diff --git a/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/BUILD.bazel b/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/BUILD.bazel
index a4f44ad95d49..75a4e9fada3f 100644
--- a/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/BUILD.bazel
@@ -10,11 +10,12 @@ ng_module(
         ":mdc_chips_demo_scss",
     ],
     deps = [
+        "//src/material-experimental/mdc-button",
+        "//src/material-experimental/mdc-card",
+        "//src/material-experimental/mdc-checkbox",
         "//src/material-experimental/mdc-chips",
-        "//src/material/button",
-        "//src/material/card",
-        "//src/material/checkbox",
-        "//src/material/form-field",
+        "//src/material-experimental/mdc-core",
+        "//src/material-experimental/mdc-form-field",
         "//src/material/icon",
         "//src/material/toolbar",
         "@npm//@angular/router",
diff --git a/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo-module.ts b/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo-module.ts
index 00a0594d851c..733d558d97a3 100644
--- a/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo-module.ts
+++ b/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo-module.ts
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@
 import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 import {NgModule} from '@angular/core';
 import {FormsModule, ReactiveFormsModule} from '@angular/forms';
-import {MatButtonModule} from '@angular/material/button';
-import {MatCardModule} from '@angular/material/card';
-import {MatCheckboxModule} from '@angular/material/checkbox';
-import {MatFormFieldModule} from '@angular/material/form-field';
-import {MatToolbarModule} from '@angular/material/toolbar';
+import {MatButtonModule} from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-button';
+import {MatCardModule} from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-card';
+import {MatCheckboxModule} from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-checkbox';
+import {MatFormFieldModule} from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-form-field';
 import {MatChipsModule} from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-chips';
+import {MatToolbarModule} from '@angular/material/toolbar';
 import {MatIconModule} from '@angular/material/icon';
 import {RouterModule} from '@angular/router';
 import {MdcChipsDemo} from './mdc-chips-demo';
diff --git a/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.html b/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.html
index 12de431749e0..90c30a8c8147 100644
--- a/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.html
+++ b/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.html
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ <h4>Multi selection</h4>
       <h4>Input is last child of chip grid</h4>
 
       <mat-form-field class="demo-has-chip-list">
+        <mat-label>New Contributor...</mat-label>
         <mat-chip-grid #chipGrid1 [(ngModel)]="selectedPeople" required [disabled]="disableInputs">
           <mat-chip-row *ngFor="let person of people"
                    [editable]="editable"
@@ -144,7 +145,6 @@ <h4>Input is last child of chip grid</h4>
             <mat-icon matChipRemove>cancel</mat-icon>
           </mat-chip-row>
           <input [disabled]="disableInputs"
-                 placeholder="New Contributor..."
                  [matChipInputFor]="chipGrid1"
                  [matChipInputSeparatorKeyCodes]="separatorKeysCodes"
                  [matChipInputAddOnBlur]="addOnBlur"
@@ -155,14 +155,14 @@ <h4>Input is last child of chip grid</h4>
       <h4>Input is next sibling child of chip grid</h4>
 
       <mat-form-field>
+        <mat-label>New Contributor...</mat-label>
         <mat-chip-grid #chipGrid2 [(ngModel)]="selectedPeople" required [disabled]="disableInputs">
           <mat-chip-row *ngFor="let person of people" (removed)="remove(person)">
             {{person.name}}
             <mat-icon matChipRemove>cancel</mat-icon>
           </mat-chip-row>
         </mat-chip-grid>
-        <input placeholder="New Contributor..."
-               [matChipInputFor]="chipGrid2"
+        <input [matChipInputFor]="chipGrid2"
                [matChipInputSeparatorKeyCodes]="separatorKeysCodes"
                [matChipInputAddOnBlur]="addOnBlur"
                (matChipInputTokenEnd)="add($event)" />
diff --git a/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.scss b/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.scss
index c69505383b38..b07f18078108 100644
--- a/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.scss
+++ b/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.scss
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     max-width: 200px;
   }
 
-  .mat-card {
+  .mat-mdc-card {
     padding: 0;
     margin: 16px;
 
diff --git a/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.ts b/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.ts
index 4ec9c91e2f5f..c93da13d7bd7 100644
--- a/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.ts
+++ b/src/dev-app/mdc-chips/mdc-chips-demo.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 import {COMMA, ENTER} from '@angular/cdk/keycodes';
 import {Component} from '@angular/core';
-import {ThemePalette} from '@angular/material/core';
+import {ThemePalette} from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-core';
 import {MatChipInputEvent, MatChipEditedEvent} from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-chips';
 
 export interface Person {
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/BUILD.bazel b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/BUILD.bazel
index 5cfc4f640c72..31ee44af6b22 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/BUILD.bazel
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ ng_module(
     deps = [
         "//src:dev_mode_types",
         "//src/material-experimental/mdc-core",
-        "//src/material/form-field",
+        "//src/material-experimental/mdc-form-field",
         "@npm//@angular/animations",
         "@npm//@angular/common",
         "@npm//@angular/core",
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ ng_test_library(
         "//src/cdk/testing",
         "//src/cdk/testing/private",
         "//src/material-experimental/mdc-core",
-        "//src/material/form-field",
-        "//src/material/input",
+        "//src/material-experimental/mdc-form-field",
+        "//src/material-experimental/mdc-input",
         "@npm//@angular/animations",
         "@npm//@angular/common",
         "@npm//@angular/forms",
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ ng_test_library(
 ng_web_test_suite(
     name = "unit_tests",
     static_files = [
+        "@npm//:node_modules/@material/textfield/dist/mdc.textfield.js",
+        "@npm//:node_modules/@material/line-ripple/dist/mdc.lineRipple.js",
+        "@npm//:node_modules/@material/notched-outline/dist/mdc.notchedOutline.js",
+        "@npm//:node_modules/@material/dom/dist/mdc.dom.js",
         "@npm//:node_modules/@material/chips/dist/mdc.chips.js",
         "@npm//:node_modules/@material/ripple/dist/mdc.ripple.js",
     ],
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.spec.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.spec.ts
index 537631f6a8fe..d51014bf5f60 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.spec.ts
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ import {
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {ComponentFixture, fakeAsync, TestBed, tick} from '@angular/core/testing';
 import {FormControl, FormsModule, NgForm, ReactiveFormsModule, Validators} from '@angular/forms';
-import {MatFormFieldModule} from '@angular/material/form-field';
-import {MatInputModule} from '@angular/material/input';
+import {MatFormFieldModule} from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-form-field';
+import {MatInputModule} from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-input';
 import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import {BrowserAnimationsModule, NoopAnimationsModule} from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
 import {Subject} from 'rxjs';
@@ -668,7 +668,6 @@ describe('MDC-based MatChipGrid', () => {
         .toEqual(null, `Expected the control's value to be empty initially.`);
 
       const nativeInput = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('input');
-      // tick();
       nativeInput.focus();
 
       typeInElement(nativeInput, '123');
@@ -750,20 +749,20 @@ describe('MDC-based MatChipGrid', () => {
     });
 
     it('should set an asterisk after the placeholder if the control is required', () => {
-      let requiredMarker = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mat-form-field-required-marker'))!;
+      let requiredMarker = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mdc-floating-label--required'))!;
       expect(requiredMarker)
         .toBeNull(`Expected placeholder not to have an asterisk, as control was not required.`);
 
       fixture.componentInstance.isRequired = true;
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      requiredMarker = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mat-form-field-required-marker'))!;
+      requiredMarker = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mdc-floating-label--required'))!;
       expect(requiredMarker)
         .not.toBeNull(`Expected placeholder to have an asterisk, as control was required.`);
     });
 
     it('should blur the form field when the active chip is blurred', fakeAsync(() => {
-      const formField: HTMLElement = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.mat-form-field');
+      const formField: HTMLElement = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.mat-mdc-form-field');
 
       dispatchFakeEvent(nativeChips[0], 'focusin');
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -926,8 +925,8 @@ describe('MDC-based MatChipGrid', () => {
     });
 
     it('sets the aria-describedby to reference errors when in error state', () => {
-      let hintId =
-          fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mat-hint'))!.nativeElement.getAttribute('id');
+      let hintId = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.mat-mdc-form-field-hint'))!.nativeElement
+          .getAttribute('id');
       let describedBy = chipGridEl.getAttribute('aria-describedby');
 
       expect(hintId).toBeTruthy('hint should be shown');
@@ -936,7 +935,7 @@ describe('MDC-based MatChipGrid', () => {
       fixture.componentInstance.formControl.markAsTouched();
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      let errorIds = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(By.css('.mat-error'))
+      let errorIds = fixture.debugElement.queryAll(By.css('.mat-mdc-form-field-error'))
         .map(el => el.nativeElement.getAttribute('id')).join(' ');
       describedBy = chipGridEl.getAttribute('aria-describedby');
 
@@ -1039,13 +1038,14 @@ class FormFieldChipGrid {
 @Component({
   template: `
     <mat-form-field>
+      <mat-label>New food...</mat-label>
       <mat-chip-grid #chipGrid
                     placeholder="Food" [formControl]="control" [required]="isRequired">
         <mat-chip-row *ngFor="let food of foods" [value]="food.value" (removed)="remove(food)">
           {{ food.viewValue }}
         </mat-chip-row>
       </mat-chip-grid>
-      <input placeholder="New food..."
+      <input
           [matChipInputFor]="chipGrid"
           [matChipInputSeparatorKeyCodes]="separatorKeyCodes"
           [matChipInputAddOnBlur]="addOnBlur"
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.ts
index 0f26d39c50df..17b3298df261 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-grid.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import {
   ErrorStateMatcher,
   mixinErrorState,
 } from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-core';
-import {MatFormFieldControl} from '@angular/material/form-field';
+import {MatFormFieldControl} from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-form-field';
 import {MatChipTextControl} from './chip-text-control';
 import {merge, Observable, Subscription} from 'rxjs';
 import {startWith, takeUntil} from 'rxjs/operators';
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-input.spec.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-input.spec.ts
index d1ae5a40142e..67e02d06c002 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-input.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-input.spec.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import {PlatformModule} from '@angular/cdk/platform';
 import {dispatchKeyboardEvent} from '@angular/cdk/testing/private';
 import {Component, DebugElement, ViewChild} from '@angular/core';
 import {waitForAsync, ComponentFixture, fakeAsync, TestBed, tick} from '@angular/core/testing';
-import {MatFormFieldModule} from '@angular/material/form-field';
+import {MatFormFieldModule} from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-form-field';
 import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import {NoopAnimationsModule} from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
 import {Subject} from 'rxjs';
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ import {
 } from './index';
 
 
+// The following tests have been removed, because the use
+// cases are not support by the MDC-based components:
+// - should propagate the dynamic `placeholder` value to the form field
+
 describe('MDC-based MatChipInput', () => {
   let fixture: ComponentFixture<any>;
   let testChipInput: TestChipInput;
@@ -74,21 +78,6 @@ describe('MDC-based MatChipInput', () => {
       expect(inputNativeElement.getAttribute('placeholder')).toBe('bound placeholder');
     });
 
-    it('should propagate the dynamic `placeholder` value to the form field', () => {
-      fixture.componentInstance.placeholder = 'add a chip';
-      fixture.detectChanges();
-
-      const label: HTMLElement = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.mat-form-field-label');
-
-      expect(label).toBeTruthy();
-      expect(label.textContent).toContain('add a chip');
-
-      fixture.componentInstance.placeholder = 'or don\'t';
-      fixture.detectChanges();
-
-      expect(label.textContent).toContain('or don\'t');
-    });
-
     it('should become disabled if the list is disabled', () => {
       expect(inputNativeElement.hasAttribute('disabled')).toBe(false);
       expect(chipInputDirective.disabled).toBe(false);
@@ -143,6 +132,12 @@ describe('MDC-based MatChipInput', () => {
       expect(gridElement.getAttribute('tabindex')).toBe('0', 'Expected tabindex to remain 0');
     }));
 
+    it('should set input styling classes', () => {
+      expect(inputNativeElement.classList).toContain('mat-mdc-input-element');
+      expect(inputNativeElement.classList).toContain('mat-mdc-chip-input');
+      expect(inputNativeElement.classList).toContain('mdc-text-field__input');
+    });
+
   });
 
   describe('[addOnBlur]', () => {
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-input.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-input.ts
index 91a37d67a588..aa3faafd5bdf 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-input.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-input.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,10 @@ let nextUniqueId = 0;
   selector: 'input[matChipInputFor]',
   exportAs: 'matChipInput, matChipInputFor',
   host: {
-    'class': 'mat-mdc-chip-input mat-input-element',
+    // TODO: eventually we should remove `mat-input-element` from here since it comes from the
+    // non-MDC version of the input. It's currently being kept for backwards compatibility, because
+    // the MDC chips were landed initially with it.
+    'class': 'mat-mdc-chip-input mat-mdc-input-element mdc-text-field__input mat-input-element',
     '(keydown)': '_keydown($event)',
     '(blur)': '_blur()',
     '(focus)': '_focus()',
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chips.scss b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chips.scss
index 71fcecae5a1e..d6914a8db7cc 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chips.scss
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chips.scss
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ $mat-mdc-chip-margin: 4px;
   margin: -$mat-mdc-chip-margin;
 
   // Keep the mat-chip-grid height the same even when there are no chips.
-  input.mat-input-element {
+  input.mat-mdc-chip-input {
     margin: $mat-mdc-chip-margin;
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/testing/BUILD.bazel b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/testing/BUILD.bazel
index f671fbc2bab6..fc5794b9fc19 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/testing/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/testing/BUILD.bazel
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ ng_test_library(
 ng_web_test_suite(
     name = "unit_tests",
     static_files = [
+        "@npm//:node_modules/@material/textfield/dist/mdc.textfield.js",
+        "@npm//:node_modules/@material/line-ripple/dist/mdc.lineRipple.js",
+        "@npm//:node_modules/@material/notched-outline/dist/mdc.notchedOutline.js",
+        "@npm//:node_modules/@material/dom/dist/mdc.dom.js",
         "@npm//:node_modules/@material/chips/dist/mdc.chips.js",
         "@npm//:node_modules/@material/ripple/dist/mdc.ripple.js",
     ],
diff --git a/src/material/chips/chip-input.spec.ts b/src/material/chips/chip-input.spec.ts
index adb201f95605..2c55e20c4996 100644
--- a/src/material/chips/chip-input.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/chips/chip-input.spec.ts
@@ -139,6 +139,11 @@ describe('MatChipInput', () => {
       expect(inputNativeElement.getAttribute('aria-required')).toBe('true');
     });
 
+    it('should set input styling classes', () => {
+      expect(inputNativeElement.classList).toContain('mat-input-element');
+      expect(inputNativeElement.classList).toContain('mat-chip-input');
+    });
+
   });
 
   describe('[addOnBlur]', () => {