21 Best Lays Flavors Ranked in 2025

It’s easy to forget how many Lays flavors are out there. When was the last time you stumbled across a bag of Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue or Dill Pickle Lays? For a lot of us, specialty Lays potato chip flavors begin and end with Sour Cream and Onion.

But once you realize how many Lays chip flavors are out there, it’s hard not to be curious. Just how good could all those novelty Lays flavors possibly be?

From the stellar heights of the best Lays flavors to the disappointing bottom of the list, there’s about as much variation as you would expect. There’s a Lays chip flavor for every taste, but a bunch that aren’t to hardly anybody’s taste, too. So, where does your favorite Lays flavor fall? Read on to find out.

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• The 21 Most Popular Lays Potato Chip Flavors Ranked
• How Many Lays Flavors Are There?

The 21 Most Popular Lays Potato Chip Flavors Ranked 

21. Chili Limón  

We compared Flamin’ Hot Lays to Takis already, but the better comparison would probably be Chili Limón. At least conceptually, that is: the idea of a spicy chili-lime chip is inevitably going to take its inspiration from the beloved rolled tortilla chips. Unfortunately, it’s not a perfect imitation.

We know that acidity works well when it comes to potato chips: salt and vinegar chips are absolutely everywhere. So the lime in this Lays flavor should have made it easy for Chili Limón Lays to make a push for the top. 

But it doesn’t marry as well with the chili spice as you’d hope, even outright clashing at times. If you can’t find Takis, they’ll do, but this isn’t one of the best Lays flavors by any stretch.

20. Flamin’ Hot  

Spice isn’t the first thing most people will associate with Lays. They’re a snack you reach for when you want something salty — if you’re looking for heat, you’ll probably go with a bag of Hot Cheetos. Nevertheless, there aren’t many flavors that Lays won’t attempt, so it’s not that surprising that there’s a spicy Lays flavor or two on the market.

To give Lays credit, the attempt isn’t terrible. These chips do actually bring the heat, and if all you’re looking for is an easy-to-grab gas station snack with a little bit of spice, Flamin’ Hot Lays will do the trick. Still, there’s something a little uncanny about that sticky red seasoning coating the salty, greasy medium of a potato chip. It’s not quite enough to earn this Lays flavor a better ranking. 

19. Kettle Cooked Flamin’ Hot

Basically the same concept as the above, but with a more substantial crunch. Rather than the paper-thin texture of ordinary Lays flavors, the chips in the Kettle-Cooked line are thicker and crunchier, and that’s what gets these chips the nod over the identically-seasoned classic Flamin’ Hot flavor.

If you’re looking for a Lays flavor with some heat, these are probably a little more likely to satisfy: they just feel a little more substantial. A thicker chip allows the potato chip flavor we all know and love to shine through a little bit more in spite of the punchy seasoning. Is it going to taste as good as the bag of Takis this Lays flavor is so clearly imitating? Probably not. But it’s a better spicy Lays choice. 

18. Sweet Southern Heat 

You might be grasping by now that spicy Lays flavors aren’t usually among the company’s best offerings. This one suffers both from the general weirdness of trying to make potato chips spicy and from a market saturation of barbecue-flavored chips. (There are five on this list alone, and we’re not even ranking half of the flavors that Lays currently offers.) While it’s decently tasty, this Lays flavor just doesn’t do enough to stand out. 

There’s good stuff here: the sweet-spicy flavor these chips are going for could be fantastic. But Lays doesn’t really nail either of those flavor profiles. Sweet Southern Heat is not nearly as spicy as Flamin’ Hot, but its sweetness isn’t as pronounced as Honey Barbecue’s, either. What results is a flavor that isn’t bad but doesn’t really do anything new. 

17. Wavy Hickory BBQ 

We weren’t lying about the abundance of barbecue Lays flavors on this list, but this one is a little different. Not because of the flavor, though — although it’s commonly panned for being a little too mild, Wavy Hickory is basically just the classic barbecue Lays flavor. No, these ones are different because of their shape. 

A lot of people don’t love the Wavy Lays chips. We understand, even though we think they’re kind of fun; they don’t hit quite as hard as the Ruffles chips they’re obviously made to compete with. So this isn’t the most popular Lays flavor, despite not really doing anything to offend. That’s ultimately what keeps this inoffensive flavor from pushing further up into the rankings.

16. Sweet and Spicy Honey 

The better version of Sweet Southern Heat. Not only does this Lays flavor have much more pronounced sweetness than its occasional rival, but it’s a little better at balancing its flavors. Where the flavors of Sweet Southern Heat seem to end up running together, this flavor is better able to balance the spice and brown sugar sweetness. 

That said, it’s not a slam-dunk just yet. The spice is a little hotter than you might be expecting, and while the sweetness is definitely there, it doesn’t quite taste like a honey barbecue sauce. So, while it’s a better pick than some of the competing barbecue flavors, it’s ultimately not one of the best Lays flavors. 

15. Honey Barbecue

Similar to Sweet and Spicy Honey, but again, just a little bit better. Rather than heat, you get a satisfying barbecue smokiness in this bag of Lays. It’s a better partner for the brown sugar flavor than spice is, so Honey Barbecue ends up being a bit more balanced than Sweet and Spicy Honey.

However, you might come in expecting a different flavor than you’ll get. You’re probably not going to taste honey, but you will taste onion. Is that a bad addition to this Lays flavor? Actually, not at all. But it’s not what you might be expecting, so keep that in mind. 

14. Cheddar Jalapeño 

If you think about it, there really isn’t much cheese representation among the Lays flavors currently on the market. We’ll see an iconic cheddar flavor further down the list, but that’s about it. So it’s great to see a new cheesy Lays flavor in the mix — and a pretty decent one. So why not a higher ranking, if Cheddar Jalapeño is such a welcome addition to the Lays flavor lineup? 

Ultimately, it’s just a slightly lukewarm take on what it could’ve been. There’s not a whole lot of bite to these chips, admittedly. Neither the spice nor the cheese in this Lays flavor is as punchy as you might want it to be. They might be delicious, but there’s room here for improvement. 

13. Kettle Cooked Reduced Fat

If you’re looking for healthy chips, don’t buy Lays. It’s sad but true: you aren’t going to be getting a nutritious, low-calorie snack if you choose a bag of Lays. But if you just can’t give up chips entirely for the sake of your New Year's resolution diet, there is a Lays flavor that at least attempts to be healthier. 

Kettle-cooked Lays, in our humble opinion, actually supersede the classic kind in many cases. They’re crunchier, more substantial and more…well, potato-y. You’ll actually remember what vegetable you’re eating, and when you can’t rely on seasoning for flavor, that’s a great thing. So rather than going with Baked Lays or one of their other reduced-fat varieties, we recommend Kettle Cooked Reduced Fat Lays. Even better? You’ll get fuller in less time. 

12. Dill Pickle

Okay, look. Pickles are one of those foods you can only love or hate, and you need to really like pickles to enjoy this Lays flavor. But if you do, it’s one of the best executions of a concept in the entire Lays lineup. Why? The component flavors of dill pickles lend themselves well to potato chips, we suppose.

Acidity and herbiness are the most prominent flavors in this chip. Those are well-established flavor profiles for potato chips, so you know it can’t go too wrong. And indeed, the humble dill pickle might actually work better in chip form than it does on the side of your plate when you order a sandwich. Get rid of that slimy texture and a lot of people might find that they don’t hate pickles quite as much as they think. 

11. Kettle Cooked Maui Onion

Maui Onion is a rising star in the potato chip flavor world, so it was only a matter of time before Lays got in on it. We’re all for that: this sweeter Hawaiian onion variety works very well on a potato chip. And we’re also all for the choice to make this a Kettle Cooked flavor, which is also the approach that the original Maui Onion chips from other brands tend to take.

This newer flavor doesn’t have quite as much of a following as some of the more classic Lays flavors yet, so we can’t say whether it will shape up to be popular. We hope so, though — it’s delicious, and it adds something unique to the Lays flavor world that we haven’t seen yet. A lot of new Lays flavors feel like novelty releases that aren’t meant to last, but we’d love to see Maui Onion secure a more permanent place in the lineup.

10. Limón 

Before it made its way north to the U.S. market, Limón was a wildly popular Lays flavor in Mexico. (It’s technically sold there under the brand Sabritas, not Lays, but the same parent company operates both.) Now, the American branch of the company has gone into business selling these tangy citrus chips. 

And while they debuted to mixed reviews, most agree that these chips did what they set out to do. The acidity of the lime helps to cut the usual greasiness of potato chips, which is probably why the more acidic Lays flavors tend to work so well. If you’re looking for a totally unique potato chip flavor, there’s nothing quite like these bright, sour Lays. 

9. Barbecue 

This isn’t the top-rated barbecue Lays flavor on this list, and that might shock you. Go to a party where Lays are being served, and there’s about a fifty-fifty chance that Barbecue will be the flavor of choice. (Maybe, if you’re lucky, sitting beside a bag of Classic.) But it’s not for lack of tastiness that Barbecue doesn’t take the top spot. 

Sure, it has a bit of an artificial aftertaste. Of course, it’ll coat everything you touch with a clinging orange dust that sort of looks like it might be radioactive. But it’s also one of the most classic and nostalgic Lays flavors. That one guy we all know who always puts crushed potato chips on his hamburger at the pool party probably uses these ones. Who cares that it could stand to taste a little less chemically? 

But there’s one flavor that hits barbecue out of the park like no other, and that keeps Barbecue down in ninth place. 

8. Kettle Cooked Mesquite Barbecue 

At this point, we’ve basically established that we will always think the Kettle Cooked version is superior. It doesn’t matter what the flavor is: a kettle-cooked chip will taste like a higher-quality product than its classic equivalent. And that’s especially true when it comes to barbecue, a flavor that Lays does over and over and over but never as successfully as it does here. 

When you have a strong seasoning, you need a heavier chip to balance out the flavor. So Kettle Cooked Lays are the best fit for a barbecue chip. Where the original Barbecue Lays might have you tasting more seasoning than chip, these are a little better suited to the task of holding up to the piquant flavor of barbecue sauce. If you must buy a barbecue Lays flavor, make it this one. 

7. Wavy Original 

By this point in the list, we’re looking at the most classic Lays flavors. (Mostly.) But this one often gets ignored, and we think that’s a crying shame. Why should it be looked down upon as less than a nearly-identical chip just because it happens not to be flat? We’re attempting to correct this grave injustice by giving Wavy Original Lays their long-awaited due.

We know, we know: if you’re looking for crinkle-cut chips, you’ll buy Ruffles. But why not branch out a little bit? This Lays flavor isn’t fundamentally all that different than its competitor. And it’s fun! There’s something about wavy potato chips that seems novel. Plus, how much more dip can those grooves hold than the flat surface of ordinary potato chips? In our humble opinions, you’d do well not to overlook this reliable Lays flavor. 

6. Cheddar and Sour Cream 

This is that cheese flavor we mentioned earlier. It’s working in a small niche, but that’s ultimately for the best: we’re pretty sure the vast majority of cheese flavors Lays could release would get overshadowed by this cult favorite. It’s creamy, packed with flavor and exactly as bright orange as you would expect, offering a burst of cheese flavor that’s perhaps best compared to those Flavor Blasted Goldfish crackers. 

Dairy on dairy, as it turns out, was an excellent idea. If you’re on the hunt for a good cheese-inspired Lays flavor, this is just about the only choice you can take. 

5. Salt and Vinegar 

We’ve been going on and on about acidity and how well it works with potato chips, and you have this Lays flavor to thank for that realization. Whose idea was it to douse chips in vinegar? We have no idea, but we salute them. Thanks to that sharp acidity, these chips don’t fall into the greasiness trap at all, and what you get is a flavor truly unlike any other. Not everyone loves vinegar, sure — but that just makes this Lays flavor an even more sophisticated choice.

4. Kettle Cooked Original 

Absolute perfection. If we were ranking based on personal taste without taking popularity or reputation into account, this Lays flavor would win easily. No other Lays flavor celebrates the potato quite like Kettle Cooked Original, with its simple seasoning (just salt!) and thick-cut chips. While most customers will still prefer the nostalgic taste of the Original flavor, we’d throw our hats into this ring instead. 

3. Kettle Cooked Sea Salt and Vinegar 

While it hurts to edge our beloved Kettle Cooked Original out of the top Kettle Cooked spot, this one deserves the nod. No Lays flavor is more sophisticated, more grown-up, less like anything you’d expect from a bag of Lays potato chips. Everything we said about the classic Sea Salt and Vinegar flavor is true of this flavor, too, only amplified by the higher quality of the base chip. 

If you’re just trying to keep the snacks coming after the burgers have run out at a pool party, a bag of Barbecue or Original Lays would do. But if you want to set out a bowl of chips that could pass for something pricy and artisanal, this Lays flavor is the way to go. 

2. Original  

You can say whatever you want about  Original Lays. Call them boring, whine about the lack of creativity, but you can’t deny that this is the flavor everyone associates with the brand. To many people, Lays is that yellow bag. How can that kind of icon status net the original Lays Flavor anything less than a top-five finish? 

While we won’t be awarding this Lays flavor the top spot, it would also feel wrong not to acknowledge that this Lays flavor started it all. The formula that led to all these spinoffs started here, and if it hadn’t been such a good foundation, it never would’ve taken off the way it has. You have Original Lays to thank for your beloved Salt and Vinegar (or whatever your favorite is) — and for that, we award them the honor of this penultimate spot. 

1. Sour Cream and Onion 

This Lays flavor is the definition of a cult classic. It’s the one with the most dedicated fans, the loudest defenders and the most towering reputation — where Original is beloved, Sour Cream and Onion is cool. Lays may be big on putting out new flavors and reacting to current trends, but if there’s anything that Sour Cream and Onion Lays prove, it’s that they really don’t have to. Lays were already cool. This first-rate flavor was just waiting for everyone to wake up and realize it. 

How Many Lays Flavors Are There?

Lays chips flavors aren’t confined to the classic potato chip we expect from the brand. There are 47 Lays flavors currently for sale in the U.S., but those span the classic selection as well as crinkle-cut Wavy chips, Poppables, Pringles-like Stacked Lays and the health-forward Kettle-Cooked and Better For You lines. And that doesn’t include any of the flavors that are available in other markets, so keep your eyes peeled for unique local Lays flavors if you’re traveling internationally. 

That number also only encompasses what’s available right now: seasonal and limited-edition flavors are released frequently. Since the list of Lays chips flavors changes frequently, your favorite novelty flavor might not last long, but you also might be able to find a discontinued favorite online. 

When it comes to a snack as classic as Lay’s, we all like to stick to what we know best. It seems safest not to risk putting out a bowl of Chili Limón or Sweet and Spicy Honey at a party when you could go with the Barbecue or Classic chips you know your guests will all love. But aren’t you curious? Doesn’t the fact of there being so many Lays flavors out there make you wonder which are worth a shot?

Now that you know which Lays flavors soar and which flop when put to the test, put that knowledge out there. Grab that bag of Kettle Cooked Maui Onion Lays. You might be glad you did.

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