What chips can I use as breading?

When it comes to breading foods like chicken, fish, veggies or anything else before frying or baking, the options for what you can use are nearly endless. Breadcrumbs, crackers, chips, cereals and more can all be turned into quick and easy breading mixes. Using chips as breading is a fun way to add lots of flavor to foods before cooking. There are so many varieties of chips out there from plain to boldly flavored, so you can really customize your breading to match the dish.

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Can I use potato chips as breading?

Yes, potato chips make an excellent breading for frying or baking foods. They add great crunch and potato flavor. Here are some tips for using potato chips as breading:

Use ridged potato chips rather than flat ones – the ridges will help the breading adhere better.
Crush chips into smaller pieces so they create an even coating.
For extra adhesion, combine crushed chips with some flour and seasonings.

Flavored chips like barbecue, sour cream and onion or salt and vinegar add lots of flavor.
After breading, let food sit for 5-10 minutes so breading sets before cooking.
Bake or fry until outside is crispy – the chips may soften a bit from moisture.

Some favorites to use potato chips to bread include chicken tenders, fish fillets, shrimp and vegetables like zucchini, carrots, green beans or cauliflower.

What about tortilla chips?

Crunchy tortilla chips also work wonderfully as a breading. Corn tortilla chips in particular hold their texture and flavor when baked or fried. Here are some tips for using tortilla chips for breading:

Use corn tortilla chips rather than flour for best results.

Crush into small pieces for even coating.
Season crushed chips with spices like cumin, chili powder, garlic powder.
Can mix crushed chips with some panko or flour for adhesion.

Flavored chips like nacho cheese or chili-lime add big flavor.
Let breaded food sit 5-10 minutes before cooking.
Bake or fry until outside is crispy.

Great foods to bread with tortilla chips include chicken breasts, fish fillets, shrimp, pork chops and tofu. Veggies like cauliflower, zucchini, squash and eggplant also work well.

Are pita chips and crackers viable options?

Pita chips and crackers both make tasty, crunchy coatings for fried or baked foods. Here are some tips on using them:

For crackers, choose sturdy ones like Ritz or saltines – avoid more delicate crackers.

Crush crackers/chips into fine crumbs for coating.
Can mix crushed pieces with flour or panko to help adhesion.
Season crumb coating with garlic powder, paprika, pepper, oregano.

Spray food lightly with oil first so crumbs stick better.
Let breaded item sit 5-10 minutes before cooking.
Bake or fry until outer coating is crispy.

Pita chips and crackers pair well as breading with chicken, pork, fish and shrimp. Veggies like zucchini, eggplant, green beans and carrots also work nicely.

What about using corn chips and cereal?

Corn chips and crispy cereal can also be used to add crunch and flavor to fried or baked goods. Here’s how to use them for breading:

For corn chips, use ridged varieties for better texture.

Crush into small pieces so they adhere evenly.
Mix with a bit of flour to help crumbs stick if needed.
Season crumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, paprika.

Spray food lightly with oil first before breading.
Use unsweetened cereals like Corn Flakes for savory dishes.
Let breaded item sit 5-10 minutes before cooking so coating sets.

Fry or bake until crunchy exterior forms.

Corn chips and crunchy cereals make great breading for fried chicken, fish fillets, tofu, veggies like zucchini sticks, onion rings or squash slices.

How should I cook items breaded with chips?

Breaded items coated with crushed chips, crackers or cereal can either be fried or baked with delicious, crispy results. Here are some tips for each method:

Frying

Use a heavy bottomed pan or dutch oven for even heat distribution.
Fill pan with 2-3 inches oil – vegetable, canola or peanut work well.
Heat oil to 350-375°F degrees.

Fry breaded items in batches, turning occasionally until golden brown.
Let excess oil drain off on paper towel lined plate.

Baking

Preheat oven to 400°F degrees.

Place breaded items on a lightly greased baking sheet.
Bake 15-20 minutes, gently flipping halfway through.
Breadings will crisp up nicely in the oven.

Let cool slightly before serving.

The chip breading will get nicely crispy with either cooking method. Frying cooks faster while baking is lower calorie. Adjust cook times as needed based on thickness of items.

What are some flavor combos to try?

Chips, crackers and cereals allow you to get really creative with flavors when breading foods. Here are some fun flavor combinations to try:

Breading	Food	Seasonings
BBQ potato chips	Chicken	Smoked paprika, onion powder
Nacho cheese tortilla chips	Pork chops	Chili powder, cumin, garlic
Pita chips	Eggplant	Dried oregano, pepper
Corn flakes	Fish fillets	Old Bay seasoning
Salt & vinegar chips	Zucchini	Black pepper, parsley

Get creative and make your own flavor combinations using seasonings and spices that complement the flavors of the base chips, crackers or cereal!

What are some crunchy breading recipe ideas?

Here are some delicious recipe ideas for using chips, crackers or crunchy cereals as coatings for fried and baked foods:

Crunchy Tortilla Chicken Tenders

Bread chicken tenders with crushed nacho cheese tortilla chips mixed with cumin, chili powder and garlic.

Fry in vegetable oil until golden and crispy.

Cornflake Fish Sticks

Coat fish fillets with crushed Corn Flakes seasoned with paprika and parsley.
Bake in a 400°F oven until fish is flaky and coating is crispy.

Cracker Crusted Eggplant Fries

Slice eggplant into fry shaped pieces.
Bread with crushed buttery crackers mixed with dried oregano and parmesan.
Fry in peanut oil until deep golden brown and crispy.

BBQ Chicken Nuggets

Toss chicken pieces in barbecue flavored potato chip crumbs.
Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet until cooked through and crisp.

Ritz Pork Chops

Crush Ritz crackers and coat pork chops.

Fry in canola oil 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.

Get creative with the chip and cracker coatings and seasonings! The breading possibilities are almost endless.

Should I use crushed chips plain or seasoned?

You can use potato chips, tortilla chips, crackers and other crunchy items plain by just crushing them up into crumbs for breading foods. But for extra flavor, it’s a great idea to season the crumbs:

Plain potato chips – Season with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley.
BBQ chips – Add extra spice with chili powder, cayenne, mustard powder.
Sour cream & onion chips – Compliment with lemon pepper, dill.

Salt & vinegar chips – Pair with black pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano.
Nacho cheese tortilla chips – Add taco seasoning, cumin, garlic and chili powder.
Plain crackers or cereal – Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, rosemary, thyme.

Seasonings enhance the flavor of the crunchy base ingredients. Adjust amounts to your taste preferences. Let the food sit 5-10 minutes after breading to allow seasoning to adhere before cooking.

What are some tips for breading with chips and crackers?

Here are some top tips for getting the best results when using potato chips, tortilla chips, crackers and cereal for breading fried or baked foods:

Make sure chips are dry and freshly crunched, not stale.

Crush into small, even sized pieces so they coat well.
Season crumbs with spices, herbs and seasonings to add flavor.
For more adhesion, mix with a bit of flour or panko as needed.

Spray food lightly with oil so crumbs stick better.
Let breaded item sit 5-10 minutes before frying or baking.
Fry in vegetable or canola oil at 350-375°F until golden brown.

Bake at 400°F, gently flipping halfway through, until crispy.
Adjust cook times as needed based on food thickness.
Let oil drain off before serving if fried.

With these simple tips, you’ll get perfectly crunchy and flavorful results using all kinds of chips, crackers or cereal as breading!

Conclusion

Using potato chips, tortilla chips, crackers, corn chips, cereals and more as breading is an easy way to add tons of texture and flavor to fried and baked foods like chicken, fish, pork and veggies. Crush them up into fine crumbs and season as desired for delicious crunch. Frying or baking until the coating is crispy results in gooey, tender insides and amazingly flavorful outsides. Feel free to get creative with the seasonings and food you coat. With the right technique, chips and crackers make excellent quick and crunchy breadings.