Can I make these nachos vegan?

Yes! I recommend Daiya brand shredded cheese as it melts nicely.

Do I need to use foil in this recipe?

I find it's best to use foil so that the cheese and toppings stay contained on the chips. You can also use parchment paper. Just make sure you leave a gap around the edge so that the air circulates to heat the nachos evenly.

Homemade nachos made with quality ingredients can be considered healthy if you take into account that they're a balanced meal with carbs, fat, and protein. When eaten as part of a real food diet that includes lots of other whole foods, then, yes, this particular recipe for nachos can be labeled healthy. u003cimg class=u0022wp-image-faq-question-1647382494340u0022 style=u0022max-width:100%;u0022/u003e

Air Fryer Loaded Nachos with Black Beans

Ingredients

Units Scale

Nonstick cooking spray
3 cups of corn tortilla chips (about 3 handfuls or 2 ounces)
1/2 cup shredded cheese (use vegan cheese for dairy-free diets)
1/2 cup canned black beans (rinsed and drained)
2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos (leave off if you don’t like them)
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup prepared salsa (optional, for topping)

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Instructions

Line the basket of your air fryer with a piece of aluminum foil. Curl the edges up so there is space around the edges of the foil. Spray the bottom of the foil lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
Arrange the chips in the basket, trying to spread them out as much as possible (it is okay if the chips overlap some).
Sprinkle half of the cheese over the chips, followed by the black beans, jalapenos and green onions. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.
Set the temperature to 325°F for 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
Open the basket and use a spatula to transfer the nachos to a serving platter.
Serve hot with the optional salsa on the side or poured on top.

Notes

You can use a parchment paper liner in your air fryer basket instead of foil, if you wish.
You can use whatever type of shredded cheese you like including cheddar or Monterey Jack. For a dairy-free option, try the Daiya brand of shredded cheese substitute found in the refrigerator section of most grocery stores.
These nachos are best served right after they are done cooking.
If you don’t like black beans, you can leave them off. Or, you can substitute other types of cooked beans including pinto beans or white beans.
Some air fryer models needs to be preheated. Please refer to the owner’s manual of your particular model to see if you need to preheat it before using.

Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Air Fryer
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe
Calories: 173
Sugar: 0.7 g
Sodium: 268.4 mg
Fat: 9.8 g
Saturated Fat: 5.4 g
Carbohydrates: 11.5 g
Fiber: 4.4 g
Protein: 10.2 g
Cholesterol: 28 mg