It never fails: You sit down with a new bag of potato chips, and despite your best intentions, they’re all gone before you know it. Why do you have no willpower for this crispy, salty treat?

There are two reasons why potato chips are so incredibly addictive. The first is that potato chips are deliciously salty. Salt triggers the release of dopamine, a chemical in the brain responsible for making us feel happy and loved. Once we get our first kick, our brain’s pleasure center craves more dopamine, and before we know it, we’ve finished the entire package of chips. 

The other reason that leads us to compulsively finish an entire bag of potato chips in one sitting is the crunch. Humans associate a satisfyingly crispy crunch with fresh food. Whether it’s an apple or potato chips, the louder the crunch, the more satisfying the food — and the more we crave it.

So, chips make you happy and satisfied? Sign us up! Potato chips are a perfect storm of salty crispness. It’s no wonder we mindlessly nibble our way through a bag. So if you’re going to indulge in this addiction, it had better be worth your while. You want to consume the absolute best potato chips in the world. Here are our top suggestions.

1. Cape Cod Original Kettle Cooked Chips 8oz

Hand-selected potatoes, canola oil, and salt, these simple ingredients make a ridiculously crunchy kettle-cooked potato chip. Being cooked in small batches in custom kettles ensures these thick-cut potatoes are fried to an enticing golden amber hue. Cape Cod chips have a hearty potato flavor and a Cape Cod crunch that’s second to none.

$4.29

2. Kettle Brand Sea Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips 13oz

As some of the best potato chips you can buy, Kettle Brand Sea Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips are tangy in the best way. The thick-cut, kettle-style chips are fried using 100% pure vegetable oil to the perfect crunch. They’re flavored slightly past the point of being bold; every bite will make your eyes water tears of vinegar-loving joy.

$6.49

3. Lays Original Potato Chips Wavy 13oz

Get the Lay’s classic flavor in the original wavy form. Lay’s Original Wavy Potato Chips are arguably one of the best brands of potato chips and certainly the most recognizable. The ingredients list only includes potatoes, vegetable oil, and salt, ensuring nothing comes between you and their savory flavor. A chip-loving crowd will think they’re perfect on their own or as the ideal complement to any savory dip.

$5.69

4. Pringles Original Potato Crisps Chips 5.2oz

With the irresistible taste of potato, you’ll be taking this gold-standard crispy snack all the way to the flavor bank. It’s the one salty treat that hits the spot every time. The original, stackable potato crisp is seasoned with satisfying saltiness from edge to edge and delivers all the crispness you expect. 

$3.99

5. Ruffles Baked Cheddar & Sour Cream Potato Chips 6.25oz

Get all the crunch you desire, but baked, not fried. Ruffles Baked Cheddar & Sour Cream Potato Chips are better made, so you can indulge your snack cravings by combining the savory flavor of cheddar and the tang of sour cream with 65% less fat than regular potato chips.

$3.99

6. Artisan Style Chips Fuego 1.9oz

Are you looking for chips that deliver a spicy one-two punch? These thin-cut kettle chips are packed with crunch for unequaled snacking satisfaction. Spicy chili peppers and tangy lime turn up the heat into a fiery fusion that delivers intense flavor in every bold bite. These red-hot snacks are perfect at home or on the go.

$2.49

7. Zapp's Kettle Potato Chips Voodoo 4.75oz

Sweet, spicy, and uniquely Cajun, Voodoo Chips will put a spell on you with their salt and vinegar flavor with just the right hint of smoky BBQ sweetness. It’s no accident that these chips have a cult following and keep gaining fans with every bite. But you're just going to have to trust us on this one.

$3.99

8. Terra Chips Original Sea Salt Vegetable Chips 5oz

Mind your p’s and q’s and eat your vegetables by getting them in an addictive chip form. Yuca, taro, beet, parsnip, batata, and sweet potato chips are the delicious, nutritious flavors kissed with sea salt that you’ll be more than happy to snack on.

$4.99

9. Popchips Ridges Cheddar & Sour Cream Potato Chips 5oz

What happens when you pop your chips instead of frying them? You get delicious Popchips that contain 50% less fat than regular potato chips and bold ridges that hug the delectable flavor you love — sharp cheddar, sour cream, and potatoes. What more could you ask for?

$4.99

10. Utz Potato Chips Ripples Sour Cream & Onion 8.5oz

Utz’s take on classic sour cream and onion chips is bold and zesty. Open a bag, and the mouth-watering aroma of green onion and sour cream hits you right away. The flavor always comes through loud and clear since Utz Sour Cream & Onion Chips are made with fresh ripple cut potatoes that really crunch.

$4.29

11. Siete Sea Salt Potato Chips 5.5oz

Potato heads unite! These simple, classic potato chips stick to the basics — avocado oil and sea salt — to enhance the naturally delectable crunch of potatoes. Enjoy them on a burger, add them to your sandwich, or snack on them as your heart desires. These chips are non-GMO, soy-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free, so you really can’t go wrong. Proudly women-founded and Latinx-owned.

$4.39

12. Hal's New York Sea Salt & Vinegar Chips 5oz

Hal’s snacks are New York-born and New York-made. He loved to tease his sons by calling potato chips “crackers.” His family continues to pay tribute to Hal by bringing you the great-tasting Hal’s New York Sea Salt & Vinegar Chips. A little salty, a little vinegary, and completely savory; these chips will tickle your taste buds.

$2.99

13. Herr's Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips 9oz

Herr’s Sour Cream & Onion Chips are made with the finest quality selected potatoes, seasoned with premium sour cream and onion flavorings, before being cooked to crispy perfection in pure vegetable oil. These chips and all Herr’s products live up to founder James S. Herr’s exacting standards.

$4.29

14. Original Sea Salt Kettle Cooked Potato Chips - Uglies - 6oz

This unexpected potato chip brand uses spuds with minor cosmetic imperfections to craft the delicious chips you’ll love to munch. Their original Sea Salt Potato Chips have a salty, satisfying crunch. Even better, these chips are entirely gluten-free, nut-free, and GMO-free. Save a potato, eat Ugly!

$3.29

FAQ

What are the healthiest potato chips?

As much as we wish things were different, potato chips aren’t the healthiest choice of snacks. The things that we love about them, the salt and the deep-fried crispiness, are precisely what makes them problematic.  

Does this mean you need to break up with your favorite crunchy snack? No. You just have to be a little more discriminating when you’re in the snack aisle at the local grocery store.

First off, look for a chip option that uses a cooking method other than deep-frying. Ruffles Baked Cheddar & Sour Cream Potato Chips or Popchips Ridges Cheddar & Sour Cream Potato Chips are great non-fried options that deliver all the crunch you expect from your chips with less fat per serving than the standard bag.

You can also choose alternatives to potatoes. Terra Chips Original Sea Salt Vegetable Chips are made with a variety of veggies, like sweet potato, yuca, and beet, which are higher in nutrients and fiber than your run-of-the-mill spuds.

Finally, if you don’t want to give up potatoes or that deep-fried deliciousness, find a brand that uses a heart-healthy oil. Siete Sea Salt Potato Chips uses avocado oil to fry their chips, containing monounsaturated fats — a healthier alternative to refined oils like canola.

When you do your taste test, make sure you follow the serving size. Place your allotted amount of chips in a bowl so you won’t be tempted to eat them all in one shot. Contact a dietitian if you have any more questions about nutrition or need help creating an eating plan that accommodates an occasional craving for crispy foods.

What is the best dip for potato chips?

One could argue that everything goes with potato chips. They’re an incredibly versatile food that pairs with a variety of flavors. 

What’s your mood? Do you want a classic chip and dip combination? Reach for Lay’s French Onion Dip for a bold onion flavor that goes great with a plain chip. If you’re in the mood for some south-of-the-border flavor, sample Tostitos Medium Salsa con Queso Dip with jalapeños for a cheesy, spicy snack. If you’re looking for a non-traditional combination, why not try some veggie chips with Sabra’s Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. 

If you aren’t in the mood for a store-bought dip, you can try mixing your own at home. Combine equal parts mayonnaise and sour cream to form the base, and then add whatever seasonings tickle your fancy — hot sauce, dried or fresh herbs, garlic. The only limit is your imagination. Have fun experimenting.

Why do potato chips stay crispy?

The best-rated potato chips have a secret. And that secret is how they stay crispy even if they’ve been sitting on your pantry shelf for weeks. 

You know how chip bags feel like they’re full of air? And how fun it is to occasionally pop the package like a balloon? No judgment. But that’s not actually air, but rather nitrogen gas. Nitrogen acts as a preservative, keeping your chips from oxidizing and losing their crispness. Once that nitrogen is gone, it’s only a matter of days before your chips lose their crunch.