Air fryer nachos can elevate your snacking game to new heights! Crispy chips are topped with meat, beans, gooey melted cheese, and all your favorite toppings.
You will be amazed at how much better these loaded nachos are than traditional nachos. Air fryer nachos are a perfect snack or a deliciously easy-to-make meal from game day to movie nights to family dinners.
I will share why you should make nachos in the air fryer, all the best topping ideas, tips, and tricks, and answer all your burning nacho questions.
Want more Mexican-inspired air fryer recipes? Try fiesta potatoes, air fryer Mexican pizza or air fryer enchiladas for spicy southwest flavor. And if you love nachos make a Nacho Bar for your next party!
❓Why Make Nachos in the Air Fryer?
- Even cooking – The hot circulating air gives you perfectly crispy chips.
- No soggy chips – Since it cooks so fast, the chips don’t have a chance to get soggy, giving you amazingly crispy nachos.
- Convenience – It is super fast to make nachos in the air fryer. In just 6-7 minutes, they will be ready to eat without preheating.
- Customizable – Everyone can add different toppings to make their own batch of nachos.
🌶️Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Pulled pork or another meat – Check out my recipes for air fryer carnitas or Instant Pot pulled pork, or smoke a pork butt. Shredded chicken or cooked ground beef, or cooked chorizo also work well on nachos. Or use leftover chili.
- Corn tortilla chips
- Nacho cheese sauce – I like to use both nacho cheese sauce and shredded cheese for the most amazing flavor. But you can skip one of the two if you don’t love cheese as much as I do.
- Shredded cheese – use cheddar cheese or a Mexican cheese blend.
- Black beans, pinto beans, or refried beans
- Seasoning – taco seasoning, garlic powder, hot sauce
- Toppings – pickled jalapenos, diced tomato, sour cream, green onions, cilantro
🥣How to Make Air Fryer Nachos
- Prepare meat – Put the pulled pork in a bowl. Add the hot sauce, taco seasoning, and garlic powder. Air fry for 2-3 minutes at 400 degrees F.
- Assemble nachos – Put the tortilla chips on a pie plate. Drizzle nacho cheese sauce all over the chips. Then add the meat, beans, and shredded cheese.
- Cook – Air fry at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Add toppings – Top the nachos with tomato, green onion, sour cream, jalapenos, and all your favorite toppings.
🍴Serving Ideas
It is fun to offer a variety of toppings when serving air fryer nachos. It allows everyone to make their own customized delicious nachos. Here are a few topping ideas:
- Pickled jalapenos or pickled red onions
- A dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt for a creamy tang
- Guacamole or diced avocado for an extra layer of flavor
- Sliced black olives
- Grilled corn
- Add mango or pineapple for some fruity flavor.
- Chopped cilantro or green onions for a burst of freshness and color
- Salsa or pico de gallo
Find More Air Fryer Recipes!
🌶️Variations
Vegetarian nachos – Leave off the meat for easy vegetarian nachos. Optionally, add some grilled veggies for extra flavor.
Italian nachos – Replace the usual nacho toppings with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and toppings like pepperoni, olives, or mushrooms, creating a mouthwatering pizza-inspired treat.
Mediterranean nachos – Try air frying pita chips instead of tortilla chips and top with feta cheese, diced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and a drizzle of tzatziki sauce.
💭How to Store
Nachos store poorly. It is best to make only the nachos you will eat and keep the pulled pork and cheese separate to make more later. Store leftover toppings in airtight containers in the fridge for about 3 days.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Put an even layer of chips in the pie pan to avoid soggy nachos.
- Use parchment paper or a piece of aluminum foil at the bottom of the basket if you don’t have a pan that fits in your air fryer.
- If you use ground beef, ensure it is cooked and drained well before adding it to the chips.
- Feel free to experiment with various toppings and flavors. Just decide if the topping should go on before the nachos are air fried (like beans and cooked meat) or after cooking (like sour cream and salsa.)
- Air fryers vary, so the first time you make nachos in air fryer, check them after 5 minutes to ensure they aren’t burning.
📝FAQ
It is best to create a single layer with just barely overlapping chips. Creating multiple layers of chips can lead to uneven cooking, and some chips may not be crispy enough.
Air fryer nachos are done when the cheese is completely melted, and the chips are slightly golden. Keep an eye on your nachos during cooking to avoid burnt chips!
You want a cheese that will melt well for nachos. I like to use a blended shredded cheese mix for nachos. I also use both shredded cheese and a nacho cheese sauce, creating the cheesiest nachos.
Not really. You can make the nachos healthier by choosing toppings like grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, and salsa. But nachos are still a dish that should be enjoyed in moderation.
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Air Fryer Nachos Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cups shredded pulled pork
- 1 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1-2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 4 cups tortillas chips
- 1/2 cup nacho cheese sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese Mexican blend, or cheddar
- 1/2 cup black beans cooked and drained
- 5 pickled jalapeños optional
- 1 Roma tomato diced
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 stalk green onion
- 3 sprigs fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Combine pork, taco seasoning, garlic powder, and hot sauce in an oven-safe bowl. Mix well.1 cups shredded pulled pork, 1 tablespoons taco seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1-2 teaspoons hot sauce
- Place the bowl in the air fryer and cook for 3 minutes at 400 degrees F.
- Add the tortilla chips to a 9-inch pie pan or cake pan. Drizzle nacho cheese sauce all over the chips.4 cups tortillas chips, 1/2 cup nacho cheese sauce
- Add seasoned pork, beans, jalapenos, and shredded cheese to the chips.1/2 cup black beans, 5 pickled jalapeños, 1/2 cup shredded cheese
- Place the pan in the air fryer basket and cook at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes, until the chips are extra crispy and the cheese is melted. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes if necessary.
- Finally, top the air fryer nachos with tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. Finish them with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, and all your favorite toppings.1 Roma tomato diced, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 stalk green onion, 3 sprigs fresh cilantro
Notes
- Put an even layer of chips in the pie pan to avoid soggy nachos.
- I like cheesy nachos, so I use both nacho cheese sauce and shredded cheese. But you don’t have to use both.
- Use a sheet of aluminum foil at the bottom of the basket if you don’t have a pan that fits in your air fryer.
- Use cooked ground beef, shredded chicken, or chorizo instead of pulled pork. Or leave the meat off and make vegetarian nachos.
- Feel free to experiment with various toppings and flavors. Just decide if the topping should go on before the nachos are air fried (like beans and cooked meat) or after cooking (like sour cream and salsa.)
- Air fryers vary, so the first time you make nachos in air fryer, watch them to ensure they aren’t burning.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
