How to Eat Chips

Enjoying Chips on Their Own

Explore a variety of chips to find your favorite. From the classic potato chip to the tasty tortilla chip, baked or fried, there are many different kinds of chips to try. Sour cream and onion, barbecue, and cheddar and sour cream are all classic flavors, but there are other wilder ones out there, too (think pickle, sweet and spicy, or even ketchup flavored). Because chips are so popular, they can be found almost everywhere—from sporting events to gas stations to your local grocery store. Browse the chip aisle and pick out a few different kinds to try.

Portion out your chips so you don't eat them all at once. Rather than eating directly out of the bag, put some chips into a bowl and then put the rest of the bag away. This'll help you practice good portion control and will also make your chips last longer. You can also buy smaller bags of chips that are already portioned out.

Roll the chip bag for a neater eating experience if you're on-the-go. After you open the bag of chips, invert the bottom of the bag while rolling the foil down along the sides. This'll push the bottom of the bag up as you eat, keeping the chips close to the opening so you don't have to dig. You can also roll the bag down from the top, but it can sometimes rip and spill the chips.

Eat chips quietly if you're in a public place, like an office or a library. Open the bag with a pair of scissors by cutting down each side so you can peel back the front of the bag like a flap. Try to eat single chips to minimize the noise, or coordinate your munching with other movements, like turning pages or opening and shutting drawers. Ultimately, there is no way to soundlessly eat chips. Just try and be considerate of those around you if you're in a shared space.

Choose chips made with potato-alternatives for healthier snacking. These options are still tasty, but they generally have fewer calories or other health benefits that your classic chip doesn't. Try chips made from sweet potatoes, kale, vegetables, chickpeas, and even popcorn. You can even make your own kale or sweet potato chips at home!

Adding Chips to Main Dishes

Put a small handful of chips on your next sandwich for a tasty crunch. Try using flavored chips or regular potato chips to amp up your sandwich eating experience. Peanut butter and jelly, tuna fish, meat and cheese, grilled cheese, sloppy joes, and even hotdogs can be made better with some crunch. If you're packing your lunch, pack the chips separately and then add them to your sandwich right before you eat, otherwise they'll get soggy.

Create a cheesy Dorito-crust for your next baked chicken dish. You'll need 1 cup (34 grams) of crushed Doritos, 1 whisked egg, and 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Dip the chicken breasts in egg and then coat them in the crushed chips. Bake them in the oven for 15-18 minutes at 425 °F (218 °C). Crush the Doritos in a resealable plastic bag to contain the mess. You could even toss the egg-coated chicken breasts into the bag to easily coat them in the Doritos.

Make classic nachos with tortilla chips for a fun, shareable dish. Nachos are great because you can modify them with your favorite ingredients. Line a baking sheet with tortilla chips and then pile on some toppings: ground beef, olives, nacho cheese, jalapeño peppers, tomatoes, and sour cream. Or try grilled shrimp, mango salsa, and cotija cheese for a fun variation! Bake the nachos at 325 °F (163 °C) until the cheese is melted. Have a nacho bar at your next party: provide different toppings, keep the oven on, and let your guests create and bake their own personalized nachos.

Create “upscale” nachos with chips, blue cheese, and a balsamic glaze. Layer the bottom of a baking sheet with potato chips (ridged or not, it's your choice) and then sprinkle 4 ounces (110 g) of blue cheese and some diced green onion and walnuts overtop of the chips. Bake them at 400 °F (204 °C) for 5-10 minutes, and then drizzle them with 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 44 mL) of balsamic glaze. Try adding some fresh rosemary or thyme for an extra-aromatic experience.

Make a Walking Taco for a quick, on-the-go meal. Buy the individual-sized bags of either Doritos or Fritos, just depending on what you prefer. Cut the bag open lengthwise, from the top to bottom. Cook up some taco meat (or simply heat up leftovers), and add a spoonful of meat, some shredded cheese, lettuce, and whatever else you might like to your bag of chips. This is also a great meal idea if you have kids that need to eat while you're running around or if you just don't want to deal with too many dishes.

Complementing Chips with Dips

Make a spicy salsa to enjoy with tortilla chips. Browse the available salsas at your local grocery store, or try your hand at making your own at home. Try a traditional pico de gallo with tomatoes, onions, cilantro and seasonings, or use your food processor to make a tomatillo salsa. Salsa can also be sweet! You could also make a sweet and spicy salsa with jalapeño, mango, cilantro, lime, and red onion.

Use avocado, red onion, tomato, garlic, and lime to make guacamole. This is another great dip for tortilla chips, but for some extra strength try the blue corn tortilla chips—they're a little thicker than traditional ones, which makes them perfect for a heavy guacamole. Try adding one or more of these unique ingredients to your basic guacamole recipe: bacon, pumpkin seeds, honey, feta cheese, walnuts, black beans, or whatever else you think might taste good.

Try pairing your classic potato chips or Fritos with a french onion dip. Buy french onion dip at the store for a convenient option, or make some yourself at home by combining 2 cups (470 mL) of cooked yellow onions, 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of minced garlic, 1 cup (240 mL) of sour cream, ⁄2 cup (120 mL) of mayonnaise, and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of chopped green onion. Or search online for some fun variations of this classic recipe! Try eating sour cream and onion dip with other kinds of chips, too, like different flavors of Doritos or barbecue potato chips.

Pair buffalo chicken dip with chips for a spicy, creamy option. You'll need to combine 1 cup (240 mL) of shredded chicken, 8 ounces (230 g) of cream cheese, ⁄2 cup (120 mL) of blue cheese or ranch dressing, ⁄4 cup (180 mL) of Franks RedHot, and 1 cup (240 mL) of shredded cheddar cheese and then heat it through either on the stovetop, in the oven, or in a crockpot. You could use canned chicken for the dip, or get a rotisserie chicken for even better flavor.

Opt for a sweet treat by dipping potato chips in melted chocolate. Use ridged or classic potato chips and dip the ends of them into melted milk or dark chocolate, depending on your preference. You can eat them right away, or lay them out on sheets of parchment paper to let the chocolate harden. If you use the microwave to melt the chocolate, take it out every 15 seconds and stir it so it melts faster.