Stale Tortilla Chips?

What to do with all of the half full bags of tortilla chips that you have in your larder?

Thanks to Sheela Prakash with Epicurious, we have some great answers to share with you.

1. MAKE CHILAQUILES

In this traditional Mexican dish, chips are layered with a spicy red chile sauce, queso fresco, and Monterey Jack cheese, then broiled until gooey and bubbling. The stale chips hold up well under the layers of sauce and cheese, softening just enough. It’s a pretty hefty dish as is; topping it with a fried egg (or two) puts it over the top.

2. USE AS A GARNISH FOR SOUP

All soups want a garnish, and that’s where tortilla chips come in. Top your bowl with a few broken-up pieces to add texture to every spoonful. While this move is a must in Mexican tortilla soup, it works on a simple tomato soups or your favorite chili.

3. SCRAMBLE WITH YOUR EGGS

Looking for a way to up your breakfast game? The Tex-Mex dish called migas is simply scrambled eggs with crushed tortilla chips thrown into the mix. It’s crunchy and addictive—you may never make plain old eggs again.

4. TURN INTO CRUMBS

Pulse chips in a food processor to make crumbs and use them in place of breadcrumbs in pretty much anything. They’re particularly great sprinkled over mac and cheese just before baking, or used as breading for chicken.

5. CONSIDER THE CASSEROLE

Casserole-averse? Give this a try and maybe you won’t be: Line the bottom of a baking dish with crushed tortilla chips and assemble any casserole on top—the chips form a crispy crust on the bottom of the pan. (And while you’re at it, throw some chips on top of the casserole, too.)

6. RE-CRISP THEM

If you’ve exhausted every way to repurpose them, stale tortilla chips can be revived in the oven. Just lay them out on a baking sheet and toast them in a 400°F oven for three to five minutes until they’re crispy again.

Happy crunching!