This Viral Video Shows You How to Make Mashed Potatoes with Potato Chips

You’d be forgiven for thinking mashed potatoes were one of those simple dishes that tastes like more than the sum of its parts. All you need are boiled potatoes and maybe a little milk and butter to transform them into a pot of starchy, creamy goodness.

But as with many things culinary, TikTok users have managed to find a hack for making even easier mashed potatoes—and it all starts with a bag of chips! Why not? The popular platform already taught us how to make three-ingredient ice cream, ethereal cloud bread and the now famous whipped coffee.

How to Make Mashed Potatoes with Potato Chips

The recipe starts with a big bag of classic Lay’s potato chips (though any brand will do) and a pot of boiling water. After the water starts boiling, you pour in the chips and cook them until they become soft—just a couple of minutes—and then drain the water off in a colander and pour the mushy chips back into the pot.

The basic concept is the same on many video tutorials, but @matthewinthekitchen has one of the most comprehensive:

@matthewinthekitchenPOTATO CHIP MASHED POTATOES?? Lays?? This was…weird to cook. ib @starley.reed #cooking #potato #mashedpotatoes #lays #chips

♬ original sound – Matthew Merril


Mash the soft chips until they’re creamy. Then, add in the flavorful fats like butter, milk or heavy cream (some recipes use sour cream) that you would use to make traditional mashed potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste, and that’s it. Talk about instant mashed potatoes!

How Do They Taste?

Admittedly, the texture isn’t an exact mashed potato replica, but TikTok creators and commenters are in consensus that the potato chip version tastes very much like the original. You might not want to plan a dinner party using this hack as a centerpiece, but in a pinch, a bag of chips can work wonders. And just think of the variations using sour cream and onion or barbecue flavors!

More Recipes to Make with Potato Chips

1 / 20

Chocolaty Chips

My two little guys can't get enough of this sweet-and-salty snack, which uses just three ingredients and is ready to eat in 15 minutes. The boys like to drizzle on the melted chocolate, too. Sometimes we replace the potato chips with apple slices. —Jami Geittmann, Greendale, Wisconsin Get Recipe

Spicy Chicken And Bacon Mac Exps Sdas18 215224 D03 27  6b 4
Spicy Chicken And Bacon Mac Exps Sdas18 215224 D03 27 6b 4

Spicy Chicken and Bacon Mac

I've been working to perfect a creamy, spicy mac and cheese for years. After adding smoky bacon, chicken, jalapenos and spicy cheese, this is the ultimate! I use rotisserie chicken and precooked bacon when I'm pressed for time. —Sarah Gilbert, Aloha, Oregon

Get Recipe

Ranch Chicken Sliders
Ranch Chicken Sliders

Ranch Chicken Sliders

When my grandson was younger, we always joked that nothing could make ranch chicken taste better. Then one day Avery’s eyes lit up and he suggested we fry it! Our fried chicken burger was born. You won’t believe how good these little sliders are. —Tamara Hire, Decatur, Illinois

Get Recipe

Potato Chip Bites
Potato Chip Bites

Potato Chip Bites

A friend at church gave me the recipe for these buttery, light and crisp cookies. It's never failed to bring me compliments.—Brenda Stone, Sterrett, Alabama

Get Recipe

Chicken Fries
Chicken Fries

Chicken Fries

Kid-friendly and quick, these crunchy oven-baked chicken fries are coated with a mixture of crushed potato chips, panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Dip them in ranch dressing, barbecue sauce or honey-mustard sauce.—Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

Get Recipe

Exps192015 Sd163575d10 13 10b 2
Exps192015 Sd163575d10 13 10b 2

Blue Cheese Potato Chips

Game day calls for something bold. I top potato chips with tomatoes, bacon and tangy blue cheese. I make two big pans, and they always disappear. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin

Get Recipe

Potato Chip Clusters
Potato Chip Clusters

Potato Chip Clusters

Just three offbeat ingredients add up to one unique, delectable, no-bake treat. These super-easy, sweet-and-salty candy clusters make for merry munching during holiday trips or parties. They travel well in containers without melting or getting soft. —Donna Brockett, Kingfisher, Oklahoma

Get Recipe

Chicken and Rice Casserole
Chicken and Rice Casserole

Chicken and Rice Casserole

Everyone loves this dish—I consider it the best chicken and rice casserole recipe because it's a tasty combination of hearty and crunchy ingredients mixed in a creamy sauce. It's a time-tested classic. —Myrtle Matthews, Marietta, Georgia

Get Recipe

Touchdown Brat Sliders
Touchdown Brat Sliders

Touchdown Brat Sliders

It's game time when these mini sausage sliders make an appearance. Two things my husband loves—beer and brats—get stepped up a notch with crunchy flavored chips. —Kirsten Shabaz, Lakeville, Minnesota

Get Recipe

Potato Chip Banana Bread Cookies
Potato Chip Banana Bread Cookies

Potato Chip Banana Bread Cookies

My 5-year-old wanted to bake a cake with potato chips and bananas. I couldn't quite manage that, but I did combine two cookie recipes to create these. They are stunningly delicious, and everyone tells me they are addictive! —Rebecca Emmons, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Get Recipe

Exps20847 Fm153592c03 18 8b 2
Exps20847 Fm153592c03 18 8b 2

Potato Chip Chicken Strips

This novel recipe is a fast and tasty change from fried chicken.—Sister Judith LaBrozzi, Canton, Ohio

Get Recipe

Mini Shepherd S Pies Exps Sdas17 38061 C04 07 6b 4
Mini Shepherd S Pies Exps Sdas17 38061 C04 07 6b 4

Mini Shepherd's Pies

These savory little pies may be made with simple convenience items, but I'm just as confident serving them to drop-in company as I am to my husband and three boys. —Ellen Osborne, Clarksville, Tennessee

Get Recipe

Barbecue Chicken Bits
Barbecue Chicken Bits

Barbecue Chicken Bits

Folks who enjoy the taste of barbecue will gobble up these tender chunks of chicken coated in crushed barbecue potato chips. They're a hit at home and at parties. —Celena Cantrell-Richardson, Eau Claire, Michigan

Get Recipe

Slow-Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole
Slow-Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole

Slow-Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole

We tweaked this family-friendly classic to work for the slow cooker. It's easy, wholesome and totally homemade!—Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Get Recipe

Potato Chip Crunchies
Potato Chip Crunchies

Potato Chip Crunchies

When my family comes home, I like having treats ready for them. No matter what's on the cookie tray, these are always the first to vanish. —Dorothy Buiter, Worth, Illinois

Get Recipe

Pepper Jack Hash Brown Casserole Exps Sdon18 221625 E06 14 9b 7
Pepper Jack Hash Brown Casserole Exps Sdon18 221625 E06 14 9b 7

Pepper Jack Hash Brown Casserole

I found myself in need of an impromptu potato dish, but I had no potatoes. Frozen hash browns and the plethora of cheeses I had in the freezer offered me the solution to my side-dish dilemma. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida

Get Recipe

Turtle Chips
Turtle Chips

Turtle Chips

Salty-sweet, crunchy-chewy—so many sensations in one delectable bite. This is the absolute easiest recipe to make! Both kids and adults will be reaching for this goodie. —Leigh Ann Stewart, Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Get Recipe

Bacon Horseradish Spread
Bacon Horseradish Spread

Bacon Horseradish Spread

This spread is a great choice for any occasion because it's loaded with flavor and comes together in a snap. Start with one or two teaspoons of horseradish and add more to suit your taste. —Terri Peterson, Spring Valley, Illinois

Get Recipe

Cheeseburger Bowl
Cheeseburger Bowl

Cheeseburger Bowl

This recipe is a unique and lighter way to enjoy an American summer staple. You can also make the dressing with ranch dressing, 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard and 1 tablespoon of ketchup. —Laurie Rogerson, Ellington, Connecticut

Get Recipe

Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken Nuggets
Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken Nuggets

Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken Nuggets

I was looking for ways to spice up traditional chicken nuggets and came up with this recipe. The chips add a crunchy texture and flavor, while the meat is tender on the inside. —Kristina Segarra, Yonkers, New York

Get Recipe

The post This Viral Video Shows You How to Make Mashed Potatoes with Potato Chips appeared first on Taste of Home.

Advertisement