Air Fryer Nachos with ground beef, melted cheese, and tasty fresh toppings are easy to make. These nachos in the air fryer make the perfect party snack or an easy weeknight dinner!
Best Nachos in Air Fryer Recipe!
"I've been making this air fryer loaded nachos recipe for my family for years! It's an easy recipe, and everyone loves the taco meat. We make these for dinner a lot!" 🙂 -Kori
Perfect Nachos Every Time
These come out perfect every time! The first time I made these, I was amazed at how fast they cooked and how well the hot air got into the underneath chip layers! If you've ever cooked nachos in a regular oven, you know that it takes a little longer to get the inside layers perfectly melted.
Snack or Dinner
Since these have ground beef and vegetables, this recipe makes a great party snack or weeknight dinner!
Healthier
While these air-fried nachos call for tortilla chips, you could just as easily swap out a low-carb or keto-friendly tortilla chip or use pork rinds. Check out my Pork Rind Nachos recipe for a keto version. 🙂
What You'll Need
Here are the ingredients and tools you'll need to make nachos in air fryer:
- Ground Beef (80/20) - you can also use ground or shredded chicken or pork. If you don't want any meat you can skip it completely.
- Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix - my homeade taco seasoning recipe is easy, delicious, and healthy - give it a try! If you don't feel like making your own you can use a store-bought packet.
- Water
- Tortilla Chips - use whatever brand is your favorite!
- Cheddar Cheese - I used a medium cheddar, but a mild or sharp cheddar would work well. You can also try others such as jack cheese or pepper jack.
- Avocado
- Green Onions - you can also use yellow or red onion for variety.
- Tomatoes
- Black Olives
- Sour Cream
- Salsa
Substitutions and Variations
- Substitute ground chicken or pork for the beef. You could also shred chicken or pork and season with taco seasoning. Heck, you can even go meatless and use black beans or refried beans.
- Use any favorite nacho toppings - you don't have to follow my example exactly.
- Use pork rinds or low carb tortilla chips to make this recipe gluten free, low carb, and keto.
How To Make Nachos in Air Fryer
Please see the recipe card below for full details.
Make Taco Meat
Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add taco seasoning mix and water. Cook according to the recipe or package instructions.
Layer Meat and Cheese
In the air fryer basket, layer tortilla chips, cheese, and meat. You'll get a more even distribution of meat, cheese, and rinds if you create multiple layers - three layers work the best for this recipe.
Tip: Line with foil for easy removal. If you plan on removing the nachos after baking, line the basket with a strip of foil with some left out so you can easily lift them out and transfer them to a plate.
Air Fry
Preheat the air fryer 325 degrees F for 5 minutes.
Place the basket into the air fryer and cook the nachos for 3 to 8 minutes or until cheese is melted. Watch carefully; they cook fast.
Toppings
Top with avocado, tomato, black olives, sour cream, and salsa. Serve immediately and enjoy!
How To Serve
Air fryer nachos are pretty much a meal of their own, but here are some ways that you can serve them:
- Serve as a hearty appetizer or air fryer snack.
- Because of the meat, these air fryer nachos make a great main dish for dinner or even lunch. Make the meat ahead of time and you've got a super quick meal.
- If you are looking for a side dish, a simple fresh side salad would be amazing. Try it with our Avocado Dressing.
- Try topping the nachos with our homemade guacamole - so delicious.
What topping do you put on nachos?
There is an infinite number of ways you can make nachos. Here are a few popular nacho toppings:
- Salsa or pico de gallo
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Sliced jalapenos
- Cheese sauce
- Cilantro
- A variety of cheeses - cheddar, jack, cotija cheese, etc.
- Meat - ground beef, chicken pork, bacon
- Seafood - shrimp, crab
- Avocado
- Roasted or grilled corn
- Tomatoes
- Shredded lettuce
- Green Onions or other diced onion
- Black olives
- Beans - black beans, pinto beans, etc.
- Tofu
Kori's Tips
- Keep your eye on the nachos as they are air frying - they cook FAST.
- If you want to easily remove you nachos from the air fryer basket to serve on a platter, place a folded strip of aluminum foil on the bottom of the air fryer basket before layering nachos.
- Grate your own cheese. Fresh grated cheese melts so much better. Many store-bought grated cheeses are coated with an ingredient that prevents it from sticking together - but it also prevents it from melting properly.
- For best distribution of toppings and chips - tortilla chips, cheese, and meat evenly. I ended up with three layers and this seemed to work great!
- Air fryer nachos are best eaten immediately. Nachos don't keep well and will go soggy.
- Cook your meat, grate your cheese, and chop your vegetables (not the avocado) in advance for a super quick recipe.
FAQs
Yes, you can put foil in your air fryer. We used foil in this recipe to help us lift out the nachos to transfer them to our serving plate. Here are some tips for using aluminum foil in your air fryer:
Before using foil, check your manufacturer's guidelines.
Don't cover the top of your food near the air frying fan and heat source. This will prevent airflow and could overheat your air fryer.
Use foil only where necessary so you don't impede air flow.
Only place foil in the air fryer basket.
Aluminum Foil should not be used with acidic foods such as citrus fruits or tomatoes. The foil will react to the acidity.
Foil is helpful to prevent grease and liquids from dripping through the basket.
Folding a strip of foil in the bottom of the air fryer basket can help you lift out your food. Most foods can be removed with tongs but things like nachos are trickier - a wide strip of foil works like a charm if laid in the bottom.
To make this nacho recipe, replace the regular tortilla chips with original flavored pork rinds or a low carb/keto tortilla. All other ingredients and instructions are the same. See our pork rind nacho recipe for more information
You can prepare all of your ingredients in advance, like cooking the taco meat and chopping vegetables. Save the avocado until right before you need it, so it doesn't turn brown.
Nachos will become soggy if they sit, so it is best to serve them fresh and hot right out of the oven or air fryer.
If you want to heat your nachos, preheat the air fryer to 325 degrees F for 5 minutes (oven 350 degrees F). Place nachos in the basket and cook until heated through, about 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Can I ask you a favor?
If you tried this recipe, let me know! I'd love for you to come back and give the recipe a 5 star rating and leave a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! Subscribe to my newsletter to get healthy fresh recipe ideas every week!
📖 The recipe.
Air Fryer Nachos (Loaded Nachos with Ground Beef)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 1 recipe taco seasoning mix
- ¾ cup water
- 8 ounce tortilla chips
- 8 ounce cheddar cheese (grated)
- 1 avocado (diced)
- ¼ cup green onions (diced)
- ¼ cup tomatoes (diced)
- ¼ cup black olives (sliced)
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup salsa
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef. Add taco seasoning mix and water. Cook according to the recipe or package instructions.
- In the air fryer basket, layer tortilla chips, cheese, and meat.
- Preheat the air fryer 325 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Place the basket into the air fryer and cook the nachos 3 to 8 minutes or until cheese is melted. Watch carefully they cook fast.
- Top with avocado, tomato, black olives, sour cream, and salsa. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Kori's Tips
Nutrition
© 2025 Seeking Good Eats™
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Air Fryer nachos are both delicious AND easy! Loaded air fryer nachos with ground beef taco meat, lots of melty cheese, and your favorite delicious toppings. Feel free to use shredded or ground chicken, pork, or even go meatless. Make these low-carb and keto nachos by using pork rinds instead of chips. This air fryer nachos recept makes a filling appetizer or snack or a main dish dinner or lunch. Enjoy!
Shelly Quibell
Looking forward to to giving these a try
seekinggoodeats
Great! I'm so glad you're trying the recipe out! Enjoy