Every Pringles Flavor Ranked Worst To Best
When you want a dependable snack that can survive whatever life throws at you, grab a tube-shaped can of Pringles with confidence. When you're ready to eat, you just need to pop open the top and you'll discover perfectly uniform chips stacked on top of each other. Unlike half-empty chip bags, Pringles tubes are filled nearly to the top and you're unlikely to find a handful of broken chips at the bottom.
While no one is sure where Pringles got its name, the origin story for these chips dates back to the 1950s. That's when geniuses began using supercomputers to figure out how to fit so many perfectly shaped chips into a slender can. Seriously, Pringles was founded by Fred Baur, an organic chemist who used actual 1956 supercomputers to determine the best way to keep Pringles intact in their tube (via Snack History). Decades later, we're still reaping the rewards of the hard work put in by those scientists and mathematicians.
These days, Pringles come in more than a dozen different flavors. Some of these flavors are great, while others are utterly forgettable. A few are even downright terrible. To help guide you to the best versions out there, we've ranked Pringles flavors from worst to best.
Pringles Baconator
When you visit Wendy's, opting for a Baconator is never a bad choice, at least in terms of taste if not calories. By the time you have finished downing each bacon-blessed morsel, you'll be thanking yourself for making such a wise decision. Without question, the best Wendy's menu item has to be their legendary Baconator.
However, don't make the mistake of believing that Pringles has been able to capture the magic of the Baconator inside an aluminum-coated cardboard tube. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Pringles Baconator tastes like garbage in comparison to the real thing. In fact, you'd be better off picking a discarded Baconator wrapper out of a trash bin and eating that instead. At least the wrapper will have some genuine deliciousness from the bacon and beef juices that escaped the burger and if you're lucky, some wayward ketchup and mayonnaise.
If these Pringles didn't have the word Baconator on it, no one would ever guess that these chips are trying to copy Wendy's masterpiece. The reviews for the Baconator flavor chips on the Pringles website are frankly terrible. You too will surely join the chorus of haters if you ignore our advice and eat these chips.
Pringles Rotisserie Chicken
Like Pringles Baconator, the Pringles Rotisserie Chicken flavor gets some seriously bad reviews and should be avoided completely if, you know, you want something that tastes good for a change. Your imagination may tell you to expect yummy chip-shaped chicken goodness but your taste buds will quickly inform you that you've made a colossal error.
Pringles Rotisserie Chicken actually smells like chicken, to be fair. When you pop open a can, the scent of chicken will soon hit your nostrils and may even make you believe that you've made a smart selection. But, strangely, the chips don't taste like chicken at all. Instead, they taste more like lightly seasoned cardboard.
If you're craving rotisserie chicken, just stop by Costco and get the real thing. They have the best rotisserie chicken anyway, plus it comes with a very reasonable price tag. If you must have your chicken in the form of a snack, you could also pick up a box of Chicken in a Biskit. Whatever you elect to do about your chicken craving, do yourself a favor and just say no to Pringles Rotisserie Chicken.
Pringles Memphis BBQ
If an expert snack connoisseur tells you to pick the barbecue flavor of Pringles, be careful what you reach for in the snack aisle of your local grocery store. Pringles Memphis BBQ may look like and sound like what that enlightened expert was talking about — but it's not.
For one, Pringles Memphis BBQ is much too sweet. It also features an off-putting smokiness about it that very well may cause you to gag. It actually tastes like cheap store-bought barbecue sauce that attempts to mask its grossness by adding a whole lot of sugar to the mix. To make matters worse, an artificially smoky aftertaste will leave you cringing with regret. Add both attributes together and it'd be outright torture to eat an entire tube of these chips in one sitting.
Lest you think Pringles got barbecue flavor right elsewhere, Pringles Scorchin BBQ should similarly be avoided. Instead of an annoying smokey flavor, it has its own annoying spiciness that pairs very poorly with the barbecue flavor.
Pringles Cheddar Cheese
If you're a big fan of cheesy chips like Cheetos or Doritos, you might be tempted to grab a tube of Pringles Cheddar Cheese chips. In theory, cheddar cheese should be the perfect addition to any snack made from potatoes. If it works for casseroles, why not here? Sadly, that's just not the reality of the situation for these chips.
The primary issue with Pringles Cheddar Cheese is simply the flavor's embarrassing lack of cheesiness. Each chip has a little bit of cheese dust on it, sure, but not enough to change the flavor of the chip. Instead of scratching your itch for cheddar cheese, all this can of Pringles will do is tease you. Even if you lick all the chips like an overexcited puppy, you still won't be able to accumulate a notable amount of cheesy goodness in your mouth.
Pringles Wavy Applewood Smoked Cheddar is held back by the same issue. These wavy chips have some cheddar cheese flavoring but not nearly enough. Pringles Scorchin Cheddar attempts to make you forget about the lack of cheese by adding spiciness to the recipe, but that won't work, either.
Pringles Salt & Vinegar
Compared to a regular can of Pringles, Pringles Salt & Vinegar has 20 percent more sodium per serving. These chips also have enough vinegar to make you pucker almost instantaneously. After eating one chip, you may be pleased with the sour and salty combination. If nothing else, it's a workout for your taste buds.
Unfortunately, things head south after your first chip. Firstly, the saltiness and the sourness becomes overwhelming after only a handful of chips. What was pleasant at first quickly becomes a burden that must be addressed quickly. You'll soon be reaching for a big glass of water, an icy soda, or another refreshing beverage in order to give your struggling taste buds a break.
Second of all, the texture of Pringles Salt & Vinegar is simply unappetizing, as these chips leave a chalky residue in your mouth. Unless eating a box of sour and salty chalk sounds like a good time to you, pick another flavor of Pringles.
Pringles Buffalo Ranch
Pringles Buffalo Ranch isn't a bad pick, to be sure, but it likely won't quite be what you're expecting. While the word ranch is in the name, the actual ranch flavor is extremely mild. If you close your eyes and hold your breath, you can taste it a little bit. However, if you're not actively searching for the taste of ranch dressing, you'd never know these chips were supposed to have it.
The buffalo flavor is a lot stronger, however. It's tangy and, honestly, quite impressive. If you like buffalo wings, you won't be disappointed. That said, be warned that these chips have a surprisingly strong aftertaste like cayenne pepper, so if you don't like spicy foods, you might disapprove of it. These chips aren't so hot that you'll have smoke coming out of your ears, but you'll want to take your time and have a drink next to you while you're snacking on these bad boys.
Pringles Parmesan & Roasted Garlic
Another flavor of Pringles that will remind you of chicken wings is Pringles Parmesan & Roasted Garlic. However, don't expect the chip version of the glorious garlic Parmesan wings you can get at a top of the line wing restaurant. In comparison, these chips have a lot less parmesan flavor and a lot more garlic.
Whether or not you'll enjoy these wings will come down to how much you like garlic. If you're someone who always wants garlic on your food, these chips are for you. If, on the other hand, you only use garlic on special occasions but generally think it's too overpowering, you probably want to move on to another flavor. If you do decide to purchase a canister of Pringles Parmesan & Roasted Garlic, beware that your breath will be extremely garlicky after you finish eating them. Before you re-enter the civilized world, be sure that you brush your teeth or are equipped with a handful of breath mints. Otherwise, don't be surprised if people avoid talking with you.
Pringles Honey Mustard
Pringles Honey Mustard might not sound like a winner but it's actually better than what you're likely expecting. These are the first chips on this list that you might actually recommend to a friend. Interestingly, the honey mustard hits your taste buds as two completely different flavors. When you first bite one of these chips, you'll be met with a mustard flavor that is extra tart. Before the tartness becomes too much, a pleasantly sweet aftertaste arrives from the heavens. While the tart mustard alone isn't an impressive flavor by itself, the honey-powered aftertaste makes it an enjoyable roller coaster ride.
If you plan to do a lot of snacking, you can't go wrong with Pringles Honey Mustard. While you won't be blown away with what you're eating, you also won't get bored of going back and forth from tart to sweet. By the end of your first can, you will be left to ponder whether or not you should go grab tube number two.
Pringles Cheddar & Sour Cream
While the aforementioned Pringles Cheddar Cheese, Pringles Wavy Applewood Smoked Cheddar, and Pringles Scorchin Cheddar may lead you to believe that cheese-flavored Pringles aren't worth your time or your money, there's one exception that you really need to try. Pringles Cheddar & Sour Cream chips aren't the best of the best of the bunch, admittedly, but they're much, much better than any other Pringles flavors that pretend to incorporate cheese into the can.
Good as the cheese is, the sour cream is the flavor that really steals the show. It's so good that you'll be licking your fingers after each and every chip. While the cheese flavor is light, it blends perfectly with the sour cream. The combo will leave you impressed.
Why aren't Pringles Cheddar & Sour Cream higher on this list? As good as these chips taste, they aren't nearly as good as Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream. If you want chips that are flavored with cheddar and sour cream, this Pringles flavor is really good but you'd be even better off going with the Ruffles version.
Pringles Screamin' Dill Pickle
If you crave big, bold, beautiful flavor, reach for a tube of Pringles Screamin' Dill Pickle. These chips are so flavorful that it will take you by surprise even if you're fully prepared for a pickle-powered onslaught. Then again, if you don't like the taste of dill pickles, stay away from this snack. These chips taste like they've been left to marinate in dill pickle juice for about a month. But, instead of being a soggy mess, these chips are actually extra crunchy. Take a bite and a nuclear bomb of dill pickle flavor will detonate in your mouth.
If you love dill pickles and the thought of drinking dill pickle juice makes your mouth water, you'll love Pringles Screamin' Dill Pickle. It's that simple. These chips taste exactly like dill pickles. But, again, there's nothing subtle about these Pringles so make sure it's dill pickles and not sweet pickles or bread and butter pickles that you adore.
Pringles Jalapeno
Spicy Pringles don't get as much attention as they deserve. The next time you're tempted to buy a spicy snack, take a break from popular options such as Flamin' Hot Cheetos and purchase a can of Pringles instead. Pringles Jalapeno is a smart choice and it's where you should begin if you're new to spicy Pringles.
If it's heat you're looking for, you won't be let down by the spice level of these chips. On a spiciness scale of one to ten, these bad boys are about an eight compared to other spicy snacks you can find at your local supermarket. If you can't get enough spicy foods and want to turn the heat up a notch, Pringles Scorchin Chili & Lime are even hotter than Pringles Jalapeno. These chips feature chili pepper powder to produce the heat and a strong lime-flavored aftertaste.
Conversely, if you find that Pringles Jalapeno chips are too hot for you to handle, next time opt for Pringles Wavy Fire Roasted Jalapeno. These chips aren't incredibly spicy, but there's still enough heat to keep you on your toes. Just not so much that your tongue will burn.
Pringles Sour Cream & Onion
If you feel like taking a bit of a gamble, pick Pringles Sour Cream & Onion. If you get lucky, these chips are amazing. Just like the previously mentioned Pringles Cheddar & Sour Cream, these chips feature a sour cream flavor that is breathtakingly delicious. You couldn't get a better sour cream flavor if you dipped these chips in actual sour cream. The onion powder also doesn't pull any punches. While the onion flavor is strong, it pairs perfectly with the sour cream.
Unfortunately, there's a real chance that you will get unlucky and receive a can of Pringles Sour Cream & Onion that doesn't have a sufficient amount of flavor. For reasons that are unknown, the amount of sour cream and onion flavoring tends to differ from tube to tube. If you buy these chips and the most notable flavor is potato, you'll know that you gambled and lost.
At their best, Pringles Sour Cream & Onion are one of the top sour cream and onion chips on the market. Tragically, you can't always count on their quality.
Pringles Ranch
While Pringles Buffalo Ranch chips have an underwhelming amount of ranch flavor, that's not a problem with Pringles Ranch. These chips allow ranch to take the center stage and it's a smashing success. The ranch flavor is deep and rich, and unlike Pringles Sour Cream & Onion, you can count on the flavor to be present in every can you purchase.
Like all good-tasting ranch, Pringles Ranch chips get their flavor from the buttermilk, onion powder, and garlic powder. Of the three, the buttermilk and the onion powder really stand out. The garlic powder is more difficult to pick up with your taste buds, so if it's garlicky goodness that you're after, stick with Pringles Parmesan & Roasted Garlic.
If you're one of those people who like to put ranch on everything you eat, including pizza, don't be ashamed to dip Pringles Ranch in ranch. It might be embarrassing if anyone catches you doing it but there's truly no such thing as too much ranch.
Pringles Pizza
It sounds like a snack that is too good to be true but Pringles Pizza successfully lives up to its name. Pizza out of a tube is like something you'd see in a bad science fiction movie but these chips are available in real life — and they taste even better than you will expect.
The only real issue with Pringles Pizza is that you have to keep your expectations in check. No, these chips don't taste like a supreme pizza you'd get at Pizza Hut or Domino's. Neither is it comparable to something deliciously gooey like stuffed crust pizza. Pringles Pizza is basically like the canned version of thin and crispy pizza with no toppings added — not even pepperoni.
The good news is that not even genuine pizza can compare to the thinness or crispiness you experience when you bite into one of these chips. There's also a fabulous tomato sauce flavor that will continuously tantalize you as you consume this unforgettable snack.
Pringles The Original
After sampling all of the plentiful options in the Pringles universe, eventually you will yearn for a reminder of where your love affair with these chips began. Pringles The Original chips are a snack that you can depend on. They're always crispy, always salty, and always brimming with potato flavor that is magnificently fresh. Use these chips for classy dipping purposes or ravenously chow down on an entire can to satiate your snack hunger, the choice is up to you.
Pringles gives you three options if you feel like slightly changing things up. If you like Pringles The Original but prefer for your chips to have waves, pick Pringles Wavy Classic Salted. The taste is the same but the texture is new and exciting. If, instead, you're tired of the saltiness, the less salty version is called Pringles Lightly Salted Original. There's a little something for everyone.
Pringles BBQ
While you have a ton of flavor options these days, Pringles BBQ chips are the cream of the Pringles crop. No other flavor of Pringles can even compete. After the first bite of your first chip, you'll be 100 percent convinced that these are the best.
As mentioned above, be careful when selecting these barbecue chips. While Pringles Memphis BBQ chips are too sweet and present a nearly unbearable smokiness, Pringles BBQ are just perfect. These chips have the ideal amount of sweetness and feature a complex flavor profile, just like the best barbecue sauces. No single flavor dominates, which will make you want to eat these bad boys until you force yourself to stop. If you want to take a break and switch over to the wavy version for some texture diversity, what you want to look for is called Pringles Wavy Sweet & Spicy BBQ. These wavy chips have a little bit more heat but otherwise taste the same.
Imagine everything you love about a neighborhood barbecue get-together distilled into chip form. That's what you get if you pick Pringles BBQ.