Ella Walter
Air fryer tortilla chips are a healthier alternative to deep-fried tortilla chips. They are easy to make and only require a few simple ingredients: corn or flour tortillas, oil, and salt. You can also experiment with different seasonings to spice things up. The air fryer's hot air circulation crisps up the tortillas without the need for deep frying, resulting in a crunchy and delicious snack.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Corn tortillas, flour tortillas, olive oil, avocado oil, cooking spray, salt, lime juice, cinnamon, sugar, chilli powder, cayenne pepper, cajun seasoning |
| Equipment | Air fryer, sharp knife, pizza cutter, pastry brush, air fryer trivet or rack |
| Temperature | 350°F |
| Timing | 3-8 minutes |
| Storage | Airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature |
What You'll Learn
Choosing the right tortillas
The tortilla is the foundation of your air-fried chips, so choosing the right one is essential. You can make air fryer tortilla chips with either corn or flour tortillas, but each type has its own unique characteristics.
Corn Tortillas
Corn tortillas are the traditional choice for making tortilla chips, and they deliver an authentic, restaurant-style flavour. Corn tortillas come in various colours, including white and yellow, and you can use either for your chips. When selecting corn tortillas, opt for those with a shorter ingredient list, as tortillas advertised as "soft" may contain additional fats or dough conditioners that require longer cooking times.
Flour Tortillas
Flour tortillas are another option for making air fryer chips, and they result in a flavour that's closer to pita chips. However, flour tortillas can sometimes end up a little chewy, and they burn quickly, so keep a close eye on them while they're in the air fryer.
Tortilla Size
The size of the tortillas you choose will also impact your chips. For restaurant-style tortilla chips, use larger tortillas, around 8 inches in diameter. Smaller tortillas can also be used, but you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Storing Tortillas
When storing your tortillas before making chips, keep them in the fridge or freezer. Fresh tortillas are best, but if you're using frozen ones, let them thaw at room temperature for a bit before cutting and air-frying.
Tortilla Chips: A Versatile Snack
Whether you choose corn or flour tortillas, your air fryer chips will be a delicious, crispy treat. They're perfect for dipping into salsa, cheese sauce, or guacamole, and you can even experiment with different seasonings to spice things up. Enjoy your homemade tortilla chips, and feel free to experiment with different types of tortillas to find your favourite!
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Oil and seasoning
The amount of oil you use will depend on the type of oil you choose. If you're using a cooking spray, you'll want to lightly spray the tortillas. If you're using a liquid oil, you'll need to brush a very light coating of oil on both sides of each tortilla. Olive oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil, and extra virgin olive oil are all good options.
When it comes to seasoning, salt is the most popular option. You can use fine sea salt, kosher salt, or flaky sea salt. Sprinkle each tortilla lightly with salt, or sprinkle again after flipping the tortillas over. You can also try seasoning with lime juice, Cajun seasoning, chilli powder, or cayenne pepper.
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Cutting the tortillas
There are several ways to cut tortillas into chip-sized pieces. You can use a sharp knife, a pizza cutter, or a pair of kitchen scissors. The number of pieces you cut your tortillas into will depend on the size of your tortillas. For example, an 8-inch tortilla can be cut into about 8 triangles, while a smaller tortilla can be cut into 6-8 pieces.
One method is to stack the tortillas on top of each other and cut them all at once. This ensures that each chip is roughly the same size. If your knife isn't very sharp, you may find it easier to cut 3 tortillas at a time, rather than the whole stack.
If you're using a pizza cutter, you can simply slice the tortillas as you would a pizza, cutting each one into 6-8 equal triangles.
Once you've cut your tortillas into chip-sized pieces, you're ready to move on to the next step of making air fryer tortilla chips!
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Air fryer settings
Air fryers are a quick and easy way to cook with really good results. There are a few things to keep in mind when using an air fryer to make tortilla chips. Firstly, it is important to preheat the air fryer. If your air fryer does not have a preheat setting, simply turn it on and wait about 5 minutes before you begin cooking. The ideal temperature for cooking tortilla chips is between 350-360°F.
Most air fryers will cook the chips in around 5 minutes, but this can vary depending on the make and model of your air fryer, so keep an eye on them. You may need to adjust the cooking time and/or temperature slightly. If your chips are not crispy enough, put them back into the air fryer for another minute or two.
It is also important to arrange the tortilla pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. They may blow around due to the fan in the air fryer, so you can place an air fryer trivet or rack over them to keep them in place. Overlapping the chips will result in uneven cooking, so it is best to cook them in batches.
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Serving suggestions
Air fryer tortilla chips are a great snack and can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas for serving these crispy, delicious, and healthy chips:
Dips and Salsas:
- Serve the chips with a variety of dips such as salsa, cheese sauce, guacamole, or pico de gallo.
- For something different, try a citrus salsa with fresh grapefruit, orange, and lime.
- Spicy chipotle salsa, creamy refried bean dip, or black bean dip are also great options.
Nachos:
- Create nachos by piling the chips high with toppings such as Sheet Pan Nachos, Buffalo Chicken Nachos, or Loaded Chicken Nachos.
- You can also make breakfast nachos or air fryer nachos.
As a Garnish:
Use the chips as a garnish for chili or soups, such as slow cooker vegetarian chili or chicken fajita soup.
Seasonings:
- Experiment with different seasonings on the chips. In addition to salt, you can try cajun seasoning, chili powder, or cayenne pepper, cinnamon & sugar, or a salt substitute.
- For a zesty 'cheese' flavour, use nutritional yeast and smoked paprika.
- For a chili-lime flavour, use olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, and salt.
Drinks:
Pair the chips with drinks such as strawberry margarita punch, cranberry margarita, gin and tonic, or a negroni.
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Frequently asked questions
You should cook the chips for around 5-7 minutes, but this may vary depending on your air fryer. Check the chips regularly and remove them when they are crispy and golden brown.
You can use either corn or flour tortillas. Corn tortillas will give a crispier, more traditional chip, whereas flour tortillas will be slightly chewier and taste more like pita chips.
You can use olive oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil. Alternatively, you can use a spray oil, but make sure to apply a light coating to the tortillas.
You can season the chips with salt, or use other seasonings such as chipotle seasoning, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, or cinnamon.
Place an air fryer trivet or rack over the chips to weigh them down. This will stop them from blowing around while still allowing air to circulate.
