Arguably the nation's favourite savoury snack, crisps are perfect for any occasion — popping into your lunchbox, munching on with friends, or as a simple pub treat. However, we're seeing more and more outlandish crisp flavours being released almost every week! This makes it difficult to know what's going to be delicious and what may be pushing the boundaries too far — smoked salmon, cream cheese, or champagne-flavoured crisps anyone?
To help you decide which ones are worth the calories, and which to add to your shopping list, we're embarking on a challenging task: narrowing down the top 10 best crisps in the UK. We'll check out all the varieties — healthy, gluten-free, vegan, and multipacks of classic, favourite British flavours. Read on to find out our favourites, available at Amazon, Tesco, ASDA, and Waitrose, from brands such as Walkers, Doritos, Quavers, Tyrell's and Kettle.
Quick List - Top Crisps
Manomasa
Crunchy Tortilla Chips Containing 3 Types of Spicy Chilli With Undertones of Smooth Honey
Walkers
Premium Crisps in a Sensational Combination of Flavours With a Super-Crunchy Texture
Emily
All-Natural, Vegetable Crisps That Are Low in Salt but Full of Flavour
mybest UK specialist Tara is a nutritionist and energy coach who helps clients lose weight, improve their eating habits, and get their energy back through their nutrition. Tara specialises in helping busy parents specifically improve their eating with ease and without overwhelm, and get back on track so the whole family can benefit.
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Table of Contents
Tara is a nutritionist and energy coach who helps clients lose weight, improve their eating habits, and get their energy back through their nutrition. Tara specialises in assisting busy parents in improving their eating with ease and without overwhelm or to get them back on track so the whole family can benefit.
Traditional, potato-based crisps are certainly the most popular type out there, with big brands such as Walkers and Kettle Chips dominating the market. This type of crisp tends to offer the most diverse flavours, and tastes great on its own — no need to add houmous or salsa (but you can if you want)!
They can be cooked in a variety of ways, be they fried or baked. As well as the classic style, you might also like ridge-cut or crinkle-cut crisps — these have a larger surface area and an extra crunchy texture, making them very satisfying to munch on.
Fancy a biscuit snack? Browse our 10 favourite biscuits in the UK!
When you first think of crisps, the traditional potato crisp is most likely what pops into your head. Potato crisps can certainly be delicate in moderation and when they are not eaten too regularly.
I would always recommend seeking out baked potato crisps rather than fried, as they tend to be lower in calories and lower in fat. And stick to pouring the crisps into bowls or having a snack-sized bag, rather than eating straight out of the bag to avoid overconsuming.
Tortilla chips are made from corn, so they're slightly leaner than their potato counterparts when it comes to calories, averaging around 15kcal less per pack. However, they're pretty similar to potato crisps in regards to other nutritional values.
This type of crisp often has added flavours like chilli or cheese, which make them a delicious snack any time of the day. And of course, some of the main reasons to choose this type of crisp are to create homemade nachos, and because they are the ideal shape for scooping up tasty dips such as guacamole and salsa.
Tortilla chips are another tasty option on the shelves, and they are particularly great because they are perfect for dipping.
Tortilla chips are not necessarily healthier than regular potato chips. Still, they are naturally gluten-free, which can be advantageous if you have a gluten intolerance or choose to eat gluten-free. I personally love eating tortilla chips with homemade guacamole or salsa, which are the healthiest options for dips.
If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to traditional snacks but you’re still craving a satisfying crunch, then look no further than vegetable crisps! This type tends to be lower in sodium, saturated fats, and other nasties. They’re also great for experiencing new flavours as they often retain the taste of the vegetable that they're made from — this includes beetroot, parsnips, green beans, peas and more.
All-natural crisps are certainly a healthier option when compared to potato and tortilla crisps. These crisps are made from vegetables and often contain more whole ingredients than other crisps.
However, they can still be high in fat due to being fried or baked, so always compare the label when selecting.
Whilst you'll probably already know which flavour you like best, it's a good idea to choose one that will complement whatever else you're eating or drinking for the perfect snacking experience!
Having a couple of pints down the pub? Pick up some cheesy or spicy flavoured crisps that'll go well with the bitter taste of alcohol. Or if you’re taking a packet as part of your packed lunch or to accompany a nice cuppa, you can't go wrong with a milder flavour like good old ready salted.
For those with a gluten allergy, we got you covered with the 10 best gluten-free snacks!
Now, it’s worth mentioning that one of the main ingredients in crisps is salt. Just in case you’re unaware, too much salt can lead to serious health conditions later on in life, so it's important to keep an eye on how much you consume on a day to day basis.
The recommended daily intake of salt is around 2.3g per day, which should leave you plenty of space in a balanced diet to have at least one normal-sized packet of crisps. But if you’re on a health kick or trying to reduce your salt intake, you'll want to go for a packet that has 0.5-0.8g instead. Don't worry, there are still plenty of tasty low-salt options out there!
Craving something a little sweeter? Check out our 10 best dark chocolates.
Eating a diet low in salt and sodium is imperative for good health. Eating too much salt can lead to serious heart issues such as heart attack and stroke, as well as high blood pressure. Ideally, your salt intake should stay below 2g per day.
Crisps are notoriously high in salt, and this needs to be considered when you eat crisps; stick to smaller portions, or ensure you’re compensating by eating less processed food throughout the day.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Walkers Classic Variety Multipack | ![]() | The Classic Multipack of 12 From the UK’s Favourite Crisp Brand | |
2 | Manomasa Serrano Chilli & Yucatan Honey | ![]() | Crunchy Tortilla Chips Containing 3 Types of Spicy Chilli With Undertones of Smooth Honey | |
3 | Walkers Sensations - Thai Sweet Chilli | ![]() | Premium Crisps in a Sensational Combination of Flavours With a Super-Crunchy Texture | |
4 | Emily Veg Crisps Garden Greens | ![]() | All-Natural, Vegetable Crisps That Are Low in Salt but Full of Flavour | |
5 | Walkers Max Strong - Jalapeño and Cheese | ![]() | Ridged, Thick Crisps, That Are Full of Flavour and Go Perfectly Paired With a Cold Beer | |
6 | Doritos Chilli Heatwave Corn Chips | ![]() | Spicy Chilli Heatwave Crisps With a Crunchy Texture, Perfect for Dipping | |
7 | Eat Real Tomato and Basil Hummus Chips | ![]() | Gluten-Free, Vegan-Friendly, and Incredibly Tasty Crisps in Tomato and Basil Hummus Flavour | |
8 | Tyrell's Black Truffle and Sea Salt | ![]() | A Crunch of Luxury With These Hand-Cooked British Crisps in Black Truffle and Sea Salt Flavour | |
9 | Pom-Bear Original Multipack Crisps | ![]() | Bear-Shaped, Light and Airy Crisps, Loved by Both Kids and Adults | |
10 | Kettle Mature Cheddar and Red Onion | ![]() | A Sophisticated Take On the Classic Cheese and Onion, Containing No Artificial Flavourings or Preservatives |
In at our top spot we have Walkers Classic Variety Multipack, which everyone is surely familiar with. These classic potato crisps in a variety of flavours are undoubtedly the benchmark for all savoury snacks in the UK, and there's a reason that they're a staple in lunchboxes everywhere.
This multipack offers something for everyone with 3 of each delicious flavour. It's also amazing value for money — you can't argue with 12 packets for this price! Stock up on these family favourites and you'll always have a tasty snack on hand to keep your whole household happy.
If you're looking for a crisp that packs a punch, then look no further than these Manomasa tortilla chips. They contain 3 types of spicy chilli — serrano, green, and scotch bonnet — so make sure you have a drink on hand when munching your way through the bag!
The sweet undertones of the Yucatan honey, which works perfectly with the fiery chilli, makes this a truly unique tasting bag of tortilla chips. Plus, you'll be getting a top-quality crunch too — the gently toasted corn flour gives these snacks a light and crispy texture.
These premium crisps have to be pretty good if they're going to call themselves a "sensation", right? Luckily, they meet our high standards, with a super-crunchy texture that's somewhere in-between your standard Walkers crisps and those by Kettle.
They can even withstand some serious dipping if you've run out of tortillas! Alongside the texture, there's a fantastic flavour that combines sweet onion, paprika, garlic, and herbs with just the right amount of peppery heat. Pretty sensational indeed.
Emily's crisps offer an array of unusual flavours and textures, as they're made completely out of vegetables! The variety we've chosen here contains french beans, sugar snap peas, and black edamame. The french beans are surprisingly sweet, while the peas and edamame have an earthy taste.
Best of all, these snacks are satisfyingly crunchy. Although these crisps are very low in salt, they're still full of natural flavour and are surprisingly addictive. So they're ideal for those looking for healthy and just a little bit different.
These recently released ridged crisps by Walkers are thick, crunchy and full of flavour. The initial hint of jalapeño is accompanied by a powerful cheesiness — kind of like you're eating a bowl of gooey nachos! One thing to be aware of though is that these crisps aren't suitable for vegetarians as they contain animal rennet.
These crisps taste great with a beer or other alcoholic beverages, so we recommend stocking up on them for when you have your mates round. We'd even go as far as saying that this is the best new flavour Walkers have released in a long time, and that's some serious praise from crisp lovers like us!
We couldn't really create a crisp ranking without including Doritos! This chilli heatwave flavour combines spiciness with a wonderfully crunchy texture, but isn't too hot to handle. They can also double up as a lively base for nachos or even work well crumbled on top of a pizza.
This big bag of 180g is perfect for sharing. Pair it with a guacamole dip on a side and you have yourself a party! Whilst some might prefer a slightly less spicy crisp, we think these are divine. Though, if you enjoy it with a cooling dip, it'll be sure to balance out the spiciness too.
Eat Real is known for its vegan-friendly, healthy alternative snacks. Their Tomato and Basil Hummus Chips are incredibly moreish and are perfect if you have a gluten intolerance. They're also low in fat, making them a good treat for those who are calorie counting.
The only downside is that these crisps are very high in salt, which is deceiving due to their otherwise overall healthiness. So you're going to have to show some serious restraint if you want to avoid eating them all in one go!
Tyrell's hand-cooked English crisps are the ultimate in snacking luxury. We've opted for the indulgent black truffle and sea salt flavour, which will leave a deliciously savoury umami taste in your mouth and have you reaching into the bag for more!
Again, these crisps unfortunately only come in a larger-sized bag of 150g, so won't fit easily into your lunchbox. Also, we think it's fair to say that these have a bit of an acquired taste, so they might not appeal to everyone.
These are classic novelty crisps that we all loved as kids — who can resist that cute bear shape? Whilst these snacks also come in a cheese and onion variation, we've gone with the original (and best) ready salted flavour for purely nostalgic reasons.
Since these crisps are light and airy, you're not going to feel too guilty if you do demolish the whole six-pack in one sitting. However, even after the full six-pack, you might still be peckish as they sadly aren't the most filling.
According to Kettle, there's absolutely nothing artificial about these crisps — no preservatives, added colours or artificial flavours — just pure, hand-cooked deliciousness. Deep mature cheddar is paired with the sweetness of red onion, putting a sophisticated spin on the classic flavour that we all love.
These are seriously satisfying crisps with a great texture and plenty of crunch. Unfortunately, though, Kettle recently altered the recipe making them less cheesy tasting and adding sugar too — which fans of the brand are divided about!
If you are diabetic, you should avoid foods high in refined sugars, salt, and fat especially. Highly processed and manufactured foods are generally not an excellent fit for diabetics, and this, unfortunately, includes crisps. Whole foods and those naturally low in salt and unhealthy fats will be a better selection if you have diabetes.
Crisps are not exclusively bad for you, and they will not cause weight gain if you enjoy them and remain within your daily allowance for calories. The problem with crisps is that they are pretty high in calories and fat, and most tend to overeat.
A practical, average serving of crisps is much smaller than the average person would consume crisps, and overeating will cause weight gain. Ensure that you save crisps for a special treat, and stick to snack-sized portions, and they will not make you fat.
Written and researched by Lewis Clark
No. 1: Walkers|Classic Variety Multipack
No. 2: Manomasa|Serrano Chilli & Yucatan Honey
No. 3: Walkers|Sensations - Thai Sweet Chilli
No. 4: Emily|Veg Crisps Garden Greens
No. 5: Walkers|Max Strong - Jalapeño and Cheese
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