We Tried 10 Brands to Find the Best Potato Chips
Updated: Dec. 10, 2020Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links.
Our Test Kitchen went on a search for the absolute best potato chips. Find out which brand had us reaching into the bag again and again.
We all know potato chips are great for snacking, and they’re also a great way to add a salty crunch to many main dishes and desserts. But with an overwhelming array of brands in the snack aisle, our Test Kitchen set out to find the best potato chips out there—here are our top picks.
What Makes the Best Potato Chips
Our Test Kitchen blindly tasted 10 different brands of plain, salted potato chips. We tried a mix of classic and wavy potato chips, but no kettle-cooked ones. Our expert panel judged the chips according to these standards:
- Flavor: A great potato chip should have real potato flavor.
- Saltiness: We were looking for potato chips that are salty but not too salty.
- Crunchiness: The best potato chips have a satisfying crunch.
- Dip-ability: We were looking for chips that hold up to creamy potato chip dips.
- Appearance: The most irresistible potato chips are perfectly golden, making you want to reach for a handful.
To learn more about how our Test Kitchen selects its favorite brands, read about our product testing process.
Our Test Kitchen Preferred Potato Chips
The Best Wavy Potato Chip: Ruffles
If you’re a fan of wavy potato chips, Ruffles is for you. The only wavy chip to make our list of top favorites, Ruffles chips are popular for a reason—they’re crunchy, perfectly salty and the ridges hold plenty of dip. These are also the most widely available potato chip on our list, meaning you likely won’t have to make a separate grocery shopping trip to pick up a bag.
The Most Classic Potato Chip: Old Dutch
When it comes to appearances, we love Old Dutch. These look like the perfect potato chip and they taste great, too! We love this chip’s nice potato flavor and satisfying crunch. Old Dutch chips are a bit thinner than the others, meaning they might not hold up to a huge scoop of your favorite dip—but moderate dippers shouldn’t have any problem.
Best Overall Potato Chip: Clancy’s
The chip with the highest marks across the board comes from Aldi. Clancy’s, an Aldi-exclusive brand, ranked well in flavor, saltiness, crunch, appearance and dip-ability. It could be the perfect chip! What really stands out is how Clancy’s chips balance a nice fried potato flavor with the right level of salt—not overwhelming but still satisfying. This chip also got the highest scores in our blind taste test for dip-ability, meaning it would be right at home alongside our creamiest dips.
What to Make with Potato Chips
Of course, you can totally eat potato chips right out of the bag or dipped into your favorite chip dip. But with so many creative recipes that use potato chips, why stop at snacking? You can use crumbled potato chips to make crispy coatings for chicken and fish, or add them to cookies for a salty-sweet combo. You can even make homemade potato chips.
Chocolaty Chips
My two little guys can't get enough of this sweet-and-salty snack, which uses just three ingredients and is ready to eat in 15 minutes. The boys like to drizzle on the melted chocolate, too. Sometimes we replace the potato chips with apple slices. —Jami Geittmann, Greendale, Wisconsin
Spicy Chicken and Bacon Mac
I've been working to perfect a creamy, spicy mac and cheese for years. After adding smoky bacon, chicken, jalapenos and spicy cheese, this is the ultimate! I use rotisserie chicken and precooked bacon when I'm pressed for time. —Sarah Gilbert, Aloha, Oregon
Ranch Chicken Sliders
When my grandson was younger, we always joked that nothing could make ranch chicken taste better. Then one day Avery’s eyes lit up and he suggested we fry it! Our fried chicken burger was born. You won’t believe how good these little sliders are. —Tamara Hire, Decatur, Illinois
Potato Chip Bites
A friend at church gave me the recipe for these buttery, light and crisp cookies. It's never failed to bring me compliments.—Brenda Stone, Sterrett, Alabama
Chicken Fries
Kid-friendly and quick, these crunchy oven-baked chicken fries are coated with a mixture of crushed potato chips, panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Dip them in ranch dressing, barbecue sauce or honey-mustard sauce.—Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
Blue Cheese Potato Chips
Game day calls for something bold. I top potato chips with tomatoes, bacon and tangy blue cheese. I make two big pans, and they always disappear. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Potato Chip Clusters
Just three offbeat ingredients add up to one unique, delectable, no-bake treat. These super-easy, sweet-and-salty candy clusters make for merry munching during holiday trips or parties. They travel well in containers without melting or getting soft. —Donna Brockett, Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Everyone loves this dish—I consider it the best chicken and rice casserole recipe because it's a tasty combination of hearty and crunchy ingredients mixed in a creamy sauce. It's a time-tested classic. —Myrtle Matthews, Marietta, Georgia
Touchdown Brat Sliders
It's game time when these mini sausage sliders make an appearance. Two things my husband loves—beer and brats—get stepped up a notch with crunchy flavored chips. —Kirsten Shabaz, Lakeville, Minnesota
Potato Chip Banana Bread Cookies
My 5-year-old wanted to bake a cake with potato chips and bananas. I couldn't quite manage that, but I did combine two cookie recipes to create these. They are stunningly delicious, and everyone tells me they are addictive! —Rebecca Emmons, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Potato Chip Chicken Strips
This novel recipe is a fast and tasty change from fried chicken.—Sister Judith LaBrozzi, Canton, Ohio
Mini Shepherd's Pies
These savory little pies may be made with simple convenience items, but I'm just as confident serving them to drop-in company as I am to my husband and three boys. —Ellen Osborne, Clarksville, Tennessee
Barbecue Chicken Bits
Folks who enjoy the taste of barbecue will gobble up these tender chunks of chicken coated in crushed barbecue potato chips. They're a hit at home and at parties. —Celena Cantrell-Richardson, Eau Claire, Michigan
Slow-Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole
We tweaked this family-friendly classic to work for the slow cooker. It's easy, wholesome and totally homemade!—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Potato Chip Crunchies
When my family comes home, I like having treats ready for them. No matter what's on the cookie tray, these are always the first to vanish. —Dorothy Buiter, Worth, Illinois
Pepper Jack Hash Brown Casserole
I found myself in need of an impromptu potato dish, but I had no potatoes. Frozen hash browns and the plethora of cheeses I had in the freezer offered me the solution to my side-dish dilemma. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida
Turtle Chips
Salty-sweet, crunchy-chewy—so many sensations in one delectable bite. This is the absolute easiest recipe to make! Both kids and adults will be reaching for this goodie. —Leigh Ann Stewart, Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Bacon Horseradish Spread
This spread is a great choice for any occasion because it's loaded with flavor and comes together in a snap. Start with one or two teaspoons of horseradish and add more to suit your taste. —Terri Peterson, Spring Valley, Illinois
Cheeseburger Bowl
This recipe is a unique and lighter way to enjoy an American summer staple. You can also make the dressing with ranch dressing, 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard and 1 tablespoon of ketchup. —Laurie Rogerson, Ellington, Connecticut
Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken Nuggets
I was looking for ways to spice up traditional chicken nuggets and came up with this recipe. The chips add a crunchy texture and flavor, while the meat is tender on the inside. —Kristina Segarra, Yonkers, New YorkWe can’t forget about these chocolaty chips, which are an addicting salty-sweet treat that you can make at home in less than 15 minutes. This recipe tastes a lot like chocolate-covered pretzels, but with extra crispiness.
Teddy Nykiel, Taste of Home Associate Digital Editor, contributed to this article.
