17 Best Hot Pocket Flavors Ranked in 2025

You may not have found yourself thinking about Hot Pocket flavors any time recently, but perhaps that ought to change. Wasn’t there a time when the question of the best Hot Pocket flavor was a serious matter? After all, revisiting a childhood classic is always a good idea.

So maybe you associate Hot Pockets with your school days, not something you’d ever want to eat now. But we dare you to browse the list of all the Hot Pocket flavors on the market and not find one you’d like to try.

And if you do decide to dip your toes back into the ever-changing world of microwave pastries, which are the best Hot Pocket flavors? Follow along with this Hot Pocket flavors list to find out.

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• How Many Flavors of Hot Pockets Flavors Are There?
• The 17 Most Popular Hot Pockets Flavors Ranked

How Many Flavors of Hot Pockets Flavors Are There? 

If you look at a list of all the Hot Pocket flavors, the number might look overwhelming: the website for Hot Pockets lists four(!) pages of products.

But quite a few of those are not distinct flavors, because Hot Pockets are sold in various quantities, a lot of them are duplicates of other flavors in different amounts. For example, you can buy the fan-favorite Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pocket flavor in packs of two, five, eight or 20.

So, in terms of distinct varieties of Hot Pocket, you’re looking at a current list of around 24 Hot Pocket flavors. This includes standard, breakfast and specialty flavors as well as the Deliwich product line. So even though the Hot Pocket flavors list isn’t as long as it looks, that’s quite a few flavors to choose from. Plus, new ones are always being released.

What Was the First Hot Pocket Flavor?

The original Hot Pocket was sold as the “Tastywich” in the 1980s, conceptualized as a microwaveable calzone that was originally sold to restaurants. It was then renamed “Hot Pocket” and rebranded for retail sale. But what was the original Hot Pocket flavor?

Well, the jury is out on that one. Not many people remember what Hot Pocket flavor was sold over 40 years ago, and there aren’t many reliable records of when the longtime flavors hit the market.

What we do know is that older fans of the product distinctly remember eating two Hot Pocket flavors: Ham and Cheese and Pepperoni Pizza. So, although we don’t know which Hot Pocket flavor actually came first, we can be pretty sure it was one of those two. 

What Are the Most Popular Discontinued Hot Pocket Flavors?

The lineup of Hot Pocket flavors is always in flux as new flavors are released and old ones are discontinued. While this means there are frequently new flavors to try, it also means fans can be left with their favorite Hot Pocket flavor no longer available for purchase.

A few of those flavors are fondly remembered: Philly Steak and Cheese and Spicy Beef Nacho are discontinued Hot Pocket flavors that fans especially miss. However, variations can still be purchased, and even feature on our list of Hot Pockets flavors ranked.

Many Hot Pockets fans will also add BBQ Beef to this list. While the brand recently brought the flavor back, many note that it isn't the same as the original.

The 17 Most Popular Hot Pockets Flavors Ranked

17. Big & Bold Steak Nacho 

There’s nothing fancy about this Hot Pocket flavor: it’s just nacho cheese, steak and peppers. The quality of all of those ingredients is frankly questionable, and you wouldn’t be unreasonable to wonder if it could possibly taste all that great.

Improbably, it doesn’t taste too bad. Just like the real thing, this nacho-inspired Hot Pocket flavor pulls it all together with the help of velvety fake cheese. 

It brings the spice, the meat and, of course, the cheese. In short, everything you’d want from a tray of concession stand nachos. This Hot Pocket flavor might be an unexpected hit, but it pulls through. Is it the best Hot Pocket flavor? No. But if your go-to bar menu snack is nachos, it’s worth a try. 

16. Philly Steak and Cheese 

This Hot Pocket tries to break down a Philly cheesesteak sandwich into its core ingredients: beef, cheese, peppers and soft, flaky bread. Then it wraps it all up together and hopes to recreate the essence of what makes the real thing so good.

And, it mostly succeeds. Will it pack quite the same flavorful punch as the real thing? Probably not. But as far as Hot Pocket flavors go, it’s a pretty solid choice. 

15. Bacon, Egg and Cheese  

When looking for quick and tasty breakfast food ideas, Hot Pockets probably don’t come to mind. But maybe, they should. While the idea of breakfast classics microwaved inside pastry won’t appeal to many, there’s a whole host of consumers who love these early morning bites.

One of the popular picks among these breakfast Hot Pocket flavors is Bacon, Egg and Cheese. This Hot Pocket packs fluffy eggs and savory bacon into a flaky croissant crust.

If you don’t like fast food breakfast pastries, this likely will be one of your bottom picks on lists of Hot Pockets flavors ranked. However, if they’re your go-to, eating this Hot Pocket could be your new favorite way to start your day. 

14. Big & Bold Double Pepperoni  

This Hot Pocket flavor is pretty much exactly what it claims to be: the typical Pepperoni Pizza flavor, but even more stuffed. It’s bigger and more filling, so it might make a better dinner food idea than some of its less-stuffed fellow flavors. 

But it’s also pretty much a retread of Pepperoni Pizza with nothing unique to offer. Moreover, for many, the standard Pepperoni Pizza has a certain textural advantage over its supersized counterpart.

Still, a slightly oversized version of the best Hot Pocket flavor out there is still going to be a better pick than almost any other option. And sometimes you’re just extra-hungry. 

13. Four Meat - Four Cheese

Why not supersize everything? That’s the idea behind this Hot Pocket flavor. In addition to four cheeses, we’ve got bacon, sausage, Canadian bacon and hamburger, and it’s…a lot.

If you’re the type who thinks that simple is best, this is likely not going to be one of your favorite Hot Pocket flavors. But it’s certainly substantial, and the cheese pulls the different meat fillings together surprisingly well. Less might be more, but more is sometimes still pretty great. 

12. Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza  

By now, we’re all very familiar with the Pepperoni Pizza family of Hot Pocket flavors. Now, why not add another meat? That’s pretty much all this Hot Pocket flavor is.

And if you like a Meat Lover’s Pizza from time to time, you’ll get the flavor you crave in this Hot Pocket. This one is a smash hit with Hot Pocket fans who like their flavors extra meaty, but may not land with you if you don’t fall into that category. 

11. Ranch Lover’s Pepperoni  

If you’re a pizza-with-ranch believer, Hot Pockets sees you. They see you and they have a flavor for you: Ranch Lover’s Pepperoni introduces creamy ranch dressing to the classic Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pocket flavor.

It’s pretty much the Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pocket you know and love, but with a tangy, creamy addition. And while there’s no improving on perfection, this variation really works. If you want to play it safe while still trying something a little bit new and exciting, this might just be the best Hot Pocket flavor for you. 

The only drawback, and the reason this Hot Pocket flavor ranks mid-list, is that this collaboration with Hidden Valley can be challenging to find in stores. By many accounts, it’s actually discontinued, having been a limited edition partnership. Yet, you can still find it in certain grocery stores, specialty shops and online. 

10. Steak and Cheddar  

The most noticeable difference between this Hot Pocket and its cheesesteak-inspired cousin is the color. The Philly Steak and Cheese Hot Pocket is pretty pale thanks to the white cheese sauce, which can make it look a little anemic.

Not so here: this one is gloriously, artificially orange. It’s also a substantial little package of meat and cheese in a crispy dough package. Sure, it’s not the highest-quality steak you’ll ever have, but for what it is, this Hot Pocket flavor is delightful. 

9. Big & Bold Buffalo-Style Chicken 

If you’re in the mood for an order of Buffalo wings but not the cost or effort of making or buying them, do we have a Hot Pocket flavor for you! Buffalo-Style Chicken is a favorite for its abundant white-meat chicken filling and for getting the Buffalo sauce flavor just right. This is also another Big & Bold flavor, so it’ll be more substantial than your average Hot Pocket. 

8. Big & Bold Chicken Bacon Ranch  

You may associate Hot Pockets with the pizza-like flavors of a calzone, but that’s not quite the case with one of the best Hot Pocket flavors. Chicken Bacon Ranch is a creamy, rich, filling flavor that doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserves, and that’s a shame — it has so much to offer.

The combination of flavors hits the spot every time. This one gets our pick for the sleeper hit of Hot Pocket flavors. 

7. Sausage, Egg and Cheese

This breakfast-oriented Hot Pocket flavor has a flaky “croissant crust” exterior, adding some much-needed interest to its texture. That flaky crust is filled with fluffy egg and flavorful bits of sausage and cheese.

Many rank this higher than the bacon variety covered earlier, likely because the flavor and texture of sausage can better withstand being microwaved inside pastry than bacon. For a quick breakfast or a filling, high-protein snack, it’s a solid choice. It may not seem like a standout, but it’s a delicious alternative to a breakfast burrito.

6. Hickory Ham and Cheddar  

Few things are more reminiscent of childhood school lunches than a ham and cheese sandwich. That’s what this Hot Pocket flavor wants to recreate, and it pretty much does.

There’s nothing more to it than gooey cheese and a few slices of ham, which is really all you need. While it’s one of the simpler Hot Pocket flavors, that’s ultimately what makes it so good. It has staying power, after all — even if it’s not the original Hot Pocket flavor, it’s one of the few that’s been in the game since the start. 

5. Big & Bold Bacon, Egg and Cheese With Hot Honey

The use of hot honey has become somewhat of a top food trend over the last few years and this Hot Pocket jumps right on that trend. If you like the Bacon, Egg and Cheese Hot Pocket, the added hit of spicy and sweet honey is sure to appeal and may even become your favorite breakfast Hot Pocket flavor.

Plus, this option is part of the Big & Bold line, so not only are you getting an additional flavor element, but you're also getting more filling. 

4. Hot Ones Fiery Hot Pepperoni

Another brand collaboration Hot Pockets flavor, Hot Ones Fiery Hot Pepperoni is a top pick for lovers of all types of hot sauce. Featuring pepperoni, mozzarella and The Last Dab Apollo Hot Sauce from the Hot Ones challenge series, it's meaty, cheesy and, as the name suggests, fiery.

For a unique lunch food idea, this is a top pick. Just be warned, if you don’t like spicy food, this likely won’t fall in your top 10 Hot Pockets flavors. 

3. Pepperoni Pizza 

You can’t say much about Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pockets that hasn’t been said already. It may have been the original Hot Pocket flavor, and it’s clearly not going anywhere. It’s crispy, cheesy, meaty and exactly what you would want a Hot Pocket to be. 

This is one case where it’s wise not to knock something just because it’s popular: it may not be an original answer if you’re asked about the best Hot Pocket flavors, but a Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pocket will never let you down. 

2. Four Cheese Pizza  

This is a pretty simple Hot Pocket flavor: just tomato sauce and four varieties of glorious cheese. It’s a favorite of kids and cheese-loving adults alike, right up there with the best frozen pizza for flavor.

The only problem? You need to exercise extreme caution when eating this Hot Pocket flavor. Its liquidy fillings have a tendency to turn scaldingly hot in the microwave. You may want to cut this Hot Pocket in half to let some of the heat escape. 

1. Italian-Style Meatballs and Mozzarella

For an even more authentic pizza experience, we offer you this Italian-inspired Hot Pocket flavor that uses mozzarella in place of the traditional cheddar-ish gloop (no hate to the gloop — it’s doing what it needs to do!)

If you’re looking for that Meat Lover’s Pizza feel without the overstuffed vibe of the Pepperoni and Sausage flavor, this is a nice alternative with a little bit less going on in the meat department. When your favorite pizza chain is closed, or you just don’t have time to sit down for a slice, you’ll likely enjoy this Hot Pocket flavor. 

Way back in ye olden days of the 1980s, a simple idea would revolutionize snacking: what if you could wrap up a sandwich and take it to go? What if that sandwich stayed as crispy and juicy as the moment it was made until it was time to eat? 

It was an idea that changed the lunch-scape forever, as evidenced by the dozens of Hot Pocket flavors we now have the choice to purchase. But not every Hot Pocket flavor has stood the test of time — these are some of the lucky few that made it. All 17 deserve a taste, so if you’ve been in the market for a new lunchtime favorite, these Hot Pocket flavors are a great place to start. 

For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.