Air Fryer Nachos - Vegetarian or with Chicken

Air Fryer Nachos - Vegetarian or with Chicken

Loaded Air Fryer Nachos are the quickest and most flavorful cheesy snack or party appetizer that needs less than 5 minutes of cooking time. An all time favorite air fryer appetizer recipe that can be made vegetarian or with chicken.

Course Air Fryer

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer chicken nachos, air fryer loaded nachos, air fryer nachos, air fryer nachos with black beans, cheesy air fryer nachos

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 3

Total Time 8

Servings servings

Calories 501kcal

Author Maria Doss

Ingredients

3 cups tortilla chips
½ recipe ground chicken taco meat optional
¾ cup cooked black beans
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
½ cup salsa

Toppings

Diced Avocado
Chopped cilantro
Sour Cream
Jalapenos sliced

Items Used

Instructions

Choose an 8 or 9 inch oven safe (low rimmed) metal pan / plate. Place half the tortilla chips in a single layer, top with half the chicken (if using), black beans and cheese. Top with remaining tortilla chips, chicken (if using), black beans and cheese.
Pre heat air fryer 330°F for 3 minutes. When hot, gently place the prepared pan/plate using a foil sling (refer notes to make one / refer video). Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until cheese melts.
Carefully remove pan/plate using the sling and place on a rack. Top with all the nacho toppings and dig in!
Make nachos directly in the air fryer basketSimply arrange nachos inside the basket, cook until cheese melts, top with toppings and serve directly from basket.
To use a foil / parchment paper instead of pan/plateTake a piece of aluminum foil or parchment paper and press it down into your (not hot) air fryer basket. Make sure it goes up at least 2 sides of your air fryer or give it flaps. Take the aluminum foil/parchment back out of the air fryer but keeps its shape.
Pre heat air fryer and assemble nachos in the shaped foil/parchment basket. When hot, gently drop the prepared basket (holding on both sides) into the air fryer basket. Cook and gently remove the paper/foil basket out and finish with toppings and serve.

Video

Notes

How to make the foil sling? Take a aluminum foil about 20-inch in length, fold it four times horizontally to get a long, thick sling.

What dish can I bake this in? I use the base of a 9-inch spring form pan which fit perfect in my Instant Vortex 6-quart air fryer. If you are using a smaller air fryer or don’t own a spring form pan, then use any other metal safe pan with a low rim or simply assemble loaded nachos in the air fryer basket itself.

How to make with foil or parchment paper?

Because the air fryer needs to be pre heated before adding the nachos, you need to make sure that you form your aluminum foil (or parchment paper) lining by inserting it into the basket before removing it. This will give you a pre-formed tray that allows you to drop in the nachos when your air fryer is hot and ready.

Take a piece of aluminum foil or parchment paper and press it down into your air fryer basket. Make sure it goes up at least 2 sides of your air fryer or give it flaps. Take the aluminum foil/parchment back out of the air fryer but keeps its shape.

Substitutions

Salsa – Use canned, fresh, refrigerated salsa, pico de gallo or chopped diced tomatoes.

Jalapenos – Use pickled instead of fresh

Tortilla chips – Use you favorite brand, but we recommend not going for the thinner kind. You want some heft to hold up to the topping when eating.

Cheese – Some of the best cheese for nachos are :

Mexican blend
Cheddar
Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack (my personal favorite)
Colby
Mozzarella (not recommended to use on its own, but great as a combo)
Any combination of the above

Nutrition