Homemade Air Fryer Tortilla Chips (with Corn or Flour Tortillas)

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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). You can enjoy these chips on their own with some salsa and guacamole, or use them to make nachos like we do with these air fryer nachos.

Overhead of tortilla chips served with guacamole and salsa.

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Table of Contents

Ingredients and substitutions
How to make tortilla chips in the air fryer
Corn or flour tortillas?
Different seasoning options
Storage and reheating
Recipe FAQs
Key recipe tips
More of my favorite air fryer recipes
📖 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.

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.

Ingredients to make air fryer tortilla chips arranged individually on a surface.

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.

Oil and seasonings mixed together in a small glass bowl. — **Step 1:** In a small bowl, stir together the oil and seasonings. We're using salt and chipotle chili pepper here.

A corn tortilla on a wooden board being brushed with the oil mixture. — **Step 2:** Brush a very light coating of the oil mixture on both sides of each tortilla.

Seasoned tortillas cut into triangles on a wooden board. — **Step 3:** 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.

Tortilla triangles arranged in a single layer in the bottom of an air fryer basket. — **Step 4:** Working in batches, arrange the tortilla pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket.

Air fried tortilla chips in an air fryer basket. — **Step 5:** Air fry at 350F for 6-7 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.

Air fryer tortilla chips cooling on a wire rack. — **Step 6:** Transfer the chips to a wire rack to cool completely and repeat with remaining tortillas.

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, ½ teaspoon fine sea salt.
Spicy chipotle: 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon ground chipotle chili pepper, ½ teaspoon fine sea salt.
Zesty 'cheese': 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon fine sea salt.
Salt and vinegar: 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ tablespoon white vinegar, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt.
Chili lime: 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt.
Maple cinnamon: 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ tablespoon maple syrup, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ 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.

Close up view of air fried tortilla chips.

Recipe FAQs

How do you prevent the tortilla chips from blowing around the air fryer?

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.

Why are my tortilla chips soggy?

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.

Can you omit the oil in this recipe?

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.

Tortilla chips on a platter and served with salsa.

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 of my favorite air fryer recipes

If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below!

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