Easy Tortilla Chips (Fried or Baked)

Skip the store-bought bag and make your own homemade tortilla chips instead! Here’s how you can create traditional tortilla chips as well as baked tortilla chips right in your kitchen.

While there are some really good store-bought Mexican chips available, nothing beats the taste of homemade tortilla chips! Homemade tortilla chips are easy to make and perfect for nacho tortilla chips or serving alongside your favorite dips and salsas.

I love pairing these tortilla chips with our fresh pico de gallo, homemade guacamole, creamy queso dip, and roasted tomatillo salsa. Whether you prefer corn chips or tortilla chips from tortillas, making them yourself is always the best choice.

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Table of Contents

Key Ingredients

Tortillas: Use corn tortillas, preferably stale or slightly dried out. I love using leftover homemade corn tortillas or good-quality store-bought tortillas. For the best flavor, look for tortillas made with nixtamalized corn (check for “nixtamal” or “nixtamalized” on the package). The ingredients list should be short, including “lime” or “cal”.
Oil: For frying, use a light-flavored oil with a high smoke point, like avocado, safflower, or peanut oil. For baking, lightly brush the tortillas with a little oil to help them crisp up.
Salt: Sprinkle fine sea salt over the chips as soon as they come out of the oil or oven. For lime-flavored chips, mix the salt with a bit of lime zest before sprinkling.

How to Make Tortilla Chips

You have two options for making homemade tortilla chips: fried or baked. For the crispiest tortilla chips, frying is the best method. Although baked tortilla chips are delicious, they will never be as light or crispy as the traditionally fried ones.

For crispy, light, and airy fried tortilla chips, you need to fry them in oil. Use a wide pan with an inch or two of oil (you don’t need more). Then, cut the tortillas into wedges and drop them into the hot oil. Cook until crisp and golden brown, which only takes a minute or two. Keep the oil temperature around 350°F.

As you can see from our photo, the tortilla triangles can be close together in the oil. However, you will likely need to fry your chips in batches.

For baked tortilla chips, use a large baking sheet and preheat your oven to 375°F (tips for convection and air fryer tortilla chips are included in the recipe). Cut the tortillas into wedges, brush them lightly with oil, and then arrange them on the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake until crisp and golden brown.

Although baked tortilla chips won’t be as light and crispy as fried tortilla chips, they are still delicious and much better than store-bought Mexican chips!

Best Tips for Homemade Tortilla Chips

For the best homemade tortilla chips, fry them. This tortilla chips recipe includes details for both fried and baked tortilla chips. While baked tortilla chips are excellent, they won’t be as light or crispy as the fried version. The recipe calls for 10 corn tortillas, but you can adjust the quantity depending on how many chips you want to make.

To get the best flavor, look for tortillas made using nixtamalized corn. Nixtamal is dried corn cooked and soaked in water with calcium hydroxide (slaked lime or cal). Not all store-bought tortillas use this method, which is why the flavor of corn tortillas can vary. Look for “nixtamal” or “nixtamalized” on the package, or check the ingredients list for “lime” or “cal.”

For making nacho tortilla chips, follow the same methods. You can easily turn homemade tortilla chips into nacho tortilla chips by adding cheese and your favorite toppings. Enjoy these nacho tortilla chips with our creamy queso dip or fresh salsa for a perfect snack.

Makes 60 Chips or More

You Will Need:

10 corn tortillas or more for additional chips. Stale or dried-out tortillas work best.
3/4 to 1 cup neutral, high-heat cooking oil like avocado oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, or vegetable oil.
Sea salt to taste.

Directions for Fried Tortilla Chips

Cut each tortilla into 6 triangles.
Line a plate with paper towels or a clean dishcloth, and set aside.
Add the oil to a wide, high-sided pot or cast iron pan until it’s about 1/2 inch deep. Heat on medium-high until the oil reaches 350°F (177°C).
Add a single layer of tortilla triangles to the hot oil. Use a slotted spoon or tongs to push them down into the oil.
Cook until the chips are crispy and golden brown, about 2 minutes.
Transfer them to the prepared plate and sprinkle lightly with salt. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.

How to Make Baked Tortilla Chips

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat.
Spray or lightly brush the tortillas on both sides with oil.
Cut each tortilla into six triangles and arrange them in one layer on the baking sheets.
Bake until the chips are crisp and golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Check the chips often, and if some are browning quicker than others, rotate the baking sheets to ensure even baking.
Lightly season each chip with salt and then serve.

Tips

If you don’t have a thermometer: Test the oil by dropping in a small tortilla piece. It should sizzle gently. If it browns too quickly, the oil is too hot, so remove the pan from the heat to cool slightly before continuing.
Storing: Homemade tortilla chips are best eaten the same day, but if you need to store them longer, allow them to cool completely and then place them into a resealable plastic bag or airtight container. They should keep this way for an extra day or two.
Convection oven: When using the convection setting, reduce the cooking temperature by 25°F and check the chips a few minutes before the recipe suggests. Some ovens already do this, so we recommend checking your oven manual.
Air fryer tortilla chips: Air fryer tortilla chips can be made by air frying lightly oiled tortilla triangles at 350°F (177°C) in a single layer until golden brown and crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Check on them as they cook to ensure they do not overbrown.

Enjoy your homemade tortilla chips with your favorite dips and salsas!

Nutrition Facts (Estimates)

Serving Size: About 12 chips
Calories: 177
Total Fat: 9.8g
Saturated Fat: 1.4g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 254.1mg
Carbohydrate: 21.4g
Dietary Fiber: 3g
Total Sugars: 0.4g
Protein: 2.7g

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In conclusion, making homemade tortilla chips is both fun and rewarding. Whether you opt for air fryer tortilla chips for a lighter snack or go classic with fried tortilla chips, you’ll find these corn chips far superior to store-bought varieties. Our tortilla chips recipe also lets you turn tortilla chips from tortillas into perfect nacho tortilla chips or simply enjoy them on their own. With fresh, flavorful Mexican chips right from your kitchen, you’ll have a delicious snack ready for any occasion. Dive into making your own homemade tortilla chips and enjoy the unbeatable taste and crunch they bring!