Spicy Potato Chips
This Homemade Potato Chip Seasoning turns plain chips into irresistible spicy chips in minutes. Easy, customizable, and perfect for parties.

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If You Love Spicy Potato Chips, You Need This Seasoning
How do you feel about barbecue potato chips? We’re fans of them in theory, but the store-bought ones never taste as good as we want them to.
Usually, the flavor isn’t balanced enough, and they are either too sweet or too smoky, with very little nuance.
So a few years ago, we started seasoning our own chips for snacks. We start with store-bought potato chips, heat them up in the oven, and then toss them with a custom spice blend that we whip up with things we already have on hand.
Not only does it ensure that the balance of flavor is just right, but with this recipe, you get to eat warm chips right out of the oven.
Why You Will Love This Potato Chip Seasoning
- This recipe is customizable, so you can use whatever spices your taste buds like for these spicy potato chips, in whatever amounts you like.
- Uses pantry spices you likely already have.
- You get to eat WARM potato chips right out of the oven, which are perfect for a party.

Ingredients For Spicy Chips
A full recipe card, including exact ingredient amounts, appears at the bottom of this post.
- chili powder – the backbone of any chili recipe, this is also a crucial spice for bbq potato chips.
- cayenne – this is where most of the spice in this spicy chip seasoning comes from!
- garlic powder – a spice almost everybody seems to have in their cupboard, for good reason. This adds lots of savory flavor to these spicy potato chips.
- mustard powder – this one might surprise you, but it’s one of the “spicy” elements in these spicy chips! We recommend Colman’s brand mustard powder if you can find it.
- onion powder – adds another layer of savory to this bbq seasoning for chips.
- smoked paprika – regular Hungarian paprika is fine here, but we love smoked paprika for the depth of smoky flavor it adds to any recipe.
- cumin – this might not be traditional for barbecue chips, but it adds a bit of earthiness that’s really yummy.

How To Make Seasoned Chips
- STIR. Stir together all of the spices – the chili powder, cayenne, garlic powder, mustard powder, onion powder, paprika, and cumin.
- BAKE + TOSS. Spread your chips on a baking sheet and bake 5 minutes or until they’re warm. Immediately sprinkle the chips with the spice mixture and toss until all the chips are coated in the spices. Serve warm.
Homemade Potato Chip Seasoning Home Chef Tips
- If you’re not a fan of spicy chips at all, you can make these mild by omitting or greatly reducing the cayenne to just a small pinch.
- If you love hot hot hot things, you can add an extra dash of cayenne.
- If you don’t have both garlic powder AND onion powder on hand, that’s fine. Just double the amount of the one that you do have, and you can still make a good seasoning for chips.
- We’ve used kettle chips here, but you could use classic potato chips or wavy/ripple cut chips. Lowfat or baked chips don’t work that well here, as the spice mix needs some oil to stick to!

Potato Chip Seasoning Powder Storage
- Seasoned Potato Chips: best enjoyed fresh and warm, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Seasoning Powder: You can make a double or triple batch and store the extra quantity in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 months.

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Potato Chip Seasoning
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Ingredients
- 1 ¼ teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 1 bag plain potato chips 8 ounces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In small bowl, stir together chili powder, cayenne, garlic powder, mustard powder, onion powder, paprika, and cumin.
- Spread chips on baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes or until warm. Immediately sprinkle and toss with spice mixture. Serve warm.

I haven’t had BBQ potato chips in eons…and I’m sure yours are heads and tails better than the bagged version!
I haven’t had BBQ potato chips in eons…and I’m sure yours are heads and tails better than the bagged version!
Thanks Liz! Sometimes I think the bagged BBQ chips are just TOO coated in flavor/spices, if that makes sense.
Those look so good, I need to make some.
Those look so good, I need to make some.
Thanks Tracy!
I couldn’t agree with you more! Buying locally is a win-win for everyone involved. My husband is from Michigan, so I’ve been introduced to several Michigan foods through him. We both have a soft spot in our hearts for Vernor’s Ginger Ale, and I still have never had better apple cider (or fresh donuts for that matter) than from their cider mills! This looks like such a great meal. There’s nothing like warm potato chips, especially BBQ–they’re my favorite!
I couldn’t agree with you more! Buying locally is a win-win for everyone involved. My husband is from Michigan, so I’ve been introduced to several Michigan foods through him. We both have a soft spot in our hearts for Vernor’s Ginger Ale, and I still have never had better apple cider (or fresh donuts for that matter) than from their cider mills! This looks like such a great meal. There’s nothing like warm potato chips, especially BBQ–they’re my favorite!
Very cool, Courtney! What part of Michigan is your husband from? Vernor’s is just the best ever, and yes, our cider mills rock!
He grew up in the Walled Lake/Commerce Township area. We may have to make a special trip to the MI cider mills this fall. We have a few around Columbus, but nothing quite compares.
Oh, very cool! I have a friend who used to live on Walled Lake, so I was out that way quite often. Oh man – you are making me CRAVE apple cider and warm doughnuts now. Especially because the weather feels like fall now…in July! So weird.
Haha–I know right?! We’ve been having the same weather here. It’s kinda freaking me out. We went to the Ohio State Fair this past Saturday and I had to wear a sweatshirt. It felt so wrong!
Same here – I went to a Tigers game on Sunday, wearing a JACKET. In July. Normally, I’d be in shorts and tank top, pounding beers to stay cool. On Sunday, I was all like “where’s that hot chocolate stand?” 🙂 haha.
Well, if the method turns regular chips into these spicy beauties, it´s a good one! Love this idea Lori!
Well, if the method turns regular chips into these spicy beauties, it´s a good one! Love this idea Lori!
Thanks Paula!
Ooooh, I had never thought of seasoning my own chips! LOVE this idea!
Ooooh, I had never thought of seasoning my own chips! LOVE this idea!
Thanks Jen!
This is a great way to have potato chips! I would never of thought of seasoning a bag of chips, so creative!
This is a great way to have potato chips! I would never of thought of seasoning a bag of chips, so creative!
Thanks Jennifer. There’s a fine line between creative and just plain weird, so I’m glad you thought it was the former 🙂
I have never heard of someone doing this with potato chips, very interesting idea
I have never heard of someone doing this with potato chips, very interesting idea
Thanks, Laura!
I love your photography! They’re making me really crave potato chips right now!
I love your photography! They’re making me really crave potato chips right now!
Thanks T.R., I really appreciate it! And thanks so much for hosting this week!