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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 chips make the perfect crispy topping for this oven-fried chicken.
Ingredients
Scale
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.
Love this! I was totally like you growing up, steak baby! Although my family had this weird habit of going on picnics with KFC. I can’t stand the stuff now, and such a random picnic right?
Whoa. Sweet potato chips are a thing?! I had no idea.
And this chicken looks SO good. I have a terrible addiction to fried chicken but I’m always trying to find recipes that are slightly healthier but still tasty. If I ever come across a bag of sweet potato chips, these are getting made. :)
Umm I’m pretty sure we had KFC every Sunday after church if my mom hadn’t put a pot roast in the oven. Love the different variations you can have with chicken.
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?
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!
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’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!
As I was reading this I was thinking “ooo I could use those sweet potato chips I just bought at Aldi’s” when you mentioned those are your fave! They are the BEST and I can’t even imagine how good they’d be on chicken. :D Mind officially blown.
Looks delicious! I agree that Aldi’s has the best sweet potato chips. They are the perfect blend of sweet, salty and crunchy and very reasonably priced. I have to make them a special treat because I can eat all of the bag in one sitting.
I’m SO a fried chicken girl. Or anything fried for that matter. Loving this lighter take though. And who doesn’t love sweet potato fries? How about a big bowl of blue cheese dressing to dip this in? Oh yeah!!
Sweet potato chips are my favorite! I never would have thought to use them for a coating on chicken though – I can’t wait to try this Ali :)
This is such a great idea – I love sweet potato chips and I bet they make a great tasty & crunchy coating for the chicken. Definitely making these!
My parents have always made this oven fried (we use chicken tenders) potato chip chicken that I have to post soon! It is so good!
I love this sweet potato chip version! What good idea!! Need to try this!
I am totally loving this!! My mom would (very) occasionally make fried chicken, but I’m pretty sure I’d love this even more!
ooh this sounds finger lickin good!
Love this! I was totally like you growing up, steak baby! Although my family had this weird habit of going on picnics with KFC. I can’t stand the stuff now, and such a random picnic right?
Whoa. Sweet potato chips are a thing?! I had no idea.
And this chicken looks SO good. I have a terrible addiction to fried chicken but I’m always trying to find recipes that are slightly healthier but still tasty. If I ever come across a bag of sweet potato chips, these are getting made. :)
Umm I’m pretty sure we had KFC every Sunday after church if my mom hadn’t put a pot roast in the oven. Love the different variations you can have with chicken.
Stunning! This looks so crispy and moist and I can’t wait to try it!
I love sweet potato chips, such a great idea!
even though I am not much of a dark meat person, this looks delightful and crunchy on the outside
Sweet potato chips are my favorite! I can imagine that they make a perfect, crunchy topping for chicken!
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!!!
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?
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!
I am all over this!! I love chicken drumsticks too. I’m thinking this needs to be dinner tonight!
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’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!
Such an awesome idea! This looks irresistible, Ali!
Brilliant, Ali! :)
This is such a great idea, Ali!!
This sounds fantastic. I’ve never seen sweet potato chips, but I’ll be on the lookout now!
This is genius!!
I’m basically falling apart right now.
As I was reading this I was thinking “ooo I could use those sweet potato chips I just bought at Aldi’s” when you mentioned those are your fave! They are the BEST and I can’t even imagine how good they’d be on chicken. :D Mind officially blown.
These are awesome and I could devour plenty o’ chicken right now please :)
Wow Ali – this is such a great idea! Loving this recipe!
Saw this on facebook. I totally have to try these…
Looks delicious! I agree that Aldi’s has the best sweet potato chips. They are the perfect blend of sweet, salty and crunchy and very reasonably priced. I have to make them a special treat because I can eat all of the bag in one sitting.
I kind of love everything about this. Okay wrong. I do love everything about this.
How cute and creative is this, love!
Wow, that looks super crunchy. Beautiful!
Oh my, drool worthy! I love fried chicken and I love that you used sweet potato chips :)
I have to try this, I think my boys will go all the way crazy for them!
I’m SO a fried chicken girl. Or anything fried for that matter. Loving this lighter take though. And who doesn’t love sweet potato fries? How about a big bowl of blue cheese dressing to dip this in? Oh yeah!!
This looks gooooood. Lately I’ve been on a sweet chili Doritos kick so I think this recipes gives me a perfect excuse to try it out.