REVIEW: Nabisco Crispers (US)

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Nabisco Crispers pouches

If Tim Hortons and All Dressed chips are any indication, our neighbors to the north have great taste in snacks. When I learned that Nabisco Crispers, a fan-favorite Canadian snack, was headed to the States, I was eager to try all flavors featured in the rollout: Ranch, Dill Pickle, and BBQ.

Crispers’ Canadian origin is only part of its heritage. Baked and not fried, Crispers uses the tagline: “Not a chip. Not a cracker. They’re Crispers.” A hybrid snack, Crispers are made with a combination of wheat flour and potato flour. Thus, to the uninitiated, much of the fun of trying Crispers is playing Maury Povich, tracing which two familiar snacks reproduced to create this new light and crispy snack cracker.

Nabisco Crispers comes in 3 flavors: BBQ, Dill Pickle, and Ranch

My vote? Wheat Thins and Pringles. Crispers are thin, wavy crackers with a subtle wheat flavor. They are hearty enough to provide a nice crunch but light enough to snap easily, making the serving size very easy to devour. We’ll await the test results on the product’s tasty parentage, then go on to the next judgement: which flavor is best?

Nabisco Crispers Ranch

It may boil down to your personal preference, because each flavor is enjoyable but not aggressive enough to dominate your palate long after your last bite. The Ranch one has a light herby flavor with a hint of garlic powder and creamy buttermilk quality. Of the three varieties, Ranch tastes the mildest, but showcases the wheat flavor of the base the most.

Nabisco Crispers Dill Pickle

The Dill Pickle variety is my favorite of the three. Its flavor is the boldest, balancing refreshing dill flavor with a sharp, tangy brininess. Each crisp in the bag packs a pickle-y punch.

Nabisco Crispers BBQ

The BBQ flavor is typical of what you’d find on a barbeque potato chip: sweet, savory, and smoky. In my taste test, it was the least consistently seasoned. Some crisps are only dusted, while others are coated generously. The more seasoned crisps promise an additional surprise: a little kick of heat in the back of the throat.

Nabisco Crispers graphics

If you keep baked snacks in your pantry, make some extra room for Nabisco Crispers. Fans of Baked Lay’s or Goldfish crackers will love the light, non-greasy texture and variety of flavors. I hope the line expands to include some of the more unique flavors offered in Canada (like Gochujang or Szechuan), but until then, who is up for a trip across the border?

Purchased Price: $2.64 each
Purchased at: Walmart
Size: 5.11 oz (145 g)
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Ranch), 9 out of 10 (Dill Pickle), 8 out of 10 (BBQ)
Nutrition Facts: Ranch (per 22 pieces) – 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Dill Pickle (per 23 pieces) – 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. BBQ (per 23 pieces) – 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Doritos Protein Nachos Cheese Tortilla Chips

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Doritos Protein Nachos Cheese Tortilla Chips bag

I really wanted to rant about the meaty-oric rise of protein snacks.

I wanted this review to drip with sarcasm and cynicism about brands slapping a measly gram or two of protein into their recipes and deceptively marketing their junk as some kind of quasi-health food.

I wanted to get on my soapbox and give a FED Talk about how we’re all being bamboozled into believing that a little protein turns everything into a “fitness hack,” but then I realized, it would be I who is the hack.

I’m not anti-tein, I’m pro-tein!

(Please remind me to never say that out loud.)

Doritos Protein Nachos Cheese Tortilla Chips back of bag

I feel like we’re close to reaching a tipping point. Maybe it’s just me, but my algorithm has been taken over by influencers screaming at me to add more protein to my diet. Big Protein is locked in on me. It’s stressing me out… and when I’m stressed, I gorge on snacks… snacks like new Doritos Protein!

Who’s ready to get yoked on nacho cheese dust?!

Protein chips aren’t an untapped market, but they’re still fairly new. I like Quest Tortilla Chips, but of the maybe ten flavors I’ve tried, I’d probably only recommend about three.

It shouldn’t shock you to learn that Doritos probably just released the best tasting protein chip. However, if you’re expecting a classic Dorito, I’d temper my excitement a bit.

A serving is ten chips and ten grams of protein, which really isn’t terrible. It’s not Quest-level, but it’s more than a lot of cash grab “PROTEIN” boasting snack releases from legacy brands.

Doritos Protein Nachos Cheese Tortilla Chips in bowl

They’re made with casein protein, which is derived from milk. I know what you’re thinking, “No whey!?” Way, it’s casein. Not a bad protein source.

You’re getting eight more grams of protein and nine fewer carbs per serving of these versus regular Doritos. That’s good! If you’re expecting gainz, you’ll get ‘em, but only in the bad way you’d get said gainz with regular Doritos, because everything else is basically the same.

As for the taste, they’re like a solid knockoff of Doritos. The nacho flavor – which they should have called “Macho Cheese,” IMHO (in my hacky opinion) – is close, but you’ll still think you’re eating cheaper alternatives. Something is off, and it’s likely due to the texture.

Doritos Protein Nachos Cheese Tortilla Chips texture.

These are thicker, crunchier, and drier than the regular tortilla chip. They’re like stale, double-fried “restaurant style” Doritos, with a nacho flavor that seems a little spicier because of how dry they make your mouth.

The protein chip textural experience is never a pleasant one. They mash down into a long-lasting, gritty protein paste that turns into cement in your teeth, and I absolutely hate that.

All in all, I guess these are a mild success? We all wanna think we’re living healthier, right? Like me today, I did Bis and Tris! I went to the gym, struggled through a few sets of biceps, and then ate about forty Doritos triangles.

Ya know what, I don’t even know if I recommend these. I didn’t feel particularly satiated. They look like Doritos, smell like Doritos, but in the end, I just yearned for real Doritos. Maybe stick with a small bag of the NKD Doritos and add an extra half scoop of powder to your protein shake.

Purchased Price: $4.47
Size: 7 oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (10 chips) 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 150 milligrams of sodium, 8 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of total sugars, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 10 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Khloud Nacho Protein Chips

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Khloud Nacho Protein Chips bag

For a millisecond, Khloud Nacho Protein Chips have a crispy texture like a fresh, thin tortilla chip you’d get at a Mexican restaurant. But after that fraction of a second passes, it’s nothing but disappointment from then on.

Before I even get to the flavor, let’s talk about the texture. The way these dissolve in my mouth is, um, how can I put this nicely? Unsettling? They look like normal triangular tortilla chips, so you’d expect them to have the same texture as normal triangular tortilla chips.

Khloud Nacho Protein Chips in the bag

But that common triangle shape hid the fact that they break down easily and crumble in your mouth the way you’d expect a tortilla chip to break down in your stomach. It’s a weird feeling, and one that I don’t like experiencing. And while there is a sound and sensation when biting into these chips, I’m not sure I’d call it a crunch. It’s more like an unch.

Khloud Nacho Protein Chips seasoning

Equally bad was the cheesiness, or lack thereof. If they were super cheesy, it might’ve made up a little for the unsettling texture. But they’re nowhere near Doritos-level cheesy. If Chester Cheetah were to eat these, he’d be like, “It ain’t easy being a snack brand, now is it, Khloe?” There was a light nacho cheesiness, but it quickly got warped by the underlying tortilla chip base made from corn and pea protein that tastes like it has more pea protein than corn. And, of course, the crumbly texture doesn’t help at all.

Not even the seven grams of protein per serving is enough to make this worth buying. If you really want a crunchy protein snack from a Kardashian, you’d help your mouth out by going with Khloud Popcorn instead. These need to go back to the drawing board, which probably has the same texture as these chips. Maybe a little less focus on the protein and a little more focus on the pleasures of chip eating should’ve happened.

Now I can’t compare these with other protein chips since I haven’t tried any. But my experience with these makes me wonder if all protein chips are this bad. So if you’re passing by these Khloud Nacho Protein Chips at the store, and you’re curious about them, just remember, “Curiosity killed the khat.”

Purchased Price: $6.99
Size: 5 oz bag
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 3 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 13 chips – 30 g) 170 calories, 11 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 grams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 9 grams of total carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, 1 gram of total sugars, and 7 grams of protein.

Ruffles, Doritos, and Cheetos Flavor Swap 2026 Review

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Frito-Lay Flavor Swap 2026 Bag designs

You know when you eat food that tastes like other food that isn’t actually that food?

That’s the whole trip of Frito-Lay’s new limited edition Flavor Swaps featuring Ruffles Cool Ranch, Doritos Cheddar & Sour Cream, and Cheetos Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue. My brain felt like a whirring 2000s gaming PC pushed to overdrive, but ultimately settling into a happy, joyful hum. Frito-Lay delivers, but to varying degrees of success, and we’ll get into that.

The three bags each feature a different creator or group — and look to be honest, I had no idea who any of them were, but people in my household did, which makes me adjacently cool and hip, right?

There’s Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Madison Beer on the Cheetos Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue, trick-shot legends Dude Perfect on the Ruffles Cool Ranch, and marathon streamer IShowSpeed on the Doritos Cheddar & Sour Cream. Each has their signature on the bag, which feels very “I endorse this” — and per the press release, that’s mostly what it was. Maybe with the next Flavor Swap, they will actually get to design the mash-up themselves.

Ruffles Flavor Swap Doritos Cool Ranch

Ruffles Doritos Cool Ranch on a napking

I started with the Ruffles Cool Ranch because I thought it would be my favorite. The vision: take the bold, tangy flavor of Cool Ranch Doritos and mash it up on the ridges of a Ruffle. The first thing I noticed was how perfect and intact the chips were – not a crushed one in the bag.

Ruffles Doritos Cool Ranch seasoning up close

Second thing: the seasoning was generous. That Cool Ranch green and red dusting looked like Christmas came early, and y’all, I was here for it. The flavor delivered – tangy, herby, unmistakably Cool Ranch – but with that satisfying Ruffles crunch, which is crisper than Doritos.

Cheetos Flavor Swap Lay’s Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue

Cheetos Lay's Sweet Southern Heat Barbeque in the bag

Riding what I thought was the peak, I moved to the Cheetos Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue — and was even happier. The vision: take the iconic crunch of a Cheeto and mash it up with the sweet, smoky flavor of Lay’s Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue. Fair warning, though: the smell is a little off-putting at first. Barbecue, yes, but also something I can only describe as…tofu? But, the flavor was a full evolution — it opens sweet, builds into spicy, with barbecue flavor as the through line.

Cheetos Lay's Sweet Southern Heat Barbeque on a napkin

The Ruffles Cool Ranch was great. This Cheeto, however, was a revelation. Though, I feel like a Flamin’ Hot variant would be an improvement.

Doritos Flavor Swap Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream

Doritos Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream in the bag

Last up, Doritos Cheddar & Sour Cream chips. The vision: take the legendary Doritos crunch and mash it up with Ruffles’ rich, velvety Cheddar & Sour Cream. These looked almost unseasoned at first glance, a uniform light orange that had me worried. But on closer inspection, they were actually well seasoned — the coating was just so even that it read as bare.

Doritos Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream on a napkin

The bigger issue, though, is that swapping from a potato base to a corn base mutes everything — the cheddar comes through fine, but the sour cream tang gets swallowed by the corn and mostly disappears. After the Cheetos revelation, it was hard not to feel a little let down. Not bad, just the clear third-place finisher.

So, varying degrees of success as mentioned. The Cheetos surprised me most, the Ruffles delighted me as expected, and the Doritos taught us that corn and potato bases are not always interchangeable. Two out of three landing is impressive for the first year. I’d love to see this next year, but bigger and wilder (Cool Ranch Gatorade anyone?), and for the love of snacks, someone get Flamin’ Hot on speed dial!

Purchased Price: $3.97 each
Size: 9.25 oz (Doritos), 8 oz (Ruffles), 8.5 oz (Cheetos)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Doritos), 7 out of 10 (Ruffles), 9 out of 10 (Cheetos)
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz/28 g) Doritos Cheddar & Sour Cream – 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 150 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of total sugars, and 2 grams of protein. Ruffles Cool Ranch – 150 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 140 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of total sugars, and 2 grams of protein. Cheetos Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue – 160 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 180 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of total sugars, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Tostitos Mexican Street Corn Tortilla Chips

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Tostitos Mexican Street Corn Tortilla Chips bag

Ya know, I’ve never actually had Mexican Street Corn.

Growing up near NYC, I’ve eaten many street pretzels, various street meats, street nuts… and while I’m talking about the literal gutter, I’d kindly ask to keep your mind out of it. Street gum is another big one! There’s a veritable rainbow of delicious street gum on every block, and it’s there for the picking, Buddy the Elf buffet-style.

However, Elote eludes me. I just never WANT corn on the cob, especially if I don’t have floss nearby. All that said, I’ll absolutely demolish some Elote-flavored snacks. I love Mexican food, and I love that Elote flavor profile, so when I saw Tostitos dropped a Mexican Street Corn chip, I hit the streets in search of them.

These chips probably mark the seventh or eighth “Mexican Street Corn” flavored snack I’ve tried, and they’ve all been good. If I had to choose the best, it would be Trader Joe’s “Organic Elote” Corn Chip Dippers. I’d rank these Tostitos just below those.

Tostitos Mexican Street Corn Tortilla Chips masa label

Tostitos Mexican Street Corn Tortilla Chips masa explanation

What you get here are restaurant-style tortilla chips made with whole corn kernel masa, the “traditional way.” I don’t know the exact Aztecan process, but I can tell you that these are larger and denser than a typical Tostito. You get some “thiccc boys,” as no one still says.

Tostitos Mexican Street Corn Tortilla Chips are thicc

I wanted to guess the ingredients before reading the label and landed on a hint of “Hint of Lime,” mixed with a soft cheese/queso-adjacent flavor (representing the cotija), mixed with maybe some sour cream, and a chili-like powder providing a flash of heat. In the end, I almost nailed it.

Tostitos Mexican Street Corn Tortilla Chips seasoning

Seriously, you can envision a little bit of every flavored Tostito that came before this while chomping down on one of these massive triangles – Hint of Lime, Queso, Salsa Verde, Black Bean and Garlic – their spirits live in these chips. If I had to describe the flavor, I would call these Tostitos All Dressed.

These pack so much flavor that they’re almost a Dorito. You get savory, tangy, and spicy all in one. It’s everything you’d want from Mexican Street Corn without the strings of the cob stuck in your teeth.

I had a stack with turkey chili, and they were money. I’d imagine they’d be versatile enough to work with literally any of the Mexican-style dips on the shelf.

All that said, there is one thing that bugged me a bit.

Tostitos Mexican Street Corn Tortilla Chips closeup

I don’t usually harp on the nutrition of the snacks I review because it’s junk food, no one’s under the impression it’s healthy… but I gotta say, these things are highly caloric. Six chips are 140 calories. For context, Nacho Cheese Doritos are twelve for 150, so while six of these chips are basically the size of a taco shell, try not to indulge too much.

The “big game” is over. If it weren’t, I would tell you to grab a bag along with every dip you can find. But ya know what? There will be more big games that call for big chips. Hit the streets.

Purchased Price: $4.99
Size: 11 oz.
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (6 Chips) 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 140 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of total carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of total sugars, 1 gram of dietary fiber, and 2 grams of protein.

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