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Corn Tortilla Chips in Air Fryer

This easy recipe for corn tortilla chips in the air fryer makes the crispiest chips! I love this technique, because you can quickly make just a few chips for yourself if you’re having a craving, or make a huge batch for a party.

Forget messy deep frying! With just three ingredients, your air fryer, and our simple directions, you’ll be making your own crunchy tortilla chips in no time.

Crispy air fried corn tortilla chips in a gray bowl with a lime wedge ready to be served.

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These chips are great for making fantastic nachos, as an accompaniment to your favorite Mexican or Tex-Mex dinner, or served with a delicious dip. You’ll find serving suggestions and seasoning ideas below!

If you love making your own snacks, be sure to try our homemade cheese crackers and crunchy Brown Butter Pan Roasted Almonds.

Why You’ll Love These Air Fried Tortilla Chips

Light and Crisp: The hot, dry heat of the air fryer gives these corn chips a crispy texture you’ll love.

Versatile: You can season your chips however you like, and vary the amount of salt or seasonings to suit your tastebuds.

Easy to Make: The simple recipe takes just a few minutes to prepare. It’s easy to make as many or few chips as you want.

Ingredients Notes

You only need three ingredients to make these tasty chips:

Corn tortillas – Feel free to use white corn tortillas or yellow corn tortillas – it’s totally up to you!

Vegetable oil – Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point. My favorite is avocado oil, and peanut oil is another good choice for this recipe.

Salt – Feel free to use your favorite salt on these chips. I use fine sea salt because it does a good job of evenly coating the chips, but you can also use Kosher salt or salt flakes if you prefer.

Equipment Needed

You’ll need an air fryer to make the chips, and a model with a larger basket size will allow you to cook more foods in less time.

This 8 quart Ninja air fryer is a workhorse that is perfect for this recipe. If you have a smaller air fryer, no problem. You can just cook the chips in smaller batches.

Step by Step Instructions

STEP ONE : Brush the tortillas lightly on both sides with the oil.

STEP TWO: Cut the tortillas in triangles or diamond shapes.

A corn tortilla cut into triangles on a wooden cutting board.

STEP THREE: Arrange the tortillas in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer.

Cut corn tortilla pieces in the basket of an air fryer to make homemade chips.

STEP FOUR: Cook for 3 minutes. Use tongs or a fork to turn the chips over and continue cooking until crispy and lightly browned around the edges, about 3 more minutes.

Note: Your exact cooking time may vary depending on how your air fryer cooks.

STEP FIVE: Transfer to paper towels to cool and sprinkle with salt or your favorite seasoning (see suggestions below). Serve with your favorite salsa or dip.

Warm homemade corn tortilla chips in a serving bowl.

Storage Instructions

Store the chips in a tightly sealed bag or container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Oven Baked Chips

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can easily make these tasty chips in your home oven. Here’s how:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil. 
  2. Brush the tortillas lightly with oil on both sides and cut each in 6 to 8 rectangles.
  3. Arrange the chips on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt.
  4. Bake for 6 minutes. Flip chips over and continue baking until lightly browned and crispy, about 6 more minutes. 
  5. Transfer to paper towels to drain and cool. Makes 36 to 48 chips. 

Recipe Variations

You can customize these chips in so many ways! Here are some add-ons you can sprinkle on the chips before baking in the air fryer:

  • Ranch dip mix
  • Seasoning salt
  • Lemon pepper
  • Cajun spice mix
  • Taco seasoning

What to Serve With Homemade Tortilla Chips

These corn tortilla chips are perfect for dipping in your favorite dip. These are some of our favorites:

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Crispy air fried corn tortilla chips in a gray bowl with a lime wedge ready to be served.

Corn Tortilla Chips in Air Fryer

Eliza Cross
Make your own crispy corn tortilla chips in the air fryer. With this easy recipe, you can enjoy making your own homemade tortilla chips for dips, nachos and snacking.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Appetizers
Cuisine American, Mexican, Tex-Mex
Servings 4
Calories 205 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 6 corn tortillas
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt for sprinkling

Instructions
 

  • Lightly brush tortillas with oil on both sides.
  • Cut each tortillas in 6 to 8 triangles.
  • Sprinkle with salt. Arrange in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  • Cook at 350 for 3 minutes.
  • Open the basket and use tongs to flip the chips over. Continue cooking until crispy and lightly browned about 3 more minutes. (Cooking time may vary so check timing with first batch.)
  • Remove from basket and spread on paper towels to finish cooling. Makes about 36 to 48 chips.

Notes

Storage Instructions: Store chips in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Oven Baking Directions:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil. 
  2. Brush the tortillas lightly with oil on both sides and cut each in 6 to 8 rectangles.
  3. Arrange the chips on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt.
  4. Bake for 6 minutes. Flip chips over and continue baking until lightly browned and crispy, about 6 more minutes. 
  5. Transfer to paper towels to drain and cool. Makes 36 to 48 chips. 

Nutrition

Calories: 205kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 2gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gSodium: 599mgPotassium: 73mgFiber: 2gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 1IUCalcium: 32mgIron: 0.5mg
Keyword air fryer, air fryer tortilla chips, corn tortillas, homemade tortilla chips, tortilla chips
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A ceramic bowl filled with crispy golden homemade air fried tortilla chips.

1 thought on “Corn Tortilla Chips in Air Fryer”

  1. These could not be any easier. I purchased corn tortillas and I was looking for something to do with them. This was a great find! I served them with some homemade guac and everyone loved them. Thanks for such a great recipe!

    Reply
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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