How to Reheat Nachos: 4 Easy Methods

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Nachos are such a widely loved dish, but they’re usually piled high, and you end up with leftovers that don’t seem easy to reheat! The good news for nacho lovers is I can teach you how to reheat nachos easily and make them with that same crispy texture and delicious flavor they had when they were first made! 

Nothing beats the taste of freshly made nachos with crispy tortilla chips, but leftovers can still be amazing! I’ll walk you through a few easy methods for reheating nachos that will help you get that same great taste and texture. So let’s get started and discover the perfect way to reheat nachos!

Things to Consider for Reheating Nachos

Reheating leftover nachos from a cold pile of soggy nachos to a crispy stack of nacho chips and delicious toppings is possible! The method you choose for reheating will depend on whether your nachos are already assembled or not.

If you brought home nachos from a restaurant and the cold toppings are already on the nachos and the chips are already covered in cheese, reheating will be a little more complicated.

Any toppings you can remove before reheating the chips, meat, and cheese should be removed. Toppings like sour cream, lettuce, black olives, and tomatoes that you don’t want heated can be scooped right off the top as best as possible and added back before serving. You can also add fresh cold toppings to liven up your leftover nachos!

If your nachos aren’t assembled, the process will be as simple as heating your cheese sauce or nacho cheese and ground beef and then assembling your toppings over a pile of tortilla chips.

For future reference, when you make nachos at home, be sure to store all of your ingredients in separate containers for easy reheating and fresher tasting leftovers that aren’t a big soggy mess.

Here we’re going to focus on reheating nachos that are already assembled since that’s a trickier process.

How to Reheat Nachos

The best way to reheat nachos will be different for everyone! It will depend on the kitchen appliances you have, the time you want to spend reheating, and how crispy you want your nachos to be when you reheat them.

Check out the step-by-step process for each of the effective methods for this delicious dish below to choose your preferred method. 

How to Reheat Nachos in the Oven or Toaster Oven

The conventional oven or toaster oven method is an easy way to get your nachos crispy again.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Remove any cold toppings you can/want to.
3. Place nachos on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, oven-safe plate, or oven-safe pan. 
4. Place the baking sheet in preheated oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the chips are crispy. 
5. Reassemble and serve warm.

How to Reheat Nachos in the Air Fryer

The air fryer is a great option if you want to get crisp nachos in a short amount of time!

1. Preheat air fryer to 375°F. 
2. Remove any cold toppings you can/want to.
3. Place nachos in a single layer in air fryer basket. 
4. Place basket in preheated air fryer and fry for 3-4 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the chips are crispy. 
5. Reassemble and serve warm. 

How to Reheat Nachos on the Stove-Top 

You can even reheat nachos on the stovetop using a skillet!

1. Remove any cold toppings you can/want to.
2. Place the nachos in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. 
3. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cheese is melted and the chips are crispy. 
4. Reassemble and serve warm. 

How to Reheat Nachos in the Microwave

If you aren’t picky about your nachos being crispy again, the microwave is fast and easy for reheating!

Soggy chips covered in cheese are actually much tastier then it sounds, and they can easily be eaten with a fork. The microwave is an effective way of reheating if the temperature is the only thing you care about. 

1. Remove any cold toppings you can/want to. 
2. Place the nachos on a microwave-safe plate. Spread them out evenly and cover them with a paper towel. 
3. Heat the nachos in the microwave for 1 minute. 
4. Check to see if they are warm throughout. If not, heat for an additional 30 seconds, checking in between to make sure they don’t get too hot. 
5. Replace or add any desired toppings and heat for an additional 30 seconds or until the cheese is melted. Enjoy!