My air fryer nachos are easy, crunchy, and cheesy. I make them with tortilla chips, ground beef, cheese, and a simple seasoning so I can enjoy them every game day!
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My Favorite Way to Air Fry Nachos
I remember the first time I made air fryer nachos. It was the first week of football, and I wanted something easy to make while my husband Ben and I watched the game. I didn’t want to use the oven because it was still too hot outside, so I looked at my air fryer, and a light bulb went off.
I knew air fryers made crispy foods, so why not make nachos in one?!
I layered all of the ingredients for the nachos into the air fryer and let it cook. When I opened up the air fryer, I could just tell this was going to be good. The cheese was melted, and the chips still had a super crispiness.
I plopped on the couch with my nachos and took my first bite. The crunch of the tortilla chip was loud enough that my husband literally looked over to see what was going on.
I got up to grab a drink and somehow he thought I would not hear those nachos being eaten from the kitchen (I did). And come on. When I got back, a big chunk was missing!
He confessed to it and told me these are the crunchiest nachos he’s ever eaten. I told him, “that’s the air fryer for you!” That is truly a conversation I have with him in our house all the time.
I now make these for basically every single game day. They’ve been so easy and it’s nice to indulge in something now that my team is finally starting to win.
And, if you love a good air fryer appetizer recipe, try my recipes for air fryer buffalo wings, air fryer onion rings, air fryer taquitos, and bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Nachos Recipe Ingredients
- Ground beef – I’ve used fresh ground beef made for this recipe and also leftover taco meat
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Oregano
- Salt and pepper
- Tortilla chips – I recommend either triangle or rectangle chips. Scoops chips can stack oddly
- Cheddar cheese – I’ve also used a Mexican cheese blend instead
- Tomato – I love using roma tomatoes, but beefsteak will work too
- Sweet pepper
- Scallions
- Any other desired toppings – I love to use sour cream and fresh cilantro
How to Make Nachos in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat with the chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Drain it and set aside.
STEP TWO: Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees F.
STEP THREE: Line the basket with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Add half of the chips to the bottom of the air fryer basket, then layer on half the shredded cheese, half the tomato, half the pepper, and half the ground beef.
STEP FOUR: Repeat the layers, starting with the chips, then air fry the nachos for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
STEP FIVE: Top the nachos with scallions, chopped cilantro, and other desired toppings, then serve!
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Nachos
- Layer the ingredients evenly. This lets each tortilla chip stay crispy while being filled with all the delicious toppings.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer. I recommend never filling up the air fryer more than halfway full.
- Preheat the air fryer so the nachos get crispy as soon as possible. I find this helps with getting the chips to stay crispy.
- Serve immediately. Air fryer nachos are best enjoyed immediately while they’re still hot and crispy.
Variations and Substitutions for Air Fry Nachos
- Make them into vegetarian or vegan nachos. I love loading them up with black beans or refried beans instead of ground beef when I have leftovers.
- Add more toppings. I love topping my nachos off with sour cream, salsas, and even guacamole when I have it on hand. My husband loves adding a drizzle of hot sauce.
- Switch up the protein and make this recipe with chicken, steak, or even pulled pork. I love to use whatever leftovers I have to make this recipe even easier.
- Use a store-bought taco seasoning instead. I love to make my own for the best flavor, but the seasonings can be swapped out for about one tablespoon of a store-brand packet.
- Combine sweet and spicy flavors. Drizzle with honey, sprinkle with chili powder, top with jalapeno slices, and sprinkle with crumbled queso fresco.
- Swap the tortillas chips for Doritos. I did this with the nacho cheese version when I was out of tortilla chips and wow, are those good! I bet the spicy nacho flavor would be great in it too.
Favorite Toppings to Add to Nachos in the Air Fryer
I love to top my nacho chips with seasoned ground beef, cheese, tomatoes, and some green onions.
I also love to switch things up and use refried beans instead! Sometimes I add pickled jalapenos, black olives, sour cream, guacamole, and even nacho cheese sauce when I have some on hand.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Nachos
I love using my air fryer tortilla chips with this recipe to use up any corn tortillas I have. I also love to pair it with some mango avocado salsa, pico de gallo, or smoky red pepper crema.
Air Fryer Nachos FAQs
How Long to Cook Nachos in the Air Fryer
I find it only takes about 5 minutes to air fry nachos at 320 degrees F when the air fryer is already preheated.
How to Store Air Fry Nachos
I store any leftover nachos in an airtight container inside the refrigerator, separating any layers with parchment paper or wax paper to prevent sticking, for up to 2 to 3 days.
How to Reheat Nachos in the Air Fryer
I reheat any leftover nachos in the air fryer at 320 degrees F for about 2 to 3 minutes, preheating it beforehand.
What’s the Best Cheese for Air Fryer Nachos?
I find that any cheese that melts beautifully over crispy chips is great! Some of my personal favorites are shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or a blend of Mexican cheeses.
Can I Put Aluminum Foil in an Air Fryer?
Yes! I love using aluminum foil when making this recipe to line the bottom of the air fryer and easily remove the nachos from the air fryer when they’re cooked. While I do use foil for it, my favorite is actually these paper liners that have sides so I can grab it out easily.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air fryer fried chicken
- Air fryer hot dogs
- Air fryer hard boiled eggs
- Air fryer bacon
- Chicken tenders in the air fryer
- Air fryer pork loin
- Air fryer brats
- Air fryer burgers
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Crispy Air Fryer Nachos
Ingredients
- ½ lb ground beef
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 4 cups tortilla chips
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 roma tomato diced
- ½ bell pepper diced
- 1 scallion sliced
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium heat with the chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Drain it and set it aside.
- Preheat the air fryer to 320 F.
- Line the air fryer basket or oven with parchment paper, then add half the chips to the bottom of the basket, then layer on half the cheese, half the tomato, half the pepper and half the beef.
- Repeat the layers, starting with the chips, then air fry for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Top the nachos with sliced scallions and chopped cilantro, and serve with sour cream or other toppings if desired.
Notes
- Layer the ingredients evenly to let every tortilla chip stay crispy while being filled with all the delicious toppings.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer by never filling up the air fryer more than halfway full.
- Preheat the air fryer so the nachos get crispy as soon as possible.
- Reheat any leftovers in the air fryer at 320 degrees for 2 to 3 minutes.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
This looks absolutely delicious!!! I can’t wait to make these!
Yes! We’ve been snacking on these nachos every night lately. We can’t get enough!
I see so many tasty air fryer recipes, but I still have not invested in one. I really need to because I’m loving the recipe options! #client
Air fryers will change the way you cook, Melanie! It’s amazing how many things you can make in them. We barely use our oven anymore!
Always love nachos! These were delicious.
This was the best Friday night dinner idea! The lime juice gave them great flavor.
We loved these nachos! It is a good thing they’re so easy to make, this is requested frequently in our house!
Would definitely try this!
I would never have thought to make nachos in the air fryer, but these turned out amazing!
Hi,
I am new to air fryer cooking and I just LOVE your recipes and I have tried quite a few with great success. However, I have read in other recipes that you should not cover the holes in the air fryer basket because the air needs to circulate the food in side. This recipe looks as thought the holes are totally covered by the parchment paper. The description of the recipe says to use foil and the recipe and pictures show parchment paper. I’m assuming you can use either one?? So, is it or is it not okay to completely cover the holes in the air fryer basket? Thanks, I would appreciate some clarification 🙂
I’m thrilled to hear that you’ve been enjoying air fryer cooking and finding success with the recipes. While it is essential to allow the air to circulate in the air fryer, I’ve found no issues with using parchment paper or foil to line the bottom of the air fryer for easy clean up. In this case, you can use either foil or parchment paper. Thanks for asking this question!
Hi, It’s me again. Just double checking on the temperature. In the description it says to preheat air fryer to 370 F. On the recipe print out it says 320 F. Thank You
Thanks for double checking, the correct temperature for this recipe is 320 degrees.
Hi I live alone and have been using air fryer a long time (I went through 3 air fryers LOL)I love your recipes as they are easy and fast and right to the point. So happy you have the time to test these recipes for us. Takes away a lot of the trial and error I used to experience. I have to say I dont know what I did before the air fryer. Guess I used microwave alot as my time is short for cooking as so many other things I have to do at night .Again thank you for great food recipes.
It’s awesome to hear you’re a solo air fryer pro, even going through three of them – that’s dedication! I’m thrilled the quick and straightforward recipes are a hit, saving you trial and error. The air fryer’s a game-changer for busy nights. Thanks for the kind words, and I’m here anytime you need more tasty recipes.
Can’t wait to try this tomorrow to snack on while watching the game. Go Bills!!
Looks great!
Many thanks for sharing this.
Will definitely be trying it this week!
You’re welcome, Mike! I hope you love the recipe.