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Crispy Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Recipe Snapshot
PREP + COOK TIME: 20 minutes
METHOD: Air Fryer
OTHER TOOLS: basting brush, cooling rack
TOTAL INGREDIENTS: 4
Craving some crunchy chips with salsa or your favorite dip? With homemade air fryer tortilla chips, you’ll have a fresh, healthier option in just a few minutes. Crisp up a fresh batch to serve with your favorite Tex-Mex meals or simply for snacking!
What’s To Love About This Recipe
- Homemade tortilla chips in the air fryer are a quick and easy snack made with just a few ingredients.
- Get perfectly crispy chips without the mess and hassle of deep frying! Use them for dipping, or crumbling on top of soups or salads for a nice added crunch.
- Traditional fried tortilla chips usually include vegetable oil or lard. With your homemade version, you have more control over the ingredients, especially your choice of oils to make them crispy.
- Customize the recipe with your favorite seasonings and serve the chips with a variety of meals.
- These budget-friendly and super-crispy chips are ready in under 10 minutes!
- This recipe is also the perfect way to use up your last few leftover tortillas.
Ingredients Needed
- Corn tortillas – Use 6 traditional corn tortillas – either yellow or white – for the chips. The standard size is easiest to work with since you don’t want the triangles too large or too small.
- Olive oil – A light brush of oil is all it takes to lightly coat the tortillas and get them crispy in the air fryer. You can use either avocado oil or olive oil, depending on the flavor that you prefer.
- Lime zest – A little lime zest is such a fun way to elevate your homemade tortilla chips! Use a small grater or a zesting tool to remove just a bit of zest from a lime. This is an optional step, but it adds the nicest hint of fresh flavor and gives them an added restaurant-quality element.
- Kosher salt – Everyone loves a crunchy, salty chip! Kosher salt is the best for added texture. Just a sprinkle will create the perfect, salty bite.
How To Make Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Brush both sides of the tortillas with olive oil.
- Cut each tortilla into 4 triangles.
- Place the triangles in the air fryer basket in a single layer (you will need to cook in batches) and then sprinkle them with lime zest and salt.
- Cook at 350 ℉ for 5-8 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Pro Tips
- Use yellow or white corn tortillas for the best results.
- These chips cook in such a short amount of time, which means it’s also very easy for them to overcook – be careful! I have found that 5 minutes at 350 ℉ is usually enough to make them crispy and delicious, but not burned. They will continue to crisp slightly after being removed from the air fryer.
- Prevent the chips from moving around in the air fryer by placing a trivet, rack, or mesh tray on top of the chips during cooking.
- Be sure to cut the triangles uniformly and space them out in a single layer to prevent sticking together. Flip or rotate halfway through cooking if the chips are not getting crispy, or you could also add a bit more oil.
- If chips are sticking to the air fryer basket, spray both the basket and chips lightly with cooking spray.
- If chips get soggy after sitting out, they may have absorbed humidity. Spread them out on a plate and allow them to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. (I usually only make the amount we will eat fresh since the leftovers don’t keep well without turning chewy.)
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Use corn tortillas for the traditional, crunchiest option. Flour tortillas will yield softer, slightly puffier chips. Low-carb or gluten-free tortillas are another workable option, but the texture may vary.
- Avocado oil, olive oil, or coconut oil all work well. You can purchase any of these in a cooking spray format for a convenient, low-mess option. It is also possible to make the chips without oil, but the results may be drier and less flavorful.
- Try different seasonings to customize your chips for different meals! Here are some tasty options:
- Sea salt
- Lime zest and chili powder
- Cumin and smoked paprika
- Garlic powder and parmesan
- Everything bagel seasoning
Oven Instructions
If your air fryer is busy, the oven works great, too!
- Preheat oven to 375 ℉.
- Spread tortilla triangles in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Lightly brush each piece with oil and season.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
It’s not hard to find a favorite dip for everyone to enjoy with crispy air fryer tortilla chips! Mix up a quick Fresh Mango Salsa or Canned Tomato Salsa for an appetizer before dinner. For a hearty snack option, try fresh guacamole, Queso Blanco Dip, or Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip to serve with crispy chips.
Air fryer tortilla chips are the best homemade topping for soups, stews, and salads! Even if you only have a few leftover tortillas, you can whip up a crunchy topping to serve with a bowl of Chicken Chili, taco soup, or crumble over a southwestern salad.
Best Way To Store Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Let the chips cool completely before storing to avoid trapping any moisture, which will make them chewy or soggy later.
Store leftover chips in an airtight container or resealable bag at room temperature. The chips are best enjoyed within 3-5 days for maximum crunch. If they soften, reheat in the air fryer for 1–2 minutes to re-crisp.
Crispy Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Craving some crunchy chips with salsa or your favorite dip? With homemade air fryer tortilla chips, you’ll have a fresh, healthier option in just a few minutes. Crisp up a fresh batch to serve with your favorite Tex-Mex meals or simply for snacking!
Equipment
- basting brush
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 triangles in air fryer basket in a single layer (cooking in batches), then sprinkle with lime zest and salt
- Cook at 350 ℉ for 5-8 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack
Notes
- Let the chips cool completely before storing in an airtight container at room temperature. Enjoy within 3–5 days for the best crunch. If they soften, reheat in the air fryer for 1–2 minutes to crisp up.
- Space out tortilla pieces in a single layer for the crispiest results.
- Add extra oil to prevent sticking to the basket, if needed.
- The chips will cook quickly, so keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
- Customize the seasonings to change the flavor of your homemade tortilla chips!
