Vegan 21 Layer Air Fryer Nachos

Introduction

My cousin wanted me to get into veganizing some of TikTok's food trends, so I will give it a try with this recipe.

Here is more information on how Josh Elkin makes his trendy 21 layer air fryer nachos and then specifics on how to make his recipe vegan.

Original 21 Layer Air Fryer Nachos Recipe

The original recipe is by Josh Elkin from Recipe Champions. After putting the initial 18 layers on it, cook it in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Finally, you add the final toppings and serve immediately.

• 2 bags of Doritos (you chose the flavor)
• 2 cups salsa verde
• 1 pound tacos seasoned ground beef
• 1 cup black beans
• 4 cups grated Mexican blended cheese
• 1 cup pickled jalapeños
• ½ cup fresh jalapeños
• 1 cup diced white onions
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 cup pico de gallo
• 1 cup guacamole

Why this recipe isn't vegan

• Doritos: Some Doritos flavors aren't vegan. For example, Nacho Cheese Doritos contain several forms of dairy. The flavor used in the original video (Salsa Verde) appears vegan at first glance. Still, since it contains natural and artificial flavors and no vegan labels, it is impossible to tell if this Doritos flavor is vegan without contacting the company directly. The following is from the Doritos FAQ page. As of October 2, 2023, none of the Doritos flavors are labeled vegan on PepisCo's website.

To see which Doritos are vegan we recommend visiting PepsiCo Product facts to check out a bag if you do not have the product in front of you. On PepsiCo Product Facts, you are able to filter by brand and by claims & certifications to find the product you want to learn more about. Click on Doritos under brand, click on vegan under claims & certifications, and see which Doritos are vegan. Doritos

• Ground Beef: Vegans abstain from consuming animals. Beef is meat from dead cows.
• Cheese: Vegans do not eat any animal byproducts. Regular cheese is made out of dairy that comes from cows.
• Sour Cream: Normal sour cream is not vegan due to containing dairy.

Vegan 21 Layer Air Fryer Nachos Recipe

The pro of making food at home is you can customize it according to taste, dietary preference, allergies, brand preference, and so much more. Here is a vegan 21 layer air fryer recipe with vegan alternatives to regular ingredients plus food measurements that are easy to find in American grocery stores and supermarkets.

Ingredients

• 20 oz of vegan chips
  • Vegan Doritos: Use four 5 oz bags of Siete Foods Nacho Cheese (mild chips) or five 4 oz bags of Siete Foods Fuego (spicy chips).
  • Regular Nacho Chips: Use a little less than two 12 oz bags of Tostitos Original Restaurant Style.
• 1 16 oz jar (2 cups) of salsa from your preferred brand
  • Examples: Mild, roja, verde, fruit, etc.
• 1 package of taco seasoning
  • Examples: Siete Foods or Simply Organic
• 1 package of cooked vegan ground beef with preselected taco seasoning cooked in it
  • Examples: Gardein, Impossible, Beyond Beef, etc.
  • Optional: Cook vegan ground beef with 8 oz of fresh mushrooms. Save a serving or two for taco filling if you prefer smaller taco meat layers.
• 1 16 oz can of beans
  • I recommend black beans, pinto beans, or three bean blend (contains kidney, pinto, and black beans).
• 1 quart (4 cups or 2 packages) of vegan shredded cheese
  • Spicy examples: Daiya Mexican 4 Cheeze or Daiya Monterey Jack
  • Mild examples: Follow Your Heart Mozzarella or Violife Cheddar
• 1 ½ cups of diced pepper according to your spice tolerance
  • Examples: Bell, jalapeño, Anaheim, poblano, serrano, or any pepper combo
• 1 medium white onion
  • Diced in mandoline
• ½ cup of vegan sour cream
  • Examples: Tofutti, Violife, Follow Your Heart, Forager Project, etc.
• 1 cup of pico de gallo
  • Premade or homemade
• 1 cup of guacamole
  • Premade or homemade

Equipment

• Air fryer
• Air fryer liner
• Spatulas
• Plate

Instructions

First, add the air fryer liner to the air fryer. Then, add the first 18 layers to the air fryer. Next, cook it in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Finally, take the nachos out of the air fryer, add the final toppings, and serve immediately.

1. 5 oz of vegan chips
2. ½ of vegan taco meat
3. 1 cup of vegan cheese
4. ½ jar (1 cup) of salsa
5. ½ can of beans
6. 5 oz of vegan chips
7. 1 cup of vegan cheese
8. 1 cup of peppers
9. 1 diced white onion
10. 5 oz of vegan chips
11. 1 cup of vegan cheese
12. ½ cup of pico de gallo
13. ½ jar (1 cup) salsa
14. ½ can of beans
15. 5 oz of vegan chips
16. ½ of vegan taco meat
17. 1 cup of vegan cheese
18. ½ cup of peppers
19. ½ cup of vegan sour cream
20. 1 cup of guacamole
21. ½ cup of pico de gallo

Conclusion

Whether you are a fan of using the air fryer or not, air fryer nachos are tasty and something you should make with your family and friends.

If you liked this blog post, you may also like these Mexican recipes and the following taco recipes. Let me know if you want me to veganize any other trendy TikTok recipes in the comments. ¡Nos vemos!