Snacks, tortilla chips, nacho-flavor, made with enriched masa flour
Whole food · Snacks
Photo: Wikipedia
These are crispy, golden-yellow corn chips engineered for a bold, savory punch, delivering a satisfying crunch before a wave of cheesy, tangy, and subtly spicy flavor. Nutritionally, they are an energy-dense snack, packing over 500 calories per 100g, primarily from carbohydrates and fats.
Calorie split: 6% protein · 49% carbs · 45% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love them for their intensely satisfying, umami-rich nacho cheese flavor and addictive crunch, making them a go-to for casual snacking. They are also incredibly versatile, serving as a sturdy scoop for dips, salsas, and chili, or as a crunchy base for loaded nachos.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high calorie, refined carb, and fat content can contribute to blood-sugar spikes and weight gain if consumed in large portions. They are also typically high in sodium, which can be a concern for blood pressure. To counteract this, practice strict portion control (e.g., a single 1 oz serving) and pair them with a protein or fat source like guacamole, bean dip, or cheese to slow digestion and increase satiety.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from carbohydrates
- Contains dietary fiber from the masa corn base
- Offers a small amount of plant-based protein
- Source of iron from enriched flour
- Convenient, shelf-stable snack option
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The nacho cheese flavoring is a complex, engineered powder often containing a blend of whey, maltodextrin, buttermilk, and specific flavor compounds like disodium inosinate and guanylate to create its signature savory 'umami' punch.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 1.7 g |
| Energy | 511 kcal |
| Energy | 2137 kj |
| Protein | 7.8 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 25.6 g |
| Ash | 2.6 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 62.3 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 5.3 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 147 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 3.7 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 82.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 244 mg |
| Potassium, K | 216 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 708 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.2 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.18 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.41 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 13.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 1.8 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.40 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.35 mg |
| Niacin | 4.0 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.29 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.29 mg |
| Folate, total | 130 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 130 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 130 ug |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.05 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 24.0 ug |
| Retinol | 6.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 371 iu |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 4.9 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.05 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.18 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 3.2 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.5 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 15.1 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.10 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 15.0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 3.5 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 3.4 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.14 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 3.0 mg |
| Phytosterols | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.07 g |
| Threonine | 0.28 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.30 g |
| Leucine | 0.88 g |
| Lysine | 0.29 g |
| Methionine | 0.16 g |
| Cystine | 0.13 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.37 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.32 g |
| Valine | 0.40 g |
| Arginine | 0.39 g |
| Histidine | 0.24 g |
| Alanine | 0.50 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.54 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.5 g |
| Glycine | 0.29 g |
| Proline | 0.68 g |
| Serine | 0.37 g |
FAQ
Are nacho-flavor tortilla chips gluten-free?
They are typically made from corn masa flour, which is naturally gluten-free. However, you should always check the label for potential cross-contamination warnings or added ingredients containing wheat.
Why are they called 'enriched' masa flour?
Enrichment means that certain B vitamins (like thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid) and iron, which are lost during milling, are added back into the flour to improve its nutritional value.
What makes them so crunchy and not get soggy quickly?
Their low moisture content and the specific frying process create a rigid, porous structure. The cheese flavoring is also a dry powder, not a wet sauce, which helps maintain crispness.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 5.11 kcal/g · 6% calories from protein · 5.3 g fiber · 0.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 3.28 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.