Snacks, tortilla chips, plain, white corn, salted
Whole food · Snacks
Photo: Wikipedia
Plain white corn tortilla chips are crisp, golden triangles or strips made from nixtamalized corn dough, fried or baked until shatteringly crunchy. They deliver a satisfying, salty crunch with a subtle, earthy corn flavor and a dry, sturdy texture perfect for scooping. Nutritionally, they are a calorie-dense, high-carbohydrate snack, providing a quick energy boost with minimal protein.
Calorie split: 6% protein · 56% carbs · 38% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love them for their irresistible, salty crunch and the way they act as the perfect edible vehicle for dips like salsa, guacamole, and queso. They are deeply embedded in Mexican and Tex-Mex culture, symbolizing casual gatherings, parties, and shared meals.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Their high carbohydrate and calorie content can lead to blood sugar spikes, and the added salt contributes to high sodium intake, which is a concern for some. They are also a common source of acrylamide from high-heat cooking. To counteract, pair them with protein-rich dips like bean dip or guacamole, practice strict portion control (e.g., a single handful), and look for baked or low-sodium versions.
Key benefits
- Provides quick, dense energy from complex carbohydrates.
- A good source of dietary fiber (5.4g per 100g) for digestive health.
- Contains essential minerals like magnesium and phosphorus from corn.
- Nixtamalization process increases nutrient availability, including niacin.
- A versatile, shelf-stable snack that requires no preparation.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The process of nixtamalization, which involves soaking corn in an alkaline solution (like lime water), was developed by ancient Mesoamericans thousands of years ago; it unlocks niacin (vitamin B3) in corn, preventing the deficiency disease pellagra.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 2.6 g |
| Energy | 472 kcal |
| Energy | 1976 kj |
| Protein | 7.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 20.7 g |
| Ash | 1.8 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 67.8 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 5.4 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.78 g |
| Sucrose | 0.78 g |
| Glucose | 0.00 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 62.5 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 106 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.5 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 84.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 225 mg |
| Potassium, K | 182 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 328 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.4 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.10 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.39 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 4.4 ug |
| Fluoride, F | 51.9 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.14 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.07 mg |
| Niacin | 0.84 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.30 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.18 mg |
| Folate, total | 12.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 12.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 12.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 19.4 mg |
| Betaine | 0.40 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.36 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 2.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 2.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 4.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 5.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 3.5 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.11 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 9.1 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.36 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.49 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.42 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 1.1 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 20.9 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 43.7 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 2.8 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 2.2 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.38 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.08 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.03 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 5.7 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 5.6 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 5.6 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.07 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 10.8 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 10.5 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 9.7 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:2 i | 0.71 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.23 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.23 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3i | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.81 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.00 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.10 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.81 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
| Stigmasterol | 14.0 mg |
| Campesterol | 24.0 mg |
| Beta-sitosterol | 61.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Snacks, corn-based, extruded, chips, plain — USDA does not publish this profile for Snacks.
| Tryptophan | 0.05 g |
| Threonine | 0.25 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.23 g |
| Leucine | 0.80 g |
| Lysine | 0.18 g |
| Methionine | 0.14 g |
| Cystine | 0.12 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.32 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.27 g |
| Valine | 0.33 g |
| Arginine | 0.33 g |
| Histidine | 0.20 g |
| Alanine | 0.49 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.46 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.2 g |
| Glycine | 0.27 g |
| Proline | 0.57 g |
| Serine | 0.31 g |
FAQ
Are tortilla chips gluten-free?
Yes, traditional tortilla chips made from 100% corn are naturally gluten-free. However, always check labels for cross-contamination warnings or added seasonings that might contain gluten.
What's the difference between tortilla chips and potato chips?
Tortilla chips are made from corn tortillas that are cut and fried/baked, giving them a sturdy, crunchy texture ideal for dipping. Potato chips are thinly sliced potatoes that are fried, resulting in a lighter, crispier texture.
How can I make tortilla chips healthier at home?
You can cut corn tortillas into wedges, lightly spray them with oil, and bake or air-fry them until crisp. This significantly reduces the fat content compared to deep-frying and allows you to control the salt.
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 4.72 kcal/g · 6% calories from protein · 5.4 g fiber · 0.8 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: 1.80 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.