Last updated 3 days ago | Originally Published: July 13, 2025
Thanks to my dad, I’ve been a fan of Uncle Ray’s Potato Chips since I was a teenager in the late 1990s! As a Michigan-born native, my old man always had a thing for buying local, so if it was Made in Michigan, he would find it, or it would find him! Nearly three decades later, I follow that same tradition, which I have since passed down to my three sons, who love Uncle Ray’s Chips just as much as Pops and I still enjoy today.
However, times have changed, back in the day, you ate whatever was sold nearest to you; nowadays, we shop online, so ‘buying local’ when referring to packaged snacks isn’t as it once was, although I still buy local, just now I buy locally known brands from around the country. For example, if you head down to Cincinnati, you’ll find that they love Grippos; In Pennsylvania, they go hard for UTZ or Martin’s Potato Chips. I love all those brands; they all have a long history in the American snack aisle, but if you’re not from those regions, there’s a good chance you’ve never tried or heard of them before today!
The same is true with Uncle Ray’s. Back in the 90s and early 2000s, they were only available in the Midwest region, starting with Detroit, Michigan. Fast forward to today, this brand now produces over 4,200 lbs. of potato chips per hour, including other similar snacks such as onion rings, puffcorn, popcorn, cheese puffs, tortilla chips, pork rinds, pretzels, trail corn, and 18 potato chip flavors, of which I’ve tried them all, but here are my top 10 favorites of all time!
Only You Can Choose the Best Uncle Ray’s Chips
First and foremost, only you can choose the best Uncle Ray’s Potato Chips! As for myself, I’m a more traditional flavor kind of guy, although I love most chip flavors and am always excited to try something new, it’s almost impossible to replace a flavor that I’ve known and enjoyed for many years. However, it’s all about what you like! My favorites listed below are based on my opinions only. My purpose for sharing them is solely to encourage discovery and invite you to try something new!
1. Uncle Ray’s Original (Plain)
Simple, clean, and still one of the best. These chips don’t need anything extra. They’re lightly salted and have a good old-fashioned flavor and texture that has never once disappointed me throughout all these years. Great with most sandwiches, soups, or eating straight from the bag, Uncle Ray’s Original Chips are still my favorite flavor, as if they were made just for me!
2. Uncle Ray’s BBQ Flavored
Once you familiarize yourself with Uncle Ray’s chip flavors, you’ll immediately recognize the brand’s love for BBQ-flavored chips, as they have a whole line of them, but these were the first, and the ones I like the best. They have a perfect balance of sweet & smoky flavors that don’t veer too far in either direction. So, if you’re into classic BBQ chips, these will never let you down!
3. Uncle Ray’s Salt and Vinegar
This is one of the best salt and vinegar chips I’ve ever had, which I ranked on our sister site, Grub Rank; I recommend checking it out if you have a lovejones for this one-of-a-kind potato chip flavor. The vinegar hits hard and is upfront and personal, almost confrontational, but the salt balances everything out, which is something that not all chip brands can master.
4. Uncle Ray’s Mossy Oak Bottomland BBQ Sweet and Spicy
This one has more character than your average BBQ chip, although the original ones are still my favorite. These aren’t far behind, but also in a league of their own! The signature, sweet, and heat flavors are a little richer and bolder than the regular BBQ-flavored chips, making them an excellent choice for pairing with your favorite cold cut sandwich.
5. Uncle Ray’s Hatch Green Chile Queso
Uncle Ray’s Hatch Green Chili Queso Potato Chips are rare, unique-tasting, and, without a doubt, one of my favorites! The familiar cheesy flavor is upfront and authentic, followed by a subtle green chile note that’s warm but not too spicy. It’s a nice switch-up from the usual cheddar-style chips. If you like Southwestern flavors, this one’s worth keeping in the rotation.
6. Uncle Ray’s Hot Flavored
If you like heat, but don’t want your mouth on fire, Uncle Ray’s Hot-Flavored Chips lands right in the middle! They have a warm, peppery flavor that’s definitely hot, but not flamin’ hot, or to the point they’re unbearable. The flavor isn’t just heat, it’s seasoned with a slight smoky edge. This is the spiciest chip flavor on my list, but in my opinion, they’re more enjoyable than they are hot.
7. Uncle Ray’s Mossy Oak Blaze Cheddar Jalapeño
There’s something special about Uncle Ray’s Mossy Oak Blaze Cheddar Jalapeño Chips, and I believe I figured it out. As for taste, the cheddar is extra sharp, the jalapeño flavor is all there, and neither one overpowers the other, as if they just belong together, sort of like cheddar jalapeño cheese dip, but instead, these are seasoned, giving you the best of both worlds.
8. Uncle Ray’s Sour Cream and Cheddar
You can’t go wrong with this one, especially if you love sour cream and cheddar potato chips, as so many do! The sour cream flavor adds a smooth, creamy touch to the sharp cheddar, complementing each other in perfect harmony. I’ve had these chips more times than I can count, and they’ve been consistent. They’re best served with a sandwich, but I’ll let you be the judge.
9. Uncle Ray’s Sour Cream and Onion
This potato chip flavor has been around for a long time, but Uncle Ray’s version has a more authentic taste than what most brands offer. In my opinion, they’re not too onion-heavy, and the sour cream actually tastes like sour cream, not some generic powder. If you know, you know! Like most chip flavors, I like these with a sandwich; it just all depends on my mood that day.
10. Uncle Ray’s Jalapeño Ranch
As always, choosing the last flavor among so many great ones is always the hardest. However, I went with these because they’re rare and have a smooth, creamy ranch flavor that mysteriously complements the Jalapeño seasoning produced by this brand. It’s a unique mix that simply works. In fact, I’d say this is one of the underrated chip flavors ever made!
More Uncle Ray’s Potato Chip Flavors Worth Trying
Once again, the 10 flavors listed above are my personal favorites made by Uncle Ray’s Potato Chips! As mentioned, I’ve tried all of them, including discontinued flavors such as Maple Bacon, Chipotle and Jack Cheese, Jalapeño, and Chipotle and Jack Cheese. These flavors are never marketed for a limited time only, so if there’s one thing I’ve learned about this brand over the years, it’s that flavors come and go. However, new flavors always emerge. Currently, they offer 17 flavors, including the 10 listed above, and eight additional flavors listed below. Which ones will you choose?
- Sweet Heat BBQ
- Sweet Black Pepper Bacon
- 5 Alarm Cheddar & Sour Cream
- Kickin’ Hot Chili & Lime
- All Dressed Obsession
- Mesquite BBQ
- Kosher Dill
- Nacho Cheese Tortillas
Lastly, new flavors always emerge as old ones get retired. Currently, Uncle Ray’s offers 18 flavors, all of which I think are good, although I like some more than others; nonetheless, it’s all about what you like. Kosher Dill is my least likely flavor, which some of you will agree with, but for those who think I could be wrong, I’d say dig in; they might become your new favorite; however, you’ll never know until you give them a shot. The ball is now in your hands.
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