Last updated 15 hours ago ago | Originally Published: December 16, 2025
At 45 years old, I can confidently say that I’ve been munching on BBQ chips for 40 of those years! As hard as it is for me to admit that, truth be told, and in 20 more years, I’ll give you my rankings again after 60 years of experience, I bet Lay’s is still #1. The truth is, I’ve tried a lot of potato chip brands and flavors, especially BBQ in my lifetime, enough to say that I like more than 15 of them, so I definitely left a few brands off my list of favorites, but will give them a shot out before it’s all said and done!
In fact, I’ll go ahead and put it out there right now! I had many great brands to choose from, which made it really challenging to stick to my goal of 15 picks, so I ended up with 16; I just couldn’t leave the last brand off my list. On that note, I cut BBQ Zapp’s, Jacksons, Uglies, Miss Vickie’s, Mark’s, Popchips, Herr’s, Utz, Siete, and even Doritos Sweet & Tangy BBQ Tortilla Chips! I’ve tried all those brands, I like most of them, except Doritos, those are the worst in my opinion, although I love Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch, but that’s another story!
So, now that you know which ones aren’t on my list, it’s time to introduce all my top picks. This is the first time I have considered ranking the best BBQ chips based on my experiences. I didn’t even realize I had tried so many brands until I actually sat down and thought about it, so I could’ve definitely made this list a bit longer, but I think my top 15 shows years of experience!
How I Ranked All the Best BBQ Chips
First and foremost, to know all the best BBQ chips, or to make a list of all the best ones, you must first try enough until you have enough to rank them all. That said, my rankings are based on all the ones I liked the most, so I didn’t rank them from best to worst. My goal in sharing all the best BBQ chips is solely to build brand awareness, hoping you discover and try something new! As for my least favorite, I rarely share, although this time I told you it was Doritos BBQ. As for more, I’ll keep it personal, because those opinions don’t hold weight; my least favorite might be your all-time favorite! Then again, you never know until you try them all, or as many as I have.
1. Lay’s Barbeque Chips
Although millions will agree that Lay’s Barbeque Chips are the best, there will still be a handful who strongly oppose. However, statistically speaking, these are the best-selling BBQ-flavored chips, so that pretty much reinforces my ranking! Aside from familiarity, I find these chips to be sweet and smoky, with a touch of tanginess! They’re the bomb when eaten alone, and even better when joined with any cold cut or hot sandwich/sub of your choice! As for what comes to mind right now… I’m thinking a burger hot off the grill, a side of baked beans, macaroni salad (or potato), some cottage cheese, and three manly-sized handfuls of Lay’s Barbeque Chips!
2. Lay’s Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue Chips
Next up was an easy win for Lay’s Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue Chips! I actually buy these more now than I do the original barbecue chips, but I still had to give credit where credit is due. Nevertheless, these are just as good, and like the previous flavors, I enjoy them with everything, especially a cold cut sandwich, whether it be turkey, ham & cheese, roast beef, or an Italian sub! I first discovered these soon after they became available in stores near me, which would’ve been early 2013, and I haven’t looked back since! These chips are now a part of American culture; I don’t think they’ll ever be discontinued. If they did, I would certainly protest.
3. Lay’s Wavy Hickory BBQ Potato Chips
As the #1 best chip brand in America and the world, it should come as no surprise that Lay’s Wavy Hickory BBQ Potato Chips are ranked #3 on my list. This is also the first thick-cut, wavy BBQ chips to secure a top spot. I enjoy these on the side with heavier meals, like burgers, hot dogs, or a large tuna sub! I’m also guilty of putting these on a sandwich, smashed up like a topping! If you know, you know. Regarding taste and texture, these extra-crispy BBQ chips are sweet & smoky like Original Barbeque, but with a balanced hickory flavor that makes them unlike all other Lay’s BBQ chips! If you were ranking them, where would the land on your list?
4. Lay’s Honey Barbecue Chips
I’m not exactly sure when Lay’s Honey Barbecue Chips came out, but it was definitely about a year after Sweet Southern Heat, so if I had to choose a year, I would say 2014, unless I was just late to the party! Either way, I love these BBQ chips with everything I mentioned above, including straight from the bag! Sometimes, I just fill up a large chip bowl, pour most of the bag in, and make that the movie snack of the night. As for pairing, I would say these taste best with grilled brats or a spicy chicken sandwich, now that I think about it. Regarding taste and texture, these thin-cut BBQ chips are crispy and crunchy, with a sweet, mild flavor.
5. Lay’s Kettle Cooked Mesquite BBQ Chips
At this point, I think it’s clear that Lay’s makes the best BBQ chips, and that’s just the way it is, which most people would agree with me! If they don’t, that’s ok, I still love this brand, its chips, and almost all flavors, especially BBQ, so no love lost. As for my experience, I first got my hands on a bag of these around 2012, around the same time Lay’s exploded the market with new BBQ chip flavors and textures, including Kettle Cooked. These are less greasy and the crunchiest clips on this list. In terms of taste, I think they’re sweet and smoky, with just the right amount of Mesquite BBQ seasoning. Served best with a cold cut meat sandwich of your choice!
6. Kettle Brand Backyard Barbeque Chips
Without much thought at all, Kettle Brand Backyard Barbeque Chips take the #6 spot with ease, making them the first non-Lay’s brand on my list. The sweet & smoky, extra-crunchy, tangy BBQ potato chips came out about four years before Lay’s released their kettle chips, making Kettle Brand the one that paved the way! Frankly, these could be my 5th favorite just as easily as Lay’s. I’ve certainly liked them longer, that’s for sure! I first discovered these at a local 7-Eleven near my home around 2008; after that, they became one of my all-time favorite chip brands. All I can say is, I’ve had my share of Da Bomb Burritos and Kettle Brand Backyard Barbeque Chips!
7. Boulder Canyon Hickory BBQ Potato Chips
This ranking may come as a surprise to some, as Boulder Canyon makes my 7th-favorite BBQ chips, which are actually made by Utz, a brand that makes several tasty BBQ chips but isn’t on my list of favorites! It just goes to show that you can’t have a list of the best BBQ chips without Utz! As for the brands, Boulder Canyon Hickory BBQ Potato Chips come in classic cut, thin & crispy, and kettle-cooked. I’ve tried all three, but kettle-cooked is my favorite, and the original Boulder Canyon BBQ chips, which came out around 2012. As for taste, these chips have a sweet & smoky hickory BBQ flavor, with a hint of garlic and onion that makes them different.
8. Ruffles Smokehouse BBQ Chip
Once again, Frito-Lay sneaks back on the list with Ruffles Smokehouse BBQ Chips! This flavor also came out around 2012, and if my memory serves me right, they were called Smokehouse Style BBQ, but as far as I can recall, they taste the same. I’m not sure when they dropped the word ‘style’ from the title, but I suppose that doesn’t matter much since they’re just as good as they’ve always been. Speaking of, these potato chips have a deep smoky BBQ flavor, with sweet and tangy notes. The only difference between these and Lay’s BBQ chips is that they’re much smokier and, of course, feature the Ruffles signature thick-cut texture.
9. Martin’s Bar-B-Q Waffle Potato Chips
Martin’s is a York County, Thomasville, Pennsylvania-based potato chip brand known by everyone in the region, and nowadays, far beyond. As for Martin’s Bar-B-Q Waffle Potato Chips, they’ve been one of the brand’s best-selling flavors for over 50 years, and I’m a contributor to those stats. I first discovered this brand here at Candy Retailer a few years back, and after a little research, I just knew they had to be something special, and they most certainly are! As for taste and texture, these BBQ chips are sweet and zesty, with a mild heat, and feature a thick, crunchy waffle cut that makes them the best for dipping. I highly recommend them to anyone!
10. Uncle Ray’s BBQ Chips
Growing up in Michigan during the 1980s and ‘90s, I’m no stranger to Uncle Ray’s BBQ Chips, which have always been a favorite of mine since my younger days! Although still made in Detroit, MI, the brand has since expanded its operations to Montgomery City, Missouri, about 1 hour west of St. Louis. Nowadays, Uncle Ray’s is one of the most popular chip brands in the Midwest, including here at Candy Retailer, so now everyone can enjoy them! As for taste and texture, they’re sweet, mildly warm, thin, and crunchy, similar to Lay’s Barbeque, only sweeter and heavily seasoned. Have you tried Uncle Ray’s? If so, where did you first discover them?
11. Uncle Ray’s Mesquite BBQ Chips
Initially, I was just going to mention these under the previous ranking, but after thinking about it, I decided to separate them because they’re equally tasty but very different in taste! I’m not exactly sure when I tried these for the first time, but I believe it was somewhere between 2012 and 2015. Either way, I’ve purchased them many times in the last decade, and they’re just as good today as they were when I first tried them. That said, these chips have a deep smoky mesquite BBQ flavor, and aren’t nearly as sweet as the original Uncle Ray’s BBQ Chips, but certainly much crunchier. With this in mind, I think it’s time to order a few more bags!
12. Grippo’s Bar-B-Q Chips
Grippo’s is an iconic Cincinnati-based brand with deep roots in the city dating back over 100 years! This chip brand offers several flavors, but Grippo’s Bar-B-Q Chips are the ones everyone knows and loves most. Speaking of brand popularity, Grippos is currently the official chip brand of the Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Bengals, and FC Cincinnati. As for my take on taste and texture, these chips are thick-cut and deeply seasoned with a sweet, smoky flavor that’s finger-licking good. Since Grippo’s is a locally owned brand, we proudly carry all flavors, especially Bar-B-Q, here at Candy Retailer, where all hometeam snack brands live!
13. Jay’s Ridges Smoky BBQ Potato Chips
I’m not sure exactly when Jay’s Ridges Smoky BBQ Potato Chips came out, but I first discovered them at Walmart around 2020, so for at least 5 years. However, I remember the original Jay’s BBQ chips from when I was a young buck. However, this version has an extra smoky taste and ridges, making them perfect for dipping! As for me, I like them best with French Onion Dip, but to each their own; if you know, you know. Regarding texture, they’re crispy, especially around the edges, and, of course, firm enough to scoop without breaking! I personally like them better than the original Jay’s BBQ chips, but that’s just my take; what’s yours?
14. Cape Cod Sweet Mesquite Barbeque Kettle Chips
As I recall, Mesquite Barbeque came out around 2008, around the same time we saw all brands jump on the kettle-cooked potato chip wagon! However, Cape Cod had been making them since the 1980s, and they were really popular on the East Coast. Once they hit 7-Eleven nationwide, they became a national favorite! As for taste, most would agree that they’re smoky and slightly sweet, with a noticeable mesquite flavor. When it comes to texture, these barbecue chips have a firm, kettle-cooked crunch that’s familiar and loud. In my opinion, they pair exceptionally well with any tuna sub, giving your sandwich a much-appreciated side of crunch it was missing!
15. Fritos Bar-B-Q Corn Chips
First and foremost, never trust a list of the best BBQ chips that doesn’t include Fritos Bar-B-Q Corn Chips! I’ve loved these for pretty much all of my life, especially with Fritos Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese Dip! I also like them with other Fritos Dips, including Mild Cheddar and Bean Dip! However, these are best when paired with a chili-cheese dog! You may also enjoy them straight from the bag, I know I do, although you’ll want to have something to wash them down with right away; for me, nothing tastes better than a cold Dr. Pepper! As for taste and texture, I think everyone knows, but for those who don’t, they’re well seasoned, smoky, and crunchy!
16. Pringles BBQ Crisps
As for my 16th pick, I just didn’t feel right ending it the same way it opened, with another Frito-Lay brand claiming all the top spots! At the same time, I just couldn’t make a list of all the BBQ chips without including Pringles! Although these aren’t my favorite BBQ chips or Pringles flavor, I’ve purchased them many times because I still like them, and I think they taste great with most cold-cut sandwiches, especially turkey & cheese! Not to mention, they’re a backyard BBQ favorite, and millions would agree! My last experience with these was over the summer; my wife and I made a few sandwiches, scooped up a can, and had lunch on the beach! It was perfect.
Where to Buy the Best BBQ Chips Online
The best BBQ chips featured on my list are pretty easy to find online, as most supermarkets and major marketplaces carry them, including here at Candy Retailer! However, what makes everyone’s offer different is the package and the price, which is where we shine! We don’t carry all the brands and products listed above, but with over 12,000 candy and snack brands available, we certainly have many!
Plus, we’re always adding new products, including potato chips, to our inventory every day, so always be sure to check with us first, especially if you’re into regional chip brands from the Midwest, that’s a specialty of ours! If you choose to shop with us, and it’s your first time, use promo code CANDY10 at checkout, and enjoy 10% OFF your entire order! We accept all standard payment methods, and customers in the Cincinnati area can also pay with cash by visiting our store in person.
Our in-store pricing always matches our online pricing. In fact, many of our regular in-person shoppers are local retailers restocking their own shelves, which confirms our below retail prices! For items I mentioned in my rankings that we don’t carry yet, I’ve personally selected the products on Amazon to make it easier to find everything I listed. Just in case you discover a BBQ chip brand you want to try, we have you covered.
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