• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

our recipes + your inbox = the eatmail

Join now

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

  • About
  • Contact

Live Eat Learn

Easy vegetarian recipes, one ingredient at a time

free ebook

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

  • Recipe Index
  • Vegetarian 101
  • Travel
  • Meal Plans
  • Course
    • Breakfasts
    • Lunches
    • Dinners
    • Appetizers
    • Sweets
    • Drinks
  • Diet
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Low Carb
    • Paleo
    • Raw
    • Vegan
  • Season
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
  • Ingredient
    • Avocado
    • Bean
    • Cauliflower
    • Chickpeas
    • Eggplant
    • Mushroom
    • Tofu
    • Quinoa
    • View All
  • Collections
    • All Time Favorites
    • Air Frying
    • Budget Friendly
    • Comfort Food
    • High Protein
    • Meal Prep
    • Meatless Monday
    • View All
  • Visit our kombucha site
    Visit our dog food blog
Home Eat Snacks

Homemade Tortilla Chips

5 from 4 votes
Recipe Print Share
Share on:
By: Sarah BondUpdated: Aug 11, 2022 8 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

This Homemade Tortilla Chips recipe is a delicious way to use your leftover tortillas, turning them into crispy restaurant-style tortilla chips! This recipe is sponsored by the United Soybean Board through Kitchen PLAY. Thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own.

Tortilla chips on a blue background with salsa

I’ve got a confession. Even though I’m a food blogger who should theoretically have a higher expectation for what constitutes “lunch”, my favorite midday meal is by far…. chips and salsa. So, with Cinco de Mayo just days away, it’s about time we learn to make fresh tortilla chips!

Making your own tortilla chips is a great way to not only save money and reduce food waste, but you can decide exactly what goes into your chips. 

Because when the ingredients list is just corn tortillas, oil, and salt, the quality of ingredients matters. Which is why today we’re using U.S.-grown soybean oil to fry up our chips!

Close up photo of corn tortilla chips

Why soybean oil?

There are two features you want to look out for when choosing a frying oil: smoke point and heart health. The smoke point of soybean oil is approximately 450°F, meaning you can pump the heat up pretty high before it starts to deteriorate. For reference, olive oil has a smoke point of about 410°F and canola is 435°F.

But perhaps more important than the smoke point is the fat composition of the oil, which is really where soybean oil shines. Soybean oil is higher in polyunsaturated fats (including omega-3 fatty acids) than some other frying oils, making it a heart healthy option when it comes to frying!

Most soybean oil is locally grown in the U.S. (meaning a lower carbon footprint getting to your table) and is a sustainable way of getting polyunsaturated fats into your diet. What are your thoughts on soybean oil? I’d love to hear what you think about it in the comments!

Pouring soybean oil into a cast iron skillet

Ingredients

To make homemade tortilla chips, you’ll just need 3 ingredients:

  • Corn Tortillas: Small corn tortillas are perfect here. You can use either fresh or stale tortillas.
  • Soybean Oil: A heart-healthy option, especially for frying! Soybean oil is often labelled as “vegetable oil”, so be sure to check the ingredients to ensure it’s soybean oil. 
  • Salt: It’s not a tortilla chip without a pinch of salt.
Cutting corn tortillas into triangles

How to make fried tortilla chips

Frying is my favorite way to make tortilla chips, giving them a delicate crunch that cooks up in just minutes. To make fried tortilla chips:

  1. Prep: Stack tortillas to make cutting quicker, cutting into 6 or 8 wedges. Heat soybean oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet (like a cast iron) over medium/high heat. Aim to keep the temperature around 360°F (182°C).
  2. Fry: Working in batches, gently drop tortilla triangles into the hot oil. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes, flipping as needed, until chips are golden and crispy.
  3. Eat: Use a metal slotted spoon to remove tortilla chips, placing them on a few layers of paper towels to soak up excess oil. Immediately sprinkle with salt and let cool slightly before eating.
Frying corn tortilla chips in a cast iron skilelt
Fried tortilla chips on a paper towel

How to make baked tortilla chips

For a lower fat option, you can also bake your tortilla chips! This results in a slightly crunchier chip, similar to a pita chip. 

  1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Lightly brush each tortilla with soybean oil. Stack tortillas and cut into 6 or 8 wedges. 
  2. Bake: Arrange triangles in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 6 minutes, flip each chip over, then continue baking for another 6 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
  3. Eat: Sprinkle warm tortilla chips with salt and enjoy!
Baked tortilla chips on a baking sheet

How to make air fried tortilla chips

Have an air fryer? Use it to make tortilla chips!

  1. Prep: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (176°C). Lightly brush each tortilla with soybean oil. Stack tortillas and cut into 6 or 8 wedges. 
  2. Bake: Arrange triangles in a single layer in your air fryer basket or rack (you may need to work in batches). Air fry for 8 minutes, either shaking the basket or flipping the chips halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy. 
  3. Eat: Sprinkle warm tortilla chips with salt and enjoy!

Looking for more fun homemade chips? Try our Oven Baked Apple Chips or Crispy Kale Chips!

Homemade tortilla chips in a basket
Close up photo of corn tortilla chips

Homemade Tortilla Chips

5 from 4 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Author: Sarah Bond
Calories: 140kcal
Servings: 4 servings
Print Rate
This Homemade Tortilla Chips recipe is a delicious way to use your leftover tortillas, turning them into crispy restaurant-style tortilla chips!

Ingredients

  • Corn tortillas each tortilla makes 6 to 8 chips
  • Soybean oil
  • Salt

Instructions 

Fried Tortilla Chips

  • Prep: Stack tortillas to make cutting quicker, cutting into 6 or 8 wedges. Pour oil to fill a heavy-bottomed skillet (like a cast iron) ¼ to ½ inch deep, then heat over medium/high heat. Aim to keep the temperature around 360°F (182°C).
  • Fry: Working in batches, gently drop tortilla triangles into the hot oil. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes, flipping as needed, until chips are golden and crispy. Use a metal slotted spoon to remove tortilla chips, placing them on a few layers of paper towels to soak up excess oil. Immediately sprinkle with salt and let cool slightly before eating.

Baked Tortilla Chips

  • Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Lightly brush each tortilla with soybean oil. Stack tortillas and cut into 6 or 8 wedges.
  • Bake: Arrange triangles in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 6 minutes, flip each chip over, then continue baking for another 6 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle warm tortilla chips with salt and enjoy!

Air Fried Tortilla Chips

  • Prep: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (176°C). Lightly brush each tortilla with soybean oil. Stack tortillas and cut into 6 or 8 wedges.
  • Bake: Arrange triangles in a single layer in your air fryer basket or rack (you may need to work in batches). Air fry for 8 minutes, either shaking the basket or flipping the chips halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle warm tortilla chips with salt and enjoy!

Tips & Tricks

Best served fresh, but can be stored in a paper bag (or paper towel-lined container) for 5 days. 
Serve with Pico de Gallo, Mango Salsa, Hidden Spinach Guacamole, Cashew Queso, or Blender Salsa!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 10chips Calories: 140kcal (7%) Carbohydrates: 18g (6%) Protein: 3g (6%) Fat: 8g (12%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Sodium: 90mg (4%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Vitamin A: 0IU Vitamin C: 0mg Calcium: 40mg (4%) Iron: 0.2mg (1%)
Did You Make This?

Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!

Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Pin on Pinterest

Thanks again to the United Soybean Board for sponsoring this post! Do you have questions about soybean oil? Drop a comment below!

Sources: Soy Connection Health Professionals, Soy Connection Consumer Insights, USDA

You may also like...

  • 19 Gluten Free Vegetarian Dinners
  • Meal prep container with zucchini noodles on white background - This Zucchini Noodles Vegetarian Meal Prep is a low carb lunch solution that will have you looking forward to lunchtime! Packed with fresh veggies, avocado pesto, and crispy baked tofu.
    13 Vegetarian Meal Prep Recipes
  • Collage of vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes
    31 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Collage of vegetarian easter recipes
    27 Vegetarian Easter Recipes
Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Rate this Recipe:




  1. Lou says

    Posted on 5/1 at 5:46 pm

    Hi Sarah! Great recipes!
    You asked our thoughts on soybean oil….my personal opinion….absolutely no way will I use soybean or canola oil. They are both GMO products, which is totally not good, but being a breast cancer survivor, eliminating estrogen creating foods is very important; ie. soybean oil. I have farmed my whole life and I dare say if you saw the amount of herbicides that soybeans are sprayed with your opinion would change.
    Just my personal thoughts….

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 5/1 at 6:53 pm

      Thanks SO much for your feedback, Lou, truly! To be honest, our goal here was simply to understand people’s perceptions of soybean oil, and I get the feeling that many people have similar thoughts as you.

  2. Lisa Smith says

    Posted on 5/1 at 6:59 pm

    I’m really surprised you’re using soybean oil. Pretty much all soy is GMO nowadays. And unfermented soy has been shown through lot of good research that I’ve read to be bad for the human body. Also, it can be disruptive to women’s hormones because of high estrogen levels. And as a woman with the BRACA-2 gene, I am staying away from soy as much as possible, because of the known issues between the two. Plus, when you heat oils, you destroy the good fats in them.
    My recommendation is to do air frying vs. oil frying.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 5/4 at 10:16 am

      Thanks so much for your input, Lisa! We were curious what our readers perceptions of soybean oil were, so your input is truly so helpful. Thank you!

  3. Janelle says

    Posted on 5/1 at 8:29 pm

    I try to stay as far away from soybean oil as I can! Not only is it almost certainly gmo, but heavily sprayed. No thank you!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 5/4 at 10:17 am

      Thanks so much for the input, Janelle! I’m curious – do you read the ingredients to see if it’s soybean oil? I didn’t realize it, but so many vegetable oils are actually soy (though you have to check the ingredient to actually realize it).

  4. Patrick says

    Posted on 7/13 at 12:49 am

    Fantastic. Best recipe I’ve found so far and I’ve been doing this for about a year. I dried the corn tortillas at 350 for about 10 mins, flipped and then another 5. I used canola oil. Definitely keep it slightly above 180C fried for 90-100 seconds was perfection. Thank you so much.5 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 7/13 at 10:12 pm

      So happy to hear it, Patrick! Thanks for letting us know how it went! 😀

Primary Sidebar

Hello

I'm Sarah

A flavor-loving nutritionist and sensory science specialist showing you how to make easy vegetarian recipes, one ingredient at a time.

Let's Meet

Freebie alert!

3 reader-favorite cookbooks delivered straight to your inbox.

Get in now!

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

Plate full of crispy chickpeas with a wooden spoon.

15 Minute Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

Personal size mozzarella pizza cooked in an air fryer

Air Fryer Pizza

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Brussels sprouts on a plate with wooden serving spoons.

The Best 15 Minute Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Kale chips on a white plate.

10 Minute Air Fryer Kale Chips

Dinner This Week

Vegan tikka masala with naan and rice in a white bowl

M

Chickpea Tikka Masala

Roasted Chickpea Gyros

T

Roasted Chickpea Gyros

Vegan Thai red curry in a bowl on a red background

W

Thai Vegetarian Coconut Curry

Vegan nachos on a black plate on a white background - These vegan nachos are piled high with easy mushroom BBQ "pulled pork" and a cashew-based queso cheese sauce that will knock your dairy-free socks off.

R

BBQ Mushroom Pulled Pork

Roasted Cauliflower Street Tacos

F

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

Lemon risotto in a bowl with basil on a yellow background

S

Lemon Basil Risotto

As featured on:

3 bonus books!

Join our Eatmail newsletter to get free copies of our top 3 cookbooks, new recipes, exclusive meal plans, and more!

Follow Along

  • Easy Vegetarian Facebook Group
  • Kombucha Brewers Facebook Group
Back to Top
  • Web Stories
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Collaborate
© 2023 Live Eat Learn
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Support by Foodie Digital
313 shares