Homemade Tortilla Chips
Perfectly crisp, crunchy homemade tortilla chips can be fried, baked, or air-fried. Enjoy fresh, warm, crispy chips with guacamole or your favorite salsa with only 3 ingredients and 15 minutes. A super quick, easy, and guilt-free snack!
Although fried tortilla chips taste superior, I’m here to tell you that you can have a guilt-free snack anytime you want by baking or air-frying them! Plus, they taste as good (or better) as the ones from Mexican restaurants. How cool is that? Now, get ready with your favorite dip.
Why We Love Tortilla Chips
Let’s admit it, snacking is as comforting as wearing sweatpants all day. During the pandemic, I didn’t even put on a pair of jeans because this gal here loves her sweatpants and yoga outfits!
And that’s where tortilla chips come in. They have everything we crave—the crunch, the saltiness, the earthiness, and the satisfying complex carbs. They’re also the perfect boat for carrying salsas and dips straight to our mouths. Add a splash of citrusy or vinegar sourness and umami to the dips, and you have all five flavor profiles covered.
How to Make Homemade Tortilla Chips (Three Ways)
Fried: Method 1
- Cut the corn tortillas into triangles with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. (Photos 1-2)
- Fry – Carefully drop the chips into the 350°F (178 ℃) oil with tongs. Fry for 1- 2 minutes on each side until crisp. Be sure not to overcrowd the fryer. (Photos 3-4)
- Drain the excess oil off the chips on a plate lined with paper towels.
- Season with salt to taste. Enjoy them fresh or keep them in an airtight container.
Baked: Method 2
- Brush the tortillas with cooking oil. Pile them into a stack and slice like a pie into triangles with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. You may need to limit the stack to 5-6 tortillas. (Photo 1)
- Bake – Place the chips on a prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in a 350°F (178 ℃) oven until golden brown and crisp, rotating the baking sheets once (12-15 minutes). (Photo 2)
- Season with salt to taste. Enjoy them fresh or keep them in an airtight container.
Air Fryer: Method 3
- Brush the tortillas with cooking oil. Pile them into a stack and slice like a pie into triangles with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. You may need to limit the stack to 5-6 tortillas.
- Air Fry – Place the tortilla triangles in your air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry at 350°F (178 ℃) for 5-6 minutes or until they start to brown around the edges. Shake the basket halfway through air frying. (Photos 1-2)
- Serve – The cooking time may vary, depending on the brand and size of the tortilla. Transfer chips to a wire rack to cool completely. They will crisp as they cool.
- Season with salt to taste. Enjoy them fresh or keep them in an airtight container. Serve with guacamole and restaurant-style, mango, or pineapple black bean salsa.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Yay for no unpronounceable chemical preservatives. However, that means homemade chips last for 8-10 days in the pantry in an airtight container instead of 2 months.
To bring back the crispiness, reheat them briefly in the oven and air fryer.
Dips That Go Great With Tortilla Chips
More Mexican Comfort Foods to Explore
Homemade Tortilla Chips
Ingredients
- 24 8-inch corn tortillas (day-old is best, and flour tortillas work if that's what you have)
- oil for frying
- salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning, if desired
Instructions
Fried Tortilla Chips
- Pile tortillas in a stack and slice like a pie into triangles with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. You may need to limit the stack to 5-6 tortillas.
- In a large pot or fryer, heat oil to 350°F (178 ℃).
- Carefully drop tortillas into the hot oil with tongs. Fry for 1- 2 minutes on each side until crisp. Be sure not to overcrowd the fryer.
- Remove chips from oil with a slotted spoon and drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
- Season with salt to taste. Enjoy them fresh or keep them in an airtight container.
Baked Tortillas Chips
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (178 ℃).
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
- Brush the tortillas with cooking oil.
- Pile them into a stack and slice like a pie into triangles with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. You may need to limit the stack to 5-6 tortillas.
- Place the chips on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
Air-Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F (178 ℃).
- Brush the tortillas with cooking oil.
- Pile them into a stack and slice like a pie into triangles with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. You may need to limit the stack to 5-6 tortillas.
- Place the tortilla triangles in your air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry for 5-6 minutes or until they start to brown around the edges. Shake the basket halfway through air frying.
- The cooking time may vary, depending on the brand and size of the tortilla. Transfer chips to a wire rack to cool completely. They will crisp as they cool.
Tips & Notes:
- Swap out flavors with chili powder, Creole seasoning, or jerk seasoning.
- Day-old tortillas work best for that nice, crispy texture.
- Please don’t walk out of the kitchen while baking the chips because they burn quickly.
- Make sure your cooking oil is at 350°F (178 ℃). You can check it using a deep-fry or candy thermometer. Don’t worry if you don’t have one, though. You can easily check if the oil is ready by placing a small piece of tortilla in the oil, and if it starts sizzling, then it’s ready.
- As for the cooking oil, you can use canola, vegetable, peanut, or any high-smoke oil.
- Nutritional information is a courtesy only. Please keep in mind that it’s a rough estimate, and it can vary based on the ingredients used.
Ha! Yesterday 5-1-20, I attempted to make some tortilla chips, but because I couldn’t find a recipe I just dried up flour tortilla and made what tasted like pita chips. Way to come through universe!!!
Yes! The universe opened up to your desires . Happy eating !!!