Ever wonder how to reheat nachos without burning them or having them get soggy? It’s easy and a great way to enjoy some of your favorite flavors.

If you’ve never saved leftover nachos, maybe you should rethink that. After all, there’s no point in letting those deliciously crunchy treats go to waste. If you have leftover nachos after dinner out or even at home, there are ways you can salvage them to eat later that day or the next day.

Whether I come home with a bag of leftover chips or decide to reheat bagged chips, I enjoy them more when they’re hot … or at least warm. 

There’s nothing better to snack on than a huge plate of nachos with a few delicious toppings like cheese, black beans, sour cream, and salsa. And maybe toss a few sliced jalapeños over the top. Mmm! So good!

There are several ways to heat them up. I usually choose the reheating process that’s easiest for me, wherever I am. For example, if I’m at home, I’ll use my air fryer or toaster oven.

At my daughter’s house, I’m likely to use the large oven. And when I’m staying in a bed-and-breakfast that has a kitchen, I use the microwave, although very cautiously.

Different Ways to Reheat Nachos

I’m glad there are so many different ways to reheat nachos. However, regardless of the way I choose, the first thing I like to do is scrape off anything that might cause the nachos to be soggy or burn. 

The best way to do this is to get a butter knife, or at least a knife that isn’t sharp and start scraping. Nachos reheat much more efficiently if there isn’t any sour cream, chili, salsa, or cheese. Get as much of the topping off as you can to prevent soggy nachos.

All of these reheating methods only require a few simple steps to take your leftover chips and turn them into one of your favorite snacks. 

Reheat Nachos in the Oven

One of the easiest ways to reheat nachos is in a regular oven. It only requires a minimal amount of preparation before you put heat them up.

Prep the nachos by scraping off as much of the toppings as possible. Otherwise, you might wind up with a big soggy mess.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the nachos are already cooked, your goal is to get them to the temperature you want, so the reheating process is very straightforward.

I like to cover a baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, but you don’t have to. Spread the nacho chips out in a single layer for even heating. They can overlap a little bit.

Place the oven-safe pan of nachos in the preheated oven. Start checking on them after about 10 minutes for the best results.

As soon as they get to the temperature you want, remove them from the oven. Serve them as-is or sprinkle a layer of shredded cheddar cheese over the top. If you add cheese, return them to the oven for a couple of minutes, until the cheese melts.

Reheating Nacho Chips in an Air Fryer

Of all the different ways to reheat nachos, the air fryer is my favorite. It’s quick, easy, and totally hassle free. Since an air fryer is a small convection oven that circulates the hot air, they heat evenly and quickly as long as the air has room to flow around them.

As you would with the oven reheating method, scrape off anything that might make the chips soggy before you begin. Place the chips in a single layer in your air fryer basket. 

You can preheat the air fryer if you want, but I don’t when I’m reheating nachos. Turn the air fryer on 300˚ F and the timer on 3 minutes. I shake them halfway through to make sure they’re evenly heated. 

I think this is the most effective way to have crispy tortilla chips quickly. You can melted cheese or any other cold toppings on top of the nachos and put them back in the air fryer for about a minute. 

Using a Toaster Oven

I’ve used my toaster oven to reheat nachos many times. It usually does turn out some crispy nachos, but you need to keep a very close eye on them to prevent uneven heating. 

There are some advantages of using a toaster oven over the standard oven method. First of all, it doesn’t heat up the entire house. Secondly, you get more direct heat.

If you don’t want soggy chips, scrape off of the toppings that might be on them. Place them on a baking tray in a single layer. Heat them for 10 minutes at 300˚ F.

The toaster oven method is actually a good idea for a smaller portion of nachos. However, if you have several servings, you’ll need to work in batches.

Skillet Method of Reheating Nachos

Spritz a little bit of olive oil in the skillet. Then place the nachos on top of the skillet. I often start out on medium-high heat and then turn the burner down to medium heat. 

Just make sure you keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t burn or get scorched. Place the chips in the pan and shake it side to side occasionally.

This is a great way to heat up your nacho chips and give them the crispy texture you enjoy. I prefer an iron skillet when using this method because it holds the heat so well.

After you heat nachos in your skillet, you can add some yummy toppings. If you’re making this part of a main dish, try adding some cooked and seasoned ground beef to the top of the bed of tortilla chips. 

Then sprinkle some melted cheese, black olives, onions, and whatever else you like. Place them in a hot oven at about 350˚ F for a few minutes, until the cheese melts and the rest of the ingredients are hot.

Reheat Nachos in the Microwave

This is my least favorite way to reheat nachos. But it can be done as long as you understand how important timing is. 

The microwave is super efficient to a point. However, if you leave them in the microwave too long, the texture will change, and you’ll be stuck with rubbery corn tortilla chips.

That said, I have had some success with microwaving tortilla chips. Place a pile of tortilla chips on a microwave-safe plate and put them in the microwave. Heat them on high for 20 seconds. Test them to see if they’re warm enough If not, put them back in the microwave and heat in 20 second increments until they’re the temperature you want.

The good news about microwaving them is that they will heat up very quickly. But you need to be diligent in checking on them to make sure you have warm nachos without altering the texture in the process. They also won’t come out as crispy as they would if you used one of the other methods.

Delicious Toppings for Reheated Nachos

There are so many different toppings you can add to your reheated leftover nachos. Here are some of our favorite toppings:

• Ground beef or turkey
• Shredded leftover rotisserie chicken (or canned chicken)
• Sliced or shredded pork chops or pork tenderloin

• Roast beef
• Mississippi pot roast
• Fish morsels
• Tiny cooked shrimp
• Refried beans – from Julia’s Simply Southern

• Black beans
• Chili con carne
• Tomatoes
• Onions (yellow or red onion)
• Avocado, mashed or sliced
• Shredded cheese
• Pepper sauce

• Salsa sauce
• Guacamole dip
• Homemade Taco Bell copycat Baja sauce
• Zesty dipping sauce

I’ve found that using fresh ingredients will deliver the most delicious snack. Most nacho lovers have a favorite way of eating them, so put whatever toppings you like on them.

There are many things to love about nachos. In addition to their crispy, crunchy goodness, you can eat them hot, cold, or at room temperature.

Conclusion

I’ve reheated nachos a variety of ways, and they are all good. That said, my favorite way is in my air fryer because it’s quick, easy, and consistent. They always come out crispy and not burned. In fact, even if they’re a little stale, the air fryer will crisp them right up and make them taste fresh again.

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