The best baked chips are low fat but still have great flavor. They should also have a crunchy, crispy, sturdy structure to them. Oftentimes baked chips can be a little too crunchy, resulting in a bag full of chip crumbs (and nobody wants a bag full of chip crumbs). So, when we set out to find the best baked chips, we were looking for something crisp and well formed, something that wows with its texture and flavor.
This might defeat the purpose of a low fat snack, but there’s something about a baked chip’s crunchy texture that makes it the perfect little chip shovel for all your favorite dips. Plus, if we’re being open and honest here, even the best baked chips really benefit from a good dip. We started to desperately miss the rich taste of oil during this taste test. (Being fried in fat even makes plain potato chips taste wonderful. Without it, chips can be joyless.) Now, complaining aside, we still found some baked chips that achieved a perfectly crunchy texture and tasty flavor that we’d happily snack on plain. The next time you find yourself lost in the snack aisle, here are the seven best baked potato chips to pick up.
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- Lay’s Baked Salt & Vinegar
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We’ve talked a lot about the problematic texture of crumby (or just plain crummy) baked potato chip brands, but the lackluster flavor is always the bigger issue for me. Luckily, vinegar is really potent in small doses. Lay’s Baked Salt & Vinegar chips keep that signature punchy, salty tang of regular salt and vinegar chips, so you don’t feel like you’re missing out as much. That said, they aren’t for everyone! (I know that because I made several people try them, and they definitely divided the group.) But as a salt and vinegar gal myself, I still think they’re some of the best baked chips out there. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Ruffles Original Baked
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Ruffles Original Baked chips are good, standard baked potato chips, albeit nothing spectacular. Still, I most certainly prefer them to Lay’s after eating them side by side. These chips have 70% less fat than regular Ruffles, and they have a nice, clean flavor. It doesn’t taste like potato really (more like Pringles, which are made with dehydrated potatoes), but they’re still quite tasty and have just enough salt to skate by. They’re also good for dipping because of their wonderful texture and crunch. They’re a bit plain, but, hey, that’s why they’re ranked so low. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Lay’s Baked Barbecue
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Lay’s Baked Barbecue chips have such a pleasant barbecue flavor that’s smoky and sweet, plus the chips themselves are sturdy, crunchy, and light. That makes them perfect for dipping. Sure, that kind of defeats the purpose of buying a healthier chip, but it’s so damn good! These are the best baked chips for barbecue chip lovers. I love their subtle, smoky flavor. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Baked Flamin’ Hot Cheetos
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No, we didn’t like regular Baked Cheetos, but Baked Flamin’ Hot Cheetos have just enough flavor intensity to earn a place here. The spicy, tangy flavor dust neatly masks the more prominent baked corn aftertaste, turning something otherwise boring into a surprisingly enjoyable snack. The texture is a little puffier, but still crunchy and satisfying. Plus, if regular Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are too hot for you (and your poor stomach lining), you might really like these! The heat is more muted. Still, be warned: If you love regular Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, these will just be a disappointment. I’m sorry, but it’s true. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Barbara’s Bakery Baked Cheese Puffs Aged White Cheddar
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These cheese puffs are made with aged white cheddar and have a bright, tangy, salty, cheesy flavor that completely satisfies. The tanginess of the aged white cheddar is strong and I love it. White cheddar snacks just rock, man. The puffs themselves are great, too! They’re puffy and light, but still have a solid crunch. Baked snacks are best when they have a strong flavor and a substantial texture, and Barbara’s Bakery brings the goods. We’re fans. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Trader Joe’s Baked Cheese Crunchies
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Tasting these head to head with Baked Cheetos, Trader Joe’s Cheese Crunchies are the clear winner. And like many head-to-head food showdowns, their superiority can be proven in the nutritional facts: TJ’s Cheese Crunchies have less salt than Baked Cheetos, but they have more fat. That means they just taste cheesier and richer. Simply put, these are baked without being bland. If you love Cheetos but want something a tad healthier, absolutely seek out these Trader Joe’s Cheese Crunchies. They’re a great lower-fat alternative to one of the best junk foods to ever exist. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Ruffles Baked Cheddar & Sour Cream
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Ruffles Baked Cheddar & Sour Cream chips have 65% less fat than traditional Ruffles, but they’re still big on flavor. These baked chips have a light, crunchy texture that’s a pure joy to munch on. I definitely miss the fried-in-oil quality of other Frito-Lay chips, but these don’t skimp on flavor. They have a boldly tangy and cheesy flavor, and the texture is just delightful. Load me up. The best baked chips are Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett/Instacart
Best Salt & Vinegar
Best Plain
Best Smoky
Best Baked Cheetos
Best Cheese Puff
Best Crunchy Cheese Snack
Best of the Best
Other products we tried: Cheetos Baked, Ritz Baked Onion, Lay’s Baked, Clancy’s Baked
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