Crispy, crunchy, and “soooo” cheesy, these Air Fryer Nachos are the perfect snack. Done in under 5 minutes. Nachos are a treat to be enjoyed, solo or shared.
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Not only are the air fryer nachos a perfect snack, but you can enjoy them as a fun light lunch. Are you having a get-together or game day at the house? No problem the air fryer nachos are the perfect to-order appetizer, served with our crispy chicken wings.
Ingredients
The magic about The Kitchen Bucket List air fryer nachos recipe is that you only need a few ingredients that can be varied to suit your taste. Everything is done so quickly, that you can easily make the classic to a deluxe or anything in between.
- Tortilla chips
- Shredded Colby Jack cheese
- Cooked ground sausage (or any meat you prefer)
Keep on reading down to the recipe card for exact quantities and instructions.
Substitutions
The great thing about nachos is how versatile they can be. You can add different cheeses to suit your taste. I used ground sausage but you can add pulled pork, taco meat, shredded chicken, or seasoned ground beef to your liking. The Kitchen Bucket List has a wonderful pulled pork recipe and taco meat recipe each with a homemade seasoning. I love that we always make more of our tasty recipes so the leftovers can be used in nachos, tacos, or even fried rice.
Variations
- Spicy – Add a pinch of chili pepper flakes to heat up the nachos, Dad likes to use banana peppers too.
- Deluxe – Add guacamole, onions, and tomatoes. The big choice here is to warm the onions and tomatoes up or have the coolness be a tasty contrast to the hot nachos.
- Kid-friendly – Just add the cheese and some bacon bits.
Instructions
1. No leftovers, no problem – For this recipe, I cooked ground sausage and drained the excess oil. Usually, we have some tasty leftovers.
2. Nacho Time – Shred the cheese and line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Do two layers of tortilla chips with the shredded cheese and meat. Place the basket back in the air fryer at 350 degrees F. and cook until melted.
3. Serve and Enjoy!
Pro Tips
What I have learned from making Air Fryer Nachos.
- The quality of chips can make a difference.
- Use parchment paper or an air fryer liner for the basket. That way you get to keep all the cheesy goodness on the tortilla chips.
- Do 2 layers for more nacho yumminess. For our air fryer, 3 is the max. You need to be careful about getting too close to the top heating element. It could burn the nachos before they are ready.
Nacho Toppings
This is my classic nacho recipe with cheese and meat, but you can have even more fun with so many toppings. Here are some of our favorites (Okay, the last two are from Dad):
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Tomatoes
- Chopped onions
- Black olives
- Chopped jalapenos
- Refried beans
If you want to enjoy them by yourself, make them when your sister is at the library…just kidding sis.
Equipment
All you need is an air fryer. For this recipe, I used a 5.8 qt. basket-style air fryer. If you use a different one, your time and temperature may vary. Parchment paper makes it easier to remove the nachos.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
Enjoy the nachos before one of our delicious main courses:
FAQ
You can use any of your favorite cheeses. I find shredding it from a block allows the cheese to melt and tastes better. On a funny note using a fresh soft cheese may not work. I tried fresh mozzarella (the kind still in water) and got soggy tortilla chips.
No, I just find it easier and I know one of us will use the leftovers for a part of a tasty snack or small meal. Dad loves to add them to his scrambled eggs.
Yes, the timing and amounts may vary. I like to use Triscuits or even bagel chips.
What did you think of the nacho recipe? What are your favorite toppings?
Let me know in the comments below.
Air Fryer Nachos
Equipment
- 5.8 qt. Basket-style air fryer
- Parchment paper, cut to size (1 air fryer liner)
Ingredients
- 8 oz tortilla chips
- 1 ½ cups Colby Jack cheese, shredded
- ½ cup cooked ground sausage, mild breakfast sausage (Preferred meat)
Instructions
No leftovers, no problem
- Believe it or not today we didn't have any tasty leftovers for the nachos. My favorite addition is to use a mild breakfast sausage. Unpack the sausage and place it in a pan/skillet.
- Cook and crumble the sausage until done.
- Drain the excess oil from the sausage.
- Set ½ cup of sausage crumbles to the side.
Nacho Time
- Shred 1 ½ cups of Colby Jack cheese.
- Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper. It will make it a lot easier to take the nachos out and place them on a plate when ready to serve.NOTE: You can use an air fryer liner or even aluminum foil (be careful it will be hot).
- Evenly layer your tortilla chips in the air fryer basket and add cheese with the sausage crumbles to cover the chips. Repeat for the second layer.
- Air fry at 350 degrees F. for 4 to 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden to your liking.
- Serve and Enjoy!
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