Air-Fryer Tortilla Chips: Quick, Easy, And Healthy?

Air fryer tortilla chips are a quick, easy, and healthy snack. They are a great alternative to store-bought tortilla chips as they are healthier, cheaper, and taste better. You can make them with flour or corn tortillas, a little bit of oil, and salt. You can also experiment with different seasonings like Italian herbs, ranch seasoning, or cinnamon sugar. The best part is that they are ready in just a few minutes!

How to make tortilla chips in an air fryer

Ingredients

To make tortilla chips in an air fryer, you will need tortillas, oil, and salt.

For the tortillas, you can use corn or flour tortillas. Corn tortillas will make for crispier chips, but flour tortillas will work in a pinch. You will need around 4-6 tortillas, depending on their size.

For the oil, olive oil or avocado oil is recommended due to their high smoke point, which means they won't burn at high temperatures. You can also use cooking spray or another type of oil, but be aware that this may affect the texture of your chips.

For seasoning, coarse salt or kosher salt is recommended. You can also experiment with other seasonings like Italian herbs, ranch seasoning, Cajun seasoning, cinnamon sugar, or chili powder.

Method

Step 1: Prepare the Tortillas

Brush or spray both sides of the tortillas with oil and sprinkle with salt. You can also add other seasonings of your choice.

Step 2: Cut the Tortillas

Cut the tortillas into triangles. You can use a pizza cutter or a sharp knife to cut them into chip-sized pieces, aiming for about 6-8 triangles per tortilla.

Step 3: Air Fry the Tortillas

Preheat your air fryer to 350-360 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the tortilla triangles in a single layer in the air fryer basket, being careful not to overcrowd them. Cook for 3-7 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispness.

If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, simply turn it on and wait about 5 minutes before adding the tortillas.

Step 4: Flip and Cook Again

After the initial cooking time, open the air fryer and flip the chips. Give them another light spray of oil and add more salt or seasonings, if desired. Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the chips are browned and crisp.

Step 5: Cool and Serve

Remove the chips from the air fryer and let them cool. They will continue to crisp as they cool. Serve with your favorite dips, salsas, or nacho toppings!

Tips

• Avoid overlapping the tortilla chips in the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed.
• Weigh the tortilla pieces down or use a trivet to prevent them from blowing around in the air fryer basket.
• Don't use too much oil. A light layer or spritz of oil is enough to crisp up the tortillas and keep the calories and fat content lower.
• Store any leftover chips in an airtight container or bag at room temperature. They will stay fresh for about a week to 10 days.

The best tortillas for air fryer tortilla chips

Air fryer tortilla chips are a great healthier alternative to store-bought tortilla chips. They are easy to make and only require a few simple ingredients. You can use either corn or flour tortillas, but corn tortillas will give you a crispier chip. Here are some tips for choosing the best tortillas for your air fryer tortilla chips:

• Tortilla type: Corn tortillas are the preferred choice for air fryer tortilla chips as they come out crispier than flour tortillas. Look for yellow or white corn tortillas, which are the most common and have a neutral flavour. You can also find spinach flour tortillas or make your own corn or flour tortillas from scratch.
• Tortilla size: For restaurant-style tortilla chips, use 8-inch tortillas. Smaller tortillas, around 5 or 6 inches in diameter, can also be used, but you may need to adjust the cooking time.
• Oil: Olive oil or avocado oil are recommended due to their high smoke points, which means they won't burn at high temperatures. You can also use vegetable or extra virgin olive oil. Avoid using too much oil, as it will make the chips greasy and less crispy.
• Salt: Use coarse salt, such as sea salt or kosher salt, rather than table salt, as it tends to absorb into the tortilla. You can also get creative with your seasonings by using taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, cinnamon, or Cajun seasoning, to name a few options.

With just a few simple ingredients and an air fryer, you can make delicious, healthy, and crispy tortilla chips at home!

How to prevent tortilla chips from blowing around in the air fryer

To prevent tortilla chips from blowing around in the air fryer, you can place an air fryer trivet or rack over them. This will stop them from moving around but still allow the air to circulate. If you don't have a trivet, you can also use a metal trivet or the kind that comes with an Instant Pot.

Another option is to use a light coating of oil on the tortillas before placing them in the air fryer. This will help weigh them down and prevent them from blowing around. However, if you are unable to use oil, there are some alternative suggestions from online forums. One suggestion is to pour a little water and place a piece of aluminium foil at the bottom of the air fryer, as the water will create a light steam that will prevent burning. Another suggestion is to use non-stick oil spray and air fry at a low temperature.

How to make tortilla chips without oil

It is possible to make tortilla chips in an air fryer without oil, although some recipes do suggest using a small amount of oil or cooking spray to get the best results.

Ingredients

You will need:

• Corn or flour tortillas
• Salt
• Olive oil or cooking spray (optional)

Method

• Cut the tortillas into triangles or chip-sized pieces. You can use a pizza cutter or a sharp kitchen knife to do this.
• If you are using oil or cooking spray, brush or spray both sides of the tortilla pieces lightly, then sprinkle with salt.
• Place the tortilla pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer. It is important that they do not overlap.
• Cook at around 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes, or until they are crispy and golden brown. You may need to cook the chips in batches, depending on how many you are making and the size of your air fryer.
• Check on the chips regularly to make sure they do not burn.
• Once the chips are cooked to your liking, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool. They will continue to crisp as they cool.

Tips

If your air fryer blows the chips around, place a metal trivet or something similar on top of the chips to weigh them down.

Flavour Variations

You can experiment with different flavours by adding spices, seasonings or sweeteners to your chips. For example:

• Spicy lime: Sprinkle the tortilla pieces with taco seasoning before cooking, then drizzle with fresh lime juice after cooking.
• Zesty ranch: Sprinkle the tortilla pieces with ranch seasoning before cooking.
• Sweet cinnamon: Brush the tortilla pieces with maple syrup and sprinkle with cinnamon before cooking.

Storage

Store your homemade tortilla chips in an airtight container or bag at room temperature. They will stay fresh for up to two weeks.

How to store air fryer tortilla chips

Air fryer tortilla chips are best stored in an airtight container or a zip-top bag at room temperature. They should not be frozen or refrigerated. Stored this way, they will stay fresh for up to two weeks, although they may start to taste stale after about a day.

Frequently asked questions