Don’t you just love a good plate of nachos? There’s something about a warm plate of tortilla chips with melted cheese on top that is just irresistible!
The only disadvantage is the time it takes to warm up the oven and bake the nachos. But now, using an air fryer for nachos makes it so fast and easy!
The air fryer always delivers such perfectly even heat that there are no spots of un-melted cheese or overcooked chips. Just perfectly cheesy and delicious nachos, every bite.
Why I love these Air Fryer Nachos
These nachos remind me of when my guy and I were first dating. We had a favorite restaurant we visited weekly in summer and shared a big plate of nachos on the outdoor patio. Their nachos were a step above most: in addition to the melted cheese on the chips, they also added cheese sauce to the nachos for the most wonderfully cheesy experience.
Shredded chicken, jalapeno slices, guacamole, and salsa gave even more options for dipping the cheese-covered chips in delicious flavors.
Re-creating all these flavors was so fun, and using the air fryer made it so easy! The nachos only need 6 minutes of cooking time, which is less time than it takes my conventional oven to warm up!
Fast, easy, and delicious! The perfect combination!
Ingredients
- Tortilla chips
- Shredded cheese
- Cooked and shredded chicken
- Jalapeno pepper
How to make chicken nachos in air fryer
First, a note about air fryers. I think of them as coming in 2 styles: basket-style and oven-style. If you have the basket style air fryer, you don’t have the room to spread the nachos out as much, so you will end up making a taller pile of nachos. Which should still work, just be sure to layer the chips and cheese carefully and evenly.
I have the oven style: the Ninja Air Fry Pro Countertop, to be exact. It’s a much bigger air fryer, but it does flip up to save on counter space when not in use.
One of the things I love about this air fryer is the space I have to place whatever I want to air fry. It has a big flat basket as well as a tray (both 12”x12”) which is great for spreading out French fries, chicken wings, etc. I use the tray to make these air fryer nachos.
- Simply line the tray with parchment paper first, then make an even layer of tortilla chips in the tray. Because this tray allows us to go wide, not deep, I only make 2 layers of nachos. So add half the chicken and shredded cheese evenly on the chips. Jalapeno slices should be added to taste.
- Then, repeat the layers: chips, chicken, jalapenos, and cheese.
- Place the tray in the air fryer oven and set the timer to air fry for 6 minutes at 350F. The air fryer will take a minute or 2 to preheat and then start cooking.
- Six minutes later, the nachos are ready to serve!
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I serve with guacamole, salsa, refried beans, and/or Queso Dip as the mood takes me.
Tips for making Nachos in the Air Fryer
Some air fryer models require you to preheat them before use, if so please follow the manufacturer’s instructions for that.
These nachos are so easy to customize! Try sprinkling some drained and rinsed black beans instead of or in addition to the chicken. You can also use more or less chicken as you prefer.
I used rotisserie chicken but salsa chicken or really any other leftover chicken would work great.
Try using pickled jalapeno peppers for a milder taste.
Air Fry Nachos Variations & Toppings
Here are some toppings I like to add to my nachos after they are cooked, to give all the best nacho tastes!
- Guacamole
- Pico de gallo
- Salsa
- Refried beans
- Sour cream
- Queso cheese dip
If you’d like to change up the flavors even more, here are some other nacho ideas:
- Supreme Southwest – add in some black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes for even more flavors in every bite!
- BBQ chicken nachos – toss the shredded chicken with a little BBQ sauce before adding. Some red onions and pickled jalapenos will add a sweet and tangy twist.
- Buffalo chicken nachos – mix a little Buffalo sauce to the chicken, and after cooking top with some crumbles of blue cheese, some chopped celery, and a drizzle of ranch dressing.
- Carnitas nachos – if you have some leftover pulled pork, use it to make some air fryer nachos! A little bit of chili-lime seasoning will wake up the flavor, and I would use some lime flavored tortilla chips for that extra tang.
Air Fryer Nachos Recipe FAQs
To reheat nachos in an air fryer, cook them at 350°F (150°C) for 3-4 minutes. This should be enough to warm the toppings without making the chips soggy. If they need a bit more time, check in 1-minute increments.
In my experience, 350°F (175°C) is ideal. Cook them for about 6 minutes, keeping an eye on the cheese as it melts. Every air fryer is a little different, so you may need to adjust slightly based on your model
Here are some tips to keep your loaded nachos from getting soggy:
Layer sparingly: Keep wet ingredients like salsa or tomatoes on top or add them after cooking.
Drain ingredients: Make sure to drain any toppings with extra liquid, like beans or pickled jalapeno peppers, before adding them.
Add fresh toppings after cooking: Ingredients like guacamole, sour cream, or salsa should be added just before serving to keep chips crispy
More Recipes for your Next Celebration
📖 Recipe
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Chicken Nachos in the Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 11 ounces tortilla chips
- 8 ounces 2 cups shredded cheese (4 cheese Mexican)
- 1 cup chicken cooked and shredded
- 1 jalapeno sliced and seeded
Optional for serving:
- Guacamole
- Pico de gallo
- Salsa
- Refried beans
- Sour cream
- Queso cheese dip
Instructions
- Line your air fryer basket or tray with parchment paper for easier removal and cleanup.
- Make a single overlapping layer of tortilla chips in the tray. Sprinkle with about half the chicken and half the cheese. Add jalapeno slices as desired.11 ounces tortilla chips, 8 ounces 2 cups shredded cheese (4 cheese Mexican), 1 cup chicken, 1 jalapeno
- Make another layer of chips, followed by chicken and cheese, plus jalapeno slices to taste.
- Preheat the air fryer if necessary. Set the temperature to 350F and air fry for 6 minutes.
- Remove tray from air fryer and serve the nachos with salsa, guacamole, queso dip, etc.Guacamole, Pico de gallo, Salsa, Refried beans, Sour cream, Queso cheese dip
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Donna
First time making nachos in the air fryer and I think it will be my go-to method from here on in. It is so hot here in Aus at the moment, it was great to be able to get nachos on the table without heating up the house with the oven.
Sula
I agree about not heating up the house, and this is definitely my go-to method for nachos. Perfect every time!
Sherry Ronning
I was looking for a quick appetizer to serve my guests and came across your air fryer nachos with chicken recipe. It was quick and easy to make and my guests loved it!
Sula
It's a guaranteed crowd pleaser!
Shilpa
This was so good and cheesy. I loved the little spicy kick from jalapeños. Perfect.
Sula
Feel free to use more jalapeno slices, these nachos are so easy to customize to your preferences!
Anne
I love how easy this is to make in the air fryer! And using parchment paper made the cleanup a breeze.
Sula
I am all about easy, for the making and the clean up!
Kris
Super easy and tasty! We topped ours with avocado crema and it was perfect!
Sula
Oh, I love the avocado crema idea!
Jennifer
Loved these! They were so easy to make and I loved layering everything into the air fryer. We devoured them!
Sula
They definitely don't last long here!
Sarita
This is a great recipe for using up leftover chicken - plus it is quick and easy! Saving this to make on Friday.
Sula
You will love it!