How to Make Tortilla Chips in Air Fryer in 8 Easy Steps
To make crispy and delicious tortilla chips in your air fryer, start by gathering six 6-inch corn or flour tortillas. Cut them into triangles to create perfect chip shapes.
Lightly coat both sides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt or your favorite seasoning.
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Arrange the tortilla pieces in a single layer inside the basket.
Cook for 4–8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even crispiness. Once done, season again if desired.
Store your homemade tortilla chips in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Keep reading to discover tips for perfect flavor and texture when making air fryer tortilla chips.
Key Takeaways
- Cut six 6-inch corn tortillas into 6-8 triangles for uniform cooking and better crispiness.
- Lightly brush or spray both sides of tortilla pieces with olive oil or cooking spray.
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and arrange tortilla triangles in a single layer without overlapping.
- Air fry chips for 4-6 minutes, shaking the basket halfway; increase to 7-8 minutes for yellow corn tortillas.
- Season chips immediately after cooking with sea salt or preferred spices, then let cool before storing in an airtight container.
Gather Your Ingredients
To make tortilla chips in your air fryer, start by gathering six 6-inch corn or flour tortillas with simple ingredients for the best quality. You’ll need olive oil or cooking spray to lightly coat the tortillas, which helps achieve crispy, delicious chips without excess fat. Don’t forget sea salt or kosher salt for basic seasoning.
If you want to mix things up, prepare a small bowl with your favorite spices like taco seasoning or ground chipotle chili pepper. Using cooking spray is an easy-to-make method for an even oil coating, ensuring your tortilla chips come out perfectly crunchy. With these ingredients ready, you’re set to create tasty, homemade tortilla chips in your air fryer that are both flavorful and satisfying.
Choose the Right Tortillas
Selecting the right tortillas is essential for making crispy, flavorful chips in your air fryer. Yellow corn tortillas are your best bet, as they crisp up better than white corn tortillas or flour tortillas, delivering a superior crunch and authentic flavor. Opt for standard 6-inch tortillas—they’re perfect for cutting into triangles, ensuring even cooking throughout your batch.
When picking tortillas, choose those with a short ingredient list, avoiding added fats or dough conditioners to keep your tortilla chip recipe clean and tasty. Remember, flour tortillas can work but tend to be chewier and need shorter cooking times, usually around 5 minutes. Sticking with corn tortillas will help you achieve that classic crispy texture every time you air fry your chips.
Prepare the Tortillas for Air Frying
Start by choosing 6-inch corn tortillas for the best flavor and crispiness. Cut them evenly into 6 to 8 triangles to guarantee they cook uniformly.
Then, lightly brush both sides with oil and sprinkle your favorite seasonings before arranging them in a single layer in the air fryer.
Choosing Tortilla Type
When making tortilla chips in your air fryer, choosing the right type of tortilla can make all the difference. Corn tortillas are your best bet because they offer superior flavor and a crispy texture that stands up well to air frying. Opt for 6-inch corn tortillas with a short ingredient list to guarantee quality.
Before placing them in the air fryer basket, lightly brush or spray both sides with olive oil or cooking spray to help achieve that perfect crispiness. Avoid soft tortillas, as added fats or conditioners can ruin the texture. Once prepared, cut your tortillas into triangles for easy snacking.
Arranging these triangles in a single layer guarantees even cooking, so every chip comes out perfectly crispy and delicious.
Cutting Tortillas Evenly
To get perfectly even tortilla chips, stack two or three tortillas together before cutting. This makes it easier to cut each tortilla into uniform pieces. Use a sharp knife or a pizza cutter to slice the stacked tortillas into 6-8 even triangles.
Aim for consistent thickness to guarantee even cooking and prevent some chips from burning while others stay undercooked. Flour tortillas may cook faster than corn, so keep that in mind.
| Tool | Tip | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp Knife | Precise cuts | Clean edges |
| Pizza Cutter | Quick slicing | Uniform shapes |
| Stacked Tortillas | Cut multiple at once | Time-saving |
| Consistent Thickness | Equal slices | Even cooking |
| Light Coating of Oil | Before cutting | Better crispness |
Following these tips helps you make perfect chips every time.
Applying Oil and Seasoning
Once your tortillas are cut into even triangles, it’s time to give them a light coating of oil and seasoning. You can apply oil by brushing or spritzing both sides of each tortilla piece with olive oil or cooking spray. This guarantees they develop a crispy texture in the air fryer.
Next, sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt evenly over the tortillas to enhance flavor without overpowering them. For exciting flavor variations, mix spices like chipotle chili powder, taco seasoning, or cinnamon into the oil before applying. When placing the tortilla pieces in the air fryer, arrange them in a single layer to avoid overlaps.
This helps each chip cook evenly and stay perfectly crisp, delivering delicious homemade chips every time.
Preheat the Air Fryer
Although it might seem like a small step, preheating your air fryer is key to getting tortilla chips that are crispy and evenly cooked. Preheating sets the ideal temperature (350°F/175°C), ensuring the chips start cooking immediately once placed in the basket. This leads to consistent cooking results and reduces overall cooking time.
Don’t forget to clean the basket before preheating for the best flavor and performance. Skipping this step often results in unevenly cooked, less crispy chips.
| Step | Temperature | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Preheat | 350°F (175°C) | 5 minutes |
| Basket Prep | Clean & dry | Before preheating |
| Cooking Start | Immediate after | Preheating done |
| Result | Crispy, even | Ideal flavor |
Arrange Tortilla Pieces in the Basket
When you arrange the tortilla pieces in the air fryer basket, make certain they lie flat in a single layer without overlapping, so each chip cooks evenly and crisps up nicely. Overcrowding the basket can lead to uneven cooking and soggy chips, so it’s best to work in small batches if needed.
Properly spacing out the tortilla pieces guarantees hot air circulates freely around each one, maximizing crispiness. If your air fryer basket is small, don’t hesitate to cook multiple batches to preserve the quality of every chip.
Cook the Tortilla Chips
You’ll want to preheat your air fryer to 350°F to get the perfect crisp. Cook the tortilla chips for about 4 to 6 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even cooking.
Keep a close eye on them near the end to avoid burning.
Air Fryer Temperature
Setting your air fryer to 350°F is key to getting perfectly crispy tortilla chips. This air fryer temperature guarantees even cooking of your corn tortillas coated lightly with olive oil, preventing soggy spots. Arrange the tortilla chips in a single layer inside the basket to allow proper air circulation; overcrowding can cause uneven cooking.
For standard corn tortillas, a cook time of 4 to 6 minutes works well, but if you’re using yellow corn tortillas, you might need about 7 to 8 minutes. Halfway through, shake or redistribute the chips to promote even browning and avoid chips flying around.
Cooking Time Tips
After choosing the right temperature for your air fryer, the next step is to focus on cooking time to get those tortilla chips perfectly crispy. For corn tortillas, especially yellow corn tortillas, aim for 7 to 8 minutes, while flour tortillas usually need about 5 minutes. During air frying, it’s essential to shake or redistribute the tortilla chips halfway through the cooking time to guarantee evenly cooking and prevent overcrowding.
Keep a close eye on the chips during the final minutes to avoid burning, since they can quickly go from crispy to overdone. If you find some chips are still soft in the middle, pop them back in the air fryer for an extra minute. Following these cooking time tips will assure delicious, crispy chips every time.
Season Your Chips to Taste
Anyone can easily customize their tortilla chips by seasoning them to suit their taste. Start by tossing the chips in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt for a classic flavor. If you want to experiment, try adding spices like 1/2 teaspoon of ground chipotle chili pepper for heat or 2 teaspoons of nutritional yeast mixed with smoked paprika for a cheesy twist.
For something sweet, combine olive oil with 1/2 tablespoon of maple syrup and 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. A tangy salt and vinegar version works well too—just mix olive oil, 1/2 tablespoon vinegar, and 1 teaspoon sea salt. Whichever you choose, make sure to season your chips to taste by evenly coating them for the best flavor.
Store and Serve Your Homemade Chips
Once you’ve seasoned your tortilla chips to perfection, you’ll want to keep them fresh and crispy until you’re ready to enjoy them. To store tortilla chips, place your homemade tortilla chips in an airtight container or resealable bag at room temperature. This helps maintain their crispness for up to two weeks, though they’re freshest within the first few days.
When you’re ready to serve tortilla chips, pair them with your favorite dips like guacamole, salsa, or cheese sauce for a tasty snack. If you have leftover chips that have lost their crunch, simply reheat leftover chips in the air fryer at 350°F for 1-2 minutes to restore their crispiness. You can also transform them into nachos by layering with cheese and toppings, then air frying until bubbly for an easy meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Make Homemade Chips in Air Fryer Easy?
You can easily make homemade chips in your air fryer by cutting tortillas into triangles, then lightly brushing them with olive oil. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F, arrange the pieces in a single layer, and cook for about 4-6 minutes, shaking halfway through.
Once crispy, sprinkle with salt or your favorite seasoning. Let them cool, then enjoy fresh, crunchy chips without the hassle of frying in oil.
What’s the Easiest Way to Make Tortilla Chips?
You might think making tortilla chips is complicated, but it’s actually super simple! Just grab your tortillas, cut them into triangles, and lightly spray them with oil.
Sprinkle on some salt or your favorite seasoning, then pop them into a hot air fryer. In just minutes, you’ll have crispy, delicious chips ready to snack on.
Trust me, once you try this method, you won’t want store-bought chips again!
How to Fry Corn Tortillas in an Air Fryer?
To fry corn tortillas in an air fryer, start by preheating it to 350°F. Lightly spray your tortilla slices with olive oil and sprinkle some salt. Arrange them in a single layer inside the basket, making sure not to overcrowd.
Air fry for about 4 to 7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to cook evenly. You’ll get crispy, golden chips without the mess of traditional frying.
Can You Cook Chips in an Air Fryer From Raw?
Funny you ask—yes, you can cook chips in an air fryer starting from raw tortillas! Just cut them into triangles, brush lightly with oil, and sprinkle your favorite seasoning.
Preheat the fryer, arrange the chips in a single layer, and cook for about 4 to 7 minutes, shaking halfway through. You’ll get crispy, delicious chips without the mess of frying.
It’s quick, easy, and totally worth trying!
Conclusion
Now that you’ve mastered these simple steps, your air fryer transforms humble tortillas into golden, crispy treasures—like turning everyday moments into a festive celebration.
With each crunchy bite, you’re savoring more than just chips; you’re tasting the joy of homemade goodness. So go ahead, season them just right, store them with care, and share the magic.
Your kitchen is now a chip haven, ready to delight anytime cravings call. Making tortilla chips in the air fryer is easy, quick, and results in the perfect crispy snack every time.
