Homemade Doritos in the Air Fryer | Copycat Nacho Cheese

These homemade Doritos start with plain tortillas, crisp up in the air fryer in about 6 minutes, and get tossed in a copycat nacho cheese seasoning you mix from pantry powders. They taste remarkably close to the bag, and you control the salt, the spice, and how much seasoning goes on each chip.

My son Jason is a huge Doritos fan. One afternoon we ran out, and I already had a batch of air fryer tortilla chips going. So he looked up what goes into the seasoning, we found almost everything in the pantry, and we spent the afternoon testing batches together. This is the version we kept.

If you came here looking for ideas that use a bag of store-bought Doritos, this recipe is the from-scratch version: real tortillas, real cheese powder, and an air fryer doing the crisping.

Why Make Homemade Doritos in the Air Fryer

• Less oil than frying. A light brush or spray of oil is enough. The air fryer does the crisping without a pot of hot oil.
• Fast. Each batch takes 5 to 7 minutes, and the seasoning mixes in a minute.
• You control the flavor. Turn the salt down, add heat with cayenne, skip the MSG, or switch to Cool Ranch.
• The seasoning keeps. Mix a jar once and you have enough for several batches.

Ingredients for Homemade Doritos

Exact amounts are in the recipe card below. Here is what each ingredient does and what to swap if you can’t find it.

• Corn tortillas. Corn gives the closest Doritos flavor and crunch. Flour tortillas work too, but they puff up and taste more like pita chips.
• Oil or cooking spray. A thin coat helps the chips crisp and gives the seasoning something to cling to. Vegetable, avocado, or olive oil all work.
• Cheddar cheese powder. This is the base of the nacho cheese flavor. Look for it in the spice aisle, near the popcorn toppings, or online. You can also make your own (see below).
• Tomato powder. Adds the tangy, slightly sweet note that makes the flavor taste like Doritos and not just cheese. If you can’t find it, grind sun-dried tomatoes finely, or leave it out and add an extra pinch of paprika.
• Buttermilk powder. Adds tang and a creamy flavor. It’s usually sold near the baking supplies.
• Dried onion flakes. Crush them finely before mixing so they stick to the chips. Onion powder works as a swap.
• Garlic powder and smoked paprika. Savory depth and the orange color.
• Salt. Fine salt sticks to chips better than coarse salt.
• MSG (optional). This is the savory boost in the original chips. Leave it out if you prefer; the chips are still good.
• Sugar. A small amount balances the salt and tang.

How to Make Homemade Doritos in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Mix the seasoning. Stir all the seasoning ingredients together in a large bowl. Crush the onion flakes first if they’re large.

Step 2: Oil and cut the tortillas. Brush or spray both sides of each tortilla lightly with oil. Stack a few and cut them into 6 or 8 triangles with a pizza cutter or sharp knife.

Step 3: Preheat the air fryer. Heat it to 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 4: Air fry in a single layer. Arrange the wedges in the basket without overlapping. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp. Work in batches.

Step 5: Season while hot. Tip the hot chips into the seasoning bowl, give them a very light mist of oil, and toss until coated. Seasoning sticks best while the chips are still warm.

Step 6: Cool and serve. Spread the chips out to cool for a few minutes. They get crunchier as they cool.

Tips for Crispy Chips and Seasoning That Sticks

• Season after cooking, not before. Cheese powder and sugar can scorch at 350°F, and dry seasoning blows around in the air fryer. Tossing the hot chips afterward gives a cleaner, cheesier coating.
• Use a light hand with oil. Too much oil makes the chips greasy and chewy. A thin, even coat is all they need.
• Don’t crowd the basket. Overlapping chips steam instead of crisp. A single layer is worth the extra batch.
• Watch the last minute. Air fryers vary. Thin tortillas can go from golden to burnt quickly, so check at 5 minutes.
• Day-old tortillas work best. Slightly dry tortillas crisp faster than very fresh ones.
• Stuck chips? Use a perforated air fryer parchment liner, and add it only once the basket is loaded so it doesn’t blow into the heating element.

How to Make Cheese Powder in the Air Fryer

You can make your own cheese powder if your air fryer has a dehydrate setting. Regular air fry settings run too hot and will melt the cheese instead of drying it.

1. Finely grate a sharp, aged cheddar or Parmesan. Harder, drier cheeses work best.
2. Spread it thinly on a perforated liner or the dehydrator rack.
3. Dehydrate at about 145°F to 150°F for several hours, until the cheese is completely dry and snaps. The time depends on your machine and the cheese.
4. Blot off any oil with a paper towel and let it cool fully.
5. Grind it to a fine powder in a spice grinder or blender.

Homemade cheese powder has more fat than store-bought, so keep it in an airtight jar in the fridge and use it within a few weeks.

Cool Ranch Doritos Variation

Use the same tortillas and air fryer steps, and swap in this seasoning:

• 1/4 cup buttermilk powder
• 2 tablespoons cheddar cheese powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley, crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried dill
• 1 teaspoon dried chives
• 1 teaspoon tomato powder
• 1 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon MSG (optional)

Ranch seasoning here means a dry powder, not bottled ranch dressing. A packet of dry ranch mix also works in a pinch.

Baked Doritos in the Oven

No air fryer, or making a big batch? Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the oiled wedges in a single layer on baking sheets and bake for 7 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp. Toss with the seasoning while hot.

Fried Doritos on the Stovetop

For the most authentic texture, heat about 1 inch of neutral oil to 350°F in a heavy pot. Fry the wedges in small batches for 2 to 3 minutes, until crisp and golden. Drain on paper towels, then toss with the seasoning right away.

How to Store Homemade Doritos

Let the chips cool completely, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If they soften, re-crisp them in the air fryer at 350°F for 1 to 2 minutes.

The dry seasoning mix keeps in a sealed jar in the pantry for up to 3 months, as long as you use store-bought cheese powder. If you use homemade cheese powder, refrigerate the mix.Pin!

Homemade Doritos FAQs

Are corn or flour tortillas better for homemade Doritos? Corn tortillas taste and crunch most like real Doritos. Flour tortillas make a lighter, puffier chip with a milder flavor.

Why won’t the seasoning stick to my chips? The chips are either too dry or already cool. Toss them while they’re hot, with a very light mist of oil, and use finely ground seasoning.

Can I put the seasoning on before air frying? You can, but some of it will blow off and the cheese powder may darken. Seasoning after cooking gives better flavor and color.

Can you freeze Doritos? Yes. Cooked homemade chips freeze in an airtight bag for up to 1 month; re-crisp them in the air fryer at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes. Store-bought Doritos can also be frozen in their sealed bag, though they keep well at room temperature anyway.

Do I have to use MSG? No. It adds the savory depth of the original, but the chips are still flavorful without it.

Can I use these for air fryer Doritos nachos? Yes. Spread them in a single layer, top with cheese, and air fry at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes until melted. My air fryer nachos with refried beans walk through the method.

What else can I make with Doritos in the air fryer? Crushed Doritos make a crunchy coating for chicken. Try my air fryer Doritos-crusted chicken tenders.