This is like cheating, it’s so easy. In fact, it kind of IS cheating, since I didn’t make the tortillas from scratch.
No matter.
This is a fast and simple way to make delicious, spicy tortilla chips.
Just take fresh corn tortillas, brush them with oil, whack them into wedges, and bake until crunchy.
That’s it. Really.
I dusted mine with a little homemade chipotle salt.
(Spicy. Hot. Smokey. Yum!)
They’re baked, not fried, so they’re a little better for you, as far as snacks go.
One of these days, I’ll make my own dough from masa harina (corn flour treated with calcium hydroxide, a.k.a. lime) and bust out some authentic, totally homemade tortilla chips.
Until then, this is a perfectly acceptable, easy, and fast substitute for the real deal.
Baking is for the birds. How do I make fried chips?
Oh, sure!
If you’d rather fry your chips, cut up the tortillas as instructed below.
Fry them in batches in 360-degree vegetable oil for 2-3 minutes.
Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on a rack.
Sprinkle with salt when they’re hot out of the oil.
How about some dip with those chips?
Coming right up! Serve them with salsa or homemade guacamole, which you can throw together while the chips are in the oven.
Easy Baked Tortilla Chips Dusted with Spicy Chipotle Salt
Chips
12 fresh corn tortillas
vegetable oil
Chipotle Salt
1 tsp. ground chipotle
2 tsp. kosher salt
Serves 2-3
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Spray the tortillas with oil
Start with good corn tortillas.
You’ll usually find them in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. If you can get them at a local Spanish market, even better. Check the date to be sure they’re fresh.
Traditional corn tortillas are smaller than the flour tortillas usually used for burritos.
Lightly spray each whole tortilla on one side with cooking oil. (Or brush it on.)
Stack the tortillas up.
Cut the tortillas into wedges
Whack the stack into four pieces.
And then in four again.
You want to wind up with 8 wedges.
Bake the tortilla chips
Spread the chips out on two ungreased, unlined baking pans.
Arrange them so they don’t overlap (if they overlap, they won’t get as crunchy).
Pop the pans into your preheated 400-degree oven.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until light brown and crisp.
Make the chipotle salt
Put the kosher salt and ground chipotle in a small bowl.
Mix together with a fork until uniform. Set it aside until your chips are done.
Season the tortilla chips
When your chips are done, they should be light brown and slightly curled on the edges. They should also be nice and crunchy.
How can you tell? Test a few.
If they’re still a little on the chewy side, toss them back in the oven for a few more minutes, then check them again.
When they’re done to your liking, sprinkle the hot chips with chipotle salt.
Toss gently to coat. Serve warm!
They’ll keep well for a day or two. Just seal ’em up in a zip-top bag.
Warm them up for a few minutes before serving in a 200-degree oven.
Enjoy!
Calories
Fat
Carbs
Protein
Serves 2-3 as a snack
The Hungry Mouse
This is a fast and simple way to make delicious, spicy tortilla chips.
Save RecipeIngredients
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Lightly spray each whole tortilla on one side with cooking oil. (Or brush it on.) Stack the tortillas up.
- Whack the stack into four pieces. And then in four again. You want to wind up with 8 wedges.
- Spread the chips out on two ungreased, unlined baking pans. Arrange them so they don't overlap (if they overlap, they won't get as crunchy).
- Pop the pans into your preheated 400-degree oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until light brown and crisp.
- Make the chipotle salt: Put the kosher salt and ground chipotle in a small bowl. Mix together with a fork until uniform. Set it aside until your chips are done.
- When your chips are done, they should be light brown and slightly curled on the edges. They should also be nice and crunchy.
- When they're done to your liking, sprinkle the hot chips with chipotle salt. Toss gently to coat. Serve warm!
- They'll keep well for a day or two. Just seal 'em up in a zip-top bag. Warm them up for a few minutes before serving in a 200-degree oven. Enjoy!
