Tortilla chips can be made from wheat or from corn. Only the tortilla chips made from pure corn are gluten-free. Most corn tortilla chips contain no gluten ingredients, but you shouldn't assume that they're always gluten-free. Many are subject to gluten cross-contamination from shared facilities and from the raw materials used to make them.
Fortunately, there are numerous manufacturers who make tortilla chips that are labeled "gluten-free." These will be safe for people with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
To make sure you're purchasing gluten-free tortilla chips, it's best to always stick to gluten-free-labeled packages.
The Better Chip
The Better Chip makes five flavors of classic tortilla chips—Spinach & Kale, Jalapeño, Beet Cauliflower, and Sweet Potato Plantain.
All chips are made in facilities certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), are verified non-GMO, and are made with farm-fresh vegetables. Look for them on Amazon and in select supermarkets.
Cabo Chips
This California-based company produces handmade tortilla chips that are inspired by Baja, Mexico, and are also non-GMO and made with all-natural ingredients. All four flavors of Cabo Chips—Original, Blue Corn, Elote, and Thin & Crispy—are labeled as gluten-free.
Food Should Taste Good Tortilla Chips
Food Should Taste Good makes a variety of really interesting tortilla chip flavors, including Guacamole, Cheddar, Jalapeño, and Kimchi. The company's facilities (which also makegluten-free potato chips and gluten-free multigrain chips) are certified gluten-freegluten by the GFCO.
Frito-Lay Tortilla Chips
Frito-Lay now publishes a list of products that contain fewer than 20 parts per million of gluten. The list includes plenty of gluten-free tortilla chip and corn chip options.
Many Tostitos products, including Simply Organic Yellow Corn Chips and Simply Organic Blue Corn Chips, are considered gluten-free. So are some Cheetos, Doritos Simply Organic White Cheddar Flavored Tortilla Chips, Frito's Original Corn Chips and Frito's Scoops! Corn Chips, and a few Santitas products.
Use caution when purchasing Frito-Lay products if you are sensitive to cross contamination. According to the company's website, some products are "produced on the same line as our products that do contain gluten. Although the lines are washed between batches, a slight residue may remain on the lines. Individuals who are extremely sensitive may be affected."
Garden of Eatin' Tortilla Chips
Garden of Eatin', a Hain Celestial Group brand, makes several varieties of corn chips as well as grain-free tortilla chips made from organic cassava. Most are now labeled gluten-free, which means they'll meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard of less than 20 parts per million of gluten.
Most or all are produced in a plant that also processes gluten-containing products, including Garden of Eatin's barley-and-wheat-containing multi-grain chips. According to Garden of Eatin's website, its products are not tested for gluten, including those that are labeled gluten-free.
The company suggests a thorough review of the product's ingredient list before you buy to make sure that it's the right choice for you. Your safest bet is to always chose a product that sports a "gluten-free" logo.
Kettle Brand Tortilla Chips
Kettle is certified gluten-free by the GFCO, which means that its facilities are inspected to adhere to gluten-free standards. Some of Kettle Brand's products do contain trace amounts of dairy, however. The company states that it thoroughly cleans its lines after each flavor run, but there is still potential for cross contamination.
What to Eat When You're Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free
Late July Tortilla Chips
This company also is gluten-free certified by the GFCO and labels all of its tortilla chips—including the multi-grain varieties—as certified gluten-free. Late July's tortilla chips are also organic and come in a variety of flavors, including Sea Salt, Jalapeño Lime, Nacho Cheese, Mexican Street Corn, and Garden Ranch.
Mission Foods Tortilla Chips
Mission Foods corn tortilla chips are made with 100% corn masa flour and are certified gluten-free by the GFCO. They are produced in a plant that also processes wheat tortilla products, however, according to Mission's website.
Way Better Tortilla Chips
Way Better Snacks sprouts its grain ingredients before using them to create tortilla chips, which the company says helps to unlock the nutrients in the corn and other grains it uses and makes them easier to digest.
All the company's products (with the exception of the Sprouted Barley crackers) are certified gluten-free by the GFCO, meaning they contain less than 10 parts per million of gluten. They're also produced on dedicated gluten-free lines.
Corn tortilla chip flavors include Heirloom Blue Corn, Chipotle Barbeque Purple Sweet Potato, Avocado Ranch, Spicy Sriracha, Roasted Poblano & Lime, and Black Bean & Roasted Garlic. Way Better tortilla chips are available for purchase on Amazon or in select grocery stores.
Utz's Tortiyahs! Tortilla Chips
Utz, which makes several different types of corn tortilla chip products, features a selection of gluten-free options. All four varieties of Utz's line of tortilla chips, "Tortiyahs!," are labeled gluten-free.
Though they are not certified gluten-free, the labeling indicates that it meets the FDA's standard of below 20 ppm of gluten. Utz also claims to be transparent about the ingredients on the labels of all of its products.
Utz's chips are manufactured in a facility that also makes products containing peanuts and tree nuts—which is something to watch out for if you have a nut allergy or sensitivity.
A Word From Verywell
Cross contamination from gluten ingredients found in other products can be a common instance in which pure corn tortilla chips would not be considered totally gluten-free, even if the gluten free labeling meets the FDA's standard of less than 20ppm.
It's best to avoid those brands if you are particularly sensitive to trace gluten and cross contamination. When in doubt, always opt for a brand that has the official "Certified Gluten-Free" label from the GFCO to ensure that you're consuming a product that's below 10 ppm.
In addition, you may wish to avoid corn tortilla chips served in restaurants. These often are fried in a fryer that's shared with other items that are coated with wheat flour. If a restaurant assures you that it uses a dedicated gluten-free fryer (some do), then the chips will be safe for you to enjoy.
