These air fryer tortilla chips are my secret hack for enjoying a quick, crunchy snack without the hassle of deep frying. I can whip up a batch of fresh, warm chips in under 10 minutes (as many as I want!) Whether it’s for dipping in salsa, guacamole, or enjoying on their own, these chips have become a staple in my kitchen for their simplicity and satisfying crunch.
This post contains helpful tips and tricks! If you’re in a rush, please use the “Jump to Recipe” above!
💭 Why you’ll love this recipe
The air fryer makes them perfectly crisp without the extra mess, and you can customize the seasoning to your taste.
- 3-ingredient recipe. You’ll only need three basic ingredients to make this recipe.
- Perfect for snacking. It’s a great recipe to make your own snack at home and pair it with your favorite dip.
- Healthier option. You’re skipping all the preservatives when you make your own homemade tortilla chips. Plus, it’s naturally vegan and gluten-free!
📋 Ingredients and notes
To make this air fryer tortilla chip recipe, you need corn tortillas, avocado oil, and salt.
Variations & Substitutions
- Corn tortillas. You can also use flour tortillas but they might result in a different texture.
- Avocado oil. Swap it with canola oil, grapeseed oil, or vegetable oil. I prefer using a spray oil to make it easier to apply it to the tortillas.
- Salt. You can also season it with other spices, like chili powder, paprika, or garlic powder, to add more flavor.
📖 How to make air fryer tortilla chips
Step 1:
Brush both sides of about 2 corn tortillas with avocado oil and then stack them on top of each other. Cut this stack into quarters to form 8 triangles.
Step 2:
Arrange the slices in a single layer in your air fryer basket or tray. Note that depending on the size of your air fryer basket or tray, you might need to do this in batches. Sprinkle with fine salt.
Step 3:
Air fry at 350°F for about 5 to 6 minutes – check after the 5 minute mark to see whether the chips are golden brown (especially around the edges). If not, check at 1 minute intervals until done (actual time will depend on your air fryer).
Step 4:
Transfer tortilla chips to a wire rack and allow it to cool completely. Serve fresh or store in an airtight container.
Shruthi’s Top Tip
Use a pastry brush to evenly coat the tortillas with oil; this ensures uniform crispiness and prevents some areas from becoming too oily or staying dry.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; chips need space for air circulation to crisp up properly. Work in batches if needed to maintain quality.
- To achieve a restaurant-style chip, sprinkle the chips with lime juice and chili powder after cooking while they are still hot.
- Cool the chips on a wire rack instead of a flat surface to prevent steam from making them soggy as they cool.
- If making in batches, let each batch cool completely before storing to prevent steam from making the chips lose their crunch.
👩🏽🍳 Troubleshooting FAQs
Yes, but flour tortillas will yield a different texture—more like a cracker than a traditional tortilla chip. Adjust cooking time to prevent burning.
Try adding a minute or two to the cooking time, but keep a close watch as they can burn quickly. Make sure not to stack chips in the basket.
Absolutely! Store them in an airtight container once completely cooled. To refresh, reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for 1-2 minutes.
Sprinkle seasoning like chili powder, garlic powder, or nutritional yeast over the chips right after brushing with oil for different flavor profiles.
Avocado oil is great due to its high smoke point, but any neutral oil like canola or grapeseed works well. Olive oil can add a unique flavor but may have a lower smoke point.
🍴 How to serve tortilla chips
Serve corn tortilla chips with your favorite dipping sauce. My go-to dips are mango salsa, spicy 3-cheese dip, and cream cheese corn dip. So irresistibly good!
🍴Storage and reheating suggestions
Store the chips in an airtight container with a paper towel inside to absorb any excess moisture and maintain crispness for days.
🍴 More snack recipes
If you like this recipe, check out my other easy snack recipes:
Air Fryer Nachos
Guacamole Salsa (Easy, creamy, healthy!)
Instant Pot Queso
Spicy Queso Diablo
If you tried this recipe, don’t forget to comment and rate! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 6-inch corn tortillas
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, adjust to taste
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
- Brush both sides of each tortilla with avocado oil. Stack tortillas and cut into quarters to form 32 triangles.
- Arrange triangles in a single layer in air fryer basket. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
- Air fry at 350°F for 5-6 minutes. Check at 5 minutes—chips should be golden brown around the edges. If not, continue checking at 1-minute intervals until done.
- Transfer chips to a wire rack and cool completely. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
- Serve fresh or store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Chips become crispier as they cool—don’t worry if they feel soft straight out of the air fryer
- Avocado oil has a high smoke point; olive oil works but avoid non-stick sprays in the air fryer
- Don’t overcrowd the basket—chips won’t crisp evenly
- Variations:
- Sprinkle with chili powder, paprika, or garlic powder after cooking
- Squeeze fresh lime juice over warm chips
- Use flour tortillas for a slightly different texture
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
