These gluten free homemade tortilla chips are baked or air-fried instead of being deep fried in oil. Once baked, they are sprinkled with flakey sea salt and fresh lime juice for a healthier alternative to store bought chips.
I absolutely love chips and dip of just about any kind. Homemade tortilla chips are gluten-free and a simple and delicious alternative to store bought tortilla chips. They are also a great way to use up any left over tortillas you might have. I myself always tend to buy way too many corn tortillas and am not always sure what to do with the left overs.
Making your own oven baked or air fried tortilla chips is quick, easy and honestly tastes BETTER than store bought. One of the best parts is it is actually cheaper than buying a large bag of store bought chips as well! The fact that these chips are oven baked or air fried instead of deep fried in oil also makes them significantly healthier.
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Ingredients
- Corn Tortillas - Corn tortillas are very inexpensive and any brand will work. The wonderful part about corn tortillas is that they are completely gluten-free. Their texture is perfect for oven baking or air frying to achieve a perfectly crispy texture.
- Vegetable Oil or Cooking Spray - When using vegetable oil, it is best to brush the oil on the tortillas with a pastry brush. Alternatively, non-stick cooking spray can be used if preferred. Oil is used to achieve the crispy tortilla chip texture however both methods use much less oil than traditional deep fried tortilla chips.
- Kosher or Flakey Sea Salt - Salt on tortilla chips is a must for me and I love these Maldon Sea Salt Flakes for homemade tortilla chips. Flakey salt is also delicious sprinkled on top of warm chocolate chip cookies.
- Fresh Lime Juice - Lime juice in this recipe is optional but I love the extra flavor it adds. It is important to use only fresh lime juice as bottled lime juice has a very processed and bitter flavor.
How To Make Tortilla Chips In An Air Fryer
- Brush or spray tortillas with oil making sure to get both sides so they crisp up evenly.
- Cut tortillas into eight triangles. Stack each oiled tortilla on top of each other like a large stack of pancakes. Slice them down the middle horizontally, then again down the middle vertically. You should now have four equal pieces. Next, slice each of the quarters in half which will create eight triangles just like a pizza.
- Lay homemade tortilla chips in a single even layer in the air fryer (making sure none overlap) and sprinkle with salt.
- Cook at 350 for 6 minutes flipping each homemade tortilla chip halfway through cooking.
- Remove the homemade tortilla chips and let cool. The chips will continue to brown and crisp up as they cool. Sprinkle with fresh lime juice if desired.
Oven Baked Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Brush or spray tortillas with vegetable oil, making sure to cover both sides.
- Cut tortillas into eight triangles. Stack each oiled tortilla on top of each other like a large stack of pancakes. Next, slice down the middle horizontally, then again down the middle vertically. You should now have four equal quarters. Finally, slice each of the quarters in half which will create eight triangles just like a pizza.
- Sprinkle a light dusting of salt on a large sheet pan.
- Lay the tortilla triangles on the sheet pan in an even layer over the salt. Make sure no chips overlap as it will prevent them from getting crispy.
- Sprinkle with more salt if desired.
- Bake for 7 minutes.
- Rotate pan and continue baking for 8 minutes. Once the chips start to slightly brown on the edges they are done.
- Remove the homemade tortilla chips and let cool. Sprinkle with fresh squeezed lime juice if desired.
Important Tips
- In both air frying and oven baking homemade tortilla chips, it is important that the chips do not overlap when cooking. As a result, any spots that overlap may steam as a result and will not become crisp.
- The tortilla chips are done once they slightly start to brown on the edges. They may seem underdone because they do not have much color however they will continue to brown once removed from the oven.
- White or yellow corn tortillas can be used however I have had better results with yellow corn tortillas.
- Use more tortillas than you think you need because they are so delicious they will be consumed quickly!
- The amount of salt used is completely dependent on personal preference. I like to liberally salt my chips on both sides. Alternatively, if you prefer to use less salt, omit the step in the oven baking method where salt is sprinkled on the bottom of the sheet pan before baking.
Homemade Tortilla Chip Recipe Variations
Homemade tortilla chips are so easy to make you can really add any spices you like.
Add cumin and chili powder before or after baking.
Use cinnamon and sugar for a delicious sweet take on this recipe.
Add Tajin seasoning and skip the recipe steps for adding salt.
If adding brown spices make sure to keep an eye on the color while baking so you can tell when they are starting to brown.
FAQ's
Yes! Corn tortillas are both vegan AND gluten-free! If any gluten allergies are present, make sure the ingredients do not include wheat flour when selecting a brand. It is rare as most corn tortillas do not have wheat flour however it is best to check the ingredients list to be sure.
Homemade tortilla chips can be served with just about anything you want. You can make a crab dip, spinach and artichoke dip, mango habanero salsa, guacamole or queso. You also don't have to serve them with a dip at all and make a breakfast dish like chilaquiles as well. I make these chips so often that I like to have fun with them and use my imagination to create new flavors and ways to use them.
Once the chips have cooled completely they can be stored in a zip-lock bag or an airtight container for up to two weeks.
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Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips
Equipment
- 1 Small Pastry Brush
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil
- 1 tbsp Fresh Lime Juice (optional)
- 2 teaspoon Kosher or Flakey Salt
- 25 Yellow or White Corn Tortillas
Instructions
Air Fryer Method
- Brush or spray both sides of the tortillas with oil.
- Stack each oiled tortilla on top of each other like a large stack of pancakes. Slice them down the middle horizontally, then again down the middle vertically. You should now have four equal pieces. Next, slice each of the quarters in half which will create eight triangles just like a pizza.
- Lay the tortilla chip triangles in a single even layer in the air fryer (making sure none overlap) and sprinkle with salt.
- Cook at 350 for 6 minutes flipping each homemade tortilla chip halfway through cooking.
- Once the chips start to get golden brown on the edges, remove and let cool. The chips will continue to brown and crisp up as they cool. Sprinkle with fresh lime juice if desired.
Oven Baked Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Lightly brush both sides of each tortilla with vegetable oil.
- Stack each tortilla on top of each other evenly like a stack of pancakes.
- Cut the stack of tortillas down the middle vertically, then again horizontally. You should now have four equal quarters.
- Next, cut each quarter in half. Now each tortilla should have eight equal pieces like a pizza.
- Sprinkle the bottom of a large rimmed baking sheet with salt and place each tortilla slice on the baking sheet in an even layer making sure none overlap. You may need to bake the chips in batches to ensure you have a single layer and the chips do not overlap.
- Sprinkle the tops of the chips with salt and bake for 7 minutes minutes. Rotate the pan in the oven and continue baking for 8 more minutes until the chips are just starting to brown. The chips will continue to brown and crisp up as they cool.
- Once cooled, sprinkle with fresh lime juice if desired.
Kathy H says
These chips were so easy to make and completely addicting. The notes were right to make more than you think you need because my family gobbled them right up!