We Tried 9 Kinds of Tortilla Chips and Found Our All-Time Favorite (2024)

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Our tester picked Xochitl Corn Tortilla Chips as the best overall.

By

Jessica Furniss

We Tried 9 Kinds of Tortilla Chips and Found Our All-Time Favorite (1)

Jessica Furniss

Jessica Furniss is a recipe developer and food photographer with over 10 years of experience. She specializes in creating how-to articles on baking and creative charcuterie boards for Allrecipes. Jessica is also a #drinktok influencer on TikTok.

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Updated on June 16, 2022

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There is no denying the fact that Americans love tortilla chips. We dip them in homemade salsa and guacamole dip, we sprinkle them on top of taco soup and taco salad, and we use them as a base for building big piles of nachos and nacho chip casserole.

Since tortilla chips are such an important staple, we decided to try out all the major brands to find out which ones are the ultimate best tortilla chips. During this process, we considered each tortilla chip's flavor and texture.

With these considerations in mind, we found the Xochitl Corn Tortilla Chips to be the very best.

Read on to discover the best tortilla chips, according to our testing.

Best Tortilla Chips at a Glance:

Best Overall: Xochitl Corn Tortilla Chips
Runner-up: Late July Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips
Most Nostalgic: Mission Tortilla Rounds
Best Balance of Flavor: Tostitos Original Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips
Best for Dipping: Tostitos Scoops Tortilla Chips
Best for Nachos: Santitas Tortilla Chips
Best Budget: Great Value Tortilla Chips
Best Grain-Free: Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips

What We Looked for When Tasting Tortilla Chips

Flavor: I anticipated the tortilla chips all having a pretty similar flavor profile because most of the ingredients were very similar, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the nuances in flavor were noticeable and distinct. We kept an eye out for a strong corn flavor, salt balance, earthiness, a mild oil flavor, and hints of corn's creaminess.

Texture: I was blown away by how different the texture of each chip was. Some were crumbly, some were crunchy, some were very sturdy, and others very thin. We also kept an eye out for dry or brittle chips and any staleness that might be present. But, as I mentioned before, I firmly believe all tortilla chips are delicious, so these subtle differences do not make a bad chip.

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How We Tested Each Tortilla Chip

My partner and I conducted this taste test in one afternoon. We tasted each chip on its own, and then dipped it in salsa. We drank water between each chip to ensure a clean palate before trying the next one. And, I must admit, taste testing tortilla chips is a really great way to spend an afternoon.

We Tried 9 Kinds of Tortilla Chips and Found Our All-Time Favorite (3)

Best Overall: Xochitl Corn Tortilla Chips

We Tried 9 Kinds of Tortilla Chips and Found Our All-Time Favorite (4)

We love these chips because they're fresh, crisp, light, and made with just the right amount of oil.

These tasted like chips fresh from the fryer at our favorite Mexican restaurant. The light corn flavor paired perfectly with salsa. As a plus, these chips are gluten-free, certified organic, Non-GMO, and made with no preservatives. Although they are on the thinner side, they have an excellent crunch.

The one concern with these is that they tend to break a little in the bag, but otherwise this is a perfect chip.

Buy it: $3.99; Target

Runner-up: Late July Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips

We Tried 9 Kinds of Tortilla Chips and Found Our All-Time Favorite (5)

While I believe this one should be evenly tied for first place, my partner definitely sees it as the runner-up. I prefer a less salty chip, so to me this chip has the perfect amount. It had a pleasantly mild, creamy corn flavor and a lovely thin texture similar to a restaurant chip. However, it has a lighter flavor overall, without much oil flavor, which made it taste less like a restaurant-style chip. The chip also had a very smooth texture with no graininess, which I really appreciated. My partner noticed a hint of staleness, while I did not. If you prefer a milder flavor, then this is the chip for you.

Most Nostalgic: Mission Tortilla Rounds

We Tried 9 Kinds of Tortilla Chips and Found Our All-Time Favorite (6)

Biting into this chip instantly transported me to my childhood baseball stadium on a cool, fall night with a pile of nachos loaded up with melty cheese and jalapeños. These taste just like the concession stand chips! The chip was crumbly, while also remaining sturdy enough for dipping. Just like the chips of my childhood, they were a little too salty and a little too oily but still paired well with the salsa since the flavor was strong enough to still be present. If you're having a hankering for a nostalgic nacho party, these chips are sure to hit the spot.

Best Balance of Flavor: Tostitos

We Tried 9 Kinds of Tortilla Chips and Found Our All-Time Favorite (7)

Tostitos are a leading brand for a reason: These chips were so perfectly balanced with just the right amount of corn flavor and saltiness. They have that classic Tostitos crumble with a large surface area that's sturdy enough for dipping, but still breaks a little. They paired well with the salsa –– neither overpowering nor too mild. These were a perfectly balanced classic chip.

Best For Dipping: Tostitos Scoops

We Tried 9 Kinds of Tortilla Chips and Found Our All-Time Favorite (8)

Rotel sausage dip

These chips were made for dippin' and that's just what they'll do. It's no surprise that these ranked as the best for dipping into salsa. With their perfect scooping shape, they give you the most salsa per dip of any of the chips. And like other Tostitos brand chips, they have a nice balance of flavor with a good amount of salt. They pair great with chunky dips, and I especially love them with Rotel sausage dip because they don't crumble or break like other chips can.

Best for Nachos: Santitas Tortilla Chips

We Tried 9 Kinds of Tortilla Chips and Found Our All-Time Favorite (9)

When it comes to baking a tray of nachos piled with lots of toppings, you are going to need a chip that has a nice even surface area and enough sturdiness to hold everything. That's where this chip shines. These chips have the perfect sturdy, grainy texture to hold up any topping that comes its way. And its mild corn flavor truly allows all your toppings to shine.

Best Budget Tortilla Chips: Great Value

We Tried 9 Kinds of Tortilla Chips and Found Our All-Time Favorite (10)

Walmart has really cornered the market when it comes to the flavor in their store-brand food items, and these tortilla chips are no exception. They have a nice sturdy and grainy texture, but are a little too salty for my liking. However, my partner thought the salt level was fine. They taste very similar to the Tostitos, and at less than $1.50 a bag, they make the perfect affordable choice.

Best Grain-Free Tortilla Chips: Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips

We Tried 9 Kinds of Tortilla Chips and Found Our All-Time Favorite (11)

While this chip was very different from the rest, I believe everyone deserves an option for a delicious tortilla chip, so if you have a corn or gluten sensitivity then this chip is for you. They have a softer, crumbly texture, but they are still strong enough to dip into salsa. They also have a light veggie flavor that pairs really well with salsa. While I don't recommend these on their own, paired with a nice salsa, they can make a great alternative for regular corn tortilla chips.

Related:

  • How to Make Homemade Tortillas From Scratch
  • Tips and Tricks for the Best Nachos
  • We Tried 6 Brands of Chocolate Chips and These Are the Only Ones We'll Use From Now On

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