Our favorite chips

These flavor-packed chips are guaranteed to have you licking your fingers and reaching for just one more. [An assortment of bags of chips with different flavors including: salt and vinegar, nacho cheese, jalapeño, and even, pizza.] Michael Murtaugh YOUR GUIDE Wirecutter Staff Chips are arguably the most delicious, addictive way to enjoy potatoes. (Or corn! Or kale!) Whether you prefer the satisfying crunch of a kettle-cooked snack or the melt-in-your-mouth classic texture of a [Pringle]( you can’t go wrong with a bag of chips. Feeling snacky? Try one of these flavor-packed chips that our staffers love—guaranteed to have you licking your fingers and reaching for just one more. If your favorites didn’t make this list, [let us know here]( there’s always room in the pantry for another bag. When you buy through our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Learn more ›]( [Our most popular favorite]( [A bag of Zapp’s Kettle Potato Chips in the Voodoo flavor.]( Utz [Zapp’s Kettle Potato Chips Voodoo ($5 for a 9-ounce bag)]( This is the kind of chip you eat until you get a canker ... and then you eat a little more. Packed in those crunchy kettle-cooked potato folds is a blend of spices that makes this chip sweet, tangy, and spicy all at once. And if Zapp’s regular Voodoo chips aren’t spicy enough, the [Voodoo Heat blend]( will melt your face. —Rachel Cericola, senior staff writer [Zapp’s Voodoo chips]( taste like everything at once. They have more flavor per chip than a medieval peasant would taste in a lifetime. And there’s a bar in my Georgia town where you can get a Dark ‘n Stormy, two microwaved White Castle burgers, and a bag of Zapp’s Voodoo chips for $10. In other words, I can spend $20 and taste heaven at 2 a.m. on a Saturday. —Jacob Baker, senior software engineer A little sweet, a little spicy, a little sour—Zapp’s Voodoo chips are complex and easy to binge. They work with a sandwich and on their own, which is rare. —Joel Santo Domingo, senior staff writer [Zapp’s Kettle Potato Chips Spicy Cajun Crawtators ($32 for 12 4.75-ounce bags)]( I grew up with Zapp’s chips at a Wawa near me in Pennsylvania, and as a hot-chip aficionado, I went for them on a whim and fell—hard. However, they disappeared when I went to Boston for school. They were never at the store, and I had to settle for lesser chips that either had the kettle crunch or the heat, but never both. I’m in luck, though: A shop in the Brooklyn neighborhood I just moved to carries them. My go-to is the [Spicy Cajun Crawtators](. —Phillip Zminda, editorial assistant [Pucker up]( [A bag of Herr’s Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips.]( Herr's [Herr’s Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips (about $4 for a 9-ounce bag)]( If you think boardwalk fries aren’t complete without a healthy coating of malt vinegar, these are the chips for you. Unlike other chips that hint at the idea of vinegar, [Herr’s Salt & V]( chips]( immerse your senses in mouth-watering (and, if you stick your nose too far in the bag, sinus-clearing) tangy goodness. Sadly, the formula contains milk, so if you have allergies or are vegan, you must pine from afar. But! Herr’s range also includes a vegan-friendly (and also delish) [ketchup flavor](. Pro tip: Mix the two in a bowl and enjoy! —Lauren Dragan, senior staff writer [A tangy delight]( [A bag of Utz Ripples Potato Chips in the Sour Cream & Onion flavor.]( Utz [Utz Ripples Potato Chips Sour Cream & Onion (about $4 for a 9.5-ounce bag)]( Chips with ridges are superior, full stop. They’re crispier than plain chips, making them optimal carriers for seasoning, but they also don’t get bogged down with as much oil as kettle or wavy chips. People might initially turn to [Ruffles]( but if you want the perfect combination of flavor and crunch, you should try [Utz Ripples Sour Cream & Onion chips](. Utz managed to create a chip that is packed with tangy sour cream and onion flavor, crisp without being too thick or too flimsy, and perfectly coated. —Kaitlin Mahar, newsletter specialist [Crunch that won’t wreck your gums]( [A canister of Takis Crisps Fuego.]( Takis [Takis Crisps Fuego ($7 for a 5.5-ounce can)]( I was forced to find a softer chip than my usual palette-shredding kettle-cooked varieties due to a recent oral procedure. I had never tried Takis, but I saw that they now come in a Pringles-like canister, so I decided to give them a try. They’re still crispy-crunchy but much easier on my aging teeth and gums. And setting aside the environmental issues, the canister is the ideal packaging, with far fewer broken pieces than in any bagged chips I buy. I get strong enough flavor and kick from just a handful of the [Fuego-flavored Takis Crisps]( to tide me over until my next junk-food fix. —Erik Erickson, director of platform engineering [A harmony of simple flavors]( [A bag of Deep River Snacks Salt & Cracked Pepper Kettle Cooked Potato Chips.]( Deep River Snacks [Deep River Snacks Salt & Cracked Pepper Kettle Cooked Potato Chips ($25 for 24 2-ounce bags)]( These are the perfect chips for those who enjoy a hint of spice but prefer to spare their tongue from burning pain. I love them because of the cracked pepper’s kick, but they’re especially tasty when they’re extra salty. The classic combination of salt and pepper just harmonizes so well together. I’ve tried other companies’ salt and cracked pepper chips, and [Deep River Snacks’s]( are superior; [Lay’s]( and [Cape Cod]( chips are weaker because of the lack of krinkle cut, and [Kettle Brand’s]( aren’t salty enough. —Z Abdullahi, web producer [Nostalgia in a bag]( [A bag of nacho cheese flavored Doritos.]( Frito Lay [Doritos Nacho Cheese Chips (about $3.50 for a 9.75-ounce bag)]( Are Doritos the most sophisticated, nuanced chips out there? No. But do they deliver during a midnight hankering for something crunchy and flavorful? Absolutely. While I like all the flavors, I am partial toward [Nacho Cheese]( the type of salty, in-your-face flavor that coats your tongue in the best way. I am at times overcome with a ravenous craving for convenience-store junk food, and at those times, Whole Foods’s fancy whole-grain puffs simply won’t do. No, this craving is one that is insatiable until I am sitting cross-legged with an open bag of artificially flavored Doritos in my lap, crunching away happily. —Brittney Ho, newsletter coordinator [Guacamole’s best friend]( [A bag of Late July Sea Salt Thin & Crispy Tortilla Chips.]( Late July Snacks [Late July Sea Salt Thin & Crispy Tortilla Chips ($5 for an 11-ounce bag)]( I’ve been known to eat chips and salsa for dinner (why not?!) and my favorite anchor to that meal is [Late July’s restaurant-style chip](. They’re ultra-thin and crispy but strong enough to house a hefty scoop of pico or guac. If you’re like me, and you’re often too lazy to pour the salsa into a bowl, these chips are grippable and hold up great if you’re digging deep in the jar. Sure, “dipper” style chips might theoretically hold more dip in their bowl-like center, but they’re harder to maneuver once you’re actually in the jar. I also love that these maintain a satisfying crunch when made into quickie nachos: just top with shredded cheese and microwave for 30 seconds. —Catherine Kast, supervising editor [Extra crunchy]( [A bag of Kettle Brand Jalapeno Potato Chips.]( Kettle Brand [Kettle Brand Jalapeno Potato Chips (about $3 for an 8.5-ounce bag)]( My go-to is usually a bag of plain potato chips and french onion dip, but I’ve recently gravitated toward [Kettle Brand Jalapeno Potato Chips](. I eat an entire bag in one sitting. I love their subtle kick and the way the chips pop and crunch in my mouth. They’re a little more expensive than regular potato chips, so buying them often feels like a little splurge. —Amari Pollard, social and community manager [Kettle Brand Sea Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips (about $3 for an 8.5-ounce bag)]( Salt and vinegar chips often leave a weird taste and feeling in my mouth. These ones do not. Also, that kettle crunch is wonderful, and [Kettle Brand]( always has the most folded chips. I really like to make fresh popcorn then pour a bag of these into the bowl and shake them up for the best movie-night snack. —Jasmine Khoury, software engineer Trader Joe’s favorites [A bag of Trader Joe’s Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers.] Trader Joe’s Trader Joe’s Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers (unavailable online) My girlfriend introduced me to Trader Joe’s Elote Corn Chip Dippers. They’re criminally delicious—imagine [Fritos Scoops]( with a mildly spicy seasoning. The elote chips are great alone, with salsa, or even in turkey sandwiches. They’re always a hit at parties and picnics. 10/10. —Stuart Faith, analyst These chips were so raved-about when I was writing our “[Favorite Things From Trader Joe’s]( story from 2021 that I simply had to try them. I love the tangy-salty-sweet flavor. I pair them with [Trader Joe’s Hatch Valley Salsa]( (also from the same story!), and I’m in heaven. —Rose Maura Lorre, senior staff writer [The perfect balance of salty and herby]( [A bag of Old Dutch Crunch Sour Cream & Dill Kettle Potato Chips.]( Old Dutch Foods [Old Dutch Crunch Sour Cream & Dill Kettle Potato Chips ($3 for a 9-ounce bag)]( I had never heard of Old Dutch before moving to Minnesota, where the company is based, but I’ll be forever grateful that they found a way into my life. These chips are light and airy, perfectly crispy, and have a nice crunch, too. I also like that the flavors don’t taste grossly artificial like chips from other companies. When I need to pick up a quick party snack, the salty, herby [Sour Cream & Dill flavor]( is always my go-to ([Mesquite BBQ]( and [Sweet Onion]( are close second-bests). —Alexis Allston, off-platform strategist [A spicy kick]( [A bag of Miss Vickie’s Jalapeño Kettle Cooked Potato Chips.]( Miss Vickie’s [Miss Vickie’s Jalapeño Kettle Cooked Potato Chips (about $22 for 28 1.37-ounce bags)]( If you haven’t layered a handful of these into a turkey avocado sandwich, have you truly lived? They’re right on par with [Tim’s Jalapeño Chips]( but I’ve never done a side-by-side comparison, and [Vickie’s]( are the ones I’ve had most recently, so the memory is fresh in my mind. Everything about the chips is perfectly engineered: just the right thickness and crunch, plus that balance of spicy, savory, and just a touch of sweetness. —Marilyn Ong, supervising editor [When the moon hits your eye…]( [A canister of pizza flavored Pringles Potato Crisps.]( Pringles [Pringles Pizza Potato Crisps ($2 for a 5.5-ounce can)]( These flavor-packed chips sure are addictive! [Pringles Pizza Crisps]( are tangy, tomatoey, and a little cheesy with a satisfying crunch, and they transport me back to junior high when I would inhale a snack pack of pizza-flavored Pringles after tennis practice. Plus, who can resist recreating the classic duck bill silhouette? —Kelsey Dang, senior researcher [View email in browser]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for Wirecutter’s Newsletter. Getting too many emails from us? To stop receiving these, [unsubscribe here](. Wirecutter, Inc. 620 Eighth Avenue. 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