Air Fryer Tortilla Chips: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Making tortilla chips in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and healthy way to satisfy your cravings for a crispy, salty snack. All you need are tortillas, oil or cooking spray, and salt. You can use either corn or flour tortillas, though corn tortillas will give you a crispier chip. First, cut the tortillas into triangles, then brush or spray both sides with oil and season with salt. Place the tortillas in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook at 350°F for 3-8 minutes, flipping them over halfway through. That's it! Your homemade tortilla chips are now ready to be enjoyed with your favourite dip.

Choosing and preparing tortillas

The tortilla is the foundation of your tortilla chip, so it's important to choose the right type and prepare it properly. Here are some tips to help you choose and prepare your tortillas for making chips in an air fryer:

Choosing the Right Tortillas

• Corn tortillas are generally recommended for making tortilla chips. Look for taco-size tortillas, which are easy to cut into chip-sized wedges. You can use white or yellow corn tortillas, or even flour tortillas if you prefer.
• For corn tortillas, look for those made with nixtamalized corn, which have a better flavour. Check the package for the words \"nixtamal\" or \"nixtamalized\" in the ingredients list. The ingredients list should be short and include the words \"lime\" or \"cal".
• If you want to make a larger batch of chips, choose a larger package of tortillas. Burrito-sized tortillas are a good option and will give you more chips per tortilla.

Preparing the Tortillas

• Before cutting your tortillas, apply a small amount of oil to both sides. You can use a spray oil or brush the oil on with a pastry brush. This step will give your chips a better flavour and make them crispier.
• After oiling the tortillas, cut them into wedges. You can stack several tortillas and cut them all at once with a sharp knife, a pizza cutter, or kitchen scissors. Aim for about six to eight triangles per tortilla.
• If you want to add extra flavour to your chips, you can sprinkle them with salt or other seasonings before or after air frying. Some popular seasoning options include fine sea salt, ground chipotle chili pepper, smoked paprika, nutritional yeast, chili powder, and cumin.
• If you have time, let the tortillas dry out a bit before cutting and air frying. You can leave them out overnight or dry them in the oven or microwave for a few minutes. This step is not necessary, but it can help your chips get crispier.

Oil and seasoning

For the oil, you can use olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil, or any other high smoke point oil. You only need a light coating or a spritz of oil on both sides of the tortillas. If you're using a spray oil, make sure to apply a light coating. Alternatively, you can brush the oil onto the tortillas with a pastry brush or basting brush. This method will result in a bit more oil on the tortillas.

For seasoning, salt is the most commonly used ingredient. You can use fine sea salt, kosher salt, or table salt. However, keep in mind that table salt tends to absorb into the tortilla rather than staying on the surface. You can also get creative with your seasonings and try options like ground chipotle chilli pepper, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, cinnamon, or cumin.

When seasoning the tortillas, you can either sprinkle the seasoning directly onto the tortillas or mix it with the oil and brush the mixture onto the tortillas. If you're using a spray oil, it's best to spray the tortillas first and then sprinkle on the seasoning.

Some popular seasoning combinations include:

• Spicy lime: Sprinkle the tortillas with taco seasoning and drizzle with fresh lime juice after cooking.
• Zesty ranch: Sprinkle the tortillas with ranch seasoning.
• Sweet cinnamon: Sprinkle the tortillas with cinnamon and sugar, or brush with maple syrup before cooking.
• Smoky southwestern: Sprinkle the tortillas with a mix of smoked paprika, cumin, and chilli powder.
• Cilantro lime: Toss the baked chips with fresh lime zest and chopped or dried cilantro.
• Ranch: Toss the unbaked chips in ranch seasoning before cooking.
• Cinnamon sugar: Toss the baked chips in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar while they are still warm.

Cutting tortillas into triangles

To cut tortillas into triangles, you can use a pizza cutter or a sharp kitchen knife. Start by folding the tortilla in half, then fold it in half again so that it is divided into quarters. Cut along the folded seams, keeping them stacked, then cut the stack of quartered tortillas in half. You should end up with eight triangles per tortilla. You can also stack several tortillas on top of each other and cut through them all at once to speed up the process.

Air frying the tortilla chips

Next, lightly spray or brush both sides of the tortilla triangles with oil. You can use olive oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil, or a spray oil. Then, season the triangles with salt and any other desired seasonings.

Arrange the tortilla triangles in a single layer in the air fryer basket. It is okay if they overlap slightly, but they will cook more evenly if they are in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the tortilla chips in batches.

Set your air fryer to 350°F and cook the chips for 5-8 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Check on the chips occasionally and shake the basket to ensure they aren't sticking together. Once they are done, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool. They will continue to crisp as they cool.

Storing and serving the tortilla chips

Once your tortilla chips are cooked and cooled, it's time to store them. Place the chips in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. Be sure they are completely cool before storing them. If you're using an airtight container, ensure it is room temperature before sealing. Your tortilla chips will stay fresh for about five days, and if they lose some crispness, you can always crisp them back up in the air fryer for a minute or two.

Tortilla chips are a great snack on their own, but they're even better with dips and toppings. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Salsa, such as restaurant-style salsa, pico de gallo, spicy chipotle salsa, or salsa verde
• Guacamole
• Refried beans
• Black bean dip
• Creamy queso chili
• Spicy nacho cheese sauce
• Homemade Salsa
• Pineapple Salsa
• Guacamole
• Sheet Pan Nachos
• Buffalo Chicken Nachos
• Loaded Chicken Nachos

You can also add extra flavour to your tortilla chips with seasonings. Here are some ideas:

• Fine sea salt
• Ground chipotle chilli pepper
• Nutritional yeast
• Smoked paprika
• White vinegar
• Lime juice
• Chili powder
• Maple syrup
• Ground cinnamon
• Coconut sugar
• Cajun seasoning
• Chili powder
• Cayenne pepper
• Cinnamon and sugar

Frequently asked questions