Discover the Best 25 Chip Brands In America

Last updated 4 months ago | Originally Published: June 12, 2024

If you’re looking for a list of all the best chip brands, look no further—we have everything you’re searching for right here at Candy Retailer! In this article, we’ll focus strictly on chips sold in the United States. Our goal is to help other fellow Americans discover more brands from distant regional areas and connect our readers with the biggest names in the industry! 

Today, you’ll find brand names you already know and love, brands you forgot about but will soon rediscover, and new brand names that you never heard of yet are very popular in certain regions of the US. We decided not to number this list because we know it’s impossible to mention every chip brand in America in one article, so if you know a brand we didn’t mention, share it below, and let’s create the best list of chip brands ever published online! 

1. Lay’s Potato Chips

Lay’s is a leading global potato chip brand owned by Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo. Known for its wide variety of flavors, Lay’s offers popular options like Classic, Sour Cream & Onion, Barbecue, and newer innovations like Crispy Taco and Kettle Cooked Lime & Cracked Pepper. Lay’s continues to dominate the market with a significant share and frequent product innovations. It collaborates with well-known brands like Subway, Pizza Hut, and KFC for unique flavor offerings​.

2. Ruffles Potato Chips

Ruffles, also owned by Frito-Lay, is renowned for its ridged potato chips, which provide a sturdy texture ideal for dipping. Popular flavors include Original, Cheddar & Sour Cream, and All Dressed. Ruffles maintains a strong market presence in the U.S. and is recognized for its distinctive taste and texture, which sets it apart from other chip brands​.

3. Doritos

Doritos, another Frito-Lay brand, is famous for its bold, flavorful tortilla chips. Initially launched in 1964, Doritos offers popular flavors such as Nacho Cheese, Cool Ranch, and Spicy Sweet Chili. Known for its engaging marketing campaigns and innovative flavors, Doritos consistently ranks as one of the top-selling snack brands in the U.S​.

4. Cheetos

Cheetos, a popular brand from Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo, was created in 1948 by Charles Elmer Doolin. Known for its distinctive cheesy flavor and signature “cheetle” dust, Cheetos has expanded globally, offering varieties like Crunchy, Puffs, and Flamin’ Hot. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, introduced in 1990, became a cultural phenomenon. Other popular flavors include Cheddar Jalapeño and Cheetos Popcorn. The brand continues to innovate with products like Cheetos Mac ‘n Cheese and limited-edition Sweetos​​.

5. Pringles

Pringles, owned by Kellogg’s, revolutionized the potato chip industry with its uniform, stackable chips packaged in a canister. Introduced in 1968, Pringles offers a variety of flavors, including Original, Sour Cream & Onion, and BBQ. Known for its unique shape and packaging, Pringles maintains a significant presence in the snack market. Its global reach and consistent quality have made it a favorite among consumers​​.

6. Utz Potato Chips

Utz is a leading American snack food company founded in 1921 and headquartered in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Known for its potato chips and pretzels, Utz offers flavors such as Original, Ripple, and BBQ. The brand emphasizes minimal ingredients, typically using just potatoes, oil, and salt. Utz has grown its market presence with acquisitions and expanded distribution, maintaining a reputation for quality and simplicity in its products​.

7. Grippo’s Potato Chips

Grippo’s, founded in 1919 by Angelo Grippo in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a family-owned snack food company known for its fresh, high-quality potato chips and pretzels. Popular flavors include Bar-B-Q, Salt and Vinegar, and Sweet Maui Onion. Grippo’s Bar-B-Q chips are particularly famous for their spicy barbecue seasoning. The company maintains a strong regional presence and distributes its products throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, with a dedicated mail-order service for national customers​​.

8. Sun Chips

Sun Chips, introduced by Frito-Lay in 1991, are a popular multigrain snack known for their unique wavy texture and wholesome ingredients. Made with whole grains, they offer flavors like Original, Harvest Cheddar, and Garden Salsa. Sun Chips are marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional potato chips, providing a crunchy, flavorful snack option. Their whole-grain content and variety of flavors have made them a favorite among health-conscious consumers​.

9. Takis

Takis, produced by Barcel, a subsidiary of Grupo Bimbo, are rolled tortilla chips known for their intense flavors and bold spiciness. Popular varieties include Fuego (hot chili pepper and lime), Nitro (habanero and lime), and Blue Heat (hot chili pepper). Since their introduction, Takis have gained a significant following for their unique shape and fiery taste, making them a standout in the snack market. They are particularly popular among younger consumers who enjoy spicy snacks​​.

10. Kettle Brand Potato Chips

Kettle Brand, founded in 1978, is renowned for its kettle-cooked potato chips cooked in small batches to ensure a crunchy texture. Popular flavors include Sea Salt, Jalapeño, and Backyard Barbeque. Known for their commitment to quality, Kettle Brand chips are non-GMO Project Verified and certified gluten-free. The brand has also innovated with Air Fried chips, offering a lighter, crispy alternative with 30% less fat than traditional kettle-cooked varieties.

11. Cape Cod Potato Chips

Established in 1980, Cape Cod Potato Chips is celebrated for its kettle-cooked chips, which provide a hearty crunch and rich flavor. The brand offers classic varieties like Original, Sea Salt & Vinegar, and Sweet & Spicy Jalapeño. Cape Cod emphasizes using simple, high-quality ingredients, ensuring its chips are non-GMO Project Verified and gluten-free. The brand’s dedication to authenticity and taste has made it a consumer favorite.

12. Wise Potato Chips

Wise Foods, founded in 1921, is a well-established snack company known for its wide range of potato chips and other snack foods. Popular chip flavors include Golden Original, Honey BBQ, and Onion & Garlic. Wise emphasizes freshness and quality, with its products widely available across the Eastern United States. The brand’s long-standing reputation for delivering tasty, reliable snacks has cemented its place in the snack food industry​.

13. Good’s Potato Chips

Good’s Potato Chips, founded in 1886, is a family-owned business based in Adamstown, Pennsylvania. Known for their traditional cooking methods, Good’s chips are kettle-cooked in lard, giving them a unique and rich flavor. Popular varieties include the Original Blue Bag and Home-Style Red Bag. Good’s maintains a strong local presence and is celebrated for its commitment to quality and old-fashioned taste​​.

14. Lulu Platanitos

Lulu Platanitos is a brand specializing in plantain chips, known for their crunchy texture and variety of flavors. Popular options include Original, Lime, and Garlic. These chips are a popular snack in Latin American cuisine and have gained a following for their natural ingredients and distinctive taste. Lulu Platanitos offers a healthier alternative to traditional potato chips, appealing to health-conscious consumers.

15. Herr’s Potato Chips

Established in 1946, Herr’s is a prominent snack food company based in Nottingham, Pennsylvania. The brand offers many products, including potato chips, pretzels, and cheese curls. Popular chip flavors include Sour Cream and onion, Barbecue, and Salt and vinegar. Herr’s is known for its innovative flavor combinations and commitment to quality. The company also engages in community activities and emphasizes sustainable practices in its production​​.

16. Krunchers!

Krunchers! is a brand of kettle-cooked potato chips known for their extra crunch and bold flavors. Produced by Snyder’s-Lance, popular varieties include Original, Jalapeño, Mesquite Bar-B-Que, and Sea Salt & Vinegar. These chips are hand-picked from premium potatoes, sliced to the ideal thickness, and seasoned with the finest spices, resulting in a distinctive, crunchy snack experience​.

17. Jays Potato Chips

Established in 1927, Jays is a well-known snack brand primarily in the Midwest. The brand offers a variety of potato chips and snacks, with popular flavors such as Original, Sour Cream & Onion, and BBQ. Jay’s chips are recognized for their consistent quality and traditional taste and have maintained a loyal customer base over the years​.

18. Munchos Potato Crisps

Munchos, a brand under Frito-Lay, offers unique potato crisps with a light and airy texture. Known for their distinctive taste and crunch, Munchos are available in flavors like Original and Cheese. These crisps are popular for their unique texture, differentiating them from traditional potato chips​.

19. Better Made Potato Chips

Better Made Snack Foods, founded in 1930 in Detroit, Michigan, is a well-known brand that has been producing high-quality potato chips for over 90 years. Popular flavors include Original, BBQ, Red Hot, and Sour Cream & Onion. Known for using fresh, locally sourced potatoes, Better Made chips are a staple in the Detroit area and beyond. The brand also offers snacks like cheese curls, pretzels, and popcorn​.

20. Boulder Canyon Potato Chips

Boulder Canyon, established in 1994, is recognized for its kettle-cooked potato chips, emphasizing natural ingredients and healthier cooking methods. The brand offers a variety of unique flavors, including Avocado Oil Canyon Cut, Hickory Barbecue, and Malt Vinegar & Sea Salt. Boulder Canyon chips are known for their crispy texture and commitment to using premium ingredients, catering to health-conscious consumers​.

21. Dirty Potato Chips

Dirty Potato Chips, a brand under Utz Quality Foods, is known for its kettle-cooked potato chips that provide a crunchy and flavorful snack experience. Popular flavors include Mesquite BBQ, Sea Salt, and Salt & Vinegar. The brand’s chips are cooked in small batches and free from artificial colors, preservatives, and hydrogenated oils, appealing to those seeking a more natural snack​​.

22. Popchips

Established in 2007, Popchips offers a healthier alternative to traditional fried chips by using a unique popping process that involves heat and pressure. This method results in chips with a satisfying crunch and less fat. Popular flavors include Sea Salt, BBQ, Sour Cream and onion, and Fiery Buffalo. Popchips are gluten-free, non-GMO, and contain no artificial flavors. The brand has been recognized for its innovative approach and continues to appeal to health-conscious snackers​​.

23. Fritos

Fritos, a flagship product of Frito-Lay, has been a beloved snack in the U.S. since 1932. Known for their distinct corn flavor and crunchy texture, Fritos come in varieties like Original, Chili Cheese, and Flamin’ Hot. Fritos are versatile, often used in recipes such as Frito pie and as a crunchy topping for various dishes. The brand maintains a strong market presence due to its unique taste and wide range of uses.

24. Tostitos

Tostitos, another popular brand from Frito-Lay, specializes in tortilla chips and accompanying salsas and dips. Introduced in the 1970s, Tostitos offers a range of flavors and styles, including Original, Scoops, and Hint of Lime. Tostitos chips are perfect for dipping, making them a staple at parties and gatherings. The brand is well-known for its marketing campaigns and partnerships, such as sponsoring major sports events​.

25. Funyuns

Funyuns, introduced by Frito-Lay in 1969, are an onion-flavored snack known for their crispy, ring-shaped texture. The main flavor is Original, but Funyuns also come in varieties like Flamin’ Hot. Made from cornmeal, Funyuns provide a unique snacking experience distinct from other chips. Their crunchy texture and unique flavor make them a nationwide popular choice for chip lovers. The brand has maintained a strong presence in the snack market for over five decades​and remains a top seller in the US and beyond.  

Discover More Chip Brands Available in the USA

Below are more popular US chip brands; many are regional brands, but they’re worth exploring more and trying! If you have any personal experience with the brand names listed below, tell us your personal favorite in the comments below; we’d love to know!  

• Miss Vickie’s: Kettle-cooked potato chips.
• Zapp’s: Kettle-cooked potato chips with bold flavors.
• Mikesell’s: Traditional potato chips and snacks.
• Terra: Vegetable chips made from a variety of root vegetables.
• Late July: Organic tortilla chips.
• Siete: Grain-free tortilla chips.
• Garden of Eatin’: Organic corn tortilla chips.
• Beanfields: Bean-based chips.
• Good Health: Vegetable and potato chips with healthier ingredients.
• Charles Chips: Traditional potato chips and snacks, often sold in tins.
• Simply 7: Chips made from simple, clean ingredients like quinoa, lentils, and hummus.
• The Good Crisp Company: Clean-label potato crisps similar to stackable chips.
• Popcorners: Popped corn chips.
• Sensible Portions: Vegetable-based snacks, including veggie straws.
• Off the Eaten Path: Vegetable and legume-based chips.
• RW Garcia: Organic corn tortilla chips and crackers.
• The Real Deal Snacks: Veggie chips made from real vegetables.
• Rhythm Superfoods: Kale chips and other vegetable-based snacks.
• Beanitos: Bean-based chips.
• Deep River Snacks: Kettle-cooked potato chips and other snacks.
• Way Better Snacks: Sprouted grain and seed chips.
• Paqui: Boldly flavored tortilla chips are known for their extreme spiciness.
• Jackson’s Honest: Potato chips cooked in coconut oil.
• Luke’s Organic: Organic and gluten-free snacks, including potato and tortilla chips.
• Rold Gold: Traditional pretzels.

Lay’s Is America’s #1 Top Potato Chip Brand

Lay’s, a brand under the Frito-Lay division of PepsiCo, is America’s top potato chip brand, holding an impressive 29.6% market share in the U.S. snack market. This dominance is a testament to Lay’s extensive product variety and successful marketing strategies, which have resonated with consumers nationwide. 

From the classic Original flavor to innovative regionally inspired offerings like Crispy Taco and BLT Sandwich, Lay’s continues to capture the taste buds of millions, making it a staple in American households​​.

In 2023, Lay’s generated approximately $4.13 Billion in sales, highlighting its substantial economic impact within the snack industry. The brand’s widespread appeal is further emphasized by the sheer volume of potato chips consumed in the United States, with Americans devouring about 1.85 billion pounds annually. 

Lay’s contributes significantly to this figure, with the average American consuming roughly 4 pounds of potato chips yearly. This level of consumption underscores Lay’s position not only as a market leader but also as a beloved snack choice for a wide demographic.

Lay’s success can also be attributed to its commitment to product innovation and health-conscious initiatives. PepsiCo’s efforts to reduce the sodium content of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips by 15% align with the growing consumer demand for healthier snack options. 

This move aims to achieve a sodium level of 140mg per 28g serving, reflecting the brand’s adaptability to evolving market trends and its dedication to providing better-for-you products without compromising on taste​​.

Overall, Lay’s remains a powerhouse in the potato chip industry, consistently leading in market share, sales, and consumer preference. Its ability to balance traditional favorites with new, exciting flavors ensures that Lay’s remains America’s top potato chip brand, reinforcing its status as a household name in the snack food sector​.

The History of Potato Chips In America

The history of potato chips in America dates back to 1853 when George Crum, a chef of African American and Native-American heritage, invented them at Moon’s Lake House in Saratoga Springs, New York. 

Frustrated by a customer’s complaints about thick French fries, Crum sliced the potatoes paper-thin, fried them until crispy, and seasoned them with salt, creating what would become known as Saratoga Chips​.

Although Crum is often credited with the invention, there are other claims. William Kitchiner, an English doctor, included a recipe for “potatoes fried in slices or shavings” in his 1817 cookbook “The Cook’s Oracle.” Additionally, an 1849 New York Herald article mentioned “Eliza,” a cook in Saratoga Springs known for her potato-frying skills​​.

The commercialization of potato chips began in the late 19th century. In 1895, William Tappenden from Ohio started making and delivering chips in barrels to local markets. The industry saw a significant innovation in the 1920s when Laura Scudder started packaging chips in wax-paper bags to keep them fresh, enabling mass production​​.

Herman Lay played a crucial role in the 1930s by mass-producing and marketing Lay’s potato chips, making them the first national brand. In the 1950s, Joe “Spud” Murphy introduced flavored chips, creating Cheese & Onion and Salt & Vinegar chips, expanding the snack’s appeal. 

Today, the U.S. potato chip market is valued at approximately $10.5 Billion, with Americans consuming about 1.85 billion pounds annually​​. The evolution of potato chips from a simple kitchen experiment to a billion-dollar industry highlights the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that continues to drive the snack food market.

Share Your Favorite Chip Brands and Flavors

We invite you to share your favorite chip brands, flavors, and recommendations in the comments below! Your favorite chips could be the next big trend for somebody who has never tried them. Thanks for being a part of this discussion. We hope you found your favorite brand of chips or discovered something new to try. Either way, we want to hear about it from you!