Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 10 Best Potato Chip Brands in 2022, Reviewed

There aren’t many snacks more American than potato chips, if any. Frankly, there’s just something downright intoxicating about a baked and flavored spud wafer. So much so it’s the snack we’re always reaching for, whether we’re stone-cold sober and looking for some nibbles or a little tipsy and in need of some salt.

Related Guides

Chips play many roles as well, from vessels for dipping into chunky salsa to standalone options, dusted with a unique or trending flavor (are we still obsessed with Sriracha?). What’s known is that each option here goes great with a nice cold one. And they don’t even necessarily need to be potato-based, as recent sweet potato and taro entries suggest.

When you’re wandering through the massive chip aisle at your local grocery store or online, put the following on your radar.

Best Overall: Kettle Brand

Kettle Brand Chips Jalapeno Bag
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When you’re the best overall chip, you have an amazing selection of flavors and an ideal level of crunch, each and every time. Kettle excels on all fronts, from simple and satisfying options like sea salt and New York cheddar to more complex batches like pepperoncini and fiery Thai.

Best Flavor: Fox Family Chips

Fox Family Chips Bag
Amazon

Maine’s Fox Family Chips is immediately recognizable with its space-age metallic bags. Inside, you’ll find big flavor, with quality potato shining through every bite. When you’re working with good base ingredients, you don’t have to dress things up much, as Fox’s straightforward but delicious lineup proves.

Thickest Chip: Burt’s Thick Cut

Burt's Thick Cut Guinness Chips
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sometimes a good thick chip is a must as it can stand up to any number of dips, sauces, and spreads. Burt’s makes a burly trip, one that almost never breaks no matter how badly you abuse the bag. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, the brand has teamed up with breweries like Guinness and distilleries like Jim Beam for collaborative batches.

Best Tortilla Chip: Xochitl Sea Salt Mexican Style White Corn Chips

Xochitl Sea Salt Tortilla Chips Bag
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The tortilla category is perhaps the most saturated within the wide galaxy of chips. We endorse Xochitl because the chips are as good solo as they are buried in a mountain of nachos. Even better, the company is minority-run and uses promising ingredients like sustainable palm oil and non-GMO items.

Best Throwback Chip: Doritos Cool Ranch

Doritos Cool Ranch Chips Bag
Amazon

You can’t properly embrace 90s culture without this iconic chip in the blue bag (actually introduced in the 80s). No, we’re not entirely sure what the recipe is, but the result is a wondrous mix of tomato, onion, and cheese flavors.

Best BBQ: Grippo’s

Grippo's BBQ Chips Bag
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Having spent more than a century cooking up chips, Grippo’s has its barbecue recipe dialed in. The Cincinnati outfit’s chips are an ideal blend of sweet, smoky, and salty, practically pulled straight off the grill.

Best Sweet Potato Chip: Terra Sweet Potato Chips

Terra Sweet Potato Chips Bag
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A fair warning: Once you crack a bag of these sweet potato chips, it’s nearly impossible not to polish off the whole thing. Terra’s chips are as eye-catching as they are satisfying. The standard sweet potato version is tasty but it’s hard to top the sweets and beets, which incorporate the root vegetable.

Most Iconic: Fritos

Fritos Chips Original Bag
Amazon

If you like corn and crunch, you’re likely a fan of Fritos. And while the chips are great on their own, what with their reliable crispiness and salty kick, they’re even better poured atop a steaming bowl of Texas-style chili.

Best for Dipping: Santitas Tortilla Chips

Santitas Tortilla Triangles Chip Bag
Amazon

These perfect triangles are programmed for dipping. They rarely snap, pack plenty of texture, and have enough flavor to cut through even the spiciest salsa, densest hummus, or heartiest bean dip.

Healthiest Chip: Hawaiian Chip Company Taro

Hawaiian Chip Company Taro Chips Bag
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Taro chips are dynamic and healthier than your traditional chip and quite popular in Hawaii especially. This batch from the sunny American archipelago is made naturally, with no cholesterol or sugar and just a pinch of salt.

Topics
Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
This is the best thickness for steak
It turns out, size matters.
Raw steak on cutting board

When shopping for a great steak at our favorite local butcher, we consider many things. Cut, style, color, marbling, and USDA grading are all elements to think about when eyeing those beautiful cuts behind the glass. But what about the steak's thickness? Does it matter? And if so, why? We are here to answer that question and help you avoid the potential pitfalls of steaks that haven't been properly butchered.
Size matters...or does it?

There are plenty of delicious steak cuts all across the thickness spectrum. Thinner cuts of beef, like skirt steak, are absolutely delicious when cooked quickly over high heat. And then there are the New Yorks and the Ribeyes of the steak world, flirtatiously tempting us with their thick and juicy, meaty lusciousness. These are the steaks that benefit from a slightly slower cook. There's a place for all cuts of steak in our kitchens, depending on the dish we happen to be preparing. It's really just a matter of knowing which cooking method to use for the thickness of your steak.

Read more
The best cheese for burgers: Our top 7 favorites
Blue cheese? On a burger? Trust us, it's delicious.
Cheeseburger

Unless you're an insane person (or avoid dairy for dietary or ethical reasons—you get a pass), you turn your hamburgers into cheeseburgers. Cheese truly does make everything better, and burgers are perhaps the best example of this. But which cheeses should you select when it comes time to light the grill and crack open some cold ones? We've got the answers.
Cheddar

Ah, classic cheddar. This trusty staple is certainly the most popular cheese for most backyard burgers. And while cheddar may be the typical choice, it's far from mundane. This hard cheese has a crumbly texture, an easily melty consistency, and a slightly tangy, nutty flavor that works beautifully on a burger.
Monterey and Pepper Jack

Read more
The best steak cuts for grilling: These are real crowd-pleasers
The best cuts for steak grilling season
Sliced steak

Summer is upon us, which translates most cleanly to warm weather, cool soaks, and plenty of grilling. Many of your favorite summer recipes likely involve beef, but what cuts are the best?

This grilling season, do steak right by getting your paws on the very best cuts. You've probably heard of most of these, but we're here to shed some additional light on why they're the top selections when cooking over a flame. Some offer an ideal balance of meat and fat, while others deliver unmatched texture. These steak styles are just waiting to be treated to your secret spice blend or signature marinade. Just know that the meat is often so good on its own that you'll need little more than salt and pepper to eat like a king.

Read more