Yes, you can actually make crispy homemade potato chips in the microwave! These Microwave Sea Salt Potato Chips are perfectly crunchy—without the greasy frying mess. They are a perfect snack to satisfy your salty cravings.

Homemade microwave potato chips have been around for years, but I finally got around to making my first batch last week—and I’m so glad I did! As a cook who loves to experiment, I always feel like there are too many recipes to try and never enough time. Well, I can officially cross microwave potato chips off my culinary bucket list. It was a total success!

Making your own potato chips has incredible benefits, starting with complete control over the ingredients. Unlike store-bought bags, these require just three basics: potato, oil, and salt—no hidden preservatives. You choose everything from the amount of salt to the type of oil (personally, I’m an olive oil kind of girl), or you can omit the oil entirely for an ultra-light snack.
Even better? You control the portion size. If you’re like me, your chip consumption is directly proportional to the amount available. Having a massive bag in the pantry is dangerous because ‘out of sight’ is definitely not ‘out of mind’—I will hunt it down! Making a single serving completely eliminates the problem.

As it turns out, the microwave is perfect for small-batch potato chips. They are super easy to make, and cleanup is a breeze with absolutely no greasy mess. Keep in mind that because each batch takes 5 to 6 minutes to cook, this method is best for single servings; if you need more than a couple of servings, it’s best to stick with deep frying. But if you haven’t tried microwaving them yet, give it a shot. It’s fun to experiment and even more fun to eat!

Pro tips:
- Peeling potatoes is optional. I think it looks prettier with the skin on.
- Potato slices can be cooked on paper towel-lined or greased plates. I prefer paper towels because the potatoes tend to slide around on a greased plate.
- Use sea salt sparingly at first. Taste test the first batch and adjust the salt to your preference for the next batch.
- If the chips lose their crispness during storage, microwave for 15-20 seconds (and allow to cool for 1 minute) to restore crispness.
- To customize the flavor, sprinkle potato slices with the seasoning of choice after brushing them with oil.
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Microwave Sea Salt Potato Chips
Description
Yes, you can actually make crispy homemade potato chips in the microwave! These Microwave Sea Salt Potato Chips are perfectly crunchy—without the greasy frying mess. They are a perfect snack to satisfy your salty cravings.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Wash and dry the potato. Peel the skin, if desired. Cut the potato into 1/8″ to 1/16″inch thick slices using a mandoline or a sharp knife.
- To remove excess starch, rinse the slices under cold water until the water runs clear. Alternatively, soak them in a bowl with plenty of water for 15 minutes, then drain and rinse.
- Line a microwave-safe plate with parchment paper, cutting it to fit the plate. Remove a small handful of potato slices from the bowl. Pat dry on a clean kitchen towel. Brush the top with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt. Flip over. Oil and salt the second side.
- Arrange the slices in a single layer on the plate without touching each other. Microwave them at full power for 3 minutes. The potato slices will begin to brown slightly. Turn the slices over. Microwave an additional 1-2 minutes at full power or 2-3 minutes at 50% power. The edges will curl. Remove the chips that have become crispy and turned light brown early. Continue cooking the remainder until they are done. Place the chips on a paper towel-lined surface to cool.
- Repeat cooking the remaining potato slices. Store in an airtight container.
- Makes 2 servings.
Notes
- The cook time listed in the Recipe Card section is the total for 3 batches. Cook time per batch is 5-6 minutes. You may need to cook an additional batch for larger potatoes.
- Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your potato slices and the strength of your microwave. Keep an eye on the slices while they cook, as the time may be faster or slower than the suggested timeframe. Adjust cooking time accordingly, if needed.
- Omit oil for a healthier option.
- My original recipe used paper towels to line the plate while cooking. Using them requires you to keep a close eye on the paper towels. I’ve since switched to parchment paper for a more microwave-safe option
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I totally had to do a double take… chips in the microwave?! Brilliant! I've never tried that before because I had no clue it was doable. Can't wait to try this, Thao! Cheers!
I had no idea microwave potato chips are a thing! And I kind of wish I still didn't :). I have a feeling I'll be making pounds of these babies this weekend. Potato chips are one of my favorite things EVER! Have a great weekend, Thao!
Who knew, right!? It's totally doable. My husband and daughter were just munching on them and raving about how good they are. Try them, Chey! I think you're going to like them! 🙂
We have to spread the word because they are awesome! I hope they measure up to your expectation (I think you're going to be amazed). Have fun making (and eating) them! 🙂
Get outta here with microwave potato chips! I pride myself on being able to eat a whole bag of tater chips at one time because I love them so much. Although I only ate half a bag of Utz crab chips today since I'm on a diet. lol! I love those crab chips and thinking I can do these microwave ones, then sprinkle them with Old Bay seasoning just like the Utz ones! Yay to the weekend and eating healthy chips 😉
P.S. Captain Caveman was my favorite childhood cartoon 🙂
LOL!!! I like potato chips, but you my friend, you are in it deep! ???? Utz and Wachusett are my two favorite brands, but I have never seen or had crab chips. They sound good! I'm going to check out the chip aisle more closely on shopping day. And, oh my gosh! I forgot all about Captain Caveman! He was a character. Happy weekend and happy snacking, Karrie!
Made these once before but not with the oil. Must try this version because the others were not good. I adore potato chips!
I'm sorry to hear that your previous attempt at making the chips did not turn out well. From my limited experience with them, I learned a couple of things: 1) cooking them until they are crisp is key. 2) if the potato slices brown too quickly, reduce the power. Do try it with oil. I think you are going to like them better. I hope you'll give it another try! 🙂
You know, I've been making my own chips for ages (because portion control!) but I never knew you could make them in the microwave! I'm so excited!!
It is pretty cool, Kate! I can't wait to make it for some of my friends.
These look awesome, Thao!
We make microwave potato chips often. We HAD this nifty little holder that you could put each potato slice in, microwave and end up with yummy, crispy, crunchy chips.
Then that thing melted. Eeeeeekkkkk. I hate plastic 🙁
We'll definitely try your recipe. We're total potato chip junkies over here – and I TRY not to but the bagged ones too often 🙂
I'm sorry that your potato holder got ruined! I know how it feels when a favorite gadget is destroyed or no longer works. There is actually a mourning period… 🙁 I hope you find a replacement for it so that you can make more yummy chips!
I didn't know that microwave potato chips was a thing! I need to try asap. Salty, crispy chips are one of my favourite snacks.
Yes it is! And it really works! 🙂
Great article about Microwave sea salt tomato. I like this article very much. Really it is very informative details .. I will share this information between our friends… best microwave oven in india
Just tried this last night after seeing your post — honestly didn’t believe microwave chips could actually get crispy until I pulled them out. One thing I learned the hard way: slice thickness is everything. My first batch was uneven and half turned chewy. A mandoline makes a real difference. Also found that letting the slices air-dry for 5 minutes before microwaving helps a lot. Simple recipe, but the small details matter more than you’d expect.
Wonderful! I’m so glad you tried it! You’re right, it’s a simple recipe, but small details to make a difference. Thanks for the tips!!