A crunchy addition to salads and a sturdy vessel for dipping, tortilla chips are as versatile as they are tasty. And, generally speaking, the crispy snacks are vegan.
Yet there are a few caveats when it comes to the vegan status of tortilla chips. You'll want to keep a close eye on the product's ingredient list, and sometimes you may want to ask a restaurant how the chips are prepared to be sure they're cruelty-free. Don't worry; our guide will help you feel confident that the chips you choose to chomp are vegan.
Why Tortilla Chips Are Usually Vegan
The basic and traditional ingredients to make tortilla chips are naturally vegan. These include corn flour, water, oil, and salt.
Sometimes, especially at restaurants, the tortilla chips are fried in oil. This is typically animal-free, whether the oil is canola, olive, or something else. Still, it is possible for a restaurant to fry in animal fat, or to use the same fryer it does to fry animal foods, which could lead to cross-contamination.
To mitigate any confusion, it's in your best interest to ask your server. Politely explain that you are vegan and that you'd like to know how the chips are prepared, and whether the same fryer is used to cook foods that contain animal products.
When Are Tortilla Chips Not Vegan?
The vegan status of tortilla chips becomes a little fuzzy when you start to add flavor to the chips.
Doritos, one of the most popular tortilla-style chips on the market, is a major culprit here. Nearly all Doritos chip flavors contain dairy ingredients, which makes them off-limits for vegan.
On the bright side, there are currently three flavors of Doritos that are dairy-free. These are:
- Lightly Salted Tortilla Chips
- Blaze Flavored Doritos
- Spicy Sweet Chili Flavored Tortilla Chips (the purple bag)
These three Doritos varieties appear to be the kinds of foods that are accidentally vegan. The chips don't have any vegan claims stamped on the bag, but they are free of dairy and other animal products.
Takis is another popular brand of tortilla chip that is heavily seasoned (and often hot!), with many varieties non-vegan. That said, this chip has several vegan-friendly options in its line. These include:
- Fuego
- Nitro
- Salsa Brava
- Zombie Flavor
Vegan Friendly Tortilla Chip Brands
While vegans should eat flavored tortilla chips with caution (as in, check out the ingredients list first), there are countless cruelty-free tortilla chips available on the market—plain and flavored.
We're very glad vegans don't have to miss out when it comes to these crunchy chips. Here are a few of our favorite vegan tortilla chip brands:
- Trader Joe's Salted Tortilla Chips
- Xochitl Mexican Style Tortilla Chips
- Whole Foods 365 Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips
- Siete Lime Tortilla Chips
- Mi Nina White Corn Tortilla Chips
- Garden of Eatin' Organic Blue Corn Redhot Tortilla Chips
- Original Salsitas Spicy Flavored Tortilla Rounds
- Santitas Totopos De Maiz Tortilla Chips
- Tostitos Tortilla Chips
- Taco Bell Tortilla Chips
- Late July Tortilla Chips
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
These crunchy delights are often vegan-friendly and generally made from three simple ingredients—corn, oil, and salt. However, you'll want to check the label if you've got flavored varieties, as they can contain non-vegan additives. Homemade tortilla chips are a great way to ensure they meet vegan standards.
Are tortilla chips considered vegan? ›
The basic and traditional ingredients to make tortilla chips are naturally vegan. These include corn flour, water, oil, and salt. Sometimes, especially at restaurants, the tortilla chips are fried in oil. This is typically animal-free, whether the oil is canola, olive, or something else.
What makes vegan chips vegan? ›
The widely hailed "LAYS Classic Original" chips contain potatoes, vegetable oil, and salt—none of which are animal-derived. Alas, many varieties with added ingredients and seasonings can still be vegan.
Can vegans eat tortilla chips and salsa? ›
Let's be honest, nothings better than diving into some chips and salsa, right? So can vegans eat tortilla chips? The short answer is typically yes. Most of the time tortilla chips don't contain any animal ingredients.
Could a vegan eat doritos chilli heatwave tortilla chips? ›
However, flavours lightly salted and chilli heatwave use only vegan ingredients. The only issue is that they are manufactured in a factory that handles milk, so there is a risk of cross-contamination.
Why isn't salsa vegan? ›
Before you decide on buying a commercially-made salsa, it's best to read the ingredients label to make sure that everything is plant-based. Common non-vegan ingredients that are used in salsas include milk, cheese, and sour cream.
Why are flour tortillas not vegan? ›
Traditional flour tortilla recipes call for animal lard to be added to the tortilla mix, making them unsuitable for vegetarians. In any case, the use of lard is declining in Mexico and commercial flour tortillas are usually made with vegetable oil.
How to tell if chips are vegan? ›
Look for “vegan” or “plant-based” labeling
The most straightforward way to determine whether a potato chip is vegan is to check whether it's labeled as such! If your favorite brand says “vegan” or “plant-based,” you're good to go.
Are McDonald's chips actually vegan? ›
While they may possibly be suitable for vegetarians, therefore, the chips are certainly not vegan. The fact that the fries contain the beef flavoring isn't widely known, and may come as a shock to some customers. In April 2023, a TikTok user named Jordan created a video on the subject, which went viral.
Why are french fries not vegan? ›
Many people assume the beef flavoring in french fries is the key component that takes them off the menu for vegans. While this is true, there is another culprit: milk. The “natural beef flavor” is actually derived from dairy products, making this product unsuitable for vegan customers.
Trader Joe's Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips (Vegan)
They're vegan and gluten-free.
Are Taco Bell tortilla chips vegan? ›
These ingredients are all certified vegan: black beans, chalupa shells, gordita flatbreads, hash browns, jalapeno peppers, lettuce, nacho chips, onion, potato bites, guacamole, red strips, refried beans, seasoned rice, taco shells, tomatoes, tortillas, and tostada shells.
Are Old El Paso tortilla chips vegan? ›
IS OLD EL PASO VEGAN? We offer a great range of vegan products, so you can make all your favourite Mexican dishes without the worry. Old El Paso Tortillas are vegan and make the perfect base for a variety of recipes, as well as our Tortilla Pockets™, Stand 'N' Stuff™ Tortilla Boats and Taco Shells.
Are Doritos ok for vegans? ›
Since 1966, Doritos has satisfied customers' snack cravings with their flavored tortilla chips. But unfortunately for vegans, only one variety is vegan-friendly: Spicy Sweet Chili. The other Doritos flavors contain various dairy products and animal-derived flavors, none of which are vegan.
Why are tortilla chips not vegan? ›
Most plain tortilla chips are vegan, typically made from a simple blend of corn, oil, and salt. These ingredients fit well within a vegan diet. However, if you've got a taste for flavored varieties, be cautious. Flavors like cheese or cool ranch often contain dairy products or other animal derivatives.
Which tortilla chips are vegan? ›
5 Vegan Tortilla Chips That are Simply Exquisite!
- Taco Bell Tortilla Chips. ...
- Whole Foods 365 Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips. ...
- Tostitos Tortilla Chips. ...
- Siete Lime Tortilla Chips. ...
- Xochitl Mexican Style Tortilla Chips.
Are Smith's chips vegan? ›
Are Smith's products suitable for vegetarians and/or vegans? We have a number of products that are suitable for vegans - these include Smith's Classic Crinkle Cut Original, Smith's Thinly Cut Original, Doritos Original corn chips and Doritos salsa dips.
Can vegans eat tortillas? ›
A large majority of tortillas are vegan!
Vegetarians and vegans alike can enjoy vegan tortilla brands of corn and wheat flour tortillas made from plant-based products. The key is always to check the nutrition labels of a product if you're unsure.
What chips can vegans eat? ›
Healthy Vegan Chips
- Crispy Sea Snacks. This healthy seaweed snack is made with only 4 ingredients - dried seaweed, sunflower oil, sesame oil, and sea salt. ...
- Rind Apple Chips. Rind Apple Chips are sweet, crispy, pure, and irresistible. ...
- Barnana Plantain Chips. ...
- Rhythm Chips. ...
- Terra Vegetable Chips. ...
- Lay's Oven Baked.