Lay's chips are a staple at every barbecue, casual get-together, slumber party, and late night munchie sesh. And there are a lot of Lay's flavors, from obvious to extraordinary. On top of that, they're releasing more flavors every year. In honor of the 2017 "Do Us a Flavor" finalists released last month (flavors include Fried Green Tomato, Crispy Taco and Everything Bagel), here are the 11 best Lay's flavors of all time, ranked from best to absolute best.
11. Mango Salsa
These were a finalist in the 2014 "Do Us a Flavor" contest, and they remain one of my favorites. The wavy texture is extra crunchy and the flavor combination of fruity, salty, tart, and herb-y (cilantro?) works surprisingly well. If you see these anywhere, make sure to pick them up and try them.
10. Classic
You seriously can't go wrong with the classic Lay's potato chip. Even after all of these unique and interesting flavors have been released, the original potato chip is still one of the best.
9. Sour Cream & Onion
Just about as classic as the original flavor, sour cream and onion is popular for a reason. The combination of onion powder and dill on a chip is so palatable that almost every brand of chip has tried their hand at making it.
8. Biscuits & Gravy
I'm from Texas, and I know my biscuits and gravy. I was a little skeptical when these came out as a finalist in the 2015 "Do Us a Flavor" Contest. I thought that it would be impossible to capture this flavor on a chip, but after I tried them I had to stand corrected. Somehow these chips taste just as creamy as gravy, and the strong taste of sage is the perfect stand-in for breakfast sausage.
7. Kettle Cooked Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper
Kettle cooked chips are probably my favorite style of chip. I love the crunch and the extra potato-y flavor. Sea salt and pepper are just a step above the regular salted chips, and help the chip feel elevated without being too distracting to the potato flavor.
6. Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue
I like these much better than the traditional barbecue flavor, which is far too sweet for me. These aren't overwhelmingly spicy (just a kick at the end), and the barbecue flavoring is sweet, tangy, and well-rounded. Texas approved!
5. Chile Limon
When I first tried these, I almost ate the whole bag in one sitting. The spice of the chile and acidity of the lime pair perfectly together.
4. Salt & Vinegar
Salt and vinegar is one of my favorite chip flavors of all time. The bright acidity and complex flavor of vinegar must have been made to be put on a potato. Make sure to have a water bottle nearby when you eat these, as they make you extra thirsty.
3. Flamin' Hot
This is the chip version of Flamin' Hot Cheetos, and I have to say, the spicy seasoning tastes way better on a potato than it does on whatever Cheetos are made out of. You should definitely try Flamin' Hot Lay's to settle your spicy craving.
2. Kettle Cooked Jalepeño
Even better than Flamin' Hot is the jalapeño seasoning on the Kettle Cooked chips. These are spicy, but also have a more complex flavor from the jalapeño, as opposed to just being hot. In general, the kettle cooked chips are some of Lay's best options.
1. Cappuccino
Maybe it's a disgrace to put cappuccino at the top of this list, but I'm serious, these were SO GOOD. I wish more people had given them a chance, because when you get over the mentality that chips have to be salty, these sweet, subtle, cinnamon-flavored chips were addictive. They would seriously melt in your mouth and I'm still obsessed with them years later. Unlike the rest of the "Do Us a Flavor" options, these haven't been re-released. I guess the world just didn't deserve them.
Make sure to check out some of the best Lay's flavors the next time you're at the supermarket. Lay's is constantly coming out with new flavors, so there's sure to be something noteworthy on the shelf.