Best Gluten-Free Tortilla Chips

Tortilla chips can be made from wheat or corn, but only those made from pure corn are gluten-free. Most corn tortilla chips contain no gluten ingredients, but you shouldn't assume they're always gluten-free. Many chips are subject to gluten cross-contamination from shared facilities and the raw materials used to make them.

Fortunately, numerous manufacturers make gluten-free tortilla chips that are safe for people with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

The Better Chip 

The Better Chip makes five flavors of gluten-free 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 gluten-free tortilla chips inspired by Baja, Mexico, that 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 gluten-free.

Food Should Taste Good Tortilla Chips

Food Should Taste Good makes a variety of interesting gluten-free tortilla chip flavors, including Guacamole, Cheddar, Jalapeño, and Kimchi. The company's facilities (which also make gluten-free potato chips and gluten-free multigrain chips) are certified gluten-free gluten 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 chips 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 labeled gluten-free tortilla chips and meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard of less than 20 parts per million of gluten.

Most or all their tortilla chips are produced in a plant that processes gluten-containing products, including Garden of Eatin's barley- and wheat-containing multigrain chips. According to Garden of Eatin's website, its products are not tested for gluten, including those labeled gluten-free.

The company suggests thoroughly reviewing a product's ingredient list before buying to ensure it's the right choice for you. Your safest bet is to choose a product that sports a "gluten-free" logo.

Kettle Brand Tortilla Chips

Kettle is certified gluten-free by the GFCO, meaning its facilities are inspected to adhere to gluten-free standards. Some of Kettle Brand's products 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.

Late July Tortilla Chips

This company is gluten-free certified by the GFCO and labels all its chips—including multi-grain varieties—as certified gluten-free tortilla chips. 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 to make them easier to digest.

All the company's products (except 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.

Gluten-free 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 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 tortilla chips, "Tortiyahs!," are gluten-free.

Though they are not certified gluten-free, the labeling indicates they meet the FDA's standard of below 20 parts per million of gluten. Utz also claims transparency about its ingredients on all product labels.

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 gluten-free, even if the gluten-free labeling meets the FDA's standard of less than 20 parts per million.

It's best to avoid those brands if you are particularly sensitive to trace gluten and cross-contamination. When in doubt, opt for a brand with the official "Certified Gluten-Free" label from the GFCO to ensure you're consuming a product below 10 parts per million.

Additionally, you may avoid corn tortilla chips served in restaurants, as these are often fried in a fryer shared with other items coated with wheat flour. If a restaurant assures you that it uses a dedicated gluten-free fryer (some do), the gluten-free tortilla chips will be safe to enjoy.