Loaded Italian Chip Tray
Wavy chips loaded with smoked turkey sausage, Italian chicken crumbles, Flavor Bomb tomatoes, melty mozzarella, and fresh basil. This Loaded Italian Chip Tray is 20 minutes, zero effort, and absolutely unforgettable.
You know that post-trip energy where you’re inspired, a little exhausted, and completely unwilling to do anything complicated for dinner? That’s exactly how this platter was born. We walked in the door, looked at what we had, and just started building. No plan. No recipe. Just good instincts and even better ingredients.
Fresh Air Retreat Atlanta
We recently returned from our ninth Fresh Air Retreat! Hard to believe we've co-hosted so many food blogging retreats with the standout Liz of The Lemon Bowl.
This season in Atlanta was especially good. We got to spend time with some brands that we genuinely love: Amylu Foods, Butterball, Mediavine, Zwilling and SUNSET® Produce.
So when we got home from the retreat with a full heart and an empty stomach, we pulled out the Amylu Italian Style Chicken Crumbles, the Butterball Smoked Turkey Sausage, and a container of SUNSET® Flavor Bomb® tomatoes……and BOOM! Loaded Italian Chip Tray came together in twenty minutes flat. We haven’t stopped making it since.
What Is a Chip Platter, Exactly?
Think of it as a loaded nacho situation but make it Italian. Wavy potato chips serve as the base, sturdy enough to hold everything piled on top: savory chicken crumbles, smoky sliced turkey sausage, burst Flavor Bomb tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, tangy banana peppers, crisp shredded lettuce, and a generous finish of dried oregano and basil.
It’s bold. It’s crisp. It’s got that Italian deli energy that makes you feel like you’re eating something really special without doing much work at all. Serve it as an appetizer, a game day spread, or dinner on a Tuesday.
Tips for the Best Results
- Layer strategically. Chips first, then the warm proteins, then cheese, then the fresh cold toppings. This keeps the chips from getting soggy and makes sure the mozzarella gets that reliable barely-melted texture.
- Serve immediately. This platter is meant to be eaten the moment it’s assembled. Chips are patient for about five minutes, and then they are not.
- Don’t skip the sear on the sausage. A golden crust on the Butterball sausage is the difference between good and good. Let the pan get hot and leave them alone.
- Use a big platter. Spreading everything out in a thin layer means more chips get toppings, and more toppings stay crisp. A sheet pan works evenly if you’re feeding a crowd.
- Fresh basil at the end. Add it right before you bring the platter to the table.
Ways to Serve It
This platter is flexible enough to fit almost any occasion:
- Game day appetizer — set it in the middle of the table and watch it disappear in ten minutes
- Simple weeknight dinner — pair it with a simple green salad and call it a night
- Summer cookout spread — it sits beautifully next to grilled anything
- Casual party food — make two platters and let people go to town
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we prep any of this ahead of time? Yes! You can sear the sausage and warm the chicken crumbles up to a day in advance and refrigerate them. When you’re ready to serve, reheat both in a skillet over medium heat, then assemble the platter fresh.
Can we use a different sausage? Butterball Hardwood Smoked Turkey Sausage is our go-to here for its flavor and lean protein, but any fully cooked smoked sausage will work in a pinch. The key is getting a good sear on whatever you use.
What if we can’t find Flavor Bomb tomatoes? Any ripe, sweet cherry tomato will work beautifully. The SUNSET® Flavor Bombs® are just extra bold in flavor, so if you’re substituting, taste as you go and use the ripest ones available.
How many people does this serve? As an appetizer, this feeds 6–8 people comfortably. As a main, plan on 4 servings. Scale up by using a second platter the recipe doubles easily.
Prep 10 minutesCook 10 minutesTotal 20 minutesMakes 4
Ingredients
- 1/2 bag Wavy potato chips
- 1/2 pkg Amylu Italian Style Chicken Crumbles
- 1/2 sausage Butterball Hardwood Smoked Turkey Sausage, sliced into half moons
- 1 cup SUNSET® Flavor Bomb® Cherry Tomatoes, quartered
- 2 cups Shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup Sliced banana peppers
- 1/2 cup Shredded lettuce
- 2 tsp Dried oregano
- Fresh chopped basil, for garnish
Method
- Slice your Butterball Smoked Turkey Sausage into half moons. You’ll use about half of the smoked sausage. Heat a skillet over medium-high with a drizzle of olive oil and sear the sausage in a single layer for 2–3 minutes per side until deeply golden. Remove from heat and set aside. Don't rush this step because that crust is where the flavor lives.
- In the same pan, warm the Amylu Italian Style Chicken Crumbles over medium heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through and fragrant. Set aside.
- Arrange your wavy potato chips in a single, generous layer across a large platter or sheet pan. Overlap them slightly as you'll have full coverage so every scoop has a solid chip underneath
- Scatter the warm chicken crumbles and seared sausage coins evenly across the chips.
- Add the quartered SUNSET® Flavor Bomb® tomatoes and sliced banana peppers across the top.
- Immediately shower the whole platter with shredded mozzarella. Place the sheet pan under the broiler for about 5 minutes or until golden if desired.
- Finish with shredded lettuce, a generous pinch of dried oregano, and fresh basil. Serve right away!
