How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Do you love tortilla chips but hate the mess and hassle of deep-frying them? If so, then air fryer tortilla chips are for you! They’re crispy on the outside and soft in the middle, just like regular fried tortillas. They only take minutes to make! And there’s no messy oil or grease to clean up afterward. You can even use your favorite spices or seasonings to give them an extra kick!
About the Recipe
Have you ever thought about making your own fresh tortilla chips, but you didn’t want the hassle of deep-frying and cleaning up a big mess? Not to mention the smell left behind in your home, something that resembled a fast-food restaurant. Now that almost everyone has an air fryer, making tortilla chips in your air fryer has become a popular and tasty option!
This recipe for air fryer tortilla chips makes it easier than ever to make homemade tortilla chips in your air fryer. They’re crispy, crunchy, and delicious. And you don’t have to heat up your house with the oven or deep fry them!
Traditional fried tortilla chips are typically made using vegetable oil or lard, and these simply use a light coating of healthy olive or avocado oil.
Ingredients you’ll need to air fry tortilla chips
Corn Tortillas – for this recipe, we’ll be using a traditional corn tortilla for the chips. You can use yellow or white, and I find the standard taco size to be the easiest to work with.
Avocado or Olive Oil – it takes only a tiny amount of oil to lightly coat the tortillas so that they will crisp up in the air fryer. I like avocado oil the best for it’s light flavor, but olive oil will work as well.
Lime Zest – use a small grater or zesting tool to remove just a bit of zest from a lime for a delicious fresh flavor for your chips. This is optional but worth it.
Salt – all tortilla chips are best with some salt. I like kosher salt best for the texture it adds to the chips and the nice salty bites you get.
How to make tortilla chips in the air fryer
First, lightly coat each side of the tortilla chips with avocado or olive oil.
Then, cut each tortilla into 4 triangles. You should be able to 6 tortillas worth in the air fryer basket so that they aren’t crowded and can crisp up nicely. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket as much as possible.
Sprinkle the lime zest and salt over the tortillas.
Cook them at 350 degrees for 5-8 minutes until they are lightly browned and mostly crispy. They will finish getting crispy after you remove them from the air fryer.
Why you’ll love this recipe because
These chips are super crispy, thanks to the air fryer. You’ll love how easy it is to make them!
They have a light flavor and great crunch, which is perfect for dipping, but you can also use them on top of soups for added crunch as well.
The recipe uses simple ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen.
There’s no oil to clean up because they bake in the air fryer instead of frying them in oil! So you don’t have to do any messy cleanup.
Additional tips for air frying tortilla chips
Use yellow or white corn tortillas – for this recipe; we’ll be using a traditional corn tortilla.
Make sure they are not overcooked – because these chips cook in such a short amount of time, it’s very easy for them to get overcooked. I find 5 minutes at 350 degrees is usually enough to make them crispy and delicious but not burned.
Because these chips are fresh and don’t use any preservatives, I find they are best eaten fresh out of the air fryer. I don’t generally have luck with leftover keeping without getting chewy, so I only make as many as we will eat.
What to serve with healthier tortilla chips
Why did my chips not cook correctly?
Make sure you are cutting them into triangles that are not too large. Try to keep the size of the chips similar so they can bake evenly and crisp without burning, but if they are slightly smaller, it’s okay.
If you find your chips didn’t cook through even after 8 minutes at 350 degrees F. try cooking them at 375 degrees F for another 2-3 minutes.
Why did the tortillas stick to each other or the basket?
If you find your chips are sticking together, consider adding more oil later in the process after they have already been crisping up. It’s important to remember that tortilla chips made at home in an air fryer are not greasy like the store-bought kind. Adding more oil later creates a better result than using too much earlier on when you want to maintain as many nutrients and flavor as possible.
Why did my tortilla chips get soggy after sitting out?
The tortilla chips will not get soggy if they are crispy straight out of the air fryer. If you find your chips getting soggy, try spreading them out on a plate and letting them cool slightly before serving or putting in a bag to store.
Conclusion
Making crispy tortilla chips in the air fryer is easy and fun. Now you know how to make them without heating up your kitchen or dirtying a bunch of dishes. Whether you’re hosting guests for game night, having friends over for dinner, or just want something tasty to eat while watching Netflix at home with your pet iguana (don’t worry – I won’t judge), these Air Fryer Tortilla Chips are sure to please!
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Ingredients
- 6 corn tortillas
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Brush both sides of tortillas with olive oil
- Cut each tortilla into 4 triangles
- Place in air fryer basket in single layer (will need to make in batches) and sprinkle with lime zest and salt
- Cook at 350 degrees for 5-8 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack
Notes
- you can use white or yellow corn tortillas
- cook until the tortillas are lightly browned and crispy almost all the way through but don’t let them burn
- they will crisp us just a bit more on the cooling rack, so be sure to space them out
- leftovers don’t keep well, only make what you will consume
- feel free to change the seasonings or leave off the lime zest to customize