Whenever I think of road trip snacks, Potato Chips are one of the first things that come to mind. With it being easy to grab one or two chips at a time while still driving safely, it’s quite the convenient snack while on the road. However, because chips are typically quite high in calories, I usually opt for one of the other types of snacks instead. But, with this recipe, since we’re not frying them in a ton of oil, these chips are a bit healthier in terms of calories. So, by making them on your own, you’re able to save calories as well as some money without sacrificing your convenient crunchy snack.
Also, by making your own chips, you’re able to flavor them however you wish! Whether you want to keep it simple with just salt and pepper or add a bunch of seasonings, you can customize your chips to suit your tastes. You can also add some flavor earlier in the process by soaking the chips in some salted water or vinegar instead to give the chips a salty flavor throughout, allowing you to make salt and vinegar chips.
If you’re having trouble getting your seasoning to stick to your chips, I recommend grinding your seasoning into a fine powder using a spice grinder, if you have one, to keep your seasoning from clumping up. But if you don’t have a spice grinder, you can get it to stick best by removing the chips from the oven or air fryer as soon as they’re done and immediately tossing the hot chips in the seasoning and it should stick for the most part. Also, by adding some sugar to your seasoning, it should help the seasoning stick better as well, which I think is why the barbecue seasoning seems to have stuck on better than the others.
Another tricky thing with making homemade chips is that they can overcook and burn if you’re not paying attention, which will also make seasoning them difficult. So, if you see that some of the chips are done faster than the others, take these out early so they don’t burn and continue cooking the rest until they’re done as well. These take a bit of practice to get right since each oven or air fryer cooks slightly differently, but once you figure out how your particular appliance behaves, it should be a lot easier to make the perfect homemade chips!
Ingredients:
- 2-3 russet potatoes
- 1-2 tablespoons of olive or avocado oil
- Some seasoning
Simple Seasoning:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Some pepper
Garlic Parmesan Seasoning:
- 2 teaspoons Garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Parsley
Barbecue Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Sour Cream & Onion Seasoning:
- 2 teaspoons buttermilk powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh dill
Special Equipment:
- A mandolin (Optional)
- Air Fryer (Optional)
Step 1: Wash & Slice Up Potatoes
First, for your potatoes, before you slice them up, make sure to give them a wash and then scrub them to remove any dirt. Then, using your mandolin or a knife, carefully slice your potatoes into thin slices, about 1/16 to 1/8th of an inch in thickness.
Step 2: Rinse & Soak Potatoes Slices for 15-30 Minutes
Next, add your potato slices to a large bowl and then rinse the potatoes in some water until the water runs clear. And then, soak them in some ice water for 15-30 minutes.
Step 3: Mix Together Seasoning & Preheat Oven/Airfryer
While we wait, we’ll prepare the seasoning and preheat your method of cooking. In a small bowl, mix together your choice of spices until it’s evenly mixed. Then, preheat your oven to 425°F or if you want to make them in the air fryer, preheat that to 350°F.
Step 4: Drain Potato Slices from Water & Dry Them Well
Your potatoes should be ready about now, so drain them from the water and then, use a paper towel to dry them really well and dry the bowl used to soak them in.
Step 5: Add Potato Slices Back to Bowl & Add Oil & Half of the Seasoning
Next, once your potato slices are completely dry, add them back into the dried bowl and then add in your oil and half of your seasoning and then toss this until the potato slices are evenly coated.
Step 6: Air Fry/Bake your Potato Slices
Once your potato slices are ready, your cooking method of choice should be done preheating.
Step 6a: Air Fryer Method
If you plan on using an airfryer, line the bottom of your air fryer basket with your potato slices, making sure they don’t overlap and aren’t too overcrowded, and air-fry them for 10-15 minutes, tossing them every 5-7 minutes to help them cook evenly, until they crisp up and turn golden brown on the edges.
Step 6b: Oven Method
If you plan on using an oven, to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, add your potato slices, arranging them in a single layer, making sure they don’t overlap and aren’t too overcrowded as well. Then, bake these for 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they turn crispy and golden brown.
Step 7: Quickly Season Potato Chips w/ Rest of Seasoning & Enjoy
Once your potato chips are fully cooked and crispy, quickly transfer them to a metal bowl and toss them with the rest of the seasoning until they are evenly coated. If you need to make them in batches, toss each batch with part of the remaining seasoning as they finish before they cool. But once they’re cool enough to touch, your Potato Chips are ready to eat.