My air fryer nachos with ground beef are piled high with all the best toppings: seasoned ground beef, refried beans, melty shredded cheese, pickled jalapeños, pico de gallo and more on crispy tortilla chips. Below you’ll find everything you need to make these quick, crowd-pleasing air fryer nachos.
These nachos are perfect for busy nights or sharing during a game. The air fryer makes melting the cheese fast and even — usually only a few minutes — while keeping the chips crisp. Add plenty of veggies and you’ll have a well-balanced, satisfying snack or casual dinner.
Ready to get started?
🛒 Air Fryer Nachos with Ground Beef — Ingredients
These amounts make one realistic serving in a typical air fryer basket or tray. Adjust quantities to serve more people and remember you can swap or add toppings to suit your taste.
- 2½ ounces tortilla chips (about 71 g, or enough to cover your air fryer tray)
- ½ recipe air fryer taco meat (about 8 ounces seasoned cooked ground beef)
- ½ cup refried beans (from a can or homemade)
- 2 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (about 57 g)
Great finishing toppings (optional):
- ¼ cup pico de gallo
- ¼ avocado, chopped (or a spoonful of guacamole)
- 1 tablespoon sliced black olives
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeños
- 1 tablespoon sliced scallion greens
I also like to serve lime wedges and chopped tomatoes alongside the nachos. For cheese, shredded Mexican blend, cheddar, or pepper jack all work well.
Feel free to customize: swap beef for shredded chicken, pork, or a bean mixture for a vegetarian option. You can also add corn, roasted peppers, or other vegetables. Note that most air fryers hold only a single serving-sized tray at a time, so you may need to work in batches for larger groups.
⭐ How to Make Air Fryer Beef Nachos
Line the air fryer tray or basket with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Arrange a single layer of tortilla chips so they overlap and fully cover the tray.
Warm the refried beans on the stovetop or in the microwave. Drop small scoops of beans across the chips, then sprinkle half of the seasoned cooked ground beef evenly over the beans and chips.
Reserve the remaining beef for another batch or another meal.
Cover the nachos generously with shredded cheese so the toppings nestle into a cheesy layer.
Place the tray in the upper rack position of your air fryer oven or in the basket and air fry at 350°F (175°C) for about 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Top the hot nachos with pico de gallo, avocado, black olives, a drizzle of sour cream (thin with a splash of milk if you prefer to drizzle), sliced scallions and pickled jalapeños. Serve immediately — nachos are best warm.
Enjoy your nachos right away for the best texture and flavor.
Can you reheat nachos in an air fryer?
Yes — you can reheat nachos in an air fryer at 400°F for 2–3 minutes. For best results, scrape off fresh toppings (salsa, avocado, sour cream) and reheat only the chips, cheese, beans and meat so the chips stay crispier.
How do you make nachos without getting soggy?
To avoid soggy nachos, don’t let chips sit in saucy toppings for long. Add wetter toppings like salsa or guacamole after the cheese is melted and serve immediately. Layer beans and meat sparingly and rely on the melted cheese to help ingredients stick together.
Air Fryer Nachos with Ground Beef and Refried Beans
Summer Yule
Ingredients
- 2½ ounces tortilla chips (71 g; or enough to cover the air fryer basket)
- ½ recipe air fryer taco meat (about 8 ounces seasoned cooked ground beef)
- ½ cup refried beans
- 2 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (57 g)
For the nacho toppings:
- ¼ cup pico de gallo or salsa
- ¼ avocado, chopped (or guacamole)
- 1 tablespoon sliced black olives
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon sliced scallions
- 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeños
Instructions
- Line the air fryer tray or basket with aluminum foil and arrange a single layer of overlapping tortilla chips to cover the tray.
- Warm the refried beans and place small scoops across the chips. Sprinkle half of the seasoned cooked ground beef on top. Save the remainder of the beef for another serving.
- Cover the nachos with shredded cheese. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for about 3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Top the hot nachos with pico de gallo, avocado, black olives, sour cream, scallions and pickled jalapeños. Serve immediately.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Notes
Dietitian tips: Air frying the nachos doesn’t make them lower in calories than oven-baked nachos — the chips are still the main source of fat and calories. You can increase nutrition by adding extra veggies and lean proteins. Most corn tortilla chips are naturally gluten-free, but check seasoning labels if you need to avoid gluten.
Low-carb option: use low-carb chips instead of corn chips. Vegetarian option: replace the beef with black or pinto beans.
Nutrition information shown is an estimate for one serving with listed toppings and will vary by brands and exact amounts used.
Nutrition
Calories: 1000 kcal
Carbohydrates: 71.1 g
Protein: 49.1 g
Fat: 58.7 g
Sodium: 2170.9 mg
👩🍳 More Air Fryer Snack Recipes
Try these other simple air fryer snacks:
- Air Fryer Potato Skins
- Air Fryer Breaded Mushrooms
- Oyster Mushroom Jerky (in Air Fryer)
- Air Fryer Plantains
- Air Fryer Jicama Fries
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