Crunchy, Salty, Craveable: Creative Ways to Enjoy Chips and Crisps
Chips and crisps can hit the spot when you’re craving something salty and crunchy. While snacking straight from the bag is always an option, there are also unique and fun ways to enjoy your favorite crunchy treats. Get creative with recipes and serving ideas to take your chips from boring to flavorful party staples.
Nacho Ordinary Chips
Nachos are always a crowd-pleaser, so why not create a nacho bar featuring different flavors of chips? Offer traditional corn tortilla chips along with alternatives like potato chips, veggie chips, pita chips, crackers, and more. Supply a sauce bar with salsa, cheese sauce, guacamole, bean dip, and an array of garnishes like olives, jalapeños, green onions, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, seasoned meat, or beans. Let guests build customized nacho plates topping their chosen crisps with their favorite fixings.
Chip-wiches
Ice cream sandwiches are taken to crunchy new heights with crisps standing in for the cookie parts. Softened ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt becomes the filling that holds two chips or crackers together for a sweet-salty flavor explosion. Try classics like mint chocolate chip or vanilla paired with salty crisps that can stand up to freezing, like potato chips, pretzel crisps, or pita chips. Feeling creative? Whip up consumer magazine Food Network’s chipwich recipes featuring lemon sorbet and wasabi potato chips or raspberry frozen yogurt with balsamic vinegar kettle chips.
Crispy Chip Pizzas
Pizza Night gets a crunchy remake by using cracker-style crisps as the base and topping with sauce and other pizza fixings. Thinly spread pizza or pasta sauce over individual chips on a baking sheet, then sprinkle with mozzarella or your favorite shredded cheese. Add any desired toppings, like pepperoni, veggies, mushrooms, or black olives before sliding the sheets into the oven. Bake until the cheese melts for personal crispy chip pizzas in just minutes. Flavored crackers like garlic or everything bagel work wonderfully.
Breaded Chip Chicken (or Fish or Shrimp)
Breadcrumbs get benched in favor of crushed chips when oven-frying chicken, fish fillets, shrimp, or tofu. The crunchy coating provides insane crispiness and infuses dishes with a big flavor depending on the seasonings used. Consumer site Taste of Home recommends finely crushing potato chips, corn chips, or cheese puffs in a bag, then dredging prepared meat or veggies before baking. For a dynamic twist, use spicy chips like Tabasco-seasoned or hot pepper varieties to add some kick. The options are endless for this crispy spin on oven-baked protein.
Whether enjoyed simply as a snack, used as a recipe ingredient or employed as an unconventional serving vessel, chips and crisps offer versatility that warrants some creativity. Move beyond dipping to discover delightful new ways to enjoy the crispy, crunchy snacks you crave. Just be mindful of portion sizes when noshing and savor each delightful bite.