Hello, homemaker!
I had a few homemade flour tortillas left over one day, and instead of letting them sit in the fridge until nobody wanted them anymore, I decided to turn them into homemade tortilla chips.
And I’m so glad I did.
It was my first time making homemade tortilla chips, and I am definitely making them again!
These homemade flour tortilla chips are such a simple little kitchen project, but they taste so good. They’re crisp, lightly seasoned, and honestly delicious even with nothing more than salt and pepper.
The best part is that you don’t have to make your own tortillas to make tortilla chips at home. Store-bought flour tortillas work perfectly well, too. But if you have a little extra time, I highly recommend trying homemade tortillas at least once. They’re much easier to make than you might think, and they make these chips even better.
A Simple Way to Use Leftover Tortillas
One thing I’ve been trying to become better at in my kitchen is finding ways to use what we already have before buying or making something new.
Sometimes that means turning leftover bread into croutons. Other times it means looking at a stack of leftover tortillas and realizing they can become tomorrow’s snack.
That’s exactly how these homemade tortilla chips came about.
If your tortillas are starting to get a little dry, this is actually a great way to use them. Once they’re cut, lightly oiled, seasoned, and baked until crisp, you would never know they started out as leftovers.
It’s one of those simple homemaking tricks that helps stretch what you have while also giving you something delicious to snack on.
You Can Use Homemade or Store-Bought Tortillas
You absolutely do not need to make tortillas from scratch for this recipe.
Any flour or corn tortillas you already have in your kitchen can be turned into tortilla chips.
But homemade flour tortillas are one of those basic recipes I’m very happy I learned how to make. They require only a handful of pantry ingredients, and once you get used to making them, they really aren’t difficult.
I make mine with simple ingredients like:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Water
- A drizzle of oil
I usually start with about 3 cups of flour and make a batch that we can use for wraps, tacos, quesadillas, and now tortilla chips.
If you want to make your tortillas from scratch first, you can check out my Simple Homemade Tortilla Recipe here on Joys of Homemaking.
But if you have a package of tortillas sitting in your pantry right now, use those. Homemade should make life simpler, not make you feel like you have to make every single ingredient from scratch.
Why Make Homemade Tortilla Chips?
Homemade tortilla chips are:
- Easy to make
- A great way to use leftover tortillas
- Made with simple ingredients
- Easy to season however you like
- Perfect for dips, salsa, nachos, and snacks
- Ready with very little hands-on work
And because you’re seasoning them yourself, you can make them as simple or flavorful as you want.
Salt and pepper are honestly enough for us most of the time.
Ingredients for Homemade Flour Tortilla Chips
You only need a few ingredients:
Flour Tortillas
Use homemade or store-bought flour tortillas.
Fresh tortillas work, but this is also a wonderful recipe for tortillas that are a day or two old and starting to become slightly dry.
Oil
You only need enough oil to lightly coat the tortillas.
You can brush or toss the tortilla pieces with a small amount of olive oil, avocado oil, or another cooking oil you normally use at home.
Don't soak them in oil. A light coating is enough to help them crisp and hold the seasonings.
Salt
A little salt goes a long way, especially if you’re serving the chips with a flavorful dip.
Black Pepper
This is optional, but we really like simple salt-and-pepper tortilla chips.
Dried Herbs (Optional)
This dry ranch seasoning gives so much flavor!
Two Ways to Make Homemade Tortilla Chips: Baking or Frying
There are two easy ways to turn flour tortillas into crispy tortilla chips: baking or frying.
Both methods work well, but I personally prefer baking because it uses much less oil, so it's healthier.
Baking Tortilla Chips
Baking is my go-to method because it’s simple, less messy, and doesn’t require a lot of oil.
Just lightly coat the tortilla wedges with oil, season them, spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake until golden and crisp.
I also like that I can make a larger batch at once without standing over the stove.
For an everyday snack, this is usually the method I choose because it gives us crispy tortilla chips without deep-frying them.
Frying Tortilla Chips
If you want a more traditional, extra-crispy tortilla chip, you can fry them instead.
Heat a shallow layer of cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat, then carefully add the tortilla wedges in small batches. Fry them for a minute or two on each side, or until golden and crisp.
Transfer the chips to a plate lined with paper towels or a cooling rack to drain the excess oil, then season them with salt while they’re still warm.
Fried tortilla chips are wonderfully crunchy and delicious, but they naturally absorb more oil than baked chips.
Which Method Is Better?
It really comes down to preference.
Frying will usually give you the crispiest, richest tortilla chips, while baking gives you a lighter version with much less oil.
For our family, I usually stick with the baked method. It’s easy, healthier for everyday snacking, and still gives us that satisfying crunch we want—especially when the chips are dipped into that garlic and herb cream cheese dip.
How to Make Homemade Tortilla Chips Using the Oven Method
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper if you’d like easier cleanup.
2. Cut the Tortillas
Stack a few tortillas on top of one another.
Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut each tortilla into wedges. I cut mine into six or eight pieces depending on how large the tortillas are.
There’s no need to make every piece perfectly even.
3. Add a Little Oil
Place the tortilla wedges in a bowl or directly on your baking sheet.
Lightly drizzle them with oil and toss until the pieces have a very thin coating.
You can also brush each tortilla with oil before cutting it into wedges.
4. Season
Sprinkle the tortilla pieces with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
You can stop right there, or add any other seasoning you enjoy.
5. Bake Until Crispy
Arrange the tortilla wedges in a single layer on your baking sheet.
Try not to overlap them so the hot air can circulate around each piece.
Bake for about 8–12 minutes, flipping them halfway through if needed.
Keep an eye on them toward the end. Flour tortillas can go from lightly golden to too brown fairly quickly, and cooking times can vary depending on the thickness of your tortillas.
Remove them when the edges are golden and the chips feel crisp.
6. Let Them Cool
Allow the chips to cool for a few minutes.
They will continue to crisp as they cool.
Then serve them with your favorite dip and enjoy.
Easy Seasoning Ideas
Salt and pepper might be the simplest option, but there are so many ways you can change the flavor of homemade tortilla chips.
Try:
- Garlic powder and salt
- Onion powder and garlic powder
- Smoked paprika and salt
- Taco seasoning
- Ranch seasoning
- Chili powder and lime
- Parmesan and garlic
- Cinnamon and sugar for a sweet version
This is also a fun way to use homemade seasonings you already keep in your pantry.
Cream Cheese Dip with Garlic and Herbs
We love our tortilla chips with a simple cream cheese dip seasoned with my homemade garlic powder and ranch seasoning. It is such a good combination.
You really don’t need a complicated dip.
You could use:
- Minced or powdered garlic
- Chives
- Parsley
- Dill
- Green onions
- Dried Italian herbs
If the cream cheese is too thick for dipping, stir in a little milk, sour cream, yogurt, or buttermilk until it reaches the consistency you like.
It’s simple, creamy, garlicky, and so good with warm homemade tortilla chips.
Other Ways to Serve Homemade Tortilla Chips
These chips make an easy afternoon snack, but there are plenty of other ways to use them.
Serve them with:
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Hummus
- Bean dip
- Homemade ranch
- Taco dip
You can also use them as the base for homemade nachos.
Spread the tortilla chips on a baking sheet, add cheese and your favorite toppings, and warm everything in the oven until the cheese melts.
How to Keep Homemade Tortilla Chips Crispy
Allow the chips to cool completely before putting them into a container.
If you store them while they’re still warm, trapped steam can make them soft.
Once completely cool, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature.
If they lose some of their crispness, you can usually bring them back by placing them in a warm oven for a few minutes.
But in our house, a batch usually doesn’t last very long anyway.
A Simple Make-It-Instead-of-Buy Project
I love finding little things like this that I can make instead of automatically buying another package from the grocery store.
Homemade tortilla chips are such an easy way to use up leftover tortillas, and they taste so much better than I expected.
So, if you have a few tortillas sitting in the fridge, this is definitely an easy little snack to make. And if you enjoy making simple things at home, be sure to check out my other homemade recipes and homemaking projects here on Joys of Homemaking.
