The Allure of Chocolate Covered Potato Chips The history of chocolate covered potato chips is a delightful fusion of traditional culture and culinary innovation. Although the precise beginnings of this unusual snack are a little unclear, I think it's fascinating to learn that it dates back to the late 20th century. While the idea of mixing sweet & salty flavors was not wholly original, chocolate-covered potato chips started to become popular in the US in the 1980s. Snack food trends underwent a dramatic change during this time as consumers began to favor more daring flavor combinations.