These savory air fryer Irish nachos use potato slices in place of the traditional tortilla chips. Top them with bacon, cheddar, green onions, and sour cream for a loaded potato taste!
Wash and dry your potatoes, and then cut them into thin slices (a mandolin slicer is great if you have one to ensure even thickness).I try to aim for about ⅛” - ¼” thick
2 Medium potatoes
Add the potato slices to a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and toss them until well coated
2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tsp salt, 1 Tsp garlic powder, ½ Tsp black pepper
Place the potato slices into your air fryer’s basket or rack in a single layer (a tiny amount of overlap is OK, but try to keep them even; cook in batches if needed)
Cook on the air fry setting at 400°F for 5 minutes. Then, flip the slices over and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, until the edges are browned to your liking and the potato is tender. Note: if your potatoes are uneven, some will cook faster than others. You can remove brown ones to a plate and leave those that need some extra time in for a few more minutes
Once all of your potatoes are air fried, add a piece of foil or parchment to your air fryer’s basket or rack. For basket styles, it’s fine to have it come up the sides a bit so it’s easier to grab later. Note: the air fryer will be hot at this point, so use caution and some oven mitts for this step!
Place half the fried potatoes onto the foil, then add half the cheese and bacon. Repeat with a second layer (I try not to go higher than about ⅔ or ¾ of my basket, as you don’t want toppings flying up into the heating element)
4 Slices bacon, 1 Cup shredded Irish cheddar
Cook on the air fry setting at a lower temperature of 350°F for 3-5 minutes, until the cheese is melted
Use the edges of the foil to grab the potato nachos out of the air fryer (or you could carefully tip them onto a plate with the help of a spatula). Top with green onions and sour cream (if desired) and enjoy!
1 Green onion, 1 Tbsp sour cream
Notes
I use Russet potatoes, but Yukon Gold and red are great as well (though cooking times can vary slightly). You can also shortcut this recipe by frozen waffle fries (which cook in about 10 minutes at 400°F), or by using kettle cooked potato chips as a base and skipping to the cheese melting, which takes under 5 minutes!
Seasonings are adjustable to taste (including omission). Other good options include onion powder, thyme, or oregano
You can use other types of cheese instead of the Irish cheddar. Try yellow or white cheddars, or cheddar jack. If you dislike cheddar cheese, you could also use monterey jack, or swiss pairs well with corned beef
Instead of bacon, substitute any cooked meats you like. Brisket, corned beef, ground beef, shredded chicken, or black beans for a vegetarian option
Other good topping options include pico de gallo, pickled onions, fresh or pickled jalapenos, guacamole, chives, cilantro, or horseradish sauce
The potato crispiness is personal preference. After flipping, at about 5 minutes my potatoes were cooked but floppy still, but at 10 minutes they were crispy, brown, and closer to chips. Both taste great, so it’s really your call how you’d like to enjoy them!
I made my Irish nachos in my Ninja air fryer and cooked my potatoes for about 13 minutes in total, and 4 minutes for the cheese melting as a reference point. Other air fryers can vary slightly, as well as the thickness of your potatoes
Irish potato nachos are best enjoyed fresh. However, you can cook the potatoes and bacon ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Then, simply assemble and cook for about 5 minutes at 350°F to melt the cheese and warm the potatoes and bacon
If you do have leftovers you want to reheat, try to scrape off toppings as much as possible. Reheat on a sheet of foil or parchment for 3-5 minutes at 350°F. Your cheese and potatoes will get a little more brown, but it will still taste good! Add new cold toppings before serving
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand, variety, and size of ingredients, toppings and sauces added, thickness of potato slices, and total quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only