Air Fryer Tortilla Chips

By FoodfaithfitnessApr 12, 2024Jump to Recipe

Want restaurant-style Tortilla Chips at home? Your air fryer (and this recipe) can help! Crispy chips flavored with olive oil and sea salt and colored with your fave dip.

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I don’t want to badmouth Tostitos; their tortilla chips have got me through some tough times (i.e., times when I want salsa and sour cream but am too much of a lady to eat them with my fingers). But there comes a time when a chef (yes, even the at-home kind) needs to stretch their legs and come up with something more bespoke, something deluxe, something… better.

That time came when I got my air fryer. Any returning visitor to the site will know how I feel about my air fryer (in short, I love it). Ever since I got it one fateful Christmas, it has become a permanent fixture on my kitchen counter. I love experimenting with it, applying old recipes to it. That’s what I did here. I took oven-baked tortilla chips and air-fried them. And the result is nothing short of spectacular.

Not only is it fuss-free and healthy but they taste great and provide just the right amount of crunch. They can withstand all the toppings and dips I throw at them (not literally, of course) and are such a hit at parties, I notice people forgoing the dips and eating them on their own! That’s the sign of a good chip.

Are Air Fryer Tortilla Chips Healthy?

Cooking in an air fryer is generally considered healthy. That’s because the air fryer requires minimal oil/fat in which to cook the food. It also keeps the nutrients intact—something not all cooking methods can boast. Corn tortillas, meanwhile, are generally healthier than flour tortillas, having less fat and fewer calories, while also having more fiber and whole grains. As we use corn tortillas, this recipe is suitable for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian diets. If you can track down almond-flour tortillas, this recipe will align with paleo and keto diets.

Can I Make My Own Tortilla Chips?

I’m going to qualify your question and reply, “Yes! You can make your own KETO tortilla chips!” That’s because I actually developed a recipe for this exact thing. It requires almond flour, shredded mozzarella, salt, and seasonings (I recommend keeping it simple with oregano). You melt the cheese then mix it with the dry ingredients. After some time in the oven, you’ve got yourself chips that comply with your diet. Of course, you don’t have to be on a keto diet to use this recipe; you just need to be okay with the low-carb/high-fatness of its composition.

INGREDIENTS

5 corn tortillas
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp fine sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep

Preheat your air fryer. Cut the tortillas into wedges and brush them with a seasoned olive-oil mixture for flavor.

Cook

Arrange the tortilla wedges in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook until they are golden and crispy. Watch them closely to avoid over-browning.

Enjoy

Let the chips cool slightly to achieve maximum crispness, then serve with your favorite dips.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How do I store these chips?

Wait until your chips are completely cool. This is important. Failure to wait could result in steamed (i.e., soft and floppy) chips. Put them in a paper bag or airtight container and keep them at room temperature for up to 10 days. I don’t recommend storing them in the fridge (and definitely not the freezer!). Inside they may attract moisture and go soggy. Or they may be struck with condensation once they are removed from the fridge. In either case, their texture will be compromised.

How do I ensure crispy tortilla chips?

The air fryer is a wonderful appliance that will take the worry out of getting crispy tortilla chips. That said, there are a few precautions you can take. First, slice up your tortillas into small pieces; the smaller the piece, the crispier they’ll get. Next, don’t add too much oil. While oil helps the chips crisp up, it is still a liquid; too much liquid and your chips will get soggy. With that in mind, toss your chips in the oil so each one gets coated. As for the air fryer, don’t add the chips to it until it is fully heated up. Flip the chips if you feel the need to (or if you think you may have overcrowded the basket). Last, let them cool on a wire rack instead of a plate. This way, air can access them from all angles and dry them out quickly.

How can I enhance the chips’ flavor?

You can add seasoning and other toppings to the chips before putting them in the air fryer. A couple of suggestions? Mexican (which seems appropriate). While you can buy a Mexican spice blend, you can also make your own by combining chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. You can also do garlic Parmesan by combining Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and dried parsley. You can use other seasonings like barbecue or ranch, or you can make a lime & chili mix with lime juice and chili powder.

Serving Suggestions

Dips and salsas are the obvious answer here. But what flavor of dip, and what should I put in the salsa (assuming you’re going to make your own)? Let’s start with the salsa. I have here a recipe for Fresh Mango Salsa, a fruity take on the traditional salsa that features mango (natch!), avocado, red onion, bell pepper, and cilantro. Slightly alter that recipe to make Grilled Pineapple Mango Salsa with Corn. As for dips, I have so many for you to choose from and try your hand at making. Buffalo Cauliflower Dip, Cottage Cheese Dip, and Healthy Spinach Dip are just the tip of the iceberg (or tortilla chip, as it were).

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