How to Make Perfectly Crispy Air Fryer Tostadas
Skip the stovetop splatter and make perfectly crispy air fryer tostadas in minutes! These homemade tostada shells are quick and easy to make and healthier than deep-fried versions. With just a light brush or spray of oil, you can create a perfectly crunchy base for a variety of your favorite toppings.
These air fryer tostadas provide the crunchy base for some of my favorite recipes, including: easy breakfast tostadas, hibiscus tostadas with black beans, tostadas de picadillo, and chicken tinga tostadas.
I also love to serve them alongside dips like guacamole and frijoles refritos, like they do at some of the restaurants I’ve visited in Oaxaca. Since these tostadas are essentially baked until crispy (aka they don’t require you to deep fry them), you can enjoy them guilt-free.
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
It doesn’t get any easier than this! All you need to make these crispy tostadas in the air fryer is:
- Corn tortillas
- Spray oil or regular cooking oil
- Salt (optional) – I prefer Crystal Diamond Kosher Salt to top my tostadas and homemade chips.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
1. Brush or spray oil
- Set air fryer to 375°F (190°C) in air fry mode.
- Apply a light spray or coat of cooking oil to both sides of tortillas. Sprinkle with salt, if desired.
- Spread tortillas out in a single layer on the air fryer basket tray.
2. Air fry and enjoy
- Cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy.
- Let them sit for a minute to crisp up fully.
- Load up with refried beans and any of your favorite toppings and enjoy!
RECOMMENDED BY LOLA FOR THIS RECIPE
XL Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven
I got this air fryer at Costco several years ago (they always have some version of this one) and really love it. It’s very user-friendly and big enough to roast a whole chicken or bake salmon and veggies. VIEW PRODUCT
WHAT TO SERVE WITH TOSTADAS
In Oaxaca, oftentimes you’ll find that restaurants serve tostadas instead of tortilla chips as an appetizer. They’re accompanied by a delicious spread of salsas and guacamole. Here I’m sharing a few of my favorite salsas, guacamoles, and other ideas for your air fryer tostadas.
- Salsas and spice: Salsa Amarilla, Red Salsa with Chile Japonés, Tangy Tomatillo Salsa, Guacamole Salsa, Classic Guacamole, Green Cooked Tomatillo Salsa, Salsa de Mango
- Tostada inspiration: Breakfast Tostadas, How to Build a DIY Tostada Bar, Hibiscus and Black Bean Tostadas, Tostadas de Picadillo
- Toppings: Refried Beans, Carnitas de Cerdo, Beef Barbacoa, Papas con Chorizo, Chorizo y Huevo
BEST Air Fryer Tostadas (Easy and Perfectly Crispy!)
Equipment
- Air fryer basket tray this is usually included with air fryer accessories
Instructions
- PREHEAT AIR FRYER. Set to 375°F (190°C) on air fry mode.
- BRUSH OR SPRAY. Apply a light spray or coat of cooking oil to both sides of tortillas. Sprinkle with salt, if desired. Spread tortillas out in a single layer on air fryer basket tray.
- AIR FRY. Bake for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy.
- COOL. Let tostadas sit for a minute to crisp up fully.
- TOP AND ENJOY. Load up with beans, chicken, meat, eggs, ceviche, veggies, or any of your favorite toppings.
A Note from Lola
HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT
- Cool completely. Let them cool to room temp to avoid trapping steam.
- Store in an airtight container. Use a resealable bag or container with a paper towel to absorb moisture.
- Keep at room temperature. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 1 week.
- Re-crisp if needed. Pop them in the air fryer or oven at 350°F for a few minutes if they soften.
Nutrition
Lola’s Cocina is a small business that earns various revenue streams. This includes sponsored posts and affiliate commissions from linked products, which I use and love, with no extra cost to readers. This income helps sustain the site.
Lola Wiarco Dweck
Lola is a Mexican-American recipe developer, writer, and cooking instructor who loves sharing her culture with the world. Growing up in California and spending summers in Mexico, Lola celebrates her family’s Mexican recipes and vibrant culture through Lola’s Cocina.
Such an easier and healthier method!!
And I love that we can make them in larger batches than frying tortillas individually.
I will never fry another tostada, again. These are SO easy and no frying especially during the hot summers in Vegas. I can crank out about 10 at a time in the air fryer.
I can’t believe how crispy the come out in the air fryer!
These came out so great! I never knew they’d crisp up in an air fryer like this.
Ever since I found your recipe, I stopped buying store-bought tostadas. These are perfect and so easy to make.
Same here! I don’t like going to the store for just one ingredient, and I always have corn tortillas, which means I’m always able to make my tostadas!
I am not rating the recipe as I’m not sure if it was me or the recipe but it was an epic fail for me. I put 3 corn tortillas in the basket and all they did was blow around. One toe, one curled up even though I kept flipping it and the other turned out fine. Would love a healthy alternative but it doesn’t seem worth it to me.
Hi, Teri – I saw your comment come through regarding the Air Fryer Tostadas recipe. What kind of air fryer do you have? Is it the one where you pull out the small basket or the one that looks like a mini oven? I have the mini oven one so I’m wondering if that might be what caused the tortillas to curl up. Also, I’ve found that with the small basket air fryers, I have to reduce the temperature a lot (like anywhere between 20 and 30 degrees) because everything cooks a lot faster in those.
I’d try making them in a regular oven if that’s an option, following the same instructions for the heat settings. Mine can range and take anywhere from 4-6 minutes, but all of that depends on the oven.
Hope this helps! Keep me posted on future attempts.