Are Tortilla Chips Gluten-Free?

Tortilla chips are a snack prepared from tortillas — thin, unleavened flatbreads typically produced from either corn or wheat flour.

Some tortilla chips may include gluten, a family of proteins present in wheat, rye, barley, and spelt. Gluten gives structure and elasticity to breads and other baked items.

For certain individuals, such as those with celiac disease, nonceliac gluten sensitivity, or wheat allergy, consuming gluten can trigger symptoms ranging from headaches and bloating to more severe outcomes like intestinal injury (1, 2).

While some tortilla chips are made from ingredients that don’t contain gluten, many people ask whether all tortilla chips are safe on a gluten-free regimen.

This piece looks at whether tortilla chips contain gluten and how to verify they’re safe for a gluten-free diet.

Most tortilla chips are gluten-free

In most cases, tortilla chips are produced from 100% ground corn, which naturally lacks gluten. Manufacturers may use white, yellow, or blue corn varieties.

That said, certain brands use a blend of corn and wheat flour, making those chips unsuitable for a gluten-free diet.

Gluten-free tortilla chips can also be created from alternative grains and legumes such as chickpeas, cassava, amaranth, teff, lentils, coconut, or sweet potatoes.

Summary: Most tortilla chips are made entirely from corn, a gluten-free ingredient. However, some corn-style chips may include wheat flour and therefore are not gluten-free.

Certain tortilla chips contain gluten

Tortilla chips contain gluten when they’re manufactured from wheat, rye, barley, triticale, or wheat-derived grains, including (3):

• semolina
• spelt
• durum
• wheat berries
• emmer
• farina
• farro
• graham
• Kamut (khorasan wheat)
• einkorn wheat
• wheat berries

Multigrain tortilla chips may combine both gluten-containing and gluten-free grains, so reading ingredient lists is crucial for anyone who must avoid gluten.

Additionally, some people with celiac disease, wheat allergy, or gluten sensitivity may react to tortilla chips that include oats.

Although oats are inherently gluten-free, they’re frequently grown adjacent to wheat fields or processed in facilities that also handle gluten-containing grains, creating a risk of cross-contact (4).

Summary: Tortilla chips contain gluten if they’re made from wheat, barley, rye, triticale, or other wheat-derived grains. Chips with oats may also pose problems for some people due to cross-contamination risk.

How to ensure your tortilla chips are gluten-free

The first step in knowing whether tortilla chips contain gluten is to inspect the ingredient list for gluten or grains that contain gluten.

Try to choose tortilla chips produced from 100% corn or another inherently gluten-free base like rice, chickpea flour, sweet potato, teff, or quinoa.

Some tortilla chip packages may bear a “gluten-free” label, but that doesn’t entirely eliminate the possibility of gluten presence. Cross-contact during production can still occur.

Under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s gluten-free labeling guidelines, products labeled gluten-free must contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten (5).

Moreover, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 mandates that manufacturers disclose common food allergens on product packaging (6).

Wheat is listed as a major food allergen and must be declared on labels. However, a “wheat-free” claim does not guarantee the absence of other gluten-containing grains.

You can also reach out to the maker of the product to ask about ingredients, their processing methods, and the potential for gluten contamination.

Look for third-party certification to be sure

To be confident that tortilla chips and other foods are gluten-free, search for an independent certification mark on the packaging indicating gluten-free verification.

Third-party certification means the product has been independently tested in a lab and meets the standards for gluten-free labeling. These tests are performed by organizations with no financial stake in the product or brand.

There are multiple third-party gluten-free seals to watch for when picking tortilla chips.

NSF International’s gluten-free certification confirms products contain no more than 20 ppm of gluten. The Gluten Intolerance Group’s certified gluten-free program is stricter, requiring products to contain no more than 10 ppm (7, 8).

Summary: Read ingredient panels and allergen notices on tortilla chip packages to verify whether they’re gluten-free. Choosing chips with third-party gluten-free certification offers the greatest assurance.

How to make your own gluten-free tortilla chips

You can easily prepare your own gluten-free tortilla chips at home by following these steps:

1. Cut 100% corn tortillas into triangular pieces.
2. Toss them with about a tablespoon of olive oil.
3. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking tray.
4. Bake at 350°F (176°C) for 5–6 minutes.
5. Turn the tortillas, sprinkle with salt, and bake an additional 6–8 minutes until they begin to crisp and brown.
6. Take them from the oven and allow them to cool.

Summary: Making homemade gluten-free tortilla chips is an easy method to ensure your chips are entirely free of gluten.

The bottom line

The majority of classic tortilla chips are made from corn, which is gluten-free. Still, some tortilla chips are produced with wheat or other gluten-containing grains.

If you follow a gluten-free eating plan, inspect the product packaging for gluten-free claims, listings of gluten-containing ingredients, and allergen disclosures.

The most reliable way to ensure your tortilla chips are free of gluten is to purchase products that carry third-party gluten-free certification. For further guidance on snack choices, you might also find this article helpful: what chips are gluten free.