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National Corn Chip Day

Food · January 29

A day for corn chips: thick, crunchy strips of fried corn masa, good for scooping dip, crumbling over chili or eating straight from the bag.

National Corn Chip Day falls on Friday, January 29, 2027. That is 94 days away.

Corn chips are made from corn ground into a dough called masa, shaped into strips or curls and fried until crisp. They are thicker and sturdier than most tortilla chips, with a deeper toasted corn flavor and a bit of salt clinging to every ridge.

That sturdiness is the point. A corn chip can go into a bowl of bean dip or a heavy cheese sauce and come back out in one piece, which cannot be said for every snack. People eat them plain, pile them under chili, or use them as the crunchy layer in a casserole.

One well-loved use is the walking taco, where chili, cheese and toppings go straight into a small opened bag of chips and get eaten with a fork. It turns up at ball games, fairs and school fundraisers, and it leaves almost nothing to wash.

At home, corn chips also work as a coating. Crushed fine, they can stand in for breadcrumbs on baked chicken or fish, or get scattered over a salad for texture. Because they are fried and salted, a handful goes a long way in a recipe.

The last chips in any bag are mostly broken pieces and seasoning, and plenty of people consider those the best part.

Ways to celebrate

• Make walking tacos by spooning chili and cheese into small chip bags.
• Crush corn chips and use them as a crunchy topping for a casserole.
• Set out a few homemade dips and compare which one suits corn chips best.
• Try corn chips crumbled over a bowl of chili or soup.
• Share a bag with coworkers and save the broken pieces for a salad.

Dates

All national days on January 29

Also on January 29

• National Puzzle Day
• National Carnation Day
• Kansas Day

Categories: Food days