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Home » Recipes » Appetizers

Air Fryer Chicken Nachos

Published: Nov 22, 2021 by Christina Koncker · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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For the fastest way to go from no nachos (sad) to boom, nachos! (yay!) get your air fryer involved. These Air Fryer Chicken Nachos are ready in just 5 minutes! This air fryer nachos recipe is stupid easy - and so delicious!

A tray of Air Fryer Chicken Nachos with two bowls of salsas on the side.
Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love This Air Fryer Nachos Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • How to Make Air Fryer Nachos
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Air Fryer Recipes
  • Air Fryer Nachos

Why You Will Love This Air Fryer Nachos Recipe

Let’s get this question out of the way. Can you air fry nachos? 100%! But you may be wondering, why? Well there's just a few really important reasons why!

  • Quick! Get them into your face hole faster! Not having to wait for your oven to preheat makes nachos in the air fryer THE MOVE when you want an awesomely cheesy nacho snack quickly. 
  • Just as good as the oven. I can’t proclaim that preparing nachos in the air fryer is somehow superior to making them in your oven (baking) - at least as far as taste is concerned but it's definitely easier.

Looking for more easy air fryer appetizers? Try Air Fryer Pickle Spears and Crispy Air Fryer Tacos next.

Ingredients

Keeping in mind that the ingredient amounts called for are based on the 13 ½ inches x 11 ½ inches tray that comes with my Ninja Foodi XL Air Fry Oven. You may need to adjust the amount of the ingredients or cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

  • Tortilla Chips: The crunchy base for your nachos.
  • Rotisserie chicken: I like to use rotisserie chicken for nachos to keep the prep simple but feel free to use any type of cooked shredded chicken you like or even leftover chicken.
  • Cheese: This recipe uses a combination of smoked gouda and pepper jack. I LOVE smoked gouda but you can use a smoked cheddar instead. Or you can leave it out and just use pepper jack. Almost any kind of cheddar works here, as well as Monterey Jack and American cheese. Oaxaca cheese melts beautifully on nachos if you can find it near you. 
  • Cooking spray: To keep the nachos from sticking and making your air fryer tray or basket easier to clean.
  • Salsa: You can use any salsa you enjoy -- either store bought or homemade. For something a bit different try this roasted green tomato salsa and pickle de gallo.
  • Parsley or cilantro: Freshly chopped sprinkled over the top for more flavor!

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below - keep scrolling!

Variations

  • Swap the Meat: You can of course use other proteins, such as shredded or ground turkey, pork, or beef.
  • Vegetarian: Swap in black or pinto beans or a meat substitute of your choosing in place of the chicken.
  • Plain: Keep it simple with just chicken and cheese! A popular option if there are kids in the house.
  • Other Nacho Toppings to Try: Black or green olives, red or green bell pepper, poblano peppers, pinto beans, black beans, or fresh or pickled jalapenos.

How to Make Air Fryer Nachos

Spray your air fryer tray lightly with cooking spray and gather all your ingredients together. Lay the banana peppers out on paper towels and cover with another to remove excess moisture. This will prevent the nachos from getting soggy.

Cheese sprinkled over a layer of chips and a bowl of chicken and banana peppers to the side.
  1. Step 1: Lay down a fairly uniform layer of tortilla chips. Spread the entire cup of smoked gouda evenly over the nachos. 
Chicken and banana peppers added on top of chips and cheese.
  1. Step 2: Add the shredded rotisserie chicken next, ensuring even coverage. Add the banana peppers next, followed by the finely minced red onion. 
Final layer of cheese sprinkled over the nachos before cooking.
  1. Step 3: Add the shredded pepper jack cheese on top. If necessary, preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit - the Ninja Foodi does a 90-second preheat. 
Nachos in the air fryer cooking.
  1. Step 4: Add the tray of nachos to the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes. Watch closely so the cheese doesn’t overcook and you end up with melted cheese that’s gooey. Remove from the air fryer oven and garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro and serve with salsa(s) of your choosing. 
Air Fryer Chicken Nachos on a blue wooden table after cooking.

Expert Tips

  • Please don’t use pre-shredded cheese. I’ve ranted and raved about this before, but pre-shredded cheese is coated with cellulose to prevent clumping and it melts like trash. You’ll get better nachos if you suck it up and shred your own cheese. I said what I said. 
  • My air fryer recommendation. I used my Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Countertop Air Fry Oven to make this nachos recipe. I love it! It’s worth every penny and has more or less replaced my oven at this point. 
  • Don't overcook. Air fry until the cheese has just melted. If you let them go too long, you risk the cheese getting overly crisp. These are nachos, not cheese crackers, so the cheese should be just melted and gooey. Keep an eye on these while they cook so you don’t overdo it! 

Recipe FAQs

What can I do with leftover nachos?

Have some nachos leftover? Fear not, you can reuse them in a lot of creative ways, from migas to casserole. Check out my collection of ideas of what to do with leftover nachos for some inspiration.

What temperature should I air fry nachos at?

I recommend air frying nachos at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It's a high enough heat to melt the cheese quickly and evenly without overdoing it.

Can you reheat nachos in the air fryer?

You sure can reheat nachos in the air fryer - and that includes reheating nachos you originally made in the air fryer! Learn all the tips and tricks for reheating nachos!

What should I serve with nachos?

Other appetizers! Try serving these awesome nachos with Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings and Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza! Use dipping sauces to change up the flavors! Try this Cucumber Pico de Gallo, Avocado Lime Crema, and Spicy Chimichurri for something a bit different.

Air Fryer Chicken Nachos in a pan, freshly removed from the air fryer and garnished with parsley.

More Air Fryer Recipes

  • crispy air fryer chickpeas
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If you tried this air fryer nacho recipe (or any other recipe on Midwexican), please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the 📝 comments below!

A platter of air fryer nachos ready to eat.

Air Fryer Nachos

Christina Koncker
For the fastest way to go from no nachos (sad) to boom, nachos! (yay!) get your air fryer involved. These Air Fryer Nachos are ready in just 5 minutes!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine Mexican-American
Servings 4
Calories 758 kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients
  

  • 4-5 handfuls tortilla chips
  • 1 ½ cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
  • 1 cup smoked gouda cheese, shredded 
  • 1 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded 
  • ½ cup pickled banana pepper rings
  • 3 tablespoons red onion, finely diced
  • Cooking spray
  • Salsa(s) of your choosing (optional)
  • Parsley or cilantro, chopped (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Spray your air fryer tray lightly with cooking spray.
  • Remove the banana peppers from the jar and lay them out on paper towels. Cover with paper towels as well to remove excess moisture. This will prevent the nachos from getting soggy.
  • Lay down a fairly uniform layer of tortilla chips. Spread the entire cup of smoked gouda evenly over the nachos. 
  • Add the shredded rotisserie chicken next, ensuring even coverage. Add the banana peppers next, followed by the finely minced red onion. 
  • Take the cup of shredded pepper jack cheese and do a final even, cheesy layer. 
  • If necessary preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit - the Ninja Foodi does a 90-second preheat. 
  • Add the tray of nachos to the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes, keeping close tabs so the cheese doesn’t overcook - you want just melted cheese that’s gooey. 
  • Remove from the air fryer oven and garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro and serve with salsa(s) of your choosing. 
  • Snack away!

Notes

*Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using an online nutrition calculator.
  • Please don’t use pre-shredded cheese. I’ve ranted and raved about this before, but pre-shredded cheese is coated with cellulose to prevent clumping and it melts like trash. You’ll get better nachos if you suck it up and shred your own cheese. I said what I said. 
  • My air fryer recommendation. I used my Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Countertop Air Fry Oven to make this nachos recipe. I love it! It’s worth every penny and has more or less replaced my oven at this point. 
  • Don't overcook. Air fry until the cheese has just melted. If you let them go too long, you risk the cheese getting overly crisp. These are nachos, not cheese crackers, so the cheese should be just melted and gooey. Keep an eye on these while they cook so you don’t overdo it! 

Nutrition

Calories: 758kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 50gFat: 44gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 178mgSodium: 1153mgPotassium: 250mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 605IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 690mgIron: 1mg
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Christina from Midwexican

About Christina

I'm a Minnesota native who can't get enough of south-of-the-border flavors. My recipes combine comforting Midwestern eats with bold Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors. If you love comforting food, bold flavors, and - most importantly - tacos! then you'll love what I'm cooking!

Learn more about me

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