These homemade restaurant-quality tortilla chips use a fraction of the oil by crisping them up in the air fryer. Keep it classic using just oil and salt or add some maple sugar for an addictive sweet and salty crunch!
Mexican food has truly become a family-favorite in my household. Veggie black bean tacos on Taco Tuesday was just the beginning. Now I find I'm making other dishes on the regular such as taquitos and enchiladas, and my husband and kids can't seem to get enough of it!
But just like any authentic Mexican restaurant, we have to start with tortilla chips! Served with fresh salsa or guacamole - it's the simple things that sometimes are the absolute best.
I recently started thinking about how restaurant tortilla chips simply taste better. Store-bought chips are convenient and perfectly fine to use, but why not make Mexican night more authentic with fresh, warm and crispy chips made right at home?
Why the Air Fryer is Perfect for this Recipe
Deep frying on the stovetop takes just minutes, but tends to get messy and not be the most approachable method for everyday home cooks. And baking in the oven uses a lot less oil, but can take upwards of 25-30 minutes of cooking time.
The solution? Bust out the air fryer! Making homemade chips in the air fryer takes the best of both worlds, serving up golden brown tortilla chips in minutes while using only a fraction of the oil.
I started by making classic tortilla chips with just oil and salt and they came out exactly as I was hoping. Then I began experimenting with a little sweetness and eventually landed on the perfect salty and sweet combination!
Ingredients
The maple sugar is optional and gives these chips a subtle sweetness. I use just enough so that the saltiness still comes through.
How to Make Air-Fried Tortilla Chips
1. Season the tortillas, brushing oil and sprinkling salt and maple sugar on both sides.
2. Stack the tortillas on top of each other and cut them into 6 slices. Stacking allows for fewer cuts to make it more efficient.
3. Load the basket.
4. Air fry at 350˚F for 8 minutes, tossing halfway. Done!
Recipe Tips
- If you've already sliced the tortillas before seasoning: No problem! Another easy method is to whisk together the olive oil, salt and maple sugar in a mixing bowl and then add the tortilla wedges to toss them until fully coated for best results.
- Switch up the seasonings: You can add seasonings to make any flavor you want, which is what makes homemade air fryer tortilla chips so much fun. Keep it classic with just salt, spice it up with some chili powder, add some tang with some lime juice or make it more of a dessert chip with cinnamon. You really can't go wrong!
I hope you enjoy these homemade tortilla chips! If you make this recipe, please share a picture on Instagram so I can see your creations!
Homemade Crispy Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Total Time: 10
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These homemade restaurant-quality tortilla chips use a fraction of the oil by crisping them up in the air fryer. Keep it classic using just oil and salt or add some maple sugar for an addictive sweet and salty crunch!
Ingredients
- 6 tortillas (corn or flour - I prefer almond flour tortillas)
- 1 tbsp. avocado oil (or any oil you prefer)
- ½ tsp. fine salt
- ½ tsp. maple sugar (or coconut sugar)
Instructions
- Brush both sides of each tortilla with olive oil and sprinkle both sides with salt and maple sugar.
- Stack the tortillas on top of each other and cut them into 6 slices using either a knife or a pizza cutter.
- Place the tortilla wedges into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Placing them in a single layer so that no wedges overlap will get them slightly crispier, but that would require multiple batches and the difference in crispiness isn't significant.
- Air fry at 350˚F for 8 minutes, tossing halfway through for even cooking. Allow them to cool for two minutes to crisp up then enjoy!
Notes
These chips are best in terms of crispiness when fresh. Store leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 2 minutes to help with crisping them back up.
- Prep Time: 2
- Cook Time: 8
- Category: Snack
- Method: Air Fryer
rebecca says
such a great way to use up those last few corn tortillas! they come out so crispy!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you! Yes for sure - such a great way to use them up! Glad you enjoyed the crispiness!