The best spicy chips are nice and crispy, a little greasy, and spicy (duh!). As a snack category, spicy chips have more of a cult following than John Waters films, the music of the Grateful Dead, and Scientology combined. People are obsessed with spicy, crunchy snacks and almost every single chip company has its own hot chips to keep up with the craze. Recipes featuring hot chips have gone viral on social media and all types of hot chip-inspired products can now be found on the market, like Cheetos “Flamin’ Hot” Mac ‘n Cheese.
During our research, we discovered that there are approximately a billion types of hot chips. In two separate in-office taste tests, we tried as many spicy chips as we could get our hands on so we could tell you which ones taste delicious and which ones taste like eating a big handful of chemicals. We owe a special thanks to chocolate milk for helping us get through this extra-spicy taste test. These are the best hot chips out there.
- Kettle Brand Krinkle Cut Habanero Lime
-
If you know anything about potato chips, you know that Kettle Brand chips are unparalleled when it comes to crunch. And an additional advantage these chips have is that they are crinkle cut so flavor dust gets trapped in each and every ridge. Those factors already rank it high in my book. This specific flavor brought not only a warm heat and citrusy zip, but also had the light fruity sweetness of a fresh habanero pepper.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Takis Fuego
-
Could you trust a list of hot chips that didn’t rank Takis Fuego? To be honest, I don’t think I could. Takis are the hot chip. The undeniable citrus twang, the perfect level of heat, and the ideal amount of crunch—what’s not to love? They’re perfect on their own or dipped into queso or stuffed into a cream cheese-filled jalapeño pepper (thank you, TikTok). Almost every chip company has attempted a knock-off version of Takis and nothing can compare to the original.
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Ruffles Flamin’ Hot BBQ
-
This is the only Flamin’ Hot chip I’ve ever liked and it’s also one of the best spicy chips we tried. These are actually hot and have a great BBQ flavor. There’s no weird chemically taste like you get with many spicy potato chips. We dipped these in ranch and it was a perfect snack, 10/10. The next time you’re having a party, grab a bag of these and a jar of our favorite ranch dressing, and your guests will love you for it. I promise!
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Herr’s Jalapeño Popper Flavored Cheese Curls
-
I love jalapeño poppers, but, honestly, I did not have high hopes for Herr’s Jalapeno Popper Cheese Curls. How could a bagged cheese curl ever live up to a deep-fried, cheese-filled, piping-hot, real-life jalapeño popper? The answer is, it can’t. Chips are never quite as good as the foods they’re based on. But these get pretty dang close. The jalapeño flavor is present, they’re thoroughly cheesy, and there’s a nice crunch that’s reminiscent of the crispy coating on a real-deal jalapeño popper. This curl is one of the best hot chips out there.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Doritos Tapatio
-
I expected Tapatio Doritos to be a slightly spicier version of the classic nacho cheese Doritos. I thought, at best, these would have a generic hot sauce flavor. Boy, was I wrong! These Doritos aren’t just flavorful, they taste exactly like Tapatio. Not Cholula, not Tabasco— Tapatio. Much like their namesake hot sauce, they have a gentle heat, strong spice, and zippy twang. Not only were these some of the best spicy chips we tried, these were one of my personal favorite hot chips we tried and I plan to add these to my weekly grocery list.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Herr’s Hot Sauce Chips
-
Herr’s Hot Sauce Chips are among the best spicy chips we tried because they taste like actual vinegar-based, Louisiana-style hot sauce. They’re not just a generic spicy potato chip. They are incredible. The heat is so zingy. I could eat an entire bag of these. If you’re not in an area where you can buy these regional chips at a grocery store or gas station, dish out the dough to get them online. They are worth it!
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Herr’s Carolina Reaper Cheese Curls
-
If you like your hot chips cheesy, you simply must get your hands on these Herr’s Carolina Reaper Cheese Curls. I completely underestimated them and was not prepared for the absolutely massive punch of heat they provide. Unlike a certain popular spicy cheese puff whose name I won’t mention, these have a completely authentic pepper heat. There is no chemically, factory-manufactured taste (which is my biggest frustration with hot chips in general). Plus, these are nice if you like a softer snack that isn’t as intensely crunchy as kettle chips or Takis. These are definitely some of the best hot chips we tried.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Boulder Canyon Yellowbird Habanero Kettle Style Potato Chips
-
These might be the most delicious potato chips I’ve ever had, so they easily became our new number one spicy potato chips. The fact that they’re limited edition makes me want to storm the Boulder Canyon potato chip factory and demand that they sell them forever. These are so complex. They’re garlicky and salty and savory. Plus, they have a big kick at the end! These taste like the delicious Yellowbird hot sauce we love made into a crispy, crunchy, perfectly greasy potato chip. I’m serious, Boulder Canyon and Yellowbird: Please don’t stop making these!
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best Mild
Best Taki
Best Flamin’ Hot
Most Unexpected
Best Corn-Based Chip
Best Tangy
Best Cheesy
Best of the Best
Other products we tried: Takis Fuego Kettlez, Sabritas Turbos Flamas, Chester’s Hot Fries, Cheetos Crunchy Flamin’ Hot, Doritos Flamas, Funyuns Flamin’ Hot, Ruffles Flamin’ Hot, Garden Veggie Straws Screamin’ Hot, Pop Chips Crazy Hot, Andy Capp’s Hot Fries, Spudlove Jalapeño, The Good Crisp Company Spicy Jalapeño
Share your favorite spicy chips with us using #SporkedTasteTest for a chance to be featured on our social pages!
