You know what’s great about nachos? They bring people together. Whether it’s game day, movie night, or just a regular Tuesday evening when no one feels like cooking, nachos always hit the spot. But standing over the stove or waiting for the oven to heat up isn’t always ideal – especially when everyone’s hungry and ready to dig in.
That’s why I love making nachos in the air fryer. They come together so quickly, and the cheese gets perfectly melted while the chips stay nice and crispy. Plus, I can make smaller batches whenever we want them, instead of having to commit to a huge tray that might get soggy before we finish.
Want to know what makes these even better? You can customize them however you like. Add extra jalapeños if you’re feeling spicy, pile on the beans if you’re feeding vegetarians, or load them up with all the meat and cheese your heart desires. Trust me, once you try making nachos in your air fryer, you might never go back to the oven method.
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Nachos
- Super quick preparation – Ready in just 13-20 minutes, these nachos are perfect for when you need a quick snack or casual dinner without much fuss.
- Perfectly melted cheese – The air fryer creates that ideal crispy-meets-melty texture, with chips that stay crunchy and cheese that gets wonderfully gooey.
- Customizable toppings – You can easily adjust the ingredients to match your taste – skip the jalapeños if you don’t like heat, add extra cheese if you’re feeling indulgent, or pile on more veggies for a fresher twist.
- Less mess than oven-baked – Using the air fryer means easier cleanup and no need to heat up your whole kitchen just for a snack.
What Kind of Tortilla Chips Should I Use?
For air fryer nachos, you’ll want to start with thick, sturdy tortilla chips that can hold up to your toppings without getting soggy or breaking. Restaurant-style chips are usually your best bet since they’re typically thicker than regular grocery store varieties. While any corn tortilla chip will work, try to avoid the super thin ones as they might crack under the weight of cheese and toppings or burn quickly in the air fryer. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even make your own chips by cutting corn tortillas into triangles and air frying them with a light coating of oil and salt before adding your toppings.
Options for Substitutions
Making these air fryer nachos but missing some ingredients? Here are some easy swaps you can try:
- Tortilla chips: Regular corn tortilla chips work best here, but you can use any sturdy chip variety like round tostadas broken into pieces, or even pita chips for a different twist. Just avoid thin chips that might burn quickly.
- Mexican cheese mix: No Mexican cheese blend? Try using cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a combo of both. Pepper Jack adds a nice kick, or you could use mozzarella for extra melt factor – though the flavor will be milder.
- Green onions: Red onions (finely diced) or white onions work great too. If you’re out of fresh onions, a sprinkle of onion powder on the cheese before cooking can add that oniony flavor.
- Black olives: Feel free to skip these if you’re not an olive fan, or swap them with pickled jalapeños, corn kernels, or even pickled red onions for that salty kick.
- Fresh tomatoes: You can use drained canned diced tomatoes, pico de gallo, or your favorite salsa instead. Just remember to add these after air frying to prevent sogginess.
- Cilantro: If you’re not a cilantro fan or don’t have any, try fresh parsley, or simply leave it out – your nachos will still be great!
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest mistake when making air fryer nachos is overcrowding the basket, which prevents the cheese from melting evenly and can leave you with cold spots – instead, arrange your chips in 2-3 layers maximum, making sure there’s some space between them for proper air circulation.
Temperature control is crucial: setting your air fryer too high can burn the chips before the cheese melts, so stick to 350°F and watch closely during the last minute of cooking since cheese can go from perfectly melted to burnt very quickly.
Fresh toppings like tomatoes, cilantro, and green onion tops should only be added after cooking, as they’ll wilt and lose their crunch in the air fryer – but do add the white parts of green onions and jalapeños before cooking to mellow their sharp flavors.
For extra-crispy results, pre-heat your air fryer for 2-3 minutes before adding the nachos, and consider warming your serving plate to keep everything toasty while you add the final toppings.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Nachos?
These air fryer nachos are perfect for game day or casual get-togethers, and there are lots of tasty sides you can add to make it a complete meal. A bowl of homemade guacamole and some tangy sour cream are must-haves for dipping and dolloping. I like to serve a side of Mexican rice or black beans to make the meal more filling – plus they can double as extra nacho toppings! For a fresher touch, try serving a simple corn and black bean salad dressed with lime juice alongside your nachos, which adds nice contrast to all that melty cheese.
Storage Instructions
Enjoy Fresh: Air fryer nachos are best enjoyed right away while the cheese is melty and the chips are crispy. Once assembled and cooked, they should be eaten within 30 minutes to get that perfect combination of warm cheese and crunchy chips.
Prep Ahead: If you want to save some time, you can pre-chop all your toppings like tomatoes, jalapeños, and green onions and store them separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to make the nachos, just grab your prepped ingredients and assemble!
Leftovers: While nachos aren’t ideal for storing (the chips tend to get soggy), if you do have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Just know that the texture won’t be the same as when freshly made – the chips will lose their crunch and the toppings might make them a bit soft.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 3-5 minutes |
| Total Time | 13-20 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 1300-1500
- Protein: 40-50 g
- Fat: 80-90 g
- Carbohydrates: 120-140 g
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 cups crispy tortilla chips
- 2 cups grated mexican cheese mix
- 1 green onion, sliced (keep whites and greens apart)
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh tomatoes
- 1/4 cup diced jalapeños (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
Step 1: Layer the Tortilla Chips
Begin by placing tortilla chips in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Make sure to overlap the chips slightly, ensuring there are no gaps between them.
This will help create a sturdy base for the toppings.
Step 2: Add Initial Toppings
On top of the first layer of chips, sprinkle half of the cheese and the whites of the sliced green onion.
These initial toppings will start to melt and create a delicious foundation for your nachos.
Step 3: Build the Second Layer
Add another layer of tortilla chips over the initial toppings.
Then, top this new layer with the remaining cheese, green onions, sliced jalapenos, and black olives (if using).
Ensure an even distribution of toppings for consistency in every bite.
Step 4: Cook in the Air Fryer
Set your air fryer to 320°F and place the basket with prepared nachos inside.
Cook the nachos for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese has fully melted and the chips are warm.
Step 5: Garnish and Serve
Carefully remove the nachos from the air fryer basket and place them on a serving plate.
Sprinkle with fresh diced tomatoes for a pop of color and flavor.
Serve the nachos immediately, accompanied by salsa and sour cream on the side for dipping.