There are people that are die-hard fans of plain potato chips, but there are also many of us who need more than that simple, salty goodness. Chips are the bedrock of all snacks, and their beauty lies in the fact that there are so many intoxicating varieties of them available. When it comes to flavored potato chips, the options are practically endless.
But there are some brands that do flavored chips better. Although they’re all a crispy little bundle of salt, carbs, and fat, unfortunately, not every chip on the market can achieve greatness. For this roundup, we focused on the quality and quantity of seasoning, the level of crunch, and how hard it is to get them at your local store. Additionally, greasiness is an important aspect for some. For instance, if you like your chips significantly less oily, we recommend opting for a kettle-cooked bag.
If you’re a novice to flavored potato chips and need some guidance, check out our drool-worthy roster below, which hordes of taste-testing Amazon reviewers are obsessed with.
1. Kettle Brand Honey Dijon Potato Chips
Honey Dijon by Kettle Brand potato chips are the ultimate blend of sophistication and childhood nostalgia. When these tastes are combined, it results in a hearty, bold flavor that’s not too heavy on the mustard, nor the honey. One obsessed snacker calls them “a hidden gem lost in the world of snack foods.” Enjoy them with burgers and hot dogs at your next BBQ, or demolish a bag in one sitting. Everyone’s been there at least once – we’re not judging.
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2. Lays Ketchup Potato Chips
While most of the Lays classic flavors aren’t much to write home about, these chips, which are usually only available in Canada, are so good they’ve earned a cult following. Until the border reopens, transport yourself to the Great North with this coveted and hard-to-describe flavor that is unlike anything else. Initially, ketchup-flavored chips might sound a bit strange, but we know once you take one bite, you’ll be sold. They’re tangy, a little sweet, totally mouthwatering.
3. Miss Vickie’s Salt & Vinegar Chips
For fans of savory snacks, Miss Vickie’s Sea Salt & Vinegar is a must. Vinegar and salt on their own don’t sound very appetizing, but when combined in the form of a crunchy snack to graze on, they’re irresistible. This brand is a master of kettle cooking potato chips that are void of preservatives and artificial flavors. They’re tart but “hard to resist” with just the right amount of vinegar. The appeal behind this flavor will always be a slightly mysterious and yet constant staple in the world of crisps.
4. Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili Tortilla Chips
Classic Doritos have always been a crowd-pleaser, but once you try their Spicy Sweet Chili flavor, you won’t be able to put down the bag. Many people find jalapeño flavored potato chips to be too spicy, and this chip is a solution to that. It’s just the right amount of sweet and spicy, and while that balanced seasoning is definitely applied liberally, reviewers don’t seem to mind at all. Eat them on their own, or get creative, as one Amazon reviewer did with “guacamole, bean dip, cheese dip, salsa, everything.”
5. Deep River Snacks Sweet Maui Onion
These definitely don’t taste like sour cream and onion, but they do carry notes of onion, along with garlic. They’re perfect as a side to a charcuterie platter and are made from sunflower oil, so they’re a more heart-healthy alternative that’s less greasy in texture. Though all their varieties sell out fast, the most mentioned in reviews is the Sweet Maui Onion flavor. As one customer puts it: “I’m never going back to sour cream & onion chips.” Plus, buying this bag supports a charity that funds Autism research.
6. SpudLove Organic Thick-Cut Cracked Pepper Potato Chips
If thick-cut potato chips are your favorite, you’ll love SpudLove’s organic chip in their most in-demand flavor: Cracked Pepper. When cracked pepper chips are flavored too heavily, it can feel like someone threw a pepper shaker in your mouth. But with these small-batch, quality-focused chips, you don’t have to worry about that. Some chip lovers said they got slightly spicy after eating too many, but this testimony has us sold: “ Everyone at the party couldn’t stop eating them, all the other chips were left in the bowl and ultimately went in the trash.”
7. Hal’s New York Kettle Cooked Sour Cream & Onion Chips
Sour cream and onion chips are always amazing in theory, but not always in reality. With too much, too little, or too cheap of a flavoring they can be completely ruined. Hal’s New York kettle chips, however, always hit the mark. They’re never overly salty or artificial-tasting, and people all over the world agree. One buyer aptly describes them as “light and potatoey and not overcooked or oily.” The crunch is as addictive as the flavor, and you’ll find it tough not to finish off an entire back by yourself.
8. Cape Cod Mesquite Barbeque Kettle Cooked Chips
Cape Cod potato chips are famous for having engineered the perfect level of crunch in their chips. They tackle classic flavors – nothing excessively crazy or fancy here – and they do it well. While many other BBQ potato chips in grocery stores are overwhelmingly drenched in flavor that leaves you begging for a glass of water, Cape Cod lightly seasons theirs with an authentic barbecue flavor that pairs well with any sandwich. Thanks to the kettle cooking these chips aren’t greasy and have a dreamy, well-tested blend of spices.
9. Zapp’s Spicy Cajun Crawtator Kettle-Style Potato Chips
Zapp’s has a cult-like following for its ability to recreate uncanny Cajun flavors. While Voodoo Heat is what they’re known for, the brand is frequently sold out of them online, and the Cajun Crawtator (as well as their Evil Eye flavor) are just as tasty. Zapp’s crisps have the ideal amount of crunch and heat, cooked lovingly one batch at a time. Bring Mardis Gras into your home with these New Orleans chips, which one customer calls “straight up the most amazing things I’ve ever put in my mouth”.
10. Lay’s Miang-kum Thai Potato Chips
You can hardly find this unusual Lays flavor in your local grocery stores – unless you live in Thailand. The Miang Kum flavored potato chips by Lays are an addictively mouthwatering favorite around the globe. They’re a little spicy, a little sour, and filled with delicious garlic and onion notes. Although some people note that there’s a slightly gourmet price tag on these chips, as one reviewer puts it, “it’s a lot cheaper than flying to Thailand.” They’re hard to find and normally sell out fast, so if you find them available you might want to stock up.
11. Fritos Twists Honey BBQ Flavored Corn Chips
When you can’t choose between BBQ and Honey Dijon flavor…you opt for this perfect combination of the two, which has earned nearly 20,000 positive reviews on Amazon. Fritos are an American classic, and this riff on them is an addictive one that you don’t want to miss out on. If honey BBQ isn’t your thing, the same Fritos are also available in Chili Cheese and Jalapeño flavor. They also taste fabulous as a base for nachos.