How to Reheat Nachos (5 Ways to Keep Them Crispy)

To reheat nachos, place them on an oven-safe tray or dish. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Sprinkle additional cheese and toppings on them if desired.

Heat them for 10-15 minutes until the cheese melts and the nachos turn crispy.

In addition to the oven, there are a few other methods you can try to heat up your nachos. By using the skillet, toaster oven, air fryer, or broiler, you can achieve the perfect crispy crunch.

Learn more about these five easy methods to make the most of this classic Mexican snack!

1. How to Reheat Nachos in the Oven

The oven reheating method is ideal since it’s suitable for larger portions. It’s so perfect for game day. Here’s how to do it:

1. To reheat nachos in the oven, begin by preheating it to 300°F (150°C). 
2. Remove any cold toppings from the tortilla chips and put them on a plate.
3. Put a piece of parchment paper on a baking tray. Spread the nachos out on it, ensuring they’re well-spaced. Using parchment paper makes transferring the nachos to your serving dish a breeze while minimizing dishwashing. 
4. You can add any additional ingredients, such as extra cheese, to get that ooey-gooey deliciousness.
5. Place the tray of nachos in the oven and bake them until they become nice and crispy. This should take about 10-15 minutes.

Ensure the nachos are spread out for exposure to the heat to achieve the crispiest outcome. 

If your nachos are on the soggy side, lower the oven temperature. Be sure to bake them for a longer period so they can dry properly. 

Before serving them, add the cold toppings (or warm them up in the microwave).

The nachos will have a pleasant toasted flavor.

2. How to Reheat Nachos in the Toaster Oven

When it comes to reheating a small portion of leftover nachos, the toaster oven is an excellent option. 

It can help restore the crispiness of the chips and the gooeyness of the cheese just as successfully. Here’s how to do it:

1. Begin by removing any cold toppings from the leftover nachos, and set them aside for later. 
2. Preheat your toaster oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit, and then place the nachos in an oven-safe dish. 
3. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. 
4. Bake the nachos for up to 15 minutes or until they’re warm and the cheese is melted. 
5. Be careful not to overcook them, or they will become dry and hard. 
6. Once they’re done, remove them from the toaster oven and let them cool for a few minutes. 
7. Then, replace the cold toppings, and your reheated nachos are ready to eat.

When reheating nachos in the oven or toaster oven, using aluminum foil to cover the dish has a few advantages. It traps the heat inside the dish. This creates a mini-oven effect. It allows the chips and toppings to heat up evenly. This is particularly important for nachos, which have multiple layers of toppings. They can be prone to uneven heating.

With a few minutes of patience, you can enjoy delicious and fresh-tasting nachos again. This method of reheating is perfect for a single serving of nachos. Plus, it’s just as effective as using a conventional oven. 

3. How to Reheat Nachos in a Skillet

Reheating nachos in a skillet isn’t difficult, but it’s definitely messier compared to most other methods. Plus, it can be awkward and might not crisp up the nachos as evenly as desired. 

But if that’s your only option, here’s the best way to do it:

1. Heat the skillet on medium heat.
2. Remove any cold toppings from the dish and place the nachos in the skillet to avoid sogginess.
3. Cover them with a snug-fitting lid to concentrate the heat and ensure even heating. 
4. Heat the nachos until they’re warm. They’re good to go when the cheese starts to melt. It usually takes 3-4 minutes. 
5. If your skillet doesn’t have a lid, you can use aluminum foil instead.

While the skillet method can work, other methods are more convenient and produce better results. 

4. How to Reheat Nachos in an Air Fryer

The air fryer is efficient and quick, but it has limitations, as it won’t accommodate larger portions. If you have a lot of nachos, consider heating them up in batches.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. To reheat nachos in an air fryer, preheat it to 300°F (150°C).
2. Remove the cold toppings from the chips to prevent sogginess. 
3. Spread out the nachos in the air fryer basket, ensuring they’re evenly distributed.
4.  Air-fry the nachos for 3-4 minutes until the chips become crispy. 
5. Then, replace the cold toppings with fresh ones and serve them. 

If you have messy toppings, line the basket with foil for easy clean-up.

When reheating nachos with meat or bean toppings, it’s best to add them after heating up the chips. The high heat of the air fryer can cause them to dry out and become tough. 

To avoid this, place the nacho chips and cheese in the air-fryer and heat them until the chips become crispy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes. 

Once the chips and cheese are heated, remove the dish from the air-fryer. Then, add the toppings on top. Return the dish to the air-fryer for an additional 1-2 minutes

The air fryer method always crisps up leftover nachos and melts the cheese perfectly. 

Be sure to check on the nachos regularly to prevent burning. If you have moist toppings, use caution to avoid drying them out.

5. How to Reheat Nachos in a Broiler

Leftover nachos lose their crispy texture. But reheating them under the broiler is a quick way to restore their crunchiness. 

However, it requires attention to avoid burning them. Here’s how you should go about it:

1. To reheat nachos under the broiler, start by preheating it. 
2. Remove any cold toppings such as guacamole, salsa, or veggies to prevent sogging. 
3. Then, transfer the leftover nachos to an oven-safe baking dish or baking sheet.
4. Place the dish under the broiler and keep a close eye on them to prevent burning. The nachos will take 1 to 3 minutes to reheat. 
5. After removing the nachos from the broiler, let them cool down for a few minutes to avoid burning yourself. 
6. Finally, add the cold toppings back on the nachos and enjoy the crispy nachos.

The broiler method is an excellent way to reheat nachos when you’re short on time and need to crisp them up quickly.

How to Store Nachos

To ensure that your nachos remain fresh and crispy, it’s essential to store them correctly. 

The first step is to remove any toppings from the nachos as soon as possible. Otherwise, they’ll soak up all the juices and become very soggy and mushy.

Keep the nachos at room temperature before storing them. This prevents the buildup of condensation in the container. This can leave you with soggy chips.

Next, place the room-temperature nachos in an air-tight container or freezer bag. Then, cover them with a paper towel before sealing the container.

The paper towel serves an important role in preventing the nachos from going stale. It does so by absorbing any excess moisture present in the container. 

Nachos can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

If you have any extra toppings, store them separately in airtight containers. Or, you can throw them away and add fresh toppings after reheating.

By following these simple storage tips, you can enjoy this family-favorite snack at its best for days to come.