These crispy Air Fryer Tortilla Chips come together with minimal oil and simple spices in under 15 minutes and are perfect for dipping in salsa, guacamole, or your favorite vegan cheese sauce.
Making tortilla chips at home is easier than ever using this air fryer method.
No need to make a trip to the store or heat up a large pot of oil.
You can whip up the crispiest chips at home with just three essential ingredients, an air fryer, and 15 minutes.
Especially delicious paired with cherry tomato salsa and guacamole!
Ingredients
Made with just corn tortillas, olive oil, and simple spices, these crunchy air fried corn chips get perfectly crisp thanks to the air fryer's hot air circulation!
Corn Tortillas: White or yellow corn tortillas both work well, and flour tortillas can be used too. I prefer corn tortillas for the best classic chip texture.
Olive Oil: A light coating of oil helps the seasonings stick and allows the tortillas to crisp up evenly in the air fryer.
Seasonings: Keep it simple with just salt, or use the seasoning mix suggested in the recipe card for extra flavor.
Lime Juice: A small squeeze goes a long way and adds a bright, fresh flavor!
See recipe card for quantities.
Helpful Equipment
You'll need an air fryer for this air fryer corn tortilla chips!
I have a Ninja Air Fryer that I love and highly recommend!
Please note that results vary depending on the brand of air fryer so adjust the timing as needed by checking on the chips every few minutes.
When the chips are golden and crispy, they're ready. If they're still soft, keep air frying until crisp.
How to Make This Recipe
The air fryer is perfect for crisping and "frying" but with minimal oil and effort.
Cut corn tortillas into triangles, brush or spray with oil, and sprinkle with a simple seasoning blend.
Air fry until golden and enjoy with your favorite salsa, guacamole, or vegan cheese sauce.
The full written recipe can be found in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Brush each tortilla chip with oil and sprinkle on the seasoning blend. Make sure all the tortilla chips are lightly coated.
Step 2: Add them to the air fryer basket- avoid overlapping too much, you'll want to fry them in 3-4 batches.
Step 3: Air fry at 350F in batches for 5-7 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. If they feel soft at all, keep frying! No need to pre-heat.
Squeeze a little bit of lime over the chips and toss to coat.
Note: Please note that the tortilla chips will crisp up faster after a few batches so adjust the time and keep your eye on them by opening and shaking the basket often.
Substitutions & Variations
Corn Tortillas: You can use either corn or flour tortillas, depending on your preference or what you have available. Corn tortillas will give you a more traditional-tasting chip.
Seasonings: Switch it up and use what you enjoy. Just adding salt and lime works great, too!
Olive Oil: I don't recommend leaving out the oil entirely because it helps the seasonings stick to the tortillas and it creates an evenly crisp chip. You can use avocado oil instead.
Make it gluten-free by using a corn tortilla or a gluten-free almond flour torilla.
Serving Ideas
These homemade chips are the perfect crunchy vessel for scooping up your favorite dip!
With a dip: Serve with guacamole, cherry tomato salsa, refried black beans, vegan cheese sauce, pico de gallo, or corn salsa.
Make nachos, taco salad, tortilla soup, chip-topped vegan chili, and burrito bowls.
Tips & Tricks
Make sure you just brush a thin coating of the oil mixture on each tortilla. You can do this before you cut them into triangles or after.
Avoid overcrowding the air fryer! I recommend air frying these in 3-4 batches but they cook fast so it won't take much extra time.
Keep an eye on the chips as they burn quickly. If they still feel soft in the middle after 6-7 minutes, return them to the air fryer for another 30 seconds to a minute.
Depending on your air fryer, you may need to adjust the cooking time and temperature slightly.
Storage
They stay fresh for up to a week. Let them cool completely before storing in an airtight container or zip lock bag. Do not freeze or refrigerate.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your chips come out soft, they might need a little more time or some extra space in the air fryer. Spread them in a single layer, lightly coat with oil, and keep air frying until crisp. Remove the ones that are ready so the rest can finish without overcooking.
You can, but a small amount of oil helps the chips crisp evenly and allows seasonings to stick. For oil-free chips, expect a drier texture.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Don't forget to leave a comment and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating down below if you try this recipe! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram for more recipes and updates.
Recipe
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 Corn Tortillas yellow or white
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt see note
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- Squeeze of Lime optional
Instructions
- Cut the corn tortillas into tortilla chips by cutting down the middle and then cut each half into thirds to create triangular chips.
- Add the salt and spices to a small bowl and mix together.
- Brush each tortilla chip with oil and sprinkle on the seasoning blend. Make sure all the tortilla chips are lightly coated.
- Add them to the air fryer basket, avoid overlapping too much, you'll want to fry them in 3-4 batches.
- Air fry at 350F in batches for 5-7 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. If they feel soft at all, keep frying! No need to pre-heat.
- Please note that the tortilla chips will crisp up faster after a few batches so adjust the time and keep your eye on them by opening and shaking the basket often.
- Squeeze a little bit of lime over the chips and toss to coat.
- Serve the air fried tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole. Enjoy!
Notes
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Laura says
I forgot the lemon juice at the end and still loved this. I put in my air fryer for 12 min to get a little char going.
Liv says
Amazing! Glad you enjoyed!
Geert Aerts says
These are the only chips I eat. I make them without oil or salt and they still come out great.
Liv says
Amazing to know! Thank you so much for leaving this helpful review.
Charlene says
These look absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to try these out next week when my family is all together. Thank you once again for another great idea for my air fryer.