Crunchy, salty and perfect for scooping salsa, guacamole and queso, tortilla chips are a favorite snack across the United States. National Tortilla Chip Day, on February 24, celebrates these simple corn chips. Whether you buy a bag, order chips and salsa at a restaurant, or fry your own from fresh tortillas, it is a great excuse for a snack spread.
History of National Tortilla Chip Day
Tortillas have been made in Mexico for thousands of years from nixtamalized corn, which is corn treated with an alkaline solution to make it easier to grind and more nutritious. Fried tortilla pieces called 'totopos' were eaten in Mexico long before tortilla chips became a packaged snack.
The modern tortilla chip is often credited to Rebecca Webb Carranza and her husband, who ran a tortilla factory in Los Angeles. In the late 1940s or 1950s, they began frying misshapen tortillas that would otherwise be thrown away and sold the chips as 'Tort Chips'. They became popular, and Carranza received an award in the 1990s for her contribution to the Mexican food industry.
Tortilla chips spread nationally in the 1960s and 1970s, helped by packaged brands and the popularity of nachos and Tex-Mex restaurants. Who created National Tortilla Chip Day is not documented.
Why National Tortilla Chip Day Matters
Tortilla chips are a great example of reducing waste, created from tortillas that were not perfect enough to sell.
They are also a social snack, perfect for game days, parties and sharing with friends.
How to Celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day
- Make your own: cut corn tortillas into wedges and bake or fry them.
- Build a dip spread: offer salsa, guacamole, queso and bean dip.
- Make nachos: layer chips with cheese, beans and toppings.
- Try chilaquiles: simmer chips in salsa and top with eggs.
- Season creatively: sprinkle lime, chili powder or cinnamon sugar.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, a chips-and-dip spread is an easy, crowd-pleasing snack for a team meeting or game day. Include mild and spicy salsas so everyone can join in. In classrooms, tortilla chips are a fun way to learn about corn, nixtamalization and Mexican food history, and students can compare the taste and texture of homemade and store-bought chips. At home, families can bake chips from corn tortillas with a little oil and salt, letting children cut shapes with cookie cutters. Use leftover chips in chilaquiles for breakfast.
Fun Facts About National Tortilla Chip Day
- Nixtamalization makes corn easier to grind and more nutritious.
- Rebecca Webb Carranza is credited with popularizing tortilla chips in Los Angeles.
- Fried tortilla pieces called totopos have long been eaten in Mexico.
National Tortilla Chip Day FAQs
When is National Tortilla Chip Day?
National Tortilla Chip Day is February 24.
Who invented tortilla chips?
Rebecca Webb Carranza is often credited with popularizing them in Los Angeles in the mid-1900s.
How do I make tortilla chips at home?
Cut corn tortillas into wedges, brush with oil, sprinkle with salt and bake until crisp.
What is nixtamalization?
A process of soaking and cooking corn in an alkaline solution, used to make masa for tortillas.