Oven-Baked Tortilla Chips

These Oven Baked Tortilla Chips turn ordinary corn tortillas into crispy, scoopable chips with just one ingredient and no added oil. They are the base for our delicious Vegan Sheet Pan Nachos.

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Why You'll Love These Oil Free Tortilla Chips

• Just one ingredient: You only need a package of corn tortillas. Seasonings are optional.
• No added oil: You can make crispy tortilla chips without frying, brushing with oil, or using cooking spray.
• Easy on your grocery budget: Turn leftover tortillas into a snack instead of letting them go unused.
• Naturally flavorful: Baking brings out the corn’s lightly sweet, toasted flavor.
• Simple to customize: Keep them plain for flavorful dips or add a sprinkle of your favorite spices.
• Fits plant-based eating: Made with suitable corn tortillas, these chips are vegan, oil-free, and gluten-free.
• Useful beyond snacking: Scoop up chopped salads, build a plate of nachos, or crumble them over soup.

Jump to Recipe

These oven-baked chips have a delicious toasted corn flavor and a satisfying crunch that pairs perfectly with salsa, guacamole, and bean dips. With minimal prep and about 8 to 10 minutes in the oven, this easy recipe makes homemade tortilla chips a simple addition to taco night, game day, or your afternoon snack.

Health Benefits

Making tortilla chips at home gives you more control over the ingredients, added fat, and the amount of salt in your snack.

• This recipe relies on oven heat to dry and crisp the tortillas. Using tortillas made without oil keeps the finished chips free of added oil, too.
• Choose tortillas made with whole corn or sprouted whole corn to include whole grains in your snack. They contribute carbohydrates and fiber, with the amounts depending on the brand and serving size. This simple recipe is the base for our vegan nachos.
• You decide whether to add salt and how much to use. If you prefer a lower-sodium option, compare tortilla labels and season with garlic powder, smoked paprika, or lime zest instead of extra salt.

Key Ingredients

Corn Tortillas: the entire foundation of this recipe. They bring a mildly sweet, earthy corn flavor that deepens as they bake. As moisture evaporates, the cut tortillas change from flexible triangles into firm, crunchy chips. We used a sprouted-grain tortilla from the freezer section of the grocery store.

Variations

Enhance the flavor of your chips with one or more of the following:

• Smoked paprika: Adds smoky flavor and a warm red color without adding heat.
• Garlic powder: Gives these chips a savory depth and works well with salsa or bean dips.
• Chili powder: Adds warmth and complexity. Heat levels vary by blend, so start lightly.
• Lime zest: Adds bright citrus aroma without the extra moisture of a squeeze of lime juice.
• Sea salt: Enhances the corn flavor. Taste your tortillas or a finished plain chip before deciding whether you need it.

Feel free to swap yellow corn tortillas with blue or white corn tortillas.

How to Make Homemade Oven Baked Tortilla Chips

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F (or 175°C). Stack and cut refrigerated or room-temperature corn tortillas in half. Continue to cut into triangles to yield 4 or 6 chips per tortilla.

Step 2

Spread the tortillas onto a shallow baking sheet. If using, season your chips. Bake at 350°F (or 175°C) for 8 to 10 minutes or until crispy. Check them about 7 minutes into baking to see if they need to come out sooner or stay longer.

Step 3

When the chips are done, remove them from the oven and let them sit for at least five minutes before serving.

How to Make Corn Tortilla Chips in the Air Fryer

To make these chips in the air fryer, evenly spread the cut tortillas in the basket. Set the temperature to 350°F (or 175°C). Air fry for 7 to 8 minutes. Carefully shake the basket to redistribute. Return to the air fryer and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes, until lightly browned and crisp. Enjoy them with our Green Goddess Salad.

Expert Tips

• From frozen: If using frozen corn tortillas, thaw them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours before you're ready to bake them. You can thaw them on the counter, but they might curl up.
• Space them out: Overlapping chips will bake unevenly.
• Watch closely: Every oven is different; check the chips at the 7-minute mark to prevent burning.

Serving Suggestions

• Add crunch to a salad, such as our green goddess salad, southwestern salad in a jar, vegan tuna salad, or vegan taco salad.
• Boost the texture and flavor of soups, like our vegan chicken tortilla soup, black bean tortilla soup, or our easy black bean soup, which takes only 7 minutes to make.
• These chips provide a wonderful vessel for scooping our favorite TexMex staples like easy homemade salsa, homemade guacamole, nachos with vegan cheese sauce, and oil-free refried beans.
• Try pairing these chips with our black bean hummus, traditional garlic hummus, or harissa hummus. All of these hummus recipes are also oil-free.

Homemade Corn Tortilla Chips Recipe FAQs

These Oven Baked Tortilla Chips are proof that a short ingredient list can deliver plenty of crunch. With corn tortillas, a baking sheet, and a few minutes in the oven, you can make a fresh batch for dipping, topping, or sharing.

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