Baked Tortilla Chips

Learn how to make your very own Baked Tortilla Chips using leftover corn tortillas from taco night! With less oil, this homemade tortilla chips recipe is a healthier alternative to store-bought chips. Make some pico de gallo or homemade hummus for a healthy, delicious snack or appetizer.

It’s hard to call this a recipe. It’s more of a technique to make your own baked tortilla chips. Not only are they cheaper and healthier than store-bought baked chips, but you also get to control the seasoning and add any flavors and spices you like. 

Whenever I can, I prefer to make my own versions of processed foods, like tortilla chips, queso, or even regular potato chips. These chips are no exception. They only take 10 minutes to make and are perfect for serving with tacos, burrito bowls, salsa verde, and more. We also love making homemade baked taco shells and tostada shells.

Also keep in mind, that there is nothing inherently unhealthy about corn tortillas, they just become unhealthy when they are deep-fried in oil or eaten in excess. In fact, corn tortillas are a good source of fiber and a great way to serve veggie and protein-packed dips and salsas like this creamy cilantro lime dip, cauliflower hummus, and roasted red pepper dip.

Key Ingredients For Baked Tortilla Chips

There are just two ingredients in these chips. If you have corn tortillas in your house, it's easy and straightforward to turn them into your own chips.

• Corn Tortillas: For classic tortilla chips, make these baked chips with corn tortillas. With that said, you can also make these with flour tortillas, low-carb tortillas, or other alternative tortillas. Just pay attention to the chips in the oven since some tortillas cook faster than others. 
• Salt & Pepper: This is a basic recipe, so you can change the spices up and make the chips tangy or spicy. Have fun creating your own spice blend for them!
• Cooking Spray: To make them crispy (and prevent them from sticking to the baking sheet), I suggest spraying down the baking sheet and spritzing the tortillas with some spray. The type of spray doesn't matter since you aren't going to be eating very much of it, so use your favorite brand/type. If you prefer using olive oil or vegetable oil, then brush the tortillas with oil on both sides before baking.

Note: For a complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make these homemade baked tortilla chips, take a look at the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

How to Make Baked Corn Tortilla Chips

These chips couldn't be easier to make!

1. Cut the corn tortillas into chips

The easiest way to prep a bunch of homemade chips at the same time is to stack 6-8 corn tortillas together. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut the tortilla into wedges.

Usually, I like to cut the tortillas in half and then slice each half into 3 equal wedges on each side. This gives you 6 chips per tortilla.

2. Season and add flavor

Now it's time to add flavor to the tortilla chips. Start off by adding oil to the chips. There are a few options to do this. The easiest is simply spraying them with cooking spray on both sides. You can also use a pastry brush to brush oil onto the chips. Or if you are preparing a lot of chips, consider adding them to a bowl and gently tossing them with oil. 

Please note, that you just want a thin coating of oil. They shouldn't be dripping with oil or saturated. 

Now it's time to add seasoning. You can sprinkle the chips with salt or any type of seasoning you like. Add some fresh lime juice. Don't be scared to play with the flavor. We even make cinnamon sugar chips for dessert dips.

3. Bake until crispy

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. You may need more than one baking sheet depending on how many chips you are baking.

Place the chips in a single layer, making sure they are stacked in layers or overlapping too much.

Cook for 8-10 minutes until they are lightly browned and crispy. They will continue to crisp up as they cool. 

Air Fryer Option

You can make corn tortilla chips in the air fryer! Follow the exact instructions in the oven to prep the chips. Then preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees. Cook for 7-9 minutes, shaking the air fryer basket halfway through cooking.

Four Seasoning Ideas for Homemade Tortilla Chips

Season up your chips before baking them with these fun flavor ideas. Make sure to spray the chips with cooking spray or brush with olive oil as well.

• Chili lime: Toss the tortilla wedges with 1.5 teaspoons of fresh lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder, and salt. 
• Parmesan garlic: Toss the tortilla wedges with 2 tbsp of Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley, black pepper, and salt. 
• Cool ranch: Toss the tortilla wedges with 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite ranch seasoning
• Cinnamon sugar: Add 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

What To Serve With Homemade Tortilla Chips

When I crave a salty and crunchy snack, I make a batch of these baked tortilla chips. They are so crispy and satisfying. They are delicious with homemade and store-bought dips like:

• Spicy cheddar corn dip 
• Creamy avocado salsa verde 
• Edamame hummus
• Mango salsa 
• Slow cooker spinach artichoke dip with kale
• Baba ganoush
• Avocado ranch dip
• Corn salsa

For Taco Tuesday (or if you are in the mood for chips and dip), I like to make my family's favorite tacos for dinner (shrimp tacos with cilantro avocado slaw) and serve these tortilla chips on the side. Make extra slaw and scoop it up with the chips.

Make Nachos! If you want to make healthy nachos at home, these chips are a great option. Pile them high with black beans or ground taco meat, cheese, and jalapenos. Bake for 10-15 minutes in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Add salsa, guacamole, cilantro, diced tomatoes, and black olives for a healthier version of nachos.

Meal Prep Lunch: They are also great with this healthy chicken salad or tuna salad for a quick and easy lunch.

You just can't go wrong with these chips. They are so dippable and crunchy!

Recipe Tips And Ideas For Baked Tortilla Chips

Follow these tips to make sure the chips turn out crispy every single time!

• Similar size: To make sure that I cut the tortillas into even shapes, I fold them in half twice. It's essential to cut them all the same size so that they all bake simultaneously. Otherwise, you might have one burned piece and a few pieces that aren't crispy yet.
• Single layer: These chips need to be in a single layer on the baking sheet so they get nice and crispy. Do not pile them on top of each other.
• Cooking spray or brush olive oil: Add cooking spray to the tortillas (or brush with oil) before you add the seasoning. This will help the seasoning to stick to the tortilla chips better and ensure they are flavorful. 
• Salt: Tortilla chips need salt to be flavorful. Kosher salt or sea salt is the best option for seasoning these chips.
• Mix up the spices and seasoning: The best thing about this recipe is how easy it is to customize it! Depending on what I am serving them with, I have been known to sprinkle them with cumin, chili powder, homemade taco seasoning, a squeeze of lime juice, Zatar, curry powder, and even a little cinnamon and sugar. Have fun with it!

Storing Leftover Tortilla Chips

Keep these tortilla chips in a resealable bag in your pantry. They will stay fresh for up to a week. Since they are so easy to make, I prefer to make enough to last a few days. Plus, they taste a lot better when they are fresh out of the oven too!

Can I use flour tortillas instead of corn?

Yes, you can use flour tortillas instead of corn. The baking time might change slightly, but not much. Check on them after about 6 minutes.

Are tortilla chips healthy?

Corn and flour tortillas are excellent to eat in moderation. Baked tortilla chips are a lot healthier for you than fried tortilla chips because they use a lot less oil and grease. If you are trying to eat low-carb, then pork rinds or baked parmesan crisps are a better choice for you.