7 Cheetos Flavors That Should Exist

Cheetos has had a lot of flavor hits and misses. We here at Sporked love Cheddar Jalapeño Cheetos, and adore Flamin’ Hot Limón and original cheese. But there is always always, always room for improvement, and just as we all must grow and change for the better (even though we are arguably perfect the way we are), so must a behemoth snack brand like Cheetos. So, without further ado, here is a list of Cheetos flavors that should exist, from wishful to wildin’.

Tamarind

Doritos released a Tangy Tamarind flavor last year, and it was such a revelation. They tasted almost like spicier, tangier hint-of-lime tortilla chips, and I was here for it. But imagining that flavor packed into the nooks and crannies of a crunchy Cheeto? Hmmmm, boy, my mouth is watering. Come on, Frito-Lay, humor me.

Sour Cream and Onion

Why hasn’t this happened yet? It seems like a given and yet, here we are, almost 80 years later (Cheetos launched in 1948), and we haven’t had sour cream and onion Cheetos, at least in the U.S. (They may have existed in Japan at some point?) This is a necessity. Come on, Cheetos, add this to your new Cheetos flavors pipeline.

Spicy Sweet Chili

I mean, come on. Have you had Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos? Have you had sweet chili sauce at a Thai restaurant? Can you join me in taking a moment to imagine how absolutely bangin’ that flavor would be on a Cheeto? Unreal. This is one of those Cheetos flavors that should already exist. In fact, it looks like it did for a while in Canada but has since been discontinued, much to the chagrin of the people who signed this petition to bring them back.

Sriracha Flamin’ Hot (as a collab with Huy Fong Foods)

Would this not be the coolest collab ever? Also, I cannot think of a single product that would lend itself better to a Flamin’ Hot Cheetos update. For those uninitiated, Huy Fong Foods is that iconic Sriracha brand with the green top and the rooster on the bottle, and I swear that if I saw Sriracha Hot Cheetos in a store, I would buy them immediately, no questions asked.

Smoked Gouda or Bacon Cheddar

We need smoky new Cheetos flavors. There, I said it. And I happen to think that either smoked gouda Cheetos or bacon cheddar Cheetos would do the trick. I’m talkin’ intense smokiness paired with intense cheesiness—a flavorsplosion, if you will.

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Okay, I know this has been done by other snack brands (we see you, Herr’s), but there’s nothing stopping Cheetos from getting in on that cheesy, soupy action. According to Sporked contributor Danny Palumbo, all it took for Herr’s to achieve a convincing version of this classic flavor combo was some tomato powder, similar to what they put on their ketchup chips. Frito-Lay sells ketchup chips in Canada—do you see how this is all coming together? Make it happen, Frito-Lay!

Buttery Mashed Potato

Listen, I know Cheetos are made of corn. I get that this is insane, I really do. But think about the delicious, buttery, flavor of instant mashed potatoes. Just think about it for a second. Got it? Now imagine that on a Cheeto. BOOM. I should work in flavor development.


About the Author

Jessica Block

Jessica Block is a freelance contributor to Sporked, a comedian, a baker, a food writer, and a firm believer that Trader Joe's may just be the happiest place on earth. She loves spicy snacks, Oreos, baking bread, teeny tiny avocados, and trying new foods whenever she can. Also, if you give her a bag of Takis she will be your best friend.