We Tried the New Texas BBQ Pringles

Pringles are pretty much the only potato chip I buy regularly, since we’ve yet to invent a finer shape for chips. And when it comes to barbecue, I’m going for brisket every single time—upcharge be damned. So, when I found out that brisket-flavored Pringles were coming to stores, it was a perfect storm. I quickly snagged a can—plus a can of regular BBQ Pringles to compare them to! What I discovered will…probably not shock you. It is just chips, after all.

New Pringles Flavor!

Texas BBQ Brisket Pringles

Kroger

At least for now, these new Pringles are exclusive to Kroger stores (or Kroger’s, if you’ve got that Midwestern vocal inflection). No word yet on whether these will also be available at Kroger-owned stores like Ralphs, Dillons, Smith’s, King Soopers, Harris Teeter, and more. These are available for a limited time only, so don’t miss your chance to try these smoke-flavored hyperbolic paraboloids if you’re at all intrigued.

Pros: This new Pringles flavor has a very authentic smoky quality to it, which I can only assume is bolstered by the molasses present in the list of ingredients. While I couldn’t confidently determine whether Pringles was going for the Texas-standard beef or nationally-standard pork, I definitely got “meat” out of this chip. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of actual meat found in this chip. Multiple meat product-flavored chips recently have contained fat derived from beef or bacon. I’m a “hey, try this thing I brought” kind of party guest, so it’s always a plus for me when I don’t have to hold something back from my vegetarian friends. And I definitely like this Pringles flavor more than the standard BBQ Pringles.

Cons: While I am a brisket fan, I wouldn’t call myself a brisket purist. I sauce my brisket, which would get me flogged in certain regions of this flavor’s namesake state. Unlike me, this chip adheres to that core, sauceless barbecue flavor—much different from the original BBQ Pringles, which almost drown you in that sweet sauce flavor. For me, personally, it comes off a little too smoky a few chips in. If you’re trying to avoid eating too many at once, that might be a positive for you! I’m used to inhaling handfuls of my favorite flavor at once, so these didn’t quite live up to that experience.

Credit: Liv Averett / Kroger

Rating:

6/10

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