Lay’s Just Launched 3 Limited-Edition Potato Chip Flavors in the U.S., and They’re So Good, We Can’t Even Pick a Favorite

Football season is upon us, and nothing says game day like snacks: I’m talking wings, pizza, cheesy dips, and, of course, chips. While I’m not all that into the action on the field (sorry not sorry), any excuse to eat delicious food is something I can get behind — and Lay’s just added three more.

Lay’s game-day inspired chips made their debut on grocery store shelves nationwide on August 18. (You can also buy them on snacks.com.) The flavors come in various sizes and textures, too, great for whether you’re snacking alone or throwing a viewing party. 

• Lay’s Hot Sauce gets its fiery flavor from cayenne pepper, vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, citric acid, and paprika, and comes in 7.75-ounce bags for $4.99 and 2.5-ounce bags for $2.69. 
• Lay’s Wavy Loaded Nachos packs in all the flavors of the iconic appetizer thanks to tomato powder, buttermilk, garlic and onion powder, cheddar cheese, sour cream, jalapeño, green bell peppers, and butter. Like the Hot Sauce chips, they’re available in 7.5-ounce and 2.5-ounce bags for the same prices. 
• Lay’s Kettle Cooked Cheesy Buffalo Dip gets its punch from hot sauce, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, sour cream, sugar, buttermilk, onion powder, vinegar, tomato powder, and paprika, and comes in 8-ounce bags for $4.99 and 2.25-ounce bags for $2.69.

If that wasn’t enough, Lay’s is also awarding one lucky winner the opportunity to see their favorite team play live through its NFL Experience Sweepstakes. Simply scan the QR code on any Lay’s, Tostitos, or Frito-Lay Variety Pack limited-edition football season bags or boxes to enter. 

With the bags secured, I opened them up and recruited some coworkers to taste them with me (a very easy task). There wasn’t a runaway favorite — in fact, the results were quite mixed across the board. Alex, our staff photographer, even exclaimed, “The whole line is some of the best chip work I’ve ever tasted!” Let’s get into it. 

Hot sauces aren’t my condiment of choice (I’m a mild girl), but I come from a family that likes to put it on everything. So I know the flavor profile well and was curious to see how it fared on a chip. This is the only classic thin chip in the lineup and is orange-reddish in color. It honestly looks similar to a barbecue chip but without all the specks. 

The hot sauce flavor is there. It’s tangy and vinegar-forward with a prominent back-of-the-throat heat. It isn’t overpoweringly spicy, but builds as you eat more. It was the favorite of the bunch for both Terri, an executive editor at Apartment Therapy, and me (shocking, I know!).

When it comes to nachos, the more beans, cheese, sour cream, and guac, the better. Somehow Lay’s packed all those flavors into a single wavy chip. The nacho cheese comes through, and STRONG, too. I also got notes of tomatoes, bell peppers, and jalapeño, plus a creamy aftertaste from the sour cream. The texture of the wavy chips adds a nice crunch, too. 

It was easily the favorite of the three for Lizzy, Apartment Therapy’s lifestyle editor. Chanel, our director of product design and UX, also raved over its “very garden flavor” and loved the notes of “green onion and cilantro.” 

Buffalo dip is a staple at any game day spread, so the office was buzzing to try these. Kettle chips are my favorite kind of chip (that crunch is simply unmatched — just ask chefs) and these have that same vibrant orange color of Buffalo sauce. They are VERY cheesy, with a flavor that reminds me of the melty, crispy brown cheese you’d get on top of a baked mac and cheese. 

They were the top choice by a mile for Reid, our director of shopping revenue strategy, and Mara, director of groceries and shopping, also loved the punch of vinegar and how the Buffalo flavor builds. “It’s spot on to the inspo!” she said. Rachel, our culinary producer, couldn’t get enough and even crushed some on top of her breakfast bagel with cream cheese. Safe to say, there’s something for everyone at the party with this trio. 

Have you tried Lay’s new tailgating flavors? Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments.