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Homemade corn chips are a perfectly healthy way to enjoy chips and dip on a healthy eating plan!
My Mom taught me this pretty early on. She loved to throw parties, especially for family. Birthdays were always a big “to-do” around our house, especially since my birthday is in July when the weather is nice, and the parties can last into the wee hours of the night.
But whether she was entertaining 100 people or making hors d’oeuvres for 1, she always had a way of preparing only the best for her guests. Natural, organic foods that didn’t sit in your stomach like a ton of bricks by the end of the night. And these chips and some guacamole were usually on the list.
These are, hands down, the best corn chips you can eat. They taste remarkably fresh and are amazingly crisp and light.
How To Use Homemade Corn Chips
There are endless ways to enjoy a good, homemade corn chip. Here are just a few ideas:
- With salsa, guacamole, or any other dip you like.
- Melt cheese over the top for nachos.
- Crumble them into salads and soups.
- With beans
- Dip them in ranch dressing
FAQs
What Tortillas To Use For Making Corn Chips
Look for the most natural tortillas you can find. Something that is only made of corn and maybe some lime and salt. If you can, purchase organic corn tortillas to avoid GMO corn. I have found that the best place to find these kinds of tortillas is at a health food store.
Are Corn Chips Baked Or Deep Fried?
Most of the corn chips you get at the store or in restaurants are deep-fried. Unless the package specifically says that the chips are baked, you’ll need to make them at home to get the baked version.
Is There A Difference Between Corn Chips And Tortilla Chips?
Yes. Corn chips are tortilla chips, but tortilla chips aren’t necessarily only corn chips. Tortillas are made from either corn or flour (or a mix of the two). So tortilla chips could be made from either corn or flour tortillas, while corn chips are simply a type of tortilla chip.
Are Corn Chips Healthy Or Unhealthy?
That depends on two things.
- What your approach to food is. (Your diet)
- Whether they are baked or deep fried.
Deep frying packs in a lot of oil, which is typically an unhealthy type of oil. Store-bought baked chips aren’t necessarily any better, though. Making them at home with all-natural tortillas is really the only way to get healthy corn chips.
Are Corn Or Flour Tortillas Better For Making Chips?
You can make chips from either one, and both are tasty. Corn chips are typically best for Latin foods, while flour tortilla chips are usually great with other types of dip, such as hummus or fruit salsa. That being said, there is a lot of crossover. Both types of chips go with many different types of dip.
Are Chips And Guac Healthy?
Yes and no. The real answer is, that they CAN be. But they aren’t always. It depends on what you put in your guac (although I’ve never seen an unhealthy guac recipe) and the chips you use. Read ingredients. That’s the key to making sure you are eating healthy.
Consider Your Oils
While it’s tempting to use a light oil like canola oil, vegetable oil, or even peanut oil to make these, consider the oil and its effect on your health. While no oil is perfect, some are better suited for this type of recipe. Some of those are:
- Grapeseed oil
- Sunflower oil
- Coconut oil
- Avocado oil
Avoid olive oil which has a very low smoke point.
Recipe Variations
If you wish, you can sprinkle lemon or lime juice on the chips before baking. You can also do this with garlic powder or pretty much any type of spice, such as cumin or chili powder. A few other ideas are taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, or even Cajun seasoning.
Healthy Chips For Guacamole
If you want a variety of healthy chips for guacamole, also try some:
- Whole-grain pita chips
- Zucchini Chips
- Sweet potato chips
- Pasta Chips
- Homemade Doritos
About The Ingredients
Corn tortillas – Look for tortillas with very basic ingredients and no preservatives. Opt for organic to avoid GMO corn.
Salt – I used pink Himalayan salt, but you can use whatever salt you normally use on your food. Sea salt is always a good choice.
Oil– Any type you like. It’s easiest to use it in an oil sprayer.
Lemon– For garnish at serving. Simply squeeze some fresh juice over the chips right before you eat them.
How To Make Homemade Corn Chips From Tortillas
Preheat oven to 450℉. and place your stack of corn tortillas on a cutting board.
Cut the stack into quarters.
Cover a baking sheet with a light spray of oil. Use either a couple of smaller pans or one large baking sheet. You can work in batches if you need to.
Lay out your tortilla pieces in a single layer so that none of them cover each other.
Spray your tortilla pieces with a light spray of oil.
Sprinkle with salt.
Bake in the oven until crispy (About 10 minutes, depending on your oven). Remove the baked tortilla chips from the hot pan. Use tongs, and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to remove any leftover excess oil. Cool and serve.
Storage
Transfer these homemade tortilla chips to a food-safe plastic, zipper-top bag or a food storage container. Keep these in the fridge for up to 4 or 5 days.
Recipe Supplies
You’ll need a sharp knife, a cutting board, and some sheet pans. An oil sprayer is also a great tool to have for this recipe.
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Healthy Dip Recipes
- Homemade Guacamole
- Hummus
- TexMex Dip
- Cilantro Salsa
Homemade Corn Chips Recipe
Homemade Corn Chips
Delicious homemade chips without any added junk you don't want to eat!
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Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 130kcal
Ingredients
- 12 oz. corn tortillas
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. oil (Any type you like. It's easiest to use it in an oil sprayer)
- 1 medium lemon (For garnish at serving)
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450℉. and place your stack of corn tortillas on a cutting board.
Cut the stack into quarters.
Cover a cookie sheet with a light spray of oil.
Lay out your tortilla pieces so that none of them cover each other.
Spray your tortilla pieces with a light spray of oil.
Sprinkle with salt.
Bake in the oven until crispy (About 10 minutes, depending on your oven). Remove the baked tortilla chips from the hot pan. Use tongs, and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to remove any leftover, excess oil. Cool and serve.
Notes
Please note that the nutrition data is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 219mg | Potassium: 111mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg
Recipe from the Gracious Pantry® archives, originally posted on 10/31/09.
