National Corn Chip Day

National Corn Chip Day is celebrated each year on January 29 to recognize a snack so widely loved that it has earned a day of its own.

Corn chips are popular because they stay fresh for long periods without refrigeration and offer a salty, firm crunch that holds up well when eaten alone or topped with heavier dips and dishes, from nachos to Frito pie.

While there is no single inventor behind National Corn Chip Day, the observance began appearing on national days calendars around 2002, likely emerging organically as a way to recognize the widespread popularity of corn chips rather than through a formal founder.

🍽️ Similar observances include National Tortilla Chip Day on February 24, which highlights tortilla chips and their role in Tex-Mex and Mexican-inspired dishes.

When Is National Corn Chip Day?

National Corn Chip Day is observed every year on January 29. The date is fixed rather than tied to a weekday, which makes it easy to place among January’s many food-themed observances.

Did You Know? Facts About Corn Chips

Few people know it, but the evolution of corn chips was shaped by chance, experimentation, and food science. Here are a few facts that reveal how this popular snack came to be.

• The inventor of the mass-produced corn chip, C. E. Doolin, did not create the original recipe himself. In 1932, he purchased it for $100 from a Mexican street vendor, Gustavo Olguin, who planned to return to Mexico. The purchase also included 19 existing retail accounts and the vendor’s only piece of equipment, a modified potato ricer used to press and shape the corn dough.

• Corn chips and tortilla chips are chemically different. Tortilla chips are made using nixtamalization, an alkaline cooking process in which corn is soaked in lime-treated water, helping the dough bind better and giving tortillas their characteristic aroma. Corn chips skip this step, resulting in a firmer texture and a more pronounced roasted corn flavor.

• When Frito Company introduced Fritos in the 1930s, they tried to market them for desserts. Early recipe promotions featured ideas such as pecan waffles, fruitcake crusts, and even fudge made with corn chips.

• The popular nacho-flavored style of corn chips, later known as Doritos, traces its origins to the 1960s at Disneyland. A restaurant called Casa de Fritos began frying and seasoning leftover tortillas to avoid food waste. The idea drew the attention of a Frito-Lay executive, leading to the development of flavored corn chips for mass production.

• The word Frito comes from Spanish and simply means fried. The name was chosen to make the product sound more straightforward and easier to brand in the United States. 

How to Celebrate National Corn Chip Day

This day lends itself to easy, food-focused ideas that show how versatile corn chips can be beyond eating them straight from the bag.

• Pair corn chips with classic dips such as queso, salsa, or guacamole, or use them to make Frito pie with chili and cheese, or walking tacos prepared directly in chip bags.

• Set up a corn chip tasting with different styles, including plain, chili-flavored, scoops, or blue corn chips, and compare them with a variety of dips. Corn chips also work well in cooking when crushed as a crunchy coating for baked dishes, sprinkled over salads instead of croutons, or combined with chocolate or caramel for a sweet-and-salty treat.

• If you enjoy hands-on activities, try making corn chips at home using cornmeal, water, and oil, and experiment with seasonings to change the flavor.

• Put together small gift bags with corn chips and a handwritten note to share with friends or coworkers.
• You can also keep things relaxed with a themed movie night and a bowl of corn chips alongside a good film.