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Home » Kitchen Tips and Info

How to Reheat Nachos

Last Modified: Jan 20, 2025. Originally Published: Oct 30, 2023 by Janessa.

Next time have some leftover nachos that you want to restore to their fresh state, try one of these reheating methods. Learn about the different ways to reheat your cold nachos so that you can enjoy them the next day too.

Jump to:
  • Storage
  • Reheating in the Microwave
  • Reheating in the Oven
  • Reheating in the Toaster Oven
  • Reheating in a Skillet
  • Reheating in the Air Fryer
  • Summary
  • Best Nachos Recipes
  • Comments
Hand reaching for a nacho off of a sheet pan.

Calling all nacho lovers! If you've ever found yourself with a huge plate of nachos that you simply couldn't finish, I have good news for you- you can enjoy them for leftovers.

Nachos are our go-to Friday night dinner (these 6+ Unique and Tasty Nacho Recipes are the regular rotation). There is just something about the way that the cheese melts on all of your favorite toppings that says the weekend is here!

But from time to time, we have definitely found ourselves with a platter that we couldn't finish and so through the years, I have picked up a few tricks for storing and reheating them to their former glory (or at least close to it!).

From oven and microwave to air fryer and skillet, there are a few simple ways that you can reheat your nachos depending on whether your priority is quick or quality.

I'll walk you through the simple steps for each and let you in on the tips I have learned to help restore your leftover nachos in the most effective way possible.

Note: These steps are not intended or tested with nacho cheese sauce type nachos. This is for baked nachos with melted cheese.

Storage

How to Store

1. Cool. It is very important to allow your baking sheet of crispy nachos to cool completely on a wire rack. If you store it them too soon, the heat and moisture will cause soggy chips.

2. Package. You have two options depending on how much is leftover. You can either:

  • Keep it on the dish that it was made in and cover with aluminum foil
  • Transfer it into an airtight container

TOP TIP: If there are a lot of cold toppings on them (think fresh ingredients like diced tomatoes, pico de gallo, sour cream or guacamole), scoop off as much as you can and package it into a separate container so that the moisture from those doesn't lead to soggy nachos.

Or at the very least, if you don't package them separately, ensure that you remove these types of toppings before reheating for best results!

3. Store. Place in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Reheating in the Microwave

Time: 1 Minute
Results: Average

Nachos on a plate in the microwave.

How to Reheat

1. Place the amount that you would like to reheat on a microwave-safe plate.

2. Microwave on high for one to three 20-second intervals until the cheese is melted and warmed through.

3. Enjoy.

Nachos on a plate after being warmed in the microwave.

Pros, Cons and Notes on This Method

Pros:

  • Very Fast

Cons:

  • Won't restore the crispy texture
  • Not great for large portions

Takeaway:

If you just want a smaller portion, this is one of the easiest ways to reheat nachos. If you don't mind softer chips (more like the texture of corn tortillas), the flavor is still there.

Reheating in the Oven

Time: 20 Minutes
Results: Good

Tray of leftover nachos in the oven.

How to Reheat

1. Preheat to an oven temperature of 300 F degrees.

2. Place your delicious nachos on a baking sheet, lined with a silicone liner or parchment paper for even clean up, spread out in a single layer (or as close to a single layer as possible.). Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the melted cheese and toppings are once again hot.

3. Enjoy. Remove from the oven and serve hot.

Baking sheet with leftover nachos that have been warmed in the microwave.

Pros, Cons and Notes on This Method

Pros:

  • Helps to restore the crispy tortilla chips
  • Works for large or small portions

Cons:

  • More time consuming
  • Can be a lot to heat up the oven for smaller portions

Takeaway:

If you have a large batch and enough time to wait for the oven to preheat, this is a great way to restore leftovers.

Reheating in the Toaster Oven

Nachos on a pan in a toaster oven.

Time: 20 Minutes
Results: Good

How to Reheat

1. Preheat the toaster oven to 300 F degrees on the "convection oven or bake setting".

2. Place the nacho chips on a baking dish in a single layer and bake for 15-20 minutes until hot.

3. Enjoy.

Pan with leftover nachos spread out to reheat.

Pros, Cons and Notes on This Method

Pros:

  • Yields good nachos with decently crispy chips
  • Great for individual portions

Cons:

  • More time consuming than the microwave
  • Not great for large portions

Takeaway:

The toaster oven method is a great way to restore nachos when you are reheating a small amount.

Reheating in a Skillet

Time: 20 Minutes
Results: Good

How to Reheat

1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.

2. Add the chips in a single layer and cook covered for 2-3 minutes. If there is a lot of moisture, remove the lid after 2 minutes and allow to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes uncovered.

3. Enjoy! Move to a plate and serve hot.

Nachos in a skillet.

Pros, Cons and Notes on This Method

Pros-

  • Don't have to wait for the oven to heat up
  • Quick

Cons-

  • Not great for large amounts
  • Requires close supervision (they can go from warm to burnt in a hurry)

Takeaway-

The skillet method is a great option for reheating if you don't have a lot of time or a lot of nachos to warm up.

Reheating in the Air Fryer

Time: 5 Minutes
Results: Good

Nachos in the drawer of an air fryer.

How to Reheat

1. Place your nachos in a single layer (or close to single layer for best results) in the basket of your air fryer. Set to 300 F for 5 minutes, checking nachos after 3 minutes. Add more time if needed.

2. Enjoy. Remove from the basket with plastic or silicone tongs and serve hot.

Nachos that have been reheated in the basket of an air fryer.

Pros, Cons and Notes on This Method

Pros:

  • Helps to restore the crispy tortilla chips
  • Works for small to medium portions
  • Quick (no need to preheat)

Cons:

  • Limited by air fryer size for larger portions (but can reheat large amounts in portions)
  • Not everyone has access to an air fryer

Takeaway:

If you have access to an air fryer, this is an excellent way to reheat nachos.

Summary

Quickest

  • Microwave (<1 minute)
  • Skillet (3-4 minutes)
  • Air Fryer (5 minutes)

Best Results

  • Oven- If you are reheating a large amount, I found that this is the best way
  • Toaster Oven- Works well for a small amount
  • Air Fryer- Quick and good results for small and medium amounts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to reheat nachos?

Overall, the Air Fryer is the best option for reheating nachos as it is quick and yields good results. However, when done the right way, as outlined in this post, each of the methods (microwave, oven, skillet, toaster oven and air fryer) will work well.

How long are leftover nachos good for?

Leftover nachos will stay good in the refrigerator for about 2 days. For best results, store the cold toppings separate from the chips to prevent the chips from soaking up the extra moisture.

Best Nachos Recipes

Shredded Chicken Nachos
Perfect for entertaining on game day or a fun Friday night dinner, this nacho recipe is full of flavor thanks to the taco shredded chicken and is easily customized to include your favorite toppings.
Recipe
Hand grabbing a cheesy nacho chip.
Ground Turkey Nachos
Full of crunchy vegetables like red onion and peppers, creamy black beans, deliciously seasoned ground turkey (or use ground beef) and plenty of melted cheese, you'll love how easy and customizable this nacho recipe is.
Recipe
Hand grabbing a bite of ground turkey nachos.
Chicken Fajita Nachos
Crispy tortilla chips are topped with lots of cheese, perfectly sautéed fajita vegetables and juicy chicken in what I am sure will become one of your new favorite recipes.
Recipe
Sheet pan of nachos topped with chicken, peppers and cheese.
BBQ Chicken Nachos
This spin on shredded chicken nachos uses tangy barbecue sauce, plenty of melted cheese and red onions for a crowd pleasing appetizer.
Recipe
Hand taking a chip from a tray of nachos.
Chimichurri Chicken Nachos
Chimichurri adds the best fresh and zest flavor to this easy nacho recipe.
Recipe
Hand taking a tortilla chip from a tray of chimichurri chicken nachos.
Buffalo Chicken Nachos
Homemade Buffalo sauce is tossed with shredded chicken, spread over crispy tortilla chips and topped with two types of cheese for these Buffalo wing inspired nachos.
Recipe
Chicken nachos on a sheet pan topped with green onions.

I hope this post helps you to reheat your leftover nachos so that they taste freshly made!

And check out this Ultimate List of Nacho Toppings

« Shredded Chicken Nachos (With the BEST Easy Taco Chicken)
Ground Turkey Nachos »

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Janessa

Hi, I'm Janessa and I'm passionate about sharing recipes that are made with wholesome ingredients, are quick and easy and most importantly, delicious!

More about me →

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