There’s nothing better than a cheesy, salty snack at 10pm that tastes like a feast from a restaurant. Well, these loaded air fryer nachos are just that. You’ll get perfectly melted cheese and piping-hot toppings in under 10 minutes. And best of all? You don’t have to preheat your oven. This is a recipe I love using when it’s last minute, you’re craving a movie night treat, game day snacks, or you’re just too tired to cook dinner and want something savory.
It’s also super easy to customize to what you have on hand like leftover taco meat or veggies from the garden. Plus, it’s basically zero effort to put together. Whether it’s a full dinner or just a lazy afternoon snack, you won’t find a better nacho recipe than this one. All you need to do is layer, throw it in the air fryer and come back to some delicious cheesy nachos.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
The air fryer cooks up nachos in a whole new way. The concentrated heat of the air fryer crisps up the chips on the outside but also melts the cheese to a gooey, creamy perfection within minutes. No more soggy or steamed chips in the center of the nachos like with the microwave.
And perhaps the best part about cooking nachos in the air fryer is how little cleanup there is! Because you make the nachos on parchment paper or foil in the air fryer basket, you can skip scrubbing a large baking tray. Simply take the nachos out and place them on a platter and you’re done!
The Ingredients
Here’s everything you need to make these crispy, cheesy nachos:
Sturdy Tortilla Chips
You want a sturdy tortilla chip to hold up all those toppings. Thin tortilla chips tend to break under the weight of the meat and melted cheese. For a healthier version, sturdy grain-free or sweet potato tortilla chips also work well here.
Leftover Taco Meat
Take any leftover seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken you have lying around and toss it on top of your nachos. You’ll be amazed at how much extra protein you can pack into this dish! And it will make this nacho recipe much more filling than if it were just a light appetizer. To keep it vegetarian, replace the meat with a ladle of cooked black beans or pinto beans.
Freshly Shredded Cheese
If you have some time, take the extra step of grating your own cheese from a block of cheddar or Monterey Jack. It will result in the creamiest, most melty cheese topping you’ve ever had. Most pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents, which means it won’t melt as easily in the dry heat of an air fryer. Or, for a deliciously spicy twist, substitute half of the cheddar with pepper jack.
How to Make It
I promise these nachos are so simple to make – here’s what you do:
Prep the Basket
Line the bottom of your air fryer basket with a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil that fits snugly inside. This will make it so easy to clean up afterwards, plus it’ll help you to carefully remove your nachos once they’re done.
Build the Base Layer
Arrange a single layer of tortilla chips across the bottom of the air fryer basket, slightly overlapping them. Add half of your leftover taco meat, half of your drained black beans, and half of your grated cheese on top.
Add the Second Layer
Add another layer of chips on top of the first. Layer the rest of your taco meat, black beans, and then top it all off with a generous amount of grated cheese.
Air Fry to Perfection
Place the basket in the air fryer and cook for 4-5 minutes at 350°F until the cheese is melted and the chips are just barely starting to turn golden.
Garnish and Serve
Using the parchment paper or foil, carefully lift your nachos out of the air fryer basket and place them on a serving plate. Top with fresh sliced jalapeños, sour cream, and salsa and enjoy!
My Top Tips for Success
Don’t build your nacho mountain too high. The air needs to circulate freely to get the cheese nice and melty. I recommend no more than two layers of chips, otherwise the chips on the top layer will burn while the ones in the middle don’t get heated through.
Drain your wet ingredients really well. Drain your black beans and canned jalapeños VERY well. Otherwise, the liquid will absorb into the tortilla chips while they’re cooking, and you’ll end up with soggy chips instead of super crispy ones!
In case your air fryer is one that flings around food that is light in weight, you’ll want to push the cheese down a little bit into the chips and meat before putting it in the air fryer. That way, you don’t get all of your yummy toppings stuck on the heating element because they flew off of the chips!
Easy Loaded Air Fryer Nachos Recipe (5 Minutes!)
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Parchment paper or aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 6 ounces tortilla chips sturdy
- 1/2 cup cooked taco meat ground beef or shredded chicken
- 1/2 cup black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese freshly shredded
- Sour cream sliced jalapeños, fresh salsa, cilantro, etc (optional)
Instructions
- Line the bottom of the air fryer basket with a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil. Make sure you’re not covering the whole wall because you need the air to circulate.
- Spread an even layer of tortilla chips on the bottom of the air fryer basket.
- Top the chips with half of the cooked taco meat, half of the black beans, and half of the shredded cheese.
- Put another layer of tortilla chips on top of the cheese.
- Sprinkle the remaining taco meat, black beans, and shredded cheese on top of the second layer of tortilla chips.
- Put the basket in the air fryer and cook at 350°F for 4-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Lift the nachos out of the air fryer basket and place them on a plate using the edges of the parchment paper. Be careful because they’ll be hot!
- Add the sour cream, jalapeños, and salsa on top and serve immediately.
Storage and Reheating
- Leftover nachos should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, although the chips won’t be as crispy.
- I don’t recommend freezing these nachos since the tortilla chips would be a total mess after thawing.
- If you have any leftovers, reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for about 2-3 minutes to get those chips crispy again and re-melt the cheese.
What to Serve it With
- Topped with a big spoonful of fresh, chunky pico de gallo.
- With a big bowl of creamy homemade guacamole for dipping.
- Alongside an icy margarita or a cold limeade.
- As a fun appetizer before a huge Mexican feast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of cheese?
Sure thing! A mix of sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack or Oaxaca cheese would melt nicely and have some great flavors.
Why did my chips burn in the air fryer?
The air fryer cooks very quickly and the tortilla chips are also already cooked (baked or fried). Check them after 3 minutes to make sure the edges haven’t gotten too brown.
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