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    Home » 30-Minute Meals

    Air Fryer Tortilla Chips

    Published: Feb 9, 2022 · Modified: Dec 17, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
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    air fryer tortilla chips in the basket with text overlay.

    Got tortillas? Then you’ve got what it takes to make Air Fryer Tortilla Chips! With a little spray of oil and salt, you’ll have deliciously light and crisp chips for dipping into your favorite pico, guac, or other dip. You can cook these in your air fryer or bake them in the oven. Either way is easy and delicious.

    Serve these Air Fryer Tortilla Chips with Homemade Salsa or alongside Taco Layer Dip. If you buy the large package of tortillas, be sure to use them up in one of these Enchilada Recipes.

    hand holding a triangle tortilla chip over a black plate of air fryer tortilla chips with a black background. this …
    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs & Recipe Costs
    • Dips for Chips
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Air Fryer Tortilla Chips

    Chips are universally considered fun food. They are at home at parties, football games, the beach, the lake, the campsite, and in the packed lunch. Crisp and light, they are the perfect vehicle for dipping into all kinds of yummy goodness.

    While there’s all kinds and brands to choose from, I’d like to make the case that homemade Air Fryer Tortilla Chips just may be your best option.

    Why Make This

    Air Fryer Tortilla Chips are easy to make. With just three ingredients, all budget foods to keep on hand anyway, these chips come together in minutes.

    They’re delicious! Just try keeping folks away from these. They bake up crisp and golden, perfect for dipping.

    They put your air fryer to good use. Let’s be honest. You need to justify the kitchen real estate for that baby. Use it or lose it. Homemade tortilla chips are a good way to use it.

    They make use of a versatile ingredient. If the budget is limited and you don’t want to spend money on chips, invest in corn tortillas. Then you can make anything you want with the raw ingredient: chips, tacos, enchiladas, and tostadas.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you’ll need for Air Fryer Tortilla Chips:

    ingredients for air fryer tortilla chips laid out on black table.

    oil – I like to use spray cooking oil as it distributes the oil lightly and evenly. If you prefer, you can brush the tortillas with a neutral cooking oil.

    corn tortillas – Homemade corn tortillas are fairly time intensive to make, so for chips I recommend using store bought tortillas. You can also use flour tortillas, just reduce the cooking time as they are likely to brown more quickly.

    salt – A light sprinkle of salt is all you need to finish your Air Fryer Tortilla Chips. If you want to take your chips into a different direction, you can season them with cinnamon sugar, Tajin, or Za’atar.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here’s how to make Air Fryer Tortilla Chips:

    • knife and stack of tortillas on cutting board, cut in half and one half cut into thirds.
    • tortilla pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
    • spraying the tortilla pieces with cooking spray.
    • toasted chips in the air fryer.
    1. With a sharp knife, cut the tortillas into sixths, but cutting in half, and then cutting each half into thirds.
    2. Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees.
    3. Lay the tortilla triangles in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray with oil and sprinkle with salt. Flip them over and spray and salt again.
    4. Place the basket in the fryer and cook 5-8 minutes, shaking at least once. The chips may flip or move due to the high speed fan in the fryer. This is okay. Cook time will depend on how crisp and browned you like them. Continue cooking the chips in batches until all are done.

    To bake tortilla chips in the oven:

    • tortilla pieces laid out on a pizza screen.
    • toasted chips on the pizza screen.
    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lay the tortilla triangles in a single layer on a pizza screen or baking sheet. Spray with oil and sprinkle with salt. Flip them over and spray and salt again.
    • Place the screen in the oven and cook 5-8 minutes. Cook time will depend on how crisp and browned you like them. If you’re not using a pizza screen, you may want to flip the chips at the halfway mark so that both sides brown lightly. Continue cooking the chips in batches until all are done.

    FAQs & Recipe Costs

    Can you make air fryer tortilla chips without oil?

    If you want to skip the spray oil, you can. Just watch the cooking time and adjust. The chips will likely brown more quickly and have a slightly different texture.

    How do you heat tortilla chips in the air fryer?

    If you’ve already got a bag of tortilla chips, you can easily reheat them in the air fryer. Place them in the basket for 2 to 3 minutes until they’re the temperature you like.

    Can you make chips with flour tortillas?

    While corn tortillas are traditional for chips and are also gluten-free, you may find yourself wanting to make flour tortilla chips. They cook up light as air! Follow the same directions, just check them sooner to make sure they don’t burn.

    Recipe Costs

    Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.

    • spray cooking oil – $0.10
    • corn tortillas – $0.38
    • salt – $0.20

    While your costs may vary depending on where and how you shop, you can expect to pay about 50 cents for a small batch of Air Fryer Tortilla Chips, about 25 cents/serving.

    black bowl of tortilla chips and marble bowl of salsa on a wood board against a black backdrop.

    Dips for Chips

    • Taco Layer Dip Recipe (52 cents/serving)
    • Easiest Recipe for Dill Dip
    • How to Make Homemade Pico de Gallo
    • Try Cactus Salsa for a Unique Party Appetizer

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    close up of chips in black bowl.
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    5 from 1 vote

    Air Fryer Tortilla Chips

    Homemade tortilla chips, fresh from the air fryer, are a delight. You'll wonder why you ever bother buying the bagged variety.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 36 chips
    Calories: 9kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • air fryer
    • pizza screens
    • cutting board
    • chef's knife

    Ingredients

    • spray cooking oil or neutral oil for frying
    • 6 corn tortillas
    • salt
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • With a sharp knife, cut the tortillas into sixths, but cutting in half, and then cutting each half into thirds.

    To cook in the air fryer:

    • Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees.
    • Lay the tortilla triangles in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray with oil and sprinkle with salt. Flip them over and spray and salt again.
    • Place the basket in the fryer and cook 5-8 minutes, shaking at least once. Cook time will depend on how crisp and browned you like them.
    • Continue cooking the chips in batches until all are done.

    To bake:

    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
    • Lay the tortilla triangles in a single layer on a pizza screen or baking sheet. Spray with oil and sprinkle with salt. Flip them over and spray and salt again.
    • Place the screen in the oven and cook 5-8 minutes. Cook time will depend on how crisp and browned you like them. If you're not using a pizza screen, you may want to flip the chips at the halfway mark so that both sides brown lightly.
    • Continue cooking the chips in batches until all are done.

    To fry in oil:

    • In a deep fryer or large pot, pour in oil to a depth of at least one inch. Heat this to 375 degrees.
    • While the oil is heating, place a metal cooling rack over a flattened paper bag or bed of paper toweling to catch dripping oil.
    • In batches, fry the tortillas until crisp, about a minute per batch, turning once. Transfer the cooked chips to the prepared rack to drain.
    • Sprinkle the chips with salt according to your taste and serve immediately.

    Notes

    Nutritional values are based on 1 chip and do not include oil absorbed during frying process.
    Variations: feel free to add other seasonings in addition to salt or instead of, such as  cinnamon sugar, Tajin, or Za’atar.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 9kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 8mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag Me Today!Mention @goodcheapeatsblog or tag #goodcheapeats!

    This post was originally published on May 4, 2009. It has been updated for content and clarity.

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