Make Totopos (Tortilla Chips) from Scratch

How to Make Totopos at Home aka Tortilla Chips
September 29, 2026

There are storebought tortilla chips, and then there are totopos still warm from the fryer. Making them at home requires just three ingredients and a few minutes—and the technique couldn't be simpler. Cut corn tortillas into wedges, fry them in hot oil until lightly golden and crisp, then season with salt while they're still warm. That's it. Once you know how to make them, you've got the starting point for nachos, chilaquiles, or whatever salsa happens to be in the fridge.

Organic Corn Tortillas
Homemade Totopos (Corn Tortilla Chips)

Homemade Totopos (Corn Tortilla Chips)

Masienda Team

Servings

4

Turn corn tortillas into crisp, golden totopos with nothing more than hot oil and a pinch of salt. They're ready in minutes and sturdy enough for dipping, piling with toppings, or soaking up salsa for chilaquiles. Serve them warm and you'll understand why they're worth making from scratch.

Ingredients

  • 10 corn tortillas

  • Neutral oil, for frying

  • Salt

Directions

  1. Cut the tortillas into quarters or wedges.

  2. In a heavy, deep pot, add enough oil to come about ½ up the sides and clip a candy/deep-fry thermometer to the inside of the pot. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until the temperature reaches 350°F. (If you don’t have a thermometer, dip the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil. If the oil bubbles vigorously around the handle, it’s hot enough.)

  3. Working in batches, fry the tortilla wedges for 60 to 90 seconds, until crisp and lightly golden.

  4. Transfer the fried tortillas to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate and season with salt while warm.

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