These homemade Air Fryer Tortilla Chips are so much better than store-bought! They’re super crispy and easy to make with very little oil and just a few simple ingredients! The recipe has been tested with white and yellow corn tortillas as well as flour tortillas. You can keep it simple with just salt and oil, or spice things up with some chipotle seasoning. (Even more seasoning options are included in the recipe)!
This recipe was originally published in April 2019 and updated in 2020 to include different flavor options. Back then, I was primarily using a toaster oven style air fryer for my recipes.
Since my go-to is now a larger basket style air fryer, I decided to update the recipe again in 2024 to reflect this. The revised version also includes new photos, tweaks to the recipe and more helpful tips for readers.
Table of contents
Ingredients and substitutions
Below is a brief overview of the ingredients and recommended substitutions. For the full list of ingredients and quantities used, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Tortillas – You can use yellow or white corn tortillas or even flour tortillas. You’ll need 6 tortillas in total, each measuring about 5 or 6 inches in diameter.
- Oil – I normally use olive oil or extra virgin olive oil. Other oils such as vegetable or avocado oil will work too. You can also use a spray oil, just make sure to apply a light coating to the tortillas.
- Seasonings – If you want to make a classic version, fine sea salt is all you need. (Flaky sea salt or kosher salt will work too). If you’d like to spice things up, you’ll just need a little ground chipotle chili pepper. (More optional seasonings are included below).
How to make tortilla chips in the air fryer
Below is a brief overview of the steps to make this recipe along with photos. For further details, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
Corn or flour tortillas
You can make these chips with both types of tortillas. I prefer to use corn tortillas as they have a better flavor and crispier texture when air fried. If I had to choose between yellow and white corn tortillas, I’d choose yellow as they tend to air fry a little faster. In my recipe testing, the chips made with white corn tortillas needed a minute or two longer in the air fryer.
If you want to make this recipe with flour tortillas, you’ll just need to reduce the air frying time to about 5 minutes. Also, keep in mind that flour tortilla chips can sometimes end up a little chewy, and they burn quickly, so you’ll need to keep a close eye on them.
Different seasoning options
There are so many flavor options! The ones listed below are all delicious, but we especially love the spicy chipotle and zesty cheese.
- Classic: 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt.
- Spicy chipotle: 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle chili pepper, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt.
- Zesty ‘cheese‘: 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt.
- Salt and vinegar: 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt.
- Chili lime: 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt.
- Maple cinnamon: 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon coconut sugar. (Note that this variation air fries a little quicker than the other flavors).
Storage and reheating
Storage: Once fully cooled, place the chips in an airtight container or resealable bag and store at room temperature. They should stay fresh for about 5 days.
Reheating: If you would like to serve the chips warm, you can just reheat them in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes at 350F.
How to serve air fryer tortilla chips
- Serve them up nacho style with these recipes for easy air fryer nachos, breakfast nachos or loaded veggie nachos.
- Use them to scoop up some dairy-free queso, chipotle dip or jalapeño dip.
- Add them as a garnish to chili or soups, like this slow cooker vegetarian chili or chicken fajita soup.
Recipe FAQs
I’ve received this question a few times so I thought I would address it in this section. With both the toaster oven style and basket style I have, I’ve never had this issue, but I realize the fans in some air fryers may circulate heat a little more forcefully and cause this issue. To stop the chips from blowing around, you can place an air fryer trivet or rack over them. This will stop them from blowing around but will still allow the air to circulate around them.
This is usually because the chips weren’t air fried long enough or there were too many tortilla chips crowded into the air fryer. Air frying in a single layer ensures the hot air circulates around the chips so they get crispy and cook evenly. If the chips still feel soft in the middle after 6-7 minutes, return them to the air fryer for another minute or so. The chips will also get crunchier as they cool.
I don’t recommend leaving out the oil as the chips won’t get as crunchy. Without the oil, it will also be hard for the seasoning to stick to the chips.
Key recipe tips
- Use minimal oil. Make sure you just brush a thin layer of the oil mixture on each tortilla. Too much oil could make the chips soggy and too greasy.
- Adding the seasoning. I like to mix the oil and seasonings together and then brush it on the tortillas. I find this helps spread the seasoning out more evenly. If you’d like to brush oil on the tortillas and then sprinkle on the seasoning, you can do that too.
- Type of air fryer. This recipe has been tested in a Cuisinart air fryer/convection/toaster oven and a Cosori basket style 5.8 quart air fryer. The air frying time was about the same. The only difference is the toaster oven style can fit more tortilla chips. Depending on the make and model of your air fryer, you may need to adjust the cook time and/or temperature slightly.
More air fryer crispy snack recipes
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below!
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Homemade Air Fryer Tortilla Chips (with Corn or Flour Tortillas)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Total Time: 38 minutes
- Yield: 36 chips
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Air Fry
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Homemade Air Fryer Tortilla Chips are super crispy with minimal oil and just a few simple ingredients! Make them with corn or flour tortillas.
Ingredients
- 6 yellow corn tortillas (see note)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle chili pepper (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, salt and ground chipotle chili pepper (if using).
- Brush a very light coating of the oil mixture on both sides of each tortilla.
- Cut each tortilla into 6 triangles. I usually do this by stacking the tortillas on top of each other and cutting them all at once.
- Working in batches, arrange the tortilla pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 350F for 6-7 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer the chips to a wire rack to cool completely. They will get crunchier as they cool.
- Repeat with remaining tortillas. (You will need to air fry in multiple batches).
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy within 5 days.
Notes
- You can use yellow or white corn tortillas or flour tortillas. The air frying time in the recipe card is based on yellow corn tortillas. In my recipe testing, I found that the white corn tortillas usually needed a minute or two longer than the yellow (so 7-8 minutes) and the flour tortillas needed less time and were ready in 5 minutes.
- I like to mix the oil and seasonings together and then brush it on the tortillas for more even coverage.
- Make sure you just brush a thin coating of the oil mixture on each tortilla. You don’t need to drench them.
- Keep an eye on the tortilla chips as they start to burn quickly. If they still seem soft in the middle, return them to the air fryer for another minute or so. The chips will also get crunchier as they cool.
- The cook time in the recipe card includes time to air fry 4 batches in a single layer (7 minutes per batch).
- This recipe has been tested in a Cuisinart air fryer/convection/toaster oven and a Cosori basket style 5.8 quart air fryer. The air frying time was about the same. The only difference is the toaster oven style can fit more tortilla chips.
- Depending on the make and model of your air fryer, you may need to adjust the cook time and/or temperature slightly.
- Try these other flavor variations:
- Zesty ‘cheese’: 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt.
- Salt and vinegar: 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt.
- Chili lime: 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt.
- Maple cinnamon: 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon coconut sugar. (Note that this variation air fries a little quicker at 5-6 minutes).
perfect!! Colori 6 qt. thank you!
I made these with spinach flour tortillas with a little bit of extra Olive extra virgin olive oil and Himalayan pink salt absolutely delicious
Thanks for letting me know your substitutions. Sounds delicious!
I found them a little chewey more than crunchy. Do they need to cook longer or just let them cool longer
Hi Jane. If the chips didn’t turn out crunchy, they likely just needed to be air fried a bit longer. They should be pretty crispy when you remove them from the air fryer and will get crunchier as they cool. You’ll also want to air fry them in a single layer so the hot air can circulate around the chips and ensure even cooking. Hope that helps!
I love this tortilla chip recipe, almost as much as I love my air fryer! I bet this would work really well with a tortilla bowl or making crispy tortilla shells!
Thanks Paul. I’m so happy you’re enjoying the recipe. And I like the idea of making tortilla bowls!
I was excited to make these chips. But, When I turn the Air Fryer on the fan blows the chips to the side. Is there a way to reduce the speed of the fan ?
Hi Andrew. If you have a trivet with your air fryer, you can place it over the chips. This will stop them from blowing around but still allow the air to circulate around them.
I used tortillas made of a combination of flour and corn because that’s just what I had, and they came out a tad chewy, but I’m sure if I had used pure corn they would be delicious!
Hi Ande. That could be the reason. When I tested this recipe with flour tortillas, the results were more chewy than crispy. If you use pure corn tortillas in the future, please let me know how it goes!
Thanks for this recipe…gonna try lime and a lil garlic powder:)
Sounds delicious! I hope you enjoy them!
Hi.
How do I keep the tortillas from blowing around in the air fryer! Thanks.
Hey there! If you have a trivet with your air fryer, you can place it over the chips. This will stop the chips from moving around but the air will still be able to circulate.
Hi, There is no Cheese listed for the zesty cheese seasoning.
What kind of cheese and how much?
Hi Tammy! You don’t need any cheese for the tortilla chips. The zesty cheese flavour comes from the nutritional yeast and the smoked paprika!
SO GOOD. I just made these with flour tortillas with the spicy chipotle seasoning, I didn’t have corn tortillas on hand but they taste so good! I recommend putting the chips in the fryer for a few minutes extra (if you are making with flour tortillas) to make them a little crispier. Im going to try the other seasonings with the corn tortillas next! Love finding new recipes for my air fryer!
Thanks Sophie! That’s so good to hear. I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!