Congratulations on starting or preparing to go on Whole30! You are going to feel amazing and be so proud of yourself when you look back on your journey. It's so cool how in a single month we can make big changes in our lives that can positively affect us decades after, and Whole30 definitely fits right into that camp.
Part of Whole30 means adjusting your snack game, and today we've gathered 10 of our favorite Whole30 chip recipes to get you through those Friday movie nights!
We'll briefly cover what Whole30 is and what types of chips are allowed on Whole30, and then we'll get into the recipes.
A brief Whole30 overview
Whole30 is about hitting the big ol' reset button on your diet for 30 days. Melissa Urban, founder of Whole30, created the program with the idea that many of us grew up eating Western industrialized diets and have steered far away from whole, healthy foods that are free from irritants, additives, sugar, and other ingredients.
By systematically eliminating problematic categories of food, we can readjust our eating habits, prioritize healthy foods, and set ourselves on the path toward a longer, richer, and healthier life.
Are any chips Whole30 compatible?
While homemade versions of chips made with whole foods are considered Whole30, no store-bought chips of any kind are considered Whole30 compatible — that goes for potato chips, sweet potato chips, Siete chips, plantain chips, terra chips, veggie chips, and any other store-bought chip you can think of.
Because Whole30 is about getting rid of the bad habits and foods that drag us down, stuffing your face into a chip bag at 11PM on a weeknight is not Whole30-compatible — no matter how healthy the store-bought chips are advertised to be.
Whole30 has gone back and forth on this topic in the past, but Melissa put her foot down in 2017 and said no store-bought snacks, period.
Why? Because just like how Melissa talks about taming your Sugar Dragon, the 30 days is also about taming your Snack Dragon. Regardless of how "healthy" a snack is, over-indulging is not a healthy habit. And that's not even getting into how unhealthy a lot of the "healthy snacks" like plantain chips are (spoiler: many brands are fried fat bombs).
10 amazing homemade Whole30 chip recipes
Okay! Now that we have that settled, let's talk about chip recipes that are Whole30 compatible. We've got a good mix here: sweet potato, kale, root, and more. Pick what sounds good to you, stick to whole and fresh ingredients, and enjoy!
P.S. If you're serious about homemade chips, almost every chef and recipe listed here uses a mandoline slicer, which is how they make those perfect slices. While they make things easier, you don't need one — just don't despair if your slices don't turn out as picture perfect!
1. Whole30 Sweet Potato "Chips" + Pesto Dip
Even though sweet potatoes aren't technically potatoes (they are actually roots), they are still the superior potato to me, which is why I am proudly listing them at the top of the homemade Whole30 chip list. These are super easy to make, and while this recipe calls for pesto mayo, you can sub the dip for your preferred Whole30 dipping sauce.
Ingredients:
- Sweet potatoes
- Pesto mayonnaise
- Avocado or olive oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
Get the recipe from The Whole Smiths.
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2. Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips
These tortilla chips are all of the things: corn-free, gluten-free, grain-free, Whole30, vegan, paleo, etc. These are great to make in advance for nachos or movie night snacks — just don’t forget your favorite Whole30 dip!
Ingredients:
- Almond flour
- Egg whites
- Lime
- Salt
- Cumin
Get the recipe from My Crash Test Life.
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3. Whole30 Air Fryer Plantain Chips
I know I was talking a little smack about plantain chips up above, but the air dryer makes a big difference in health — plus who doesn't want to dig into some plantain chips from time to time? This recipe makes non-greasy chips with just a few simple ingredients. You'll love them.
Ingredients:
- Plantains
- Olive oil
- Salt
Get the recipe from Savory Thoughts.
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4. Whole30 Baked Potato Chips
This recipe is as simple as it gets — just a russet potato, some oil, and some seasoning sliced and baked. They are healthy, act perfectly as a side dish or snack, and can be modified with seasoning just about any way you like.
Ingredients:
- Russet potatoes
- Olive oil
- Salt
Get the recipe from The Spruce Eats.
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5. Whole30 Baked Kale Chips
I have mixed feelings about kale chips, but this recipe gets to why I think I've had trouble with them — the texture is never right! Apparently, I was cooking them at too high of heat and not properly wicking the moisture. Take the time to read through this recipe and your kale chips and stomach will thank you.
Ingredients:
- Kale
- Hazelnut or avocado oil
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Smoked paprika
- Pink salt
Get the recipe from I Heart Umami.
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6. Whole30 Crispy Fried Salmon Skin Chips
Since fish chips are getting so popular, here's an alternative to store-bought ones.
Ingredients:
- Salmon skin
- Kosher salt
- Canola oil
- Sesame oil
Get the recipe from The Spruce Eats.
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7. Whole30 Healthy Baked Carrot Chips
I like carrot chips because they taste less like traditional chips. I know that seems weird but hear me out. Since Whole30 is about breaking habits and eating healthy, having something that is snackable that doesn't quite fit into the usual potato chips mold is kind of perfect. See for yourself!
Ingredients:
- Carrots
- Olive oil or coconut oil
- Sea salt
- Ground cumin
- Ground cinnamon
Get the recipe from A Spicy Perspective.
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8. Whole30 "All The Veggie" Chips
Looking to make a spread? What's The Oven On For has your back. You'll have to do a little bit of oven juggling on the timing, but this is a great way to go through any extra veggies you have leftover from the week's grocery trip!
Ingredients:
- Sweet potato
- Zucchini
- Plantain
- Kale
- Grated parmesan
Get the recipe from What's The Oven On For.
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9. Whole30 Crispy Baked Vegetable Chips
If you're a sucker for root vegetable snacks like Terra Chips, then this recipe will get those rich fall colors and flavors back into your life. You can use pretty much any mix of root vegetables you'd like, but this recipe specifically calls for beets, taro, rutabaga, and sweet potatoes.
Ingredients:
- Sweet potatoes
- Red or golden beets
- Zucchini
- Summer squash
- Taro
- Rutabaga
- White potatoes
- Sea salt
- Avocado oil
Get the recipe from Wholefully.
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10. Whole30 Baked Fries With Chili Ranch Sauce
These are technically "british chips", but why not include one fry option for when you want to make something healthy and savory. How good would these, a grass-fed beef steak, and asparagus be? Pretty dang good, if you ask me!
Ingredients:
- Russet potatoes
- Avocado oil
- All purpose seasoning
- Sea salt
- Whole30 mayo
- Ranch seasoning
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Sea salt
Get the recipe from Tastythin.
The bottom line
Because Whole30 is about trading bad eating habits for good ones, all store-bought chips are officially banned during your thirty-day diet.
However, if you take the time to make healthy chip alternatives at home, you can eat them as a snack or alongside a protein as a complete meal.
Good luck, and happy Whole30!
