos, drained
• ▢ 2 green onion springs, finely chopped
• ▢ 1/2 cup tomatoes, diced
• ▢ Salsa and sour cream, for serving

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

• Preheat air fryer to 320 degrees F. Then line its basket with parchment paper.
• Place half of the chips on the bottom of the basket making sure to overlap and no gaps in between. Top with half the jalapenos, green onion and cheese.
• Add another half of chips in a single layer, top with remaining jalapenos and cheese. Air fry nachos at 320 degrees F for 3-4 minutes or until cheese has melted. Time depends on the model and size of your air fryer, check after 3 minutes.
• Top with diced tomatoes and remaining green onion. Serve right in the air fryer basket or remove holding onto the parchment paper flaps onto a platter and serve with sour cream (yogurt) and salsa.

🎉 Last step! If you made this recipe, please leave a review and let us know what you think!

• Store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. They will be soggy so reheating them in air fryer 2-3 minutes before enjoying them again is recommended.
• Check after 3 minutes: All air fryer sizes and models cook differently. For reference, I use a large 5.8-quart Cosori air fryer.
• The thicker the chip, the sturdier it will be. Corn tortilla chips are great for this, as they’ll hold up to all of the yummy toppings. Thinner chips may collapse under all of that pressure. Don’t get me wrong, we’ll still eat them…but just a bit messier 🙂
• Another layer? Yes, please! If you’re really going for it, and your air fryer is big enough, you could probably go for the third layer of chips and cheese.
• Optional toppings for loaded nachos: Black beans, refried beans, leftover ground taco meat, or shredded chicken.

See recipe pot for more tips and FAQs.

Calories: 630kcal, Carbohydrates: 59g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 36g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 53mg, Sodium: 897mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 14 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!