The Best Tortilla Chips, Ranked (Blue Corn, Too!)

The best tortilla chips are a vitalpart of your snacking experience—but how the hell are you supposed to find them when there are so many at the grocery store? In general, the best corn tortilla chips have a pleasantly salty, freshly fried flavor, a strong and sturdy structure capable of scooping up all kinds of dips (guac, queso, pico de gallo, etc.), and an undeniable crunch factor that keeps you coming back for more. 

We have a tendency, as a society, to glorify flash over function. In this case, dips are the glitz and tortilla chips are the overlooked, overburdened foundation of snack time. Think about it. Plain tortilla chips make a perfectly wonderful snack. But salsa on its own, straight off of a spoon? I mean, I guess that’s acceptable if it’s really good salsa, but…where was I going with this again? Oh yeah. If you think the dip is more important than the chip, your priorities are all out of whack. Got it? 

Here at Sporked, we respect tortilla chips—so much so that we tried over twenty bags of them over the course of two separate taste tests. We tried to keep this list digestible (pun intended), but let us just say that there are a lot of great store bought tortilla chips out there, whether you’re looking for the best tortilla chips for nachos or the best store bought tortilla chips for chilaquiles or tortilla chips assigned the lowly duty of shoveling salsa into your face. Here’s our comprehensive guide to the best tortilla chips at the grocery store.

Best Smoky

Cazo De Oro Fire Roasted Hatch Chili Corn Tortilla Chips

Amazon

Kroger

Talk about tortilla chips that don’t need a dip. The flavor of these chips is impeccable. They’re smoky! You get roastiness from the fire-cooked Hatch chilis. They’re not super overpowering so you could still definitely eat these with salsa, guacamole, or queso. That being said, you do not need anything at all to enjoy these chips.And even though these are flavored, they’re they best tortilla chips, if you’re sensitive to salt; I found these to be significantly less salty than other tortilla chips on the market. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Best Jalapeño Flavor

Late July Snacks Restaurant Style Jalapeño & Lime Tortilla Chips

Amazon

Instacart

I do not like Hint of Lime Tostitos, and my disdain has expanded beyond Hint of Lime to encompass all lime-flavored tortilla chips—until I met Lat July Jalapeño & Lime Tortilla Chips. These are authentically limey (although lime isn’t the predominant flavor) and have a nice, fruity, jalapeño bite. These sing when you dip them into guacamole or salsa, rather than scream like Tostitos Hint of Lime. That being said, these are probably the best tortilla chips on this list to enjoy sans dip. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Best Tortilla Chips for Salsa Lovers

Tostitos Scoops! Tortilla Chips

Instacart

Tostitos Scoops! are my tortilla chips of choice because my main goal when eating tortilla chips is to get as much salsa into my mouth as possible in a single bite. Anyone who agrees a chip is just a vehicle for  dip should see Scoops! as the Rolls-Royce Dawn Drophead of tortilla chips. Each chip holds a sensational amount of sauce. They’re like tiny, edible bowls that cradle the delicious dip of your choosing as it travels to your mouth. These are the best tortilla chips for dipping if you like big ol’ dips. Thank you, Tostitos engineers, for inventing these. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Tortilla Chips for Nachos

On the Border Tortilla Rounds

Amazon

Instacart

These On the Border Rounds are nearly as good as our #1 pick (spoiler: They’re made by the same brand). They’re a little thicker and a different shape (obviously), but they still have a light and flaky crunch. If you’re a fan of slightly gross, ultra-processed, yet highly addictive movie theater nacho cheese, I have good news: These are some of the best tortilla chips for nachos you can find for the at-home theater experience. All in all, On the Border knows what’s up when it comes to tortilla chips. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Blue Corn Rounds

 On the Border Blue Corn Tortilla Rounds

Instacart

What can we say? We clearly have a lot of love for On the Border Tortilla Chips. If you’re curious, blue corn tortilla chips (made from, you guessed it, blue corn) generally have more protein, fewer starches, and more health benefits. In this case, On the Border’s blue corn tortilla chips taste pretty similar to their regular corn rounds, but contain higher levels of calcium, potassium, and iron. If anything, they have a slightly earthier quality that gives them a little extra pizzaz. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Value

Great Value Bite Size Tortilla Chips

Instacart

In the search for the best store bought tortilla chips, I was shocked to discover that most companies are under salting their tortilla chips. Why?! Saltiness is one of the most vital attributes a tortilla chip brings to the table. Not to worry, though: Great Value Bite Size Tortilla Chips are here to save the day. They are perfectly salted bites of crunchy goodness. Plus, unlike the classic triangular chip, the circular shape of Great Value chips means they will fit into any salsa, guac, or queso container, making them the perfect partner for a prepackaged dip. And since they’re from Walmart, they’re affordable, too. They’re the best tortilla chips if you want a lot of salty bang for your buck. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Lime Tortilla Chips

Chicas Lime

Amazon

“These taste like you fried up a tortilla and spritzed some lime on it,” noted editor-in-chief Justine Sterling, and she’s absolutely right. That salty lime flavor is egregiously addictive—it’s like sipping from the rim of a lime Margarita in chip form. I can’t imagine a better pairing to go with guac. Structurally, Chicas tortilla chips have a flaky, crispy, extra-fried quality going for them, too. We already gave them our top spot in our official ranking of the best lime tortilla chips, and even if you bought plain, original Chicas, they would still definitely have a place here among the best tortilla chips at the grocery store. In my opinion, the Chicas brand gives Chipotle tortilla chips a run for their money—they’re probably the closest match you can find in stores! —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Salt Flavor

Have’a Corn Chips

Affiliate

If you have’a care about finding the best corn tortilla chips, you will try Have’a Corn at least once in your life! These are made with a bit of soy sauce instead of salt, and they’re fried in soybean oil rather than canola oil and you can absolutely taste the difference. The salt flavor has depth and longevity, plus a hint of lime that really rounds out the flavor with a bright aftertaste. The chip itself is thick and sturdy, with a homemade, hand-tossed quality. Because they’re thick and have a bold corn flavor, these are some of the best tortilla chips for chilaquiles—but I will say, they come in fairly small portions. For parties, you might want to opt for brands that offer a bit more bang for your buck. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Light-Bodied

Juanita’s Tortilla Chips

Instacart

Amazon

The highlight of Juanita’s Tortilla Chips is their puffy, light, and airy texture. They feel like the love child of a handmade corn tortilla and a cumulus cloud. These might not stand up to a loaded Austin-style queso, but their delicate features make them the best tortilla chips for gliding through a light salsa verde. If you’re a dipper or dunker, rather than a scooper, Juanita’s is the way to go. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best Blue Corn

Maiz Blue Corn Totopops Corn Tortilla Chips

Amazon

Instacart

Maiz Blue Corn Tortilla Chips are game-changing—and the reason is rooted in the corn. I won’t bore you for too long, but Maiz uses a process called nixtamalization, where they soak the kernels in lime and then stone-grind them to enhance all the flavors. These are earthy, salty, a little peanutty, and carry a touch of lime. Despite using simple ingredients, they have a vibrant, balanced taste that makes you pause and ponder its complexity. Maiz also doesn’t use seed oil, if that’s something you’re concerned about—these are fried in avocado oil! Their Sea Salt Corn Tortilla Chips (with white and yellow corn) are great, too. This brand makes some of the best tortilla chips you can buy, hands down. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

On the Border Café Style Tortilla Chips

Amazon

Instacart

The On the Border Cafe Style Tortilla Chips are literally the perfect tortilla chips. They are sturdy without being too thick. They have a mild corn flavor that makes them taste homemade rather than mass-produced. They are salty enough to eat on their own, but they’re also mild enough to not overpower whatever you’re dipping them into. Most surprising, they smell and taste like they’re fresh out of the fryer, like canola oil in the best way. I didn’t know this freshly fried flavor was even possible for a packaged item, but now that I know, I can’t unknow—you know? —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other Products We Tried: Xochitl, On The Border Café Style Tortilla Chips, Mission Thin & Crispy, Tostito’s Hearty Dippers, Trader Joe’s, Trader Joe’s Salsa Verde, Calidad Corn Tortilla Chips, Clancy’s Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips, Pueblo Lindo Homestyle Tortilla Chips, Simply Nature Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, Simple Truth Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, Garden of Eatin’ Corn Tortilla Chips, Tostitos Simply Organic Blue Corn, Chicas Corn Tortilla Chips Blue Corn, Sprouts Organic Sea Salt Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, Sprouts Organic Sea Salt Yellow Corn Chips, Sprouts Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips, Mi Nina Sea Salt White Corn Tortilla Chips, Good & Gather Organic White Corn Tortilla Chips