3 DIY tortilla tricks: How to make your own taco shells, taco bowls and tortilla chips

I love Mexican food—tacos with crispy shells, crunchy taco bowls and salty tortilla chips. But I could do without the extra calories, fat and sodium in the salty, often deep-fried tortillas served at many restaurants or the less-than-healthy packaged versions of these foods sold in the supermarket.

When I want a Mexican-food fix, I cook my favorite dishes at home and serve them with healthier homemade taco shells, bowls and tortilla chips. Here—with the help of just a little oil or cooking spray— are 3 fast and easy ways to transform your healthy corn tortillas into crispy hard taco shells, cute crispy taco bowls and crunchy tortilla chips.

How to Make Your Own Taco Shells in the Oven
Packaged taco shells are often fried or contain partially hydrogenated oils. For a healthier version, make your own in the oven.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Taco Shells

Directions:
Working with 6 tortillas at a time, wrap in a barely damp cloth or paper towel and microwave on High until steamed, about 30 seconds. Lay the tortillas on a clean work surface and coat both sides with cooking spray. Then carefully drape each tortilla over two bars of the oven rack. Bake at 375°F until crispy, 7 to 10 minutes.

How to Make Your Own Taco Bowls Using a Muffin Tin
Taco salad bowls at restaurants are usually deep-fried. For a healthy and fun way to serve taco filling, create these homemade taco bowls using the bottom of a muffin tin. The resulting taco bowl sits perfectly on a plate without tipping over and you can see all of your ingredients!

Get the recipe: Homemade Taco Bowls

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat tortillas until warm. Coat each side of 4 tortillas with cooking spray. Turn a 12-cup muffin tin upside down. Nestle a tortilla in the space between 4 cups to form a “bowl.” Repeat with 3 more tortillas, making 4 bowls total. Bake until firm and beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

How to Make Your Own Baked Tortilla Chips
Instead of buying premade chips, which are often fried and high in fat and salt, make your own healthier version in the oven using just a little bit of oil and salt. For a little spice, sprinkle some chili powder or cumin onto the tortillas along with the salt.

Get the recipe: Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly brush one side of 4 corn tortillas with about 1/4 teaspoon canola oil each and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Stack the tortillas and cut into 8 wedges; arrange on lightly oiled baking sheets. Bake until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Makes 32 tortilla chips.

Don't Miss: Get more ideas for recipes with tortillas.

What’s your favorite way to use tortillas? Tell us what you think below.

TAGS: Breana Lai, Food Blog, Dinner, Family meals, Cooking tips

Breana Lai, M.P.H., R.D., is an Associate Food Editor at EatingWell where she splits her time between EatingWell magazine, eatingwell.com, and cooking new healthy recipes in the test kitchen. Breana has a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu London, a Wine Spirit & Education Trust trained sommelier and is a registered dietitian.