Fitness / March 7, 2024

Air Fryer Nachos

A shareable snack is now a cinch to make—Air Fryer Nachos loads up the cheese, veggies, guac, and jalapeno, then finishes off in everyone’s favorite small appliance.

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I love you, oven, but you’re kinda high-maintenance.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love using you, but there are some things you can’t solve. Take making nachos, for instance. Thoughts of soggy chips keeps me up at night. And what about those chips that are buried under their Tex-Mex brethren? Will they crisp up? You’re enthusiastic, and I like that, but sometimes your eagerness to cook means burnt cheese on the top of my nachos. You know me, I get distracted and attend to other dishes. So will you know when to turn yourself off and set my nachos on the counter?

That’s why I’ve started using my air fryer to do my nachos. Nothing personal, oven, but the air fryer ensures ALL the chips are heated through and crispy. The cheese is never burnt, and it shuts off when the nachos are done, no matter where I am. We’ve had a good run, oven, but with my air fryer, making nachos has never been easier!

are Air Fryer Nachos Healthy?

This particular recipes for nachos can be considered a healthy meal. It consists of carbs, proteins, fats, and fiber, with no calorically dense meats to weigh it down. We’ve opted for healthier versions of many of the ingredients (e.g., whole grain chips, Greek yogurt) so you can serve this as a dinner to your family and not limit it to a Game Night indulgence. It’s suitable for vegetarian diets, as well as Mediterranean, gluten-free (provided the tortilla chips are indeed gluten-free), and paleo (just replace the nachos with vegetable chips and forgo the yogurt dip).

Can I Add Protein to These Nachos?

While the Greek yogurt contains lots of protein, I consider it a topping and not an “official” ingredient. So if you want something to pump up the protein quotient that is actually included in your nachos, you have both vegetarian and meat options available. To keep these nachos vegetarian, use black beans, pinto beans, and/or refried beans. Seasoned tofu or tempeh can also be used. If you’re a meat eater, ground beef or shredded chicken can be added. Just note you’ll need to cook the meat THEN add it to the nachos in the air fryer.

INGREDIENTS

2-3 cups whole grain tortilla chips
2 cups reduced-fat shredded cheese blend (e.g., cheddar and Monterey Jack)
1 green onion thinly sliced, with whites and greens separated
1/4 cup sliced black olives, drained
1 avocado, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup pickled jalapeños, chopped (optional)
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped (optional)
salsa and Greek yogurt (for serving)

INSTRUCTIONS

Layer

Heat your air fryer. Arrange a base layer of tortilla chips, followed by a sprinkle of cheese and green onions.

Top

Add another layer of chips and the remaining cheese, along with a colorful array of toppings like jalapeños and black olives for a burst of flavor.

Air Fry

Cook the assembled nachos in the air fryer until the cheese is melted and the chips are crisped to your liking.

Garnish

Top with diced cherry tomatoes and avocado. Serve with salsa and Greek yogurt for dipping.

DEVOUR!

FAQs & Tips

How do I store these nachos?

Let the nachos cool then store in an airtight container. They should last for up to 2 days in the fridge. You can warm them back up in the air fryer. Just set it to 350°F for 3–5 minutes. Ideally, you will have left the toppings off the nachos you’re going to store. Leaving them on for a few days in the fridge will lead to soggy nachos.

How many calories are in a serving?

There are 241 calories in each serving, and six servings in each dish. We’ve opted for healthy items for these vegetarian nachos but you can add whichever ingredients you like, bearing in mind that calorie count will fluctuate.

Why are My nachos still soggy?

It could be the moisture from your toppings. Ensure your nachos are well coated in cheese; the cheese will act as a buffer and protect your chips from the juices of your veggies.

How do I prevent my nachos from burning in the air fryer?

Place a sheet of aluminum foil over top to prevent the cheese and the upper layer of nachos from burning.

How do I prevent the nachos from sticking to the basket?

If you’ve had problems like this in the past, consider using nonstick spray on the basket before filling it with nachos.

Other Snacks You Can Do In Your Air Fryer

You’ve got a group of friends coming over and you need an assortment of hot snacks for them to nosh on. What do you do? You boot up the air fryer, that’s what! FFF has a number of recipes you can try, from Air Fryer Buffalo Wings and Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders to slightly healthier fare like Roasted Air-Fryer Cauliflower and Crispy Air-Fryer Eggplant. With so many options, we’re sure all your guests will leave feeling full!

Air Fryer Nachos

A shareable snack is now a cinch to make—Air Fryer Nachos loads up the cheese, veggies, guac, and jalapeno, then finishes off in everyone’s favorite small appliance.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Total Time 35

Servings

Calories 241kcal

Author FoodFaithFitness

Ingredients

2-3 cups of whole grain tortilla chips
2 cups reduced-fat shredded cheese blend (such as cheddar and Monterey Jack)
1 green onion thinly sliced, with whites and greens separated
1/4 cup sliced black olives drained
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes diced
1/4 cup pickled jalapeños chopped (optional)
2 tbsp fresh cilantro finely chopped (optional)
salsa and Greek yogurt as a healthier alternative to sour cream, for serving
1 avocado peeled and diced

Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 320°F.
Arrange a single layer of tortilla chips in the air fryer basket, slightly overlapping them to prevent gaps (you want to support the toppings and prevent them from falling through).
Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese evenly over the chips, followed by the white parts of the green onion.
Add another layer of tortilla chips on top of the cheese. Finish by topping with the remaining cheese, green parts of the green onion, jalapeños and black olives, if desired.
Air fry the nachos for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is thoroughly melted and the edges of the chips are just beginning to brown. Keep an eye to prevent overcooking.
Carefully remove the nachos from the air fryer basket and transfer them to a serving plate. Garnish with the diced cherry tomatoes and avocado.
Serve immediately with salsa and a bit of Greek yogurt on the side. It is a bit healthier than traditional sour cream.