How to Make Homemade Tortilla Chips

Is there anything better than chips and salsa? It’s the ultimate summer appetizer, the perfect Super Bowl snack, and a must-have side for both Taco Tuesday dinners and Cinco de Mayo fiestas. But if there’s one way to make chips and salsa even better, it’s by using homemade tortilla chips. Sure, you can easily buy a bag from the grocery store, but you’ll be surprised by just how easy and delicious homemade tortilla chips can be. (You can whip up these restaurant-style chips in 10 minutes or less!) They’re totally customizable, too. Fry them, bake them, or spice them up with Ree Drummond's flavorful seasonings.

Whether you're looking for an impressive starter or you're just feeding a bunch of hungry teenagers, these salty, crunchy, warm chips will be a hit. The best part about homemade tortilla chips is that there are endless ways to use them. Crumble chips over chicken taco salad or a bowl of easy Instant Pot taco soup for dinner or serve them with dips like fresh corn salsa, classic guacamole, and creamy queso dip. Oh, and don't forget to add a pitcher of margaritas (or as Ree calls her favorite recipe, marg-a-Ree-tas) and turn it into a party!

Looking for a quick, easy dinner recipe? Try Ree’s solution: a plate of nachos! In the summer, she says, “We’ll do a lighter snacky dinner like cheese nachos with pico de gallo.” Homemade tortilla chips make the perfect base for nachos because they’re sturdier than most store-bought brands. Start with a base layer of chips and sprinkle on plenty of cheese and all your favorite toppings. Chicken or taco seasoned ground beef, hearty pinto beans, crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, sour cream, queso—you get the picture. Whether or not you find yourself taking on the nacho table trend, these homemade tortilla chips are worth a try. 

Are tortilla chips made from flour or corn tortillas? 

Tortilla chips are most often made with corn tortillas, and this recipe is no exception. Corn tortillas bring major flavor to chips, plus their texture offers the perfect bite and they fry (or bake) so nice and crispy! All the chips need is a good sprinkle of salt (but you can spice them up if you want, too) and they're ready to munch on.

How do you make tortilla chips from scratch?

You can make homemade tortilla chips in two ways: deep fried or baked. Both are delicious and offer different pros and cons. While fried chips take a little more effort, they’ll give you that fresh-from-the-fryer crunch and will resemble the chips you’ve probably had in restaurants. Baked chips are an easy, hands-off way to make homemade tortilla chips, but they won’t have the signature crunch of fried chips.  

For fried tortilla chips: You'll need a heavy high-sided pan or dutch oven and a thermometer (if you have one) to heat the oil to 350 degrees. Fry the corn tortilla wedges in batches, stirring to prevent them from overlapping, until they're golden and crisp. It only takes about 1 minute, so keep a close eye on them! Then use a spider or slotted spoon to remove them to a towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt right away! Note: A spider is a great tool for frying. It allows you to remove a large batch of chips all at once and drain well to remove as much oil as possible.  

For baked tortilla chips: Toss the corn tortilla wedges with oil and place on a baking sheet. You'll season them before baking so sprinkle with salt or pick a seasoning blend, like taco seasoning or cajun seasoning.  And bake in a 325 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes until golden. 

Why are my homemade tortilla chips chewy?

If your freshly fried or baked tortilla chips turn out chewy, it could be because you didn't cook them long enough. You want to cook the chips until they're lightly golden and deliciously crunchy, which typically takes 12 to 15 minutes in the oven or just about a minute when frying. Speaking of frying, it's also important that your oil reaches 350˚F before you drop in the tortillas to ensure maximum crispiness. Be sure not to overcrowd the Dutch oven with chips; you want to fry the tortillas in 3 or 4 batches.

How do you keep homemade tortilla chips fresh?

Homemade tortilla chips are best served fresh—straight from the fryer or oven. But if you made too many (which is never the case) or you’re saving them for later, the fried tortilla chips can be stored in a paper bag or airtight container for up to one week. Baked tortilla chips are better served right away, as they tend to get stale quickly.