Air fryer tortilla strips are a fast & tasty alternative to fried corn chips. Plus, they use just 3 ingredients and are ready to eat in 7 minutes!
Have them as a snack on their own, or use them as a crunchy topping on salads and soups. Vegan & gluten-free.
Want to add more crunch and fun to your soups and salads?
Add a smattering of crispy air fried tortilla strips!
Air fryer tortilla strips are so easy to make. They use 3 ingredients and take just 7 minutes to prepare. Plus, they’re a great way to make sure you use every last corn tortilla in the bag.
Crispy fried tortilla strips give salads & soups enticing texture that makes lunch a little more inviting.
In this post:
Why readers love this recipe
“I will never buy tortilla chips again! These came out sooo good!! Thank you for sharing the recipe.” – Patty
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe.
Corn tortilla: Use a soft yellow corn tortilla. Depending on the store, they may be sold in the refrigerated section or in the center aisles of the grocery store with other tortillas.
Oil spray: Avocado oil spray is my go-to here, but any neutral-flavored cooking spray will work. If you’d rather, you can use oil in liquid form, and toss it with the tortilla strips in a mixing bowl before adding them to the air fryer basket.
Salt: A pinch of sea salt makes the flavor pop a little more. It can be omitted, if you prefer.
Step by step instructions
This section shows how to make this recipe at a glance with process photos of the steps. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.
Use kitchen shears to cut a corn tortilla into long, thin strips (about ½ inch wide), and put them into the air fryer basket.
(Don’t have kitchen shears? Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to slice the tortilla instead.)
Give the strips an even spray of oil. Then add a sprinkle of salt.
Air fry them at 360 degrees for 4 minutes, and serve right away.
(Be aware that the color may not change much on the tortillas, but they will still have the perfect crunch.)
Remember: Every air fryer runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own air fryer. Adjust as needed.
Make it your own
You can make this air fryer tortilla strips recipe your own by varying the ingredients.
Here are some ideas:
- Vary the color of the corn tortilla – use white or blue instead of yellow
- Instead of corn tortillas, try flour tortillas (Cooking time may vary slightly)
- Omit the oil to keep it oil-free
- Omit the salt for a low-sodium option
- Add a squeeze of lime juice (This is especially good when making them oil-free to help any seasonings stick)
- Add other seasonings like a pinch of cumin, ancho chili powder, paprika, granulated garlic, granulated onion, chile lime seasoning, or cayenne pepper
- For a sweet take, season with cinnamon sugar instead
Serving ideas
Here are some delicious ways to use these air fried tortilla strips:
- Eat the tortilla strips on their own as a snack
- Dip them in guacamole, roasted salsa, salsa verde, chili cheese dip, or chipotle black bean dip
- Use them as a crispy garnish on Southwest salad, taco salad, or black bean corn avocado salad
- Add them to a black beans & rice bowl or a vegan burrito bowl for crunch
- Pile them on top of vegan tortilla soup, 3-bean chili, or smoky corn chowder
FAQ
Yes, you can cook two or more at a time. Just be sure not to overcrowd the basket. For best results, put the strips in a single layer for optimal air flow.
Yes, if you’d prefer to make this air fryer recipe without oil, the tortilla strips are still crunchy & delicious without it.
Yes, it’s no problem at all to omit the salt. The recipe is still terrific without it.
I don’t recommend it.
For best results, make them as needed. These crispy corn tortilla strips are best served warm. When stored in a baggie, they can lose their crunch.
If absolutely necessary, wait until they have cooled to room temperature before storing in an airtight container. They can be kept on the counter or pantry for up to 4 days.
Absolutely! For more quick and tasty air fryer recipes, check out this round-up of 50 vegan air fryer recipes.
If you try this recipe and love it, let me know! Leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section below. It truly makes my day and is such a help!
📖 Recipe
Air fryer tortilla strips
Ingredients
- 1 corn tortilla soft
- Spritz of oil spray
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Use kitchen shears or a sharp knife to cut a corn tortilla into long, ½ inch wide strips. Once all of the strips have been cut, put them into the air fryer basket.
- Spray the corn tortilla strips with a spritz of oil. Then add a pinch of salt.
- Air fry at 360 degrees for 4 minutes, stopping once halfway through to shake the basket. Once they're crispy, remove from basket, and eat right away.
Watch how to make it
Notes
Nutrition
Photos, recipe, and content updated March 22, 2025. Originally posted July 23, 2019.
Patty K
i will never buy the tortilla chips again! these came out sooo good!! thank you for sharing the recipe.
Cadry Nelson
That’s so nice to hear, Patty! I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Karen Pirone
They are certainly quick and easy. I used mine to top chicken tortilla soup! I think these might also be good with some cinnamon as a snack treat also!
Cadry
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Karen. That’s a great idea to top with cinnamon, and maybe some sugar too!
Shell
As I read this post, I was also thinking that I would like to cut them in triangles and make chips. It’s good to see that Kathryn has had success with that. I think my family would enjoy the strips as well! A great new salad topper!
Cadry
Absolutely! There are so many fun possibilities. When I make the triangular chips, I’d like to add some extra seasonings too!
Kathryn Grace
Terrific idea. I love crunchy tortilla strips on a salad so much! An air fryer setting and a wire basket came with the toaster oven I bought when I had to replace my old one last year. I quickly discovered I could make homemade tortilla chips with it. We don’t even use oil or salt, letting the crunch of the chips and the herbs and spices in the dips we like with them add that extra flavor punch. My grandkids especially love them with homemade hummus. Can’t wait to try your idea of cutting strips for salads.I bet they’d go nicely as toppings for some Mexicali casseroles too, yes?
Cadry
That’s great to know that you’ve had success making oil free chips! I’ll add that in the notes section of the recipe. And that’s a good point about the dips you’re serving alongside the chips having extra herbs and spices to bring an added boost of flavor. Thanks, Kathryn!