Homemade Tortilla Chips

As many of you know, store tortilla chips can really be expensive!  But what you probably didn't realize that for those that have a little extra time to be in the kitchen, your own tortilla chips are REALLY easy and cheap to make.  While living overseas in Asia, we were not able to find much American convenient foods, chips being one of them.  Well, we did have Lays potato chips, but we weren't all that crazy about the flavors -- shrimp, blueberry, chicken, etc...  But no tortilla chips, and we LOVE fajitas (even if we had to make our own tortillas, because...well, you get the idea).  An American friend of ours taught us how to make tortilla chips out of jiaozi skins, which are the wrappers for steamed dumplings.  They were easy and very good.  So, when we came back to America, we realized that we could probably do the same with corn tortillas.  As many of you know, corn tortillas are CHEAP and this recipe is very easy and healthy.  We never buy tortilla chips anymore.  Why spend the money if we can make our own?!  Here is a cost comparison:


A regular bag of tortilla chips has about 10 servings at 16 chips each equaling 160 chips (this differs a lot, I know) -- $3.00+
Homemade tortilla chips using a normal bag of 24 corn tortillas which makes 192 chips -- $0.77
Homemade tortilla chips using a bag of 72 corn tortillas on special, making 576 chips -- $1.50

So, if you are interested, here's how to make them:

First, get as many corn tortillas you want, and stacking them, cut them in 8 pieces.  My picture below only shows one tortilla.

Next, place them on a baking sheet (no need to spray).  Unstack them, of course!  You can spray them with butter spray or something similar but it's not really necessary.  Now, season with anything you want.  In my example, I did salt, pepper, paprika, and oregano.

Last, place them in an over at 400 degrees.  Let them cook for about 7-10 minutes, but watch them closely -- they will burn quickly!  Here is the end result:

Very crunchy and good, especially with a good hot sauce, cheese dip, or guacamole.

Enjoy!  -- Shawna