Snacks, tortilla chips, taco-flavor

Taco-flavor tortilla chips are fried corn chips coated in a seasoning blend built around chili, cumin, paprika, and onion or garlic notes, giving them a savory, slightly smoky kick that sets them apart from a plain corn chip. They're the classic base for a tray of nachos, a sturdy scoop for salsa, guacamole, or queso, a crunchy topping crumbled over taco salad, chili, or a Tex-Mex casserole, or simply a handful eaten straight from the bag as a snack while the seasoning coats your fingers the way it should. Their bold flavor also makes them a natural match for cold beer or a citrusy soda.

Look for a sealed bag with mostly whole, unbroken chips, and store it airtight at room temperature away from moisture, since humidity is what turns a crisp chip stale and limp. Skip the refrigerator, which introduces condensation and dulls the crunch. At 480 calories per 100g, these are calorie-dense, so the reference 1oz (28g) serving is a useful portion guide rather than eating straight from the bag. They do contribute more than most fried snacks: 5.3g fiber per 100g (19% DV) and 7.9g protein per 100g (16% DV) from the corn masa, plus some calcium and magnesium (21% DV). Sodium runs high at 787mg per 100g, so it's worth weighing against the rest of the day's intake, and pairing the chips with fresh salsa or vegetables helps round out the plate.