These air fryer tortilla chips are one of my favorite quick snacks because they’re really easy to make and come out perfectly crispy every time. Once I realized how much better homemade tortilla chips taste fresh out of the air fryer, I haven't craved store-bought tortilla chips since.
They’re simple, crunchy, and really hard to stop eating. Need something quick to snack on? Try this Quick and Easy Air Fryer Fish Tacos recipe.
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Video Tutorial
Try These Crispy Homemade Tortilla Chips
The air fryer gives these easy homemade air fryer tortilla chips a golden crunch without all the oil and mess of deep frying.
They’re also something that goes with almost anything. I use them for nachos, taco salads, dips, or just straight from the bowl while they’re still warm.
Why You’ll Love It
- Quick and easy: These homemade tortilla chips air fry in minutes with just a few ingredients from my pantry.
- Perfect Texture: You get crispy, golden edges with that delicious tortilla chip crunch, restaurant-style.
- Less oil: Using the air fryer means a little bit of oil is used, much less than what you would use if you were to deep fry these.
- Perfect for dipping: They’re amazing with guacamole, salsa, queso, or even sour cream as a quick snack.
Ingredients
- Wheat-corn tortillas: These give the chips a slightly different texture and flavor.
- Wheat tortillas: I like mixing both types of tortillas because it gives some variety in texture.
- Avocado: The base of the guacamole and what makes it creamy and rich.
- Lime juice: Brightens the guacamole and keeps it tasting fresh.
- Fresh cilantro or parsley: Adds freshness and balances the richness of the avocado.
How to Make Air Fryer Tortilla Chips With Guacamole
1. Using a sharp knife, cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop the avocado flesh into a bowl.
2. Mash the avocado with a fork until smooth. If you prefer a chunkier texture, you can leave it slightly more textured. Squeeze the juice of ¼ lime onto the avocado.
3. Dice the tomato and red onion into small cubes. Mince the garlic. Add everything to the avocado. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then mix well.
4. Just before serving, add the finely chopped cilantro and mix gently.
5. Cut the tortillas into triangles.
6. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (180°C). Arrange the tortilla pieces in a single layer in the basket. Air fry for 4–5 minutes until crispy and golden, shaking the basket during cooking.
Tip: If you prefer your chips to be crispier, you can increase the cooking time slightly, but be careful not to overcook them. You can also add a slight spray of olive oil, avocado oil spray, or vegetable oil to increase crispiness. On the other hand, if you prefer them to be less crispy, you can reduce the cooking time a bit.
7. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, checking every 2-3 minutes. Serve this crunchy snack warm with guacamole, homemade salsa, or your favorite dip.
Recipe Tips
- Always make sure that your tortillas are thinly sliced. This helps them crisp up the right way in the air fryer.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket, or the chips won’t crisp evenly. I usually cook them in batches for the best texture.
- Keep an eye on the chips during the last minute because they can go from golden to too dark pretty quickly.
- I personally love serving the guacamole cold straight from the fridge with the warm chips.
- You can also bake these in an oven if you must, but my personal preference is the air fryer method, as this is the easiest way for me.
What Can You Serve With This?
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Queso dip
- Taco salad
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips FAQs
Good tortilla chips should be thin enough to crisp up but thick enough to hold up when dipping. Using fresh, high-quality corn or flour tortillas as a base is your secret for making the best homemade tortilla chips in an air fryer.
Traditionally, Mexican tortilla chips, known as ‘totopos,’ are fried. However, in modern cooking, and especially for health-conscious individuals, baking and air frying have become more popular.
If your homemade tortilla chips are turning out tough or chewy, they may not be cooked long enough or at a high enough temperature. Another possibility is that there is too much moisture in the tortillas. Make sure they are dried out slightly before cooking.
If your air fryer tortilla chips are not turning out crispy, it could be due to overcrowding the air fryer basket. It could also be because the cooking time or temperature is too low.
Burnt taste can occur if the chips were cooked at too high a temperature or left in the air fryer for too long.
Recipe
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Spoon and fork
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Large and small serving plates
- Cooking spatula
- Kitchen tongs
Ingredients
- 3 wheat-corn tortillas
- 3 wheat tortillas
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1 tomato
- ½ red onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro or parsley
- ¼ juice of a lime
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Guacamole
- Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop the avocado flesh into a bowl.
- Mash the avocado with a fork until smooth. If you prefer a chunkier texture, you can leave it slightly more textured.
- Squeeze the juice of ¼ lime onto the avocado.
- Dice the tomato and red onion into small cubes. Mince the garlic. Add everything to the avocado. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then mix well.
- Just before serving, add the finely chopped cilantro and mix gently. The guacamole is now ready to be enjoyed!
Air Fried Tortilla Chips
- If you have wheat-corn and wheat tortillas, you can use both types or choose one of them. Cut the tortillas into triangles, which will give them that classic chip shape.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
- Arrange the sliced tortillas in a single layer on the bottom of the air fryer basket.
- Air fry each batch of tortillas for 4-5 minutes or until they become crispy and golden. Check regularly and shake the basket to ensure even cooking.
- Once the chips are ready, carefully remove them from the air fryer and let them cool slightly. Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas.
- After the chips have cooled down a bit, pair them with the delicious guacamole sauce, or you may serve them on their own.
Notes
Cooking Time and Temperature
Air fry at 350°F (180°C) for 4–5 minutes per batch.Taste & Texture
Light, crispy tortilla chips paired with creamy, fresh guacamole.Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Room Temperature: Store chips in an airtight container for a few days.
- Freezer: Freeze chips in a freezer-safe bag if needed.
- Reheat: Air fry briefly to bring back crispiness.
Serving Recommendations
- I love serving these as an appetizer with guacamole, but they’re also fantastic layered into nachos, eaten with quesadillas, or alongside tacos with fresh salsa or tangy sour cream.
- For those who love a mix of flavors, try offering a flavorful pico de gallo alongside.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Add chili powder or cayenne pepper for heat.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese or a splash of lime zest over the chips before air frying for an extra zing.
- Add diced jalapeños to the guacamole.
Proper Storage Tips
- Cool the chips before storing.
- Keep them airtight to stay crisp.
- Store guacamole separately in the fridge.
Pro Tips
- Cook in batches.
- Shake the basket while cooking.
- Serve the guacamole cold for the best contrast.
Video
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