Potato chips get the nacho treatment in this steak-and-eggs dinner

A bag of potato chips can be dinner — not just something you tuck next to a sandwich but the actual base of a meal. The trick is easy: Think of potato chips like nachos, the crunchy starting point to which you can add whatever you have in the pantry or fridge, building flavor on the blank canvas.

Get the recipe: Loaded Potato Chips With Steak, Eggs and Salsa Verde

Kettle-cooked chips are particularly good for the job because they're thick enough to hold whatever you add on top. Ridged potato chips are another great pick, as the grooves can catch bits of sauce, which allows for even more distribution of the topping flavors. As a general rule, you should avoid very thin chips, which can become soggy quickly. (If you want to know which chip you should buy, don't miss The Washington Post's taste test to find out which bag came out on top.)

Get Eat Voraciously newsletter

Recipes, food trends and culinary inspiration. Sign up for free

Spread the chips in an even layer on a sheet pan or, if you need to warm or melt any of the toppings, in an oven-safe skillet. If you're feeding a larger group, you can add a second layer of chips, but keep in mind that toppings should be distributed throughout rather than concentrated on top.

Potato chips are plenty salty and provide enough crunch to do a lot of the heavy lifting, so even a few simple toppings can transform them into something substantial. A surefire way to make chips more filling is to prepare a quick protein to go on top. Steak, shredded chicken, cooked sausage or a few spoonfuls of last night's ground beef can serve as a hearty topping.

Most Read From The Washington Post

1. Her back hurt, then she couldn't button her pants. The cause was alarming.

2. The mystery behind an audio clip that helped upend a Senate race

3. The U.N. backed a map that shows Africa true to size. The U.S. was sole objector.

4. Stella Lefty's song blew up on TikTok — and sparked an internet pile-on

5. 5 subtle symptoms dentists say you should never ignore

And don't overlook cured meats or tinned fish. Salami or pepperoni can be quickly crisped in a skillet until the edges curl and brown, then scattered over the chips. A scattering of anchovies makes a pile of potato chips feel considerably more interesting to eat. A fried egg is another option, particularly if you like the combination of a runny yolk and salty, crunchy chips. In my loaded-potato-chip recipe, I combine steak and eggs for a blissful pairing.

Once you have a protein, peruse your pantry for a few more ingredients to pile on top. Or if you want to skip the meat altogether, let the nonperishables do the work — that's what they were made for. Canned olives, jarred peppers and pickled jalapeños are all easy power players, especially when you crave brightness and tang to balance out the salty potato chips. Meanwhile, dried goods such as crispy roasted nuts and sweet, sticky dried fruit (I especially love torn chunks of pitted dates or diced apricots) can add some much-needed texture.

To tie everything together, you can and should reach for condiments. Sauces including salsa, hot honey, hot sauce and pesto can be drizzled over the chips and all the fixings you choose to top them with. If you have fresh herbs, add them at the very end for a fresh garnish.

The best part of loaded potato chips is that there is no strict formula, and you don't have to adhere to achieving anything fancy or impressive. Just go with what you really want to eat.

Get the recipe: Loaded Potato Chips With Steak, Eggs and Salsa Verde