Skip to content

Our 2024 Print Your Own Calendar is now on sale! Buy now!

It’s no joke that many people take their food obsessions very seriously. One of these passions is the love for tortilla chips. Hence, there is a designated National Tortilla Chip Day to partake in. It allows for these fanatics to celebrate and indulge in their favorite snack.

Well, how can you blame them? These chips are crispy, tasty, and go well with all sorts of dips and sides. Snacks are necessary for satisfying one’s cravings and for having at parties and special gatherings. One may be wondering how this day emerged and ways to celebrate the occasion. Look no further because we have answers to these questions and can help improve a future snacking session.

Millions love to indulge in eating crispy and delicious tortilla chips, and that’s why there’s a special day dedicated to the food. For this reason, we come together to celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day once a year. It’s a chance for chip lovers all around to rejoice and make it known that the tortilla chip is a wise choice when hunger strikes.

They’re a sensation among a large group of people and only seem to be getting more popular over the years. There are so many ways to eat them and enjoy this snack that the options are endless. They’re known to bring the fiesta to any occasion and remain a well-liked snacking option to have around the house. They have the right amount of crunch and salty flavor to put a smile on anyone’s face.

The most common way to eat them among the public is to dip them in a salsa of choice. There are many reasons to love National Tortilla Chip Day and to indulge in the snack. For example, they’re a type of social food that brings people together and will make a party more enjoyable. Also, one of the best foods around is nachos, and where would this dish be without the tortilla chip? The chip goes well with any salsa, including those that are medium, strong, peach, chunky, and thin. People are even more excited about the fact that tortilla chips are naturally gluten-free!

History of National Tortilla Chip Day

Tortilla chips have become so popular because of how they came to be and how they taste. The chip is made from corn tortillas (which are made from corn, vegetable oil, salt, and water) and is then cut into wedges and fried. A person might be most familiar with the yellow corn tortilla chips that one can find just about anywhere, but know that they can also be made with red, blue, and white corn. One of the primary markets for tortilla chips is in the United States.

The chips were initially produced in masses in Los Angeles in the late 1940s. It may come as a surprise since tortilla chips are commonly thought of to be a Mexican food. Rebecca Webb Carranza was said to have made these chips popular because she decided to use the misshapen tortillas that the automated tortilla manufacturing machine rejected. She was able to turn them into a snack by cutting them into triangles and then frying them.

National Tortilla Chip Day Timeline

10,000 BC

Tortillas are invented

Certainly the beauty of the Tortilla Chip would be nothing without its ancestor, the illustrious tortilla. It is developed right around the time that corn is first domesticated in the Sierra Madre region of Mexico. Mayan legend says the first tortilla was a gift to a king.[1]

1600

The word “Tortilla” is first documented

Coming from the Spanish word meaning “little cake”, the word is first documented and was likely named such by Spaniards who were explorers in Central America.[2]

1940s

The modern Tortilla Chip is invented

While it is possible that some version of baked or fried tortilla pieces may precede this time, the invention of the Tortilla Chip as it is known today is credited to Rebecca Webb Carranza who cut mis-shapen tortillas into triangles and fried them.[3]

1981

Frito Lay introduced Tostitos chips

Following on the heels of the popular flavored Doritos, the company introduces Tostitos, which is a plain tortilla chip that continues to top the charts in sales over the years.[4]

2003

Tortilla Chips and salsa become Texas State Snack

Students at an elementary school in Texas contacted their state Representative to request that Tortilla Chips and salsa be designated a state snack.[5]

How to celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day

Curl up on the couch with a movie and grab your favorite dips and a bag of chips to help celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day. Several dips tend to go well with these types of chips, so be adventurous and try them all. Experiment with flavors and textures until there’s one that stands out and makes your snacking experience more pleasurable.

It’s also a known fact among the public that melting cheese on top of tortilla chips makes the perfect snack. There’s even a hashtag to use when sharing photos and images to social media which is #TortillaChipDay. The chip is not only delicious to eat but also can bring people together to have some fun and eat a tasty snack.

Another way to celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day is to throw a party and gather friends and family members and taste test a variety of dips with this chip of choice. As the party organizer and host, it might also be a fun idea to offer a nacho bar with a mix of toppings and the chips as the base. At the party, guests can converse over drinks and these chips and share about why each person loves this snack. If none of these ideas gets you excited about tortilla chips, then host a chip and salsa night. Mix it up by having everyone bring their favorite chip and salsa to share with the group.

As a way to involve the kids in the celebration, parents may want to make tortilla chips right at home instead of buying them. They’re simple to make and it’s an excellent activity for the whole family on a rainy day. Buy or make some guacamole, and all can enjoy a savory snack. Another idea is to make a chicken tortilla soup and use the chips to crunch on top to add texture and flavor. Otherwise, have a taco dip to eat the chips with and to enjoy on the side of your soup.

National Tortilla Chip Day is a time of the year many snack fanatics look forward to and will practice patience as they wait for it to arrive. There are so many reasons to love this chip and options for what one can dip it into and enjoy with it. The possibilities are endless, so it’s a wise idea to always have a bag handy at home in case the craving hits, and it’s time for a delicious snack. The best part about tortilla chips is that they draw people together and help to make any party or gathering complete.

It’s no wonder the popularity among the public has grown so much over the years and that this chip is in high demand. Have fun coming up with new recipes to try with tortilla chips and options for making an upcoming event more memorable by serving one of these many snack ideas.

National Tortilla Chip Day FAQs

Are Tortilla Chips healthy?

Although they are not the healthiest snack option due to fat and salt content, Tortilla Chips, when eaten in moderation, can be included as part of a healthy eating plan.[1]

How are Tortilla Chips made?

Most Tortilla Chips begin with 100% corn tortillas, cut into triangles and then baked or fried. They are usually lightly salted after cooking, and can be eaten with salsa, cheese, bean dip and in a variety of ways.[2]

Are Tortilla Chips gluten free?

Yes! As long as they are made from 100% corn with no flour or gluten-filled additives, Tortilla Chips are naturally gluten free.[3]

Who invented Tortilla Chips?

Rebecca Webb Carranza, president of El Zarpape Tortilla Factory in Los Angeles, was likely the inventor of Tortilla Chips. After cutting and frying the mis-shapen tortillas, she found people liked them so she started selling them to the public for 10 cents a bag.[4]

When is National Tortilla Chip Day?

National Tortilla Chip Day is celebrated on the 24th of February each year. A day that is closely related in spirit to this one is National Nachos Day on November 6.

Also on ...

View all holidays
View all holidays

Calendar