These Salty Lime Tortilla Chips are a healthier copycat version of Chipotle’s chips. Cut corn tortillas are sprayed with avocado oil and air fried before being tossed with lime juice and salt. Serve with your favorite salsa, guac or use for nachos! Yields 72 chips or about 8 (9 chip) servings.

homemade salty lime tortilla chips

I have a confession. I love Chipotle’s salty lime tortilla chips.

By now, most people have been to a Chipotle restaurant and are well aware of their amazing chips. Back when I worked at. the hospital, I used to get Chipotle at least once a week (on my lunch break) and quickly became obsessed with their fajita rice bowls, sweet corn salsa, guacamole and (obviously) their salty lime tortilla chips. Can you tell it’s one of my favorite places to eat?

Since moving, and not being able to enjoy their menu items as often, I decided to create my own Chipotle favorites at home. When I first posted this homemade tortilla chips recipe (back in 2011!) it was before air fryers, so I just baked them in the oven. Baking tortilla chips in the oven can make them a little chewy. However the air fryer makes THE BEST crispy tortilla chips! It’s life changing! Especially if you’re like me and afraid of deep frying.

Salty Lime Tortilla Chips

If you don’t already have one, this is your sign to buy an air fryer.

ingredients for Salty Lime Tortilla Chips

To Make These Baked Lime tortilla Chips You will Need:

  • corn tortillasUse white or yellow corn shells.
  • avocado oil sprayHelp crisp the chips with air frying or baking.
  • lime juiceFreshly squeezed. For extra lime flavor, add a little lime zest.
  • coarse saltI use margarita salt but you can substitute with kosher salt.

air fryer

If air frying (preferred method) preheat your air fryer to 360°.

Baking? I’ve left instructions for oven baked tortilla chips in the note section of the recipe printable. Please note that baked chips can be a little chewy compared to air fried tortilla chips.

Cut into fourths

Work in batches, cutting a small stack of corn tortillas into fourths.

Spray both sides of the quartered tortillas

Arrange a batch of quartered tortillas on a rimmed baking sheet and spray both sides with avocado oil.

air fry

Working in batches, adding a single layer of tortillas in your air fryer basket/insert. DO NOT OVERFILL YOUR AIR FRYER. Air fry for 3 to 4 minutes. During that time, open the air fryer and carefully separate and turn the chips if needed until lightly golden and crispy.

crispy tortilla chips

Once crisp, remove and transfer to a rimmed sheet pan. Repeat with remaining tortillas. It usually takes me about 4 to 5 batches in my air fryer.

Pan of crispy tortilla chips

Once all chips have been made, spread them out on a large rimmed sheet pan.

Drizzle with lime juice

Drizzle and toss with desired amount of lime juice.

Note: Alternatively, you can use a food-safe spray bottle to spritz the chips with lime juice so it will evenly distribute the lime juice.

spritz with avocado oil and season with pinches of salt, to taste

Work in batches adding the chips back to the air fryer to crisp back up (lime juice can make spots on the chip soggy).

Once crisp, lightly spritz with avocado or extra light olive oil (should be a fine mist when sprayed) and season with pinches of margarita salt or kosher salt.

Homemade salsa

I like to serve these salty lime tortilla chips along side my Homemade Salsa or Guacamole.

Homemade Salty Lime Tortilla Chips

How To Store Homemade Tortilla Chips:

Store them in an airtight container or bag for 1 week or longer. If they get a little chewier in texture try to crisp them back up in the air fryer. I would not refrigerate or freeze them.

How To Reheat Homemade Tortilla Chips In The Air Fryer:

Preheat your air-fryer to 300°. Add desired amount of tortilla chips to the basket/insert and air-fry in 1 to 2 minute intervals.

homemade salsa

Enjoy! And if you give this Salty Lime Tortilla Chip recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

Salty Lime Tortilla Chips

Salty Lime Tortilla Chips
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Yield: 8 servings

Salty Lime Tortilla Chips

These Salty Lime Tortilla Chips are a healthier copycat version of Chipotle's chips. Cut corn tortillas are sprayed with avocado oil and air fried before being tossed with lime juice and salt.
Yields 72 chips or about 8 (9 chip) servings.

Ingredients

  • 18 white corn tortillas
  • avocado oil spray, or extra light olive oil
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons lime juice, can add 1/2 teaspoon lime zest for extra lime flavor
  • 2 teaspoons coarse salt, I use margarita salt but kosher salt can be used

Instructions 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 360°.
  • Work in batches, cutting a small stack of corn tortillas into fourths (triangles).
  • Arrange a batch of tortilla triangles on a rimmed baking sheet and spray both sides with avocado or extra light olive oil spray.
  • Working in batches, adding a single layer of tortillas in your air fryer basket/insert. DO NOT OVERFILL YOUR AIR FRYER. Air fry for 3 to 4 minutes. During that time, open the air fryer and carefully separate and turn the chips if needed until lightly golden and crispy.
  • Transfer tortilla chips to a large rimmed baking sheet and repeat with the next batch of tortillas. Repeat until all chips have been made.
  • Once all of the chips have been made, spread them out onto the large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle and toss with desired amount of lime juice.
    Alternatively, you can use a food-safe spray bottle to spritz the chips with lime juice for a lighter more even distribution.
  • Once tossed with lime juice, work in batches adding chips back to the air fryer to crisp back up any chips that may have gotten too much lime juice and are a smidge soggy. About 2 to 3 minutes at 300°.
  • Transfer back to sheet pan, lightly spritz with avocado or extra light oil (should have a fine mist when sprayed) and season with pinches of margarita or kosher salt.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

Oven Baked Tortilla Chips:
Preheat oven to 350°. Follow steps for preparing tortilla chips (cut, spray and arrange on two rimmed sheet pans - don't over crowd). Bake each batch for 8 minutes on the middle rack. Then carefully turn and bake 3 to 5 minutes more or until crispy and lightly golden brown. Every oven is different, so watch carefully to avoid burning.
Sprinkle or mist with lime juice and add back into the oven for 3 to 4 minutes or until crisped back up. If too much lime juice is in one spot, I can make the chips soggy.
Once crispy, lightly mist with oil and season with salt.
NOTE: In my opinion baked chips can be a little chewy in comparison to crispy air fried tortilla chips.
How To Store Homemade Tortilla Chips:
Store them in an airtight container or bag for 1 week or longer. If they get a little chewier in texture try to crisp them back up in the air fryer. I would not refrigerate or freeze them.
How To Reheat Homemade Tortilla Chips In The Air Fryer:
Preheat your air-fryer to 300°. Add desired amount of tortilla chips to the basket/insert and air-fry in 1 to 2 minute intervals.
Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on SimplyScratch.com should only be used as a general guideline.
Serving: 9chips, Calories: 128kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 0.3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Sodium: 608mg, Potassium: 113mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 3IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 48mg, Iron: 1mg