Can you think of an occasion that wouldn’t be improved by nachos? We sure can’t. Whether you’re looking for a party appetizer to share while watching the big game or something quick and easy to serve up on busy worknights, nachos are always a good answer. And air-fryer nachos may just be an even better answer.
A standard oven typically takes 15 to 20 minutes to preheat, but most air fryers preheat in under five minutes. Hello, speed! Plus, air-fryer nachos are totally scalable. Feeding one? No problem. Feeding eight hungry teenagers? Also no problem. Just work in batches until everyone has had their fill.
Best of all, cleanup is a breeze when you make air-fryer nachos. The meat is cooked in a single skillet, then the nachos are assembled directly on foil in the air-fryer basket. When you’ve got a huge pile of nachos and only one pan to clean, it doesn’t get much better than that!
Ingredients for Air-Fryer Nachos
- Ground beef: Ground beef makes this air-fryer nachos recipe taste just like those you order at the ballgame. You’ll need to cook the ground beef before you add it to the nachos.
- Onion: A little onion gets cooked right in with the ground beef to add moisture and flavor.
- Refried beans: You can use either classic refried beans made with pinto beans or a can of your favorite refried black beans. And don’t be afraid to make your own home-style refried beans for your nachos.
- Cheese: We love sharp cheddar cheese for our air-fryer nachos, but you can use any melting cheese you like. Go for a shredded blend of Mexican cheeses, pepper jack, Monterey Jack, Oaxaca or Chihuahua cheese.
- Salsa: Choose your favorite store-bought brand of salsa, or make any one of these salsa recipes from scratch.
- Black olives: Sliced black olives are a classic nacho topping. We like to stir them into the beef, but you can add them later or omit them entirely if you’re not a fan of black olives.
- Seasoning: A healthy amount of chili powder and a bit of salt adds extra heat and flavor to the beef. Keep in mind that some brands of chili powder are spicier than others, so you can scale the amount accordingly to suit your tastes.
- Tortilla chips: For the best air-fryer nachos, choose slightly thicker tortilla chips. Thicker chips will hold up better to the layers of heavy toppings and will be less prone to burning in the air fryer. Use any chips you have left over with one of our favorite recipes to make with a bag of tortilla chips.
- Toppings: Here’s where you can get creative. Choose any nacho toppings you enjoy, or try one of some unconventional taco toppings like pickled veggies or potatoes. From tomatoes, onions, cilantro, or sliced jalapenos to a scoop of guacamole, sour cream or homemade restaurant-style salsa, you can’t go wrong here. Have fun pulling inspiration from other nacho recipes.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the beef
In a large skillet, cook the beef and onions over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, five to seven minutes, breaking the beef into crumbles. Drain.
Editor’s Tip: Have extra beef? Put it to use in some of our other favorite ground beef recipes.
Step 2: Season the meat
Stir in the refried beans, cheese, salsa, olives, chili powder and salt. Heat through, then set aside.
Step 3: Assemble and cook
Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Then, working in batches, arrange the tortilla chips in a single layer on a foil-lined tray in the air-fryer basket. Top the chips with the beef mixture and additional cheese.
Air-fry the nachos until the cheese is melted, about three to four minutes.
Step 4: Add the toppings, and serve
To serve, add your desired toppings, like sliced olives, green onions, sour cream and tomatoes.
Air-Fryer Nachos Variations
- Change up the protein: If you don’t enjoy beef, you can swap it for another protein. Try grilled shrimp, lime chicken or pulled pork.
- Fry your own chips: Store-bought tortilla chips keep this recipe quick, easy and convenient, but homemade air-fryer tortilla chips would be a fun project to try at least once (fair warning, you’re going to get hooked).
- Make vegetarian air-fryer nachos: You can omit the meat from this air-fryer nacho recipe for a vegetarian version—just make sure to buy vegetarian refried beans, too. To add plant-based protein, swap the ground beef for black beans, pinto beans or taco-seasoned crumbled tofu. Plant-based meat substitutes may also be used.
Can you make air-fryer nachos ahead of time?
No, we don’t recommend making air-fryer nachos ahead of time. If you’re looking to save some time, you can make the seasoned beef up to two to three days ahead of time, and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Air-Fryer Nacho Tips
Why are my air-fry nachos soggy?
Soggy nachos are a tragedy nobody should experience. For best results, drain your meat after cooking to remove any excess water or fat that may have been released from the beef. If you don’t, this liquid will soak into your chips while in the air fryer and may cause them to become sad and soggy.
What do you serve with air-fryer nachos?
Pair this air-fryer recipe with other party food ideas at your next game-day extravaganza. Or serve nachos as an appetizer with a vat of homemade guacamole and spicy salsa ahead of your favorite Mexican dinner recipe for your next taco nacho Tuesday feast.
