I have to admit that I’ve never been a fried chicken girl, which I credit to my mom.
Growing up, we never owned a fryer. We never went to KFC. And even when my extended family went to the most famous fried chicken restaurant in Wichita, little 10-year-old me always ordered a big juicy steak, thankyouverymuch. (Midwestern through and through.)
But every now and then, my mom would make some oven-fried potato chip chicken fingers for us, which we happily devoured. And the method has been one of my favorite recipes to make ever since. However, instead of the Ruffles that we used as a kid, I always love subbing in whatever sorts of chips or pretzels I had on hand. My favorite in college used to be those crazy-addictive lime chips. But my recent and slightly healthier favorite has been to make oven-fried chicken with sweet potato chips! My favorite brand of sweet potato chips is actually is from (surprise!) Aldi, and they are awesome in this recipe! It’s everything I love — salty, sweet and simple. :)
I happen to be on a big chicken drumsticks kick lately, but this sweet potato chip chicken recipe would also go well with breasts, wings or thighs. Or the method is also super yummy on a filet of fish like cod or tilapia.
So if you see a bag of sweet potato chips anytime soon, give this one a try! My friends and I love it!
Sweet Potato Chip Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp. milk
- 2 cups crushed sweet potato chips
- 8 chicken drumsticks, or 6 chicken thighs, or 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- salt & pepper
- cooking spray or olive oil mister
- (optional) chopped fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet for even cooking. (If you do not have a wire rack, you can just turn the chicken once halfway through baking.) Spray the wire rack with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Prepare your dipping assembly line. In one shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. In the second shallow bowl, add the crushed sweet potato chips. After that, place the prepared baking sheet with the wire rack.
- Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Then dip one piece of chicken in the egg mixture until completely coated. Then let the excess egg drip off, and transfer to the sweet potato chip mixture. Press the chicken into the chips gently until the entire piece is evenly coated, then lay on the prepared baking tray. Use cooking spray or an olive oil mister to give the chicken a final light coat of oil. Bake for 40 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.
- Remove and serve immediately with optional garnish and dipping sauce.
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Brilliant, Ali! :)
Such an awesome idea! This looks irresistible, Ali!
I’ve made potato chip crusted chicken before, but somehow never thought of using sweet potato chips – love that! I also make baked onion rings with potato chips… maybe some sweet potato onion rings are in my future!
I’m literally making something sorta similar as we speak! Crazy how great minds think a like! I love that you used sweet potato chips… kinda wish I would have thought of that!! Genius! Xo
I am all over this!! I love chicken drumsticks too. I’m thinking this needs to be dinner tonight!
This needs to be made… like yesterday. Ali, I swear we are tastebud twins. I love EVERYTHING you post!! Crunchy, crispy sweet potato chips all over chicken. I am starving now as I look at these photos!
My family and I were huge KFC people! But dude, you would totally put that place out of business with this awesome baked version! Plus, who doesn’t love sweet potato chips?
YES please!!!! I’m all about getting creating with crunchy coating on chicken! Haven’t done this yet & can’t wait to try! PS- i miss your face!!!
Sweet potato chips are my favorite! I can imagine that they make a perfect, crunchy topping for chicken!
even though I am not much of a dark meat person, this looks delightful and crunchy on the outside