Lime Tortilla Chips, Salty Style

I have a confession. A regular here Chipotle’s salty lime tortilla chips.

By now, most people have been to a Chipotle restaurant and are well aware of their standout 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 go-to 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 from-scratch tortilla chips recipe (back in 2011!) it was before air fryers, so I only baked them in the oven. Baking tortilla chips in the oven can make them a little chewy. However the air fryer makes THE DEPENDABLE crispy tortilla chips! It’s life changing! Especially if you’re like me and afraid of deep frying.

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

To Make These Baked Lime tortilla Chips Set out:

• corn tortillas – Use white or yellow corn shells.
• avocado oil spray – Help crisp the chips with air frying or baking.
• lime juice – Freshly squeezed. For extra lime flavor, add a little lime zest.
• coarse salt – I use margarita salt but you can substitute with kosher salt.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!