French Onion Dip | Tim Clowers

September 29, 2025•Emily Tam

Recipe by Tim Clowers. Watch this recipe in action here.

It's a crowd favorite and so easy to make ahead of time. Better served cold, we make this ahead of events and then set in the fridge until guests arrive. We used to make huge batches of this for our catering business and people went crazy for it. In this recipe I'll show you how easily it's made, what to serve with your French Onion Dip along with some tips and frequently asked questions.

Ingredients:

Butter
Sour Cream
Red Onion
Garlic Powder
Jackson's Kettle Chips for serving

Instructions:

Dice onions
In a skillet on medium heat, melt the stick of butter. Then add in onions and reduce the heat to medium-low.
Caramelize onions by stirring occasionally in the skillet and cooking for 35-40 minutes. I stired about every 5-7 minutes to make sure nothing burderned.
Remo onions from heat and stir in sour cream and garlic powder. Place micture in a bowl, cover and refirgerate for at least 2 hours.

French Onion Dip made easy serving it up with some Jackson's Potato Chips for the perfect Tailgate or Holiday Gathering.

Want more Tim Clowers recipes?

Find more recipes by Tim Clowers here. Get more inspiration by following @cookwithtim on Instagram.

About the author

Emily Tam

Marketing Manager

Self-proclaimed equal opportunity snacker: sweet, savory, crunchy, chewy, refusing to choose. Fueled by a deep, unwavering love for all things food.

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Discover the wonders and benefits of avocado oil kettle chips

June 3, 2026

Why Avocado Oil Kettle Chips are Taking Over

Avocado oil kettle chips are having a serious moment, and honestly, it's well-deserved. Real potatoes or sweet potatoes, kettle-cooked in avocado oil, and finished with bold seasoning. That's the formula, and it delivers every single time. In this article, we're breaking down what avocado oil kettle chips are all about, why the oil choice matters when it comes to flavor and cooking, and what makes these chips a feel good snacking choice for so many different lifestyles. What are avocado oil kettle chips? The process is pretty straightforward. Potatoes or sweet potatoes are sliced thin, washed to remove excess starch, and then cooked in a kettle filled with hot avocado oil. That kettle-cooking method is what gives these chips their signature crunch and rich, satisfying flavor. It's a slower, more hands-on process than continuous conveyor-belt frying, and the difference in texture is noticeable from your very first bite. What sets these chips apart from the typical bag on the shelf comes down largely to the oil. Most conventional kettle chips are cooked in seed oils like sunflower oil, canola oil, safflower oil, or soybean oil. Avocado oil is different. It's extracted from the flesh of the avocado fruit, not a seed, and it brings a buttery, fresh flavor that lets the potato and seasoning truly shine. You can read more about what makes avocado oil stand out if you want to dig deeper into the oil itself. Why avocado oil makes a difference in kettle chips Oil plays a big role in how a chip tastes, how it cooks, and what you're getting in every bag. Here's what's worth knowing about avocado oil as a cooking oil for kettle chips: It has a high smoke point Avocado oil has one of the highest smoke points of any cooking oil, around 520°F. That matters for kettle cooking because it means the oil stays stable at high heat. Many seed oils commonly used in snacks are high in polyunsaturated fats, which are more prone to oxidation during high-heat cooking. Research suggests that oils high in polyunsaturated fats can be more susceptible to breaking down under heat, which can affect flavor and quality. Avocado oil's higher monounsaturated fat content helps it hold up better during the cooking process. It's rich in monounsaturated fats Avocado oil is high in monounsaturated fats, the same type of fat found in olive oil. This is part of what gives avocado oil its reputation as a cooking oil worth seeking out. The flavor is genuinely different Avocado oil has a clean, lightly buttery taste that doesn't overpower the chip. It lets the potato flavor and seasonings come through. If you've ever eaten a chip that tasted greasy or had a lingering, slightly off aftertaste, that's often the oil. With avocado oil, you get a fresh, satisfying crunch without the heaviness. Two ways to love avocado oil kettle chips: white potato and sweet potato Here's where things get even more interesting. When it comes to avocado oil kettle chips, you actually have two great starting points: real potatoes and real sweet potatoes. Both are kettle-cooked in avocado oil and seasoned boldly, but they each bring something a little different to the table. Classic kettle chips (white potato) This is the everyday chip you know and love, upgraded. Real non-GMO potatoes, kettle-cooked in avocado oil, finished with seasoning. The result is that signature golden crunch you expect from a great kettle chip, without the seed oils. Flavors range from simple sea salt to tangy sea salt and vinegar, smoky barbecue, bold cracked pepper, and even dill pickle for something a little unexpected. Sweet potato kettle chips Real sweet potatoes bring a natural depth of flavor and a slightly different texture, one that pairs beautifully with avocado oil's buttery finish. Whether you go for a classic sea salt or something bolder like Carolina BBQ or Spicy Jalapeño, the sweet potato base adds a richness that makes every flavor feel a little more layered and satisfying. The type of sweet potato used matters too, and Jackson's sources Beauregard sweet potatoes known for their naturally sweet, well-rounded flavor. If you love dipping, the wavy-cut sweet potato chips are built for it. Those thick ridges hold up to guacamole, hummus, or whatever dip situation you've got going on. Avocado oil kettle chips and your lifestyle One of the things people love about avocado oil kettle chips is how well they fit into a wide range of eating styles. Whether you're following a specific framework or just trying to be more thoughtful about what you're snacking on, these chips tend to check a lot of boxes. Gluten-free: Great news for anyone navigating gluten sensitivities. Avocado oil kettle chips are gluten-free. Vegan and dairy-free: Real potatoes or sweet potatoes, avocado oil, and seasoning. No dairy involved. Keto-friendly: For those keeping carbs lower, these chips can fit into a keto-friendly approach. Whole30 Friendly: Avocado oil kettle chips made with compliant ingredients fit within Whole30 guidelines. Paleo Flex Certified: Jackson's Sea Salt Sweet Potato Chips and Wavy Sea Salt Sweet Potato Chips carry Paleo Flex Certification. Non-GMO: Made with non-GMO potatoes and sweet potatoes. Top 9 allergen-free: Free from milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame. That last one is a big deal for a lot of people. As one Jackson's fan, Rich C., put it: "It's literally the only sweet potato chip I'm not allergic to. Please keep making them with avocado oil." When a snack is this accessible to so many different needs, that's something worth celebrating. Jackson's avocado oil kettle chips: the real deal At Jackson's, avocado oil isn't a trend or a marketing add-on. It's been the foundation from day one. Long before it was a buzzword, the Reamer family started making snacks for their son Jackson using avocado oil, and that commitment has never wavered. Every single chip, in every single bag, is cooked exclusively in avocado oil. Always. The lineup includes both classic kettle chips (think Sea Salt, Sea Salt and Vinegar, Barbecue, Dill Pickle, Spicy Jalapeño, and Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper) and sweet potato kettle chips (Sea Salt, Farmhouse Ranch, Carolina BBQ, Spicy Jalapeño, and wavy cuts in Sea Salt and Cheddar and Sour Cream). Each one is made with real food ingredients, avocado oil, and seasoning. That's the formula, and it holds across the board. If you want to explore the full range, the Kettle Chips Variety Pack is a great starting point for classic potato chip fans, while the Sweet Potato Chips Variety Pack lets you try all three bold sweet potato flavors at once. Can't pick a side? The Sea Salt Chips Variety Pack gives you both. The bottom line on avocado oil kettle chips Avocado oil kettle chips are exactly what snacking can and should be: bold flavor, satisfying crunch, and real food ingredients you actually recognize. Whether you're reaching for a classic white potato kettle chip or a sweet potato variety with layers of seasoning, the avocado oil makes a genuine difference, both in how the chip cooks and how it tastes. Snacking is one of those daily rituals that deserves a little more intention, and choosing chips made with avocado oil is an easy, genuinely satisfying way to bring more feel good snacking into your routine. Real veggies or real potatoes, avocado oil, and seasoning. That's all it takes to make a chip worth reaching for again and again. Ready to find your new favorite? Shop Jackson's avocado oil kettle chips online, or find a store near you.

June 2, 2026

Avocado Oil vs Tallow: Making the Best Choice for You

If you have spent any time reading ingredient labels or following food conversations online, you have probably noticed two fats coming up again and again: avocado oil and beef tallow. Both have deep roots in traditional cooking, both handle high heat well, and both have passionate fans. So what actually sets them apart? We are big believers in knowing what goes into your food. Whether you are cooking at home or reaching for a bag of chips, understanding your ingredients is part of feel good snacking. Let us break down these two fats side by side so you can make the choice that fits your lifestyle. The lowdown on beef tallow Beef tallow is rendered beef fat, and it has been a staple in kitchens for centuries. Long before industrially processed cooking oils became the norm, tallow was the go-to fat for frying, roasting, and baking. It has made a comeback in recent years, and for good reason. Here is what tallow brings to the table: Rich, savory flavor: Tallow has a distinctly beefy, full-bodied taste that adds depth to anything cooked in it. It is bold and satisfying in a way few other fats can match. High smoke point: With a smoke point around 480°F (250°C), tallow is well-suited for high-heat cooking like frying and roasting without breaking down quickly. Fat-soluble vitamins: Quality tallow, particularly from grass-fed sources, can contain fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K, as well as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Relatively low in PUFAs: Compared to many common cooking oils, tallow contains lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Oils high in PUFAs can be more prone to oxidation during high-heat cooking [1][2], which is one reason some cooks prefer more stable fats. Animal-based: Tallow is a great fit for omnivore, carnivore, and paleo-leaning eating styles. A little Jackson's history worth sharing: when our founders were first tinkering in their home kitchen, dreaming up the perfect crispy sweet potato chip, tallow was one of the traditional fats they experimented with. They were drawn to its stability and flavor. Ultimately, though, they landed on avocado oil, and we will get to exactly why in a moment. Shining a light on avocado oil Avocado oil is pressed from the fleshy pulp of the avocado fruit, not the seed. That distinction matters, because the pulp is where the oil's distinctive fat profile lives. You can read more about the full profile of avocado oil if you want to go deeper, but here are the highlights. Exceptionally high smoke point: Refined avocado oil can reach upwards of 500°F (260°C), making it one of the most heat-stable cooking oils available and ideal for achieving a consistent, crispy crunch. Neutral, mild flavor: Unlike tallow, avocado oil has a light, clean-tasting profile that lets the natural flavors of real ingredients shine through rather than competing with them. Rich in monounsaturated fats: Avocado oil is predominantly made up of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that has been studied for its potential role in cardiovascular health. Contains Vitamin E and lutein: These antioxidants are naturally present in avocado oil [source]. Relatively low in PUFAs: Like tallow, avocado oil contains lower levels of polyunsaturated fats compared to many common seed oils, which tend to be more prone to oxidation at high heat [source]. Vegan and plant-based: Avocado oil fits a wide range of dietary lifestyles, including vegan, vegetarian, paleo, and keto-friendly eating patterns. Tallow vs. avocado oil: how they compare Where they are similar High-heat performance: Both fats handle high cooking temperatures well, making them reliable for frying, roasting, and kettle-cooking. Lower PUFA content: Compared to many commonly used seed oils that are high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, both tallow and avocado oil contain significantly lower levels. Diets with a large imbalance of omega-6 relative to omega-3 have been linked to inflammation in some research [source][source]. Traditional roots: Both fats have been used in cooking long before highly processed industrial oils became widespread. Where they differ Source: Tallow is animal-derived; avocado oil is plant-based. This is the key distinction for anyone following a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. Flavor: Tallow brings a rich, savory, distinctly beefy taste. Avocado oil is mild and neutral, which lets other ingredients take center stage. Primary fat type: Tallow is predominantly saturated fat. Avocado oil is predominantly monounsaturated fat. Both have a place in a varied diet. Diet compatibility: Tallow fits paleo and carnivore approaches but is not suitable for vegan or vegetarian diets. Avocado oil fits virtually every eating framework, including vegan, paleo, keto-friendly, Whole30 Friendly, and AIP-friendly styles. Why avocado oil is Jackson's choice, always At Jackson's, every single snack is made with avocado oil. Not sometimes. Not as an option. Always. There are a few reasons avocado oil ended up being the right fit for us. Its neutral flavor means the real sweet potatoes, real potatoes, and real veggie blends in our chips and straws get to shine on their own. Its high smoke point is perfect for kettle-cooking, giving you that signature satisfying crunch without the oil breaking down in the process. And its plant-based origin means our snacks are accessible for vegan and vegetarian snackers, which matters to us deeply. Jackson's snacks are not made with beef tallow or seed oils. They are made with avocado oil, real food ingredients, and seasoning. That has been true since our founders first started Jackson's, and it has never changed. If you are curious about how avocado oil stacks up against other common cooking oils, check out our breakdown of avocado oil for another perspective. Which fat is right for you? Both beef tallow and avocado oil are time-tested cooking fats with real culinary merit. The one that makes sense for your kitchen depends on a few things: Your dietary preferences, whether omnivore, vegan, paleo, or something else entirely The flavor profile you are going for, bold and beefy versus light and neutral The cooking method you are using and what heat stability you need There is no single right answer for every person or every dish. What we do know is that for snacking, avocado oil hits every mark we care about: flavor that lets real ingredients shine, stability for a satisfying crunch, and a fit for nearly every lifestyle. The bottom line Avocado oil and beef tallow are both genuinely interesting fats with long histories in the kitchen. Understanding what makes them different helps you make more confident choices about what you cook with and what you snack on. That kind of ingredient awareness is something we think everyone deserves. When you reach for a bag of Jackson's chips or straws, you already know what is inside: real food ingredients, avocado oil, and seasoning. Real sweet potatoes or real veggies, kettle-cooked to a bold, craveable crunch. Feel good snacking, every single time. Grab a bag: Try the Sea Salt Variety Pack and taste avocado oil in action. Read next: Your guide to identifying and avoiding seed oils