Is It Actually Possible To Make Mashed Potatoes Out Of Potato Chips?

Scrappy recipes — you know, the ones with unorthodox ingredients and preparation methods — can actually be super fun to whip up. From making ice cream from bananas to using frozen grapes as ice cubes, it seems that there are endless amounts of cooking hacks these days. While some of these kitchen shortcuts have been proven to work like a charm, many don't always turn out as expected. After all, the culinary arts do indeed involve room for trial and error, right?

In any case, if you happen to have a bag of potato chips in your pantry and are suddenly struck with a hankering for Thanksgiving-esque mashed potatoes, we have great news for you. No need to run to the market for a bunch of potatoes or get your tater fix at KFC or the local diner. All you need is a pouch of potato chips and a few other staples, and before you know it, you'll be enjoying your very own helping of mashed potatoes — with or without the rest of the traditional Turkey Day spread or nosy family members asking what you've been up to for the past year.

Mashed potatoes — a beloved side dish with French origin, per Mental Floss — made from potato chips, an all-American salty snack? That's right! Whether this dish made famous by TikTok sounds blasphemous or genius to you, it's certainly a fun, quick way to satisfy a craving in a pinch. For one, food-loving YouTuber Sam the Cooking Guy demonstrates how to turn crispy potato chips into a bowl of velvety mashed potatoes.

The recipe for mashed potato chips, as shown by Sam, is quite simple, especially when compared to the standard recipe, which requires peeling, boiling, and mashing dense, fussy tubers. Plus, these are ready to eat in a fraction of the time. First, you'll need 3 ounces of potato chips (typically one bag) and 1 cup (8 ounces) of water. Boil the water to a simmer, drop in the chips, and crush them up with a mixing spoon. Stir continuously until the chips begin to break apart. After a few minutes, add ¼ cup of milk or half-and-half to create a nice, creamy texture. Grind some black pepper over the top, mix it in, and voila! You've got yourself a serving of freshly mashed potato chips. Garnish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, chives, gravy, or any other topping you enjoy.

The best part (other than, of course, the effortlessness) is that you can make these with any flavor of potato chip your heart desires! Southern Living shared Sam's recipe that pretty much anyone can accomplish.