Air Fryer Nachos

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Air Fryer Nachos are the perfect snack or lazy day meal. Layer everything in the basket, cook until the cheese is melted, then add toppings!

platter of air fryer nachos

Air Fryer Nachos

When you air fry nachos, they are covered in gooey cheese and are a delicious base for all of your favorite toppings.

Since there’s no preheating required, you’ll be ready to eat in just 15 minutes!

Adding black beans is an easy, meat-free way to get some extra protein, and they make these nachos in the air fryer more filling as well.

Love making quick and easy Mexican recipes like nachos in the air fryer?

Try my Southwestern Egg Rolls or some other Mexican favorites like taco spaghetti or a skillet casserole.

I even have a copycat recipe for Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza! It makes enough to feed four people and costs less than takeout.

ingredients in bowls for nachos recipe

Air Fryer Nacho Tips & Tricks

  • Choose restaurant-quality chips. These tend to be thicker and will hold up better under the weight of the toppings. 
  • Wear gloves when handling peppers. The oils found in jalapenos and other chiles can cause irritation, and it’s easy to miss spots with water and soap.

    Food prep gloves will keep your hands protected – just be sure to remove them before handling the other ingredients.
  • Don’t forget to overlap! Close any gaps between the chips before adding the other ingredients. Otherwise, the cheese will drip through to the bottom of the tray.
  • Prevent sticking. Before you air fry nachos, add a thin layer of oil to keep any stray cheese from sticking to the bottom.

    Use a spray bottle of cooking oil instead of traditional nonstick spray. The propellants in aerosolized cans will cause the basket to deteriorate over time.
tortilla chips in basket of air fryer

Nachos Air Fryer Topping Ideas

A generous dollop of sour cream and guacamole is more than enough for these nachos in the air fryer.

You could also add extra veggies like green onions, olives, or red onion. Some chili corn salsa or homemade pico de gallo would be delicious as well!

Or, add extra protein with seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken. I like to prep large batches and keep them in the freezer for meals like this one.

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need for Nachos in the Air Fryer

  • Air Fryer – Different brands and sizes may require different cooking times, so be familiar with your model and make adjustments as needed.
  • Heat-safe spatula (or two) for getting your black bean nachos out of the basket.
  • Quality Knives and a big solid Cutting Board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
adding diced tomato to corn chips in air fryer

Nachos Air Fryer FAQ

Can I use pre-shredded cheese?

Absolutely! This is one of the few instances where I actually recommend using them. 

Mexican or fiesta blends are a great choice for these air fryer nachos, but regular cheddar or Monterey Jack is delicious too.

How do you get air fryer nachos out of the basket?

Use two spatulas to lift them out since the cheese holds everything together. You could also lift one side while tilting the basket to slide them onto a plate.

Can I double this nachos air fryer recipe?

Unless you have an extra-large appliance, I wouldn’t recommend it. The bottom chips will start to get overcooked before the cheese is able to melt.

This meal cooks so quickly that you can simply make multiple batches one after another until everyone is fed!

black bean nachos with guac and sour cream

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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air fryer nachos on a plate with toppings

plate of supreme nachos

Air Fryer Nachos

Donna Elick
Air fryer nachos are the perfect snack or lazy day meal. Layer everything in the basket, cook until the cheese is melted, then add toppings!
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 16 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Method Air Fryer
Servings 1

Ingredients
 

  • 4 cups tortilla chips
  • 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 1 jalapeno, sliced
  • 1 small tomato, diced
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons guacamole

Instructions
 

  • Place the tortilla chips in the basket of your air fryer.
  • Place the beans over the top of the chips.
  • Sprinkle cheese over the chips.
  • Evenly distribute the tomatoes and jalapeños next.
  • Set the air fryer to 390°F for six minutes.
  • Serve with sour cream, guacamole, and your favorite other toppings.

Donna’s Notes

There are so many different things you can add to nachos. Some of my favorite things to add in are cooked ground beef, chunks of avocado, green onions, or even olives.
I used two spatulas to lift the out since all the cheese helped keep it all together.
If you have a large air fryer, you can double this recipe, but if not, I don’t recommend it because the bottom chips will start to get overcooked before all the cheese is melted.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 2555cal | Carbohydrates: 341g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 116g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 1957mg | Sugar: 7g | Fiber: 36g | Calcium: 1191mg | Iron: 9mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
air fryer nachos closeup

Originally published November 2021, updated and republished February 2023

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