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Homemade totopos are just what your salsas have been needing! These crispy, crunchy, and satisfying tortilla chips are ready in 15 minutes and are made with just 3 ingredients. Serve them with guacamole, soups, pico de gallo, refried beans, and more.

Plateful of Totopos.
Totopos can be triangular or round

💛 Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Quick: These totopos can be made in 15 minutes or less, making them the perfect choice when you need a quick snack or appetizer.
  • Easy: It doesn’t matter what your cooking level is! Anyone can prepare totopos in just 4 easy steps.
  • Flavorful: Homemade totopos always taste better than store bought. Plus, you can customize the level of salt or add seasonings to suit your preferences.
  • Versatile: Serve them for an appetizer, stuff them inside of a torta, make chilaquiles, and more. The options are virtually endless!

If you enjoy totopos, you should really check out our tostaguac, tostadas de tinga, and tostilocos.

🌽 What are totopos?

Corn tortilla chips, also known as totopos or totopitos, are a staple in Mexican cuisine. Since they’re made with corn, each chip has a subtly sweet, nutty, and toasty flavor.

To make totopos, all you need to do is slice corn tortillas into triangles or circles and deep fry them until crispy and golden. Depending on the purpose, you can season them with just salt or other flavors like chile and lime.

They’re enjoyed all across Mexico and most of the world as an appetizer with guacamole, pico de gallo, and other salsas. You can also serve them as a side with dishes like pozole and aguachile, or include them in meals like chilaquiles and nachos.

The versatility of this recipe makes it an easy addition to potlucks, parties, barbecues, and backyard get-togethers.

Hand Holding a Totopo With Mango Pico de Gallo.
Serve your totopitos with fresh salsa

📜 Totopos meaning

The word totopo comes from two different Nahuatl words (tlaxcalli + totopochtli), and very loosely translates to “toasted tortillas that are noisy to chew.”

Seems like a fitting name!

The Zapotecs of Oaxaca are credited with the first totopos. In this version, corn tortillas are baked in an oven known as a comixcal or comizcal.

Since the colonial era, frying has become a common way of preparing totopos as well. Nowadays, they can be toasted, baked, or fried.

🌱 Are totopos vegan?

In general, totopos are very vegan-friendly! One thing to keep in mind if you live near or in Mexico is the use of lard in some corn tortilla shops (tortillerías).

If you use pre-packaged or homemade corn tortillas, you don’t have to worry about this though. Just fry them and enjoy!

Plateful of Totopos and Mango Pico de Gallo.
Totopos are best served warm and crispy

♨️ Can I bake tortilla chips?

While the most common way to make tortilla chips is to fry them in oil, it’s absolutely possible to bake tortilla chips in your oven.

For a lower-calorie version, spread the cut tortillas out on a baking sheet. Lightly brush them with oil and bake at 375 degrees F for 7-8 minutes per side. 

If you know you’ll be making chips often, you can even fill a spray bottle with oil and lime juice to coat the chips prior to baking.

Corn Tortillas, Salt, and Oil.
Use regular or flavored sea salt

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

  • Corn tortillas: You can use white, blue, yellow, or any other color of corn tortilla for totopos. It’s best to use stale corn tortillas so they don’t absorb too much oil.
  • Oil: Fry your totopos in neutral vegetable oil with a high smoke point. Some good options include canola oil, corn oil, peanut oil, or avocado oil.
  • Salt: To season the cooked chips. We enjoy plain sea salt, but you can try flavors like chile-lime sea salt, garlic sea salt, or even smoked sea salt.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make totopos

Step 1: Cut the tortillas

Depending on how big your corn tortillas are, you can cut them into 4 or 6 pieces. If you want to make circular totopitos, use a round cookie cutter and press all around the tortillas until there is no more left to cut.

Chef Knife Cutting Corn Tortillas Into Quarters.
Stack the tortillas to make cutting quicker

Step 2: Dry the tortillas

Spread the cut tortillas out on a cutting board or baking sheet to dry out for about 5-10 minutes. If they are fresh, you can place them in your fridge to dry out faster.

Quartered Corn Tortillas on a Cutting Board.
Leave them to dry out before frying

Step 3: Fry the chips

In the meantime, heat some oil in a skillet over medium. Cook the tortillas in small batches until they turn a light golden brown color on each side. It should only take about 60-90 seconds per batch, so don’t stray too far from your skillet!

Frying Totopitos in a Skillet of Oil.
Fry the totopos in small batches so they don’t overcrowd

Step 4: Drain the oil

Transfer the cooked totopos to a paper towel-lined dish or a colander to drain excess oil. Season them with sea salt to taste, and repeat this process with the rest. Serve your homemade tortilla chips while warm and crispy. Happy eating!

Totopos in a Colander.
Place the colander over a bowl or plate to catch the oil

If you have questions about this totopos recipe, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🥑 What to serve totopos with

Totopos make a delicious snack on their own, or you can pair them with some flavor-packed salsas like these:

  • Guacamole: Mashed ripe avocados, lime juice, salt, onion, and chiles.
  • Mango habanero salsa: Sweet and spicy salsa with fresh mangoes and habaneros.
  • Pico de gallo: Chunky salsa made from onions, tomatoes, chiles, lime, and cilantro.
  • Salsa ranchera: Packed with roasted vegetables and smoky flavors.

🌡️ Storage & reheating

No more stale tortilla chips! Follow these steps to ensure you won’t have to deal with half crunchy-half chewy totopos:

  • Room temperature: Keep totopitos in an airtight container, and store them in a cool, dry area for up to 1 month.
  • Freezer: Transfer your chips to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
  • Reheating: To freshen up your chips, you have two options. Lightly re-fry them (our preferred way), or bake them in the oven for 5 minutes at 375 degrees F.

Note: Tortilla chips turn stale from absorbing moisture. By limiting air contact and reheating them, you can revive the crunchiness.

Totopos and Mango Salsa on a Plate.
Enjoy your crispy snack!

♻️ Variations

  • Spicy: Add cayenne, paprika, or ground arbol chiles to turn up the heat.
  • Zesty: Use lime, lemon, or other citrusy flavors to liven up your chips. For a spicy-yet-zesty flavor, use chile-lime seasoning.
  • Herbaceous: Try sprinkling Mexican oregano, parsley, cilantro, or cumin on for an earthy and herbaceous twist.
  • Colors: Make different colored chips by using blue, yellow, white, or red corn tortillas. Each color carries a slightly different flavor.
  • Shapes: While triangular totopos are great for dipping, you can also make circles or strips depending on the recipe you’re pairing them with.
  • Sweet: Take a detour from savory flavors and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on the chips. Enjoy them on their own or paired with a chopped fruit salsa.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

  • Use stale tortillas: To prevent the chips from absorbing too much oil, it’s best to use tortillas that are a few days old or store-bought.
  • Fry lightly: Remove the totopos from the oil when they are just turning golden. They will continue to cook for a few seconds after being taken out of the oil.
  • Don’t overcrowd: Remember to fry the totopos in small batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan. They won’t cook properly if the pan is too full.
  • Finely grind the salt: To help the salt stick to the chips, make sure you finely grind it or use pre-ground salt.
  • Serve them warm: The taste and texture of totopos are best right after they are done cooking. They are the crispiest and most flavorful at this time.
  • Cut evenly: Make sure to cut the tortillas into similar pieces so they cook evenly.
  • Neutral oil: Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point to fry your totopos. Some examples include vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil.
  • Slotted spoon: Use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to remove the tortillas from the hot oil. This will help prevent the risk of burning yourself.
  • Season immediately: To ensure the seasonings stick properly, season them immediately after frying them while they’re hot and oily.

💬 FAQ

What are the best types of oil for frying?

The best types of oil for frying are those with a high smoke point and neutral flavor. Canola, vegetable, peanut, and corn oil are all good options.

Are tortilla chips gluten-free?

Yes, these tortilla chips are gluten-free since they are made from just corn, salt, and oil.

Can I make tortilla chips in an air fryer?

You can definitely use an air fryer to make tortilla chips. Use a small amount of oil and cook them in your air-fryer for about 10 minutes. Just make sure to cook them in small batches.

Is it necessary to dry out the tortillas before frying them?

Yes, if the tortillas aren’t completely dry, they will absorb too much oil and won’t turn out as crispy.

🍴 Recipes with totopos

For more ways to serve homemade tortilla chips, be sure to check out these dishes:

  • Chilaquiles Rojos: Crispy totopos covered in homemade red salsa and topped with dairy-free queso, crema, and veggies.
  • Chilaquiles Verdes: A similar dish to chilaquiles rojos but with green salsa instead!
  • Aguachile Verde: Showcasing oyster mushrooms, cucumbers, and red onion marinated with chiles, lime juice, cilantro, and garlic.
  • Vegan Tortilla Soup: A twist on a Mexican classic filled with bold flavors.
Totopitos on a Plate.

Best Totopos

Mitch and Justine
This quick and easy totopos recipe will have you ditching store-bought chips for good! In less than 15 minutes, create restaurant-quality tortilla chips ready to dip in your favorite salsas.
5 from 30 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine Mexican, Vegan
Servings 6 servings
Calories 212 kcal

Equipment

  • Knife and cutting board
  • Frying pan
  • Oil thermometer
  • Slotted spoon

Ingredients
 

Totopos

  • 14 corn tortillas
  • ¼ – ½ cup neutral vegetable oil
  • Sea salt to taste

For serving optional

Instructions
 

  • Cut the corn tortillas into 4-6 pieces, depending on how big they are. Spread them out on a cutting board or baking sheet to dry out for 5-10 minutes.
  • In the meantime, heat the oil in a skillet over medium. Cook in small batches for 60-90 seconds, flipping halfway, until lightly golden.
  • Transfer to a paper towel-lined dish or a colander to drain excess oil. Season the chips with sea salt to taste. Repeat this process until all of the corn tortillas are gone.
  • Serve your totopos with salsas like pico de gallo, guacamole, or salsa roja. Or, serve them alongside soups like pozole verde or aguachile. Happy eating!

Notes

  • Use stale tortillas: To prevent the chips from absorbing too much oil, it’s best to use tortillas that are a few days old or store-bought.
  • Fry lightly: Remove the totopos from the oil when they are just turning golden. They will continue to cook for a few seconds after being taken out of the oil.
  • Don’t overcrowd: Remember to fry the totopos in small batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan. They won’t cook properly if the pan is too full.
  • Finely grind the salt: To help the salt stick to the chips, make sure you finely grind it or use pre-ground salt.
  • Serve them warm: The taste and texture of totopos are best right after they are done cooking. They are the crispiest and most flavorful at this time.
  • Cut evenly: Make sure to cut the tortillas into similar pieces so they cook evenly.
  • Neutral oil: Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point to fry your totopos. Some examples include vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil.
  • Slotted spoon: Use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to remove the tortillas from the hot oil. This will help prevent the risk of burning yourself.
  • Season immediately: To ensure the seasonings stick properly, season them immediately after frying them while they’re hot and oily.
  • Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (~14 chips) | Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.1g | Protein: 3.5g | Fat: 10.8g | Saturated Fat: 1.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.5g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 27.3mg | Potassium: 112.8mg | Fiber: 3.8g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 1.2IU | Calcium: 49.1mg | Iron: 0.7mg
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Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.

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