New Zapp’s Flavor! We Tried the Potbelly Exclusive Chips

Zapp’s just sent over their new hot pepper-flavored chips. That’s not too wild; “hot” has been a pretty popular category for potato chips since the dawn of time. This new Zapp’s release is unique because the potato chips are based on a particular batch of hot peppers: the hot peppers offered as a topping at Potbelly Sandwich Shops. This specific spicy mixture has made Potbelly a fan-favorite, and Zapp’s has mimicked the blend with tons of spices and seasonings. 

So, which hot peppers make up this chip?

Per a listing for the hot pepper jars sold in their sandwich shops, Potbelly hot peppers are actually “a mixture of serranos, jalapeños and red bell peppers packed in oil with carrots, celery, cauliflower and green olives.” I’m no expert, but many of those ingredients are not peppers. This might be better classified as a giardiniera.

Let’s find out if these chips are worth hunting down.

New Zapp’s Flavor!

Zapp’s Potbelly Hot Pepper Potato Chips Review

Pros: I don’t have much of a spice tolerance, so it’s a blessing that I can handle a few of these chips before I feel like I need to hit the milk. The spice-resistent lab rats in my life said the chips did a good job of maintaining a moderate amount of spice, keeping the heat consistent rather than ebbing and flowing in between handfuls. These new Zapp’s chips feel like a great addition to a sandwich combo—as long as you’ve got a cold drink to round it out.

Cons: I wasn’t able to get my hands on actual Potbelly hot peppers to compare the actual flavor to these chips. That asterisk aside, I would have loved some more vegetable flavor in this new Zapp’s flavor. Dehydrated red bell and jalapeno peppers are both listed above carrot, onion, and garlic powders in the ingredients; to my taste buds, there’s more heat here than flavor. I have a feeling this chip tastes a lot better to people who don’t notice the peppers.

Credit: Liv Averett / Utz

Rating:

6/10

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