Air Fryer Cotija Crisps

This is a sponsored post by Real California Milk. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this website possible.

Cotija cheese is one of my favorite cheeses. Many people don’t know how versatile it is. Because of its low moisture, low fat content and salty in flavor, I like to use it as seasoning on most of my food. Whether it’s on pinto or black beans, a creamy guacamole or fried yolk, it’s a great topper on pretty much any Mexican dish.

This time, I decided to take this cheese to the next level. I decided to see what would happen if I air fried it. As I mentioned before, its fat content is pretty low, so I wasn’t expecting for it to melt and be gooey. I was hoping for it to meld together and crisp up to the point of a tortilla chip.

After several tries in temperature and time adjustment, changes in texture whether it should be sliced or crumbled, I had success.

The key is low temperature. I tried a few times with air fryer temperatures from 440°F and gradually decreasing to 270°F. Same with time. I started at 6 minutes with a happy result at 13 minutes. I finally had a winner.

Keep in mind that all air fryers are different. Your time and temperature might vary a bit. But I think if you use my time and temperature as a starting point, you will have better results quicker.

Related Recipe: Black Bean Chilaquiles

To not make a cheese mess in your air fryer, make sure you line the basket with parchment paper. I first placed the parchment paper in the basket without attaching it to anything and all I had left was a charred, curled piece of paper with burnt cheese crumbs all over.

All I did to solve this problem was to remove the detachable bottom of the basket and line only that piece with parchment paper and reattach. It’s an easy step and a step that you only need to do once. Even if you are frying up several cheese crisps. The paper won’t burn and will stay in place throughout the entire process.

These air fryer cotija cheese crisps can be served with guacamole, hummus and your favorite dip. Preferably with mild dips because the flavor is all in the crispy cheese.

Real California Dairy includes Hispanic-style creams and cheeses such as cotija, queso fresco, panela, requeson and Oaxaca. If you are not sure how to identify Real California Dairy in the dairy section of your grocery store, all you have to do is look for the Real California Milk seal on the packaging.

Want to learn more about Real California Milk. Find more details along with recipe inspiration at RealCaliforniaMilk.com.

Print