7 Laughing Cow Cheeses, Ranked Worst To Best

I remember my mom buying The Laughing Cow flavor when I was younger. I don't really recall how we ate it, but I remember the adorable little cow on the package. We only ever had the Original flavor, but there are quite a few options in the lineup, and I wanted to see how they tasted. 

The Laughing Cow has more than a century-long history; it was created in 1921 in Lons, France, but back then it was called La Vache Qui Rit. It expanded past the initial flavor, introducing new variants over the decades. Some of the newer flavors were introduced as late as 2024. I've purchased the brand's cheese a handful of times in my adult life, but haven't really delved into the range of its options.

The cheese is unique, though, since it comes in a circular, cardboard-like container. It has a small red string that you pull around the circumference to tear it open. Each cheese comes in an individually sealed wedge covered in aluminum foil, with a similar rippable portion as the cardboard. The wedge shape has been around since 1924, so it's no newbie to the game. 

While I had some familiarity with the brand, I still set out to try as many flavors as possible to give you insights on which ones to stock up on and what flavors they impart. I judged the cheeses based on the overall taste and approachability on how to use them. Here's how they fared.

I quite like smoked items, whether that's gouda, other cheeses, or meats. It adds a robust flavor that makes things all the more interesting, but it can often be intense. I found that to occur in this cheese as well. The Laughing Cow cheese does use authentic wood-smoked cheese, but it comes off a little strong. Additionally, it feels one-dimensional here, kind of like when you add too much liquid smoke to your dish. It somehow tastes smoke-flavored rather than authentically smoked. It also masks the rest of the cheese's flavor; it's hard to make out its milkiness and creaminess with the sheer smokiness.

It's good enough that I'd eat it again and genuinely will finish the whole round, but I doubt I'd buy it when other flavors on this list are better. This would be great on sandwiches where you want some added intrigue to pair with something slightly bland like sliced deli turkey or plain chicken. However, it may clash with more heavily flavored proteins — say marinated meats — because it's a bit bold and strong. It's smoky and creamy. That makes it harder to pair. There are other options coming that are still flavorful but have the bonus of versatility, too.

Pickles are a favorite of mine, and dill is easily the best pickle flavor — there are lots of types of pickles, by the way. So I love the tangy notes of vinegar and the herbal kick of dill that are part of the specific dill pickle experience. For some reason, though, this Dill Pickle cheddar-based option tastes like a pickle but without the saltiness. It has a bit of tangy vinegar and a small amount of dill essence, but it doesn't quite hit the same and kind of feels a little funky in this cheese form. 

It employs dehydrated dill and natural flavor to achieve the taste. Still, it lacks the brininess that makes a pickle what it is. In fact, the sodium content is lower than in some of the other flavors. Because of this, I think I would just prefer a dill-flavored cheese, which would probably be amazing. That pickle vinegar flavor seems a little odd without the salty quality. This would be good mixed into tuna for a fun creamy spin on tuna salad. I would use this in place of mayo but may ramp up the salt. It's a perfectly pleasant flavor, and I would reach for that herbal dill quality over the Smoked Gouda, but still it's not a star.

I like jalapeño. Are you sensing a pattern from these three lowest-ranked cheeses? I tend to like the overall flavor that inspires them, but some elements are missing from The Laughing Cow cheese wedge itself. On its own, this flavor is actually quite tasty. It has a medium level of heat that you can taste from the very first bite. It works really well with the cheese's overall creaminess, creating a better balance. 

Jalapeño has more of a vegetal, earthy type of heat, and that certainly comes to play in this application. It uses dried jalapeño peppers, which I can truly appreciate for a more authentic taste. This cheese uses cheddar and a semi-soft cheese as the foundation. 

This is perfect when you want to bring the heat to a sandwich or just as part of a snack. The great thing about Laughing Cow cheeses is that they are kind of the consistency of a very thick cream cheese. So that means you could open your wedge, scoop, and smush it onto celery or a piece of bread with little effort. You can certainly use a knife, but it's not required. I like the flavor, and it's more authentic than the pickle version, but there's another spicy fromage I preferred instead; we will get into that later.

I enjoyed the taste of the Jalapeño cheese, but I would pick Light (or any of the upcoming flavors) if I had to choose which to repurchase. Sometimes light cheeses can feel like you are missing something, but The Laughing Cow option is quite delicious. It's "light" compared to the original because it has 25 calories and 1.5 grams of fat, compared to 45 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. That said, all of the other flavored options appear to have a similar "light" formulation because they have the same 25 calories and 1.5 grams of fat — this is not a factor in the ranking, but may help you determine what to buy. For me, it meant I could easily eat more than one without having to think much about it.

The only way I could discern a difference was by tasting Light right next to the Original. By itself, the difference is negligible, but it has a lighter, softer texture than some of the other flavors; it's not quite as dense, and the flavor isn't as rich. Still, it is tasty and serves as a blank canvas when you want a creamy touch on your bagel, toast, or whatever you're enjoying that day. I also think that you could add any number of mix-ins, whether you want to add fresh herbs to play up the more savory quality or you could even lean into sweetness with some cinnamon sugar. This is a great treat when you want something lighter calorically without sacrificing flavor.

Now we come to the classic. The Original flavor laid the groundwork for the Laughing Cow cheese to become what it is today. Without this version, we wouldn't have all the rest. Of course, if you are new to the brand, I would say start with this option so you have an understanding of what it brings. It is the densest of all the flavors, with a creamy decadence that outshines the rest. 

As I mentioned previously, the other flavors tend to have a lighter formulation, so this one is a little fattier and has a noticeably richer mouthfeel. The great thing about Laughing Cow is that wedge aspect, so you can keep it in your fridge without worrying about it getting gross and moldy after exposure to air or touching it. They're all portioned out so you know exactly how much you're getting per wedge. The brand is perfect for portioning, meal prepping, and to-go snacks since it requires no added effort. 

The Original flavor uses a combination of cheddar and semi-soft cheese, but there's even a bit of butter for further creaminess. Let's just say there are several sources of milk, including milk protein concentrate and milk fat, so don't touch this if you have any form of lactose intolerance. If you're looking for the most versatile option from the brand, this might be your go-to product; you can make it salty, sweet, or anything you desire, such as spreading it on cinnamon raisin toast. It pairs perfectly with a glass of chardonnay or works as a base for fondue, too.

After trying all the cheeses side by side, particularly the Jalapeño and Spicy Pepper Jack, I'd say the latter comes out on top. For one, the pepper jack flavor is a lot more interesting and intense. The heat permeates every bite and makes it feel more well-rounded, whereas the jalapeño had more of a vegetable-like green taste. 

We actually see a new combination of cheeses here, including the more familiar cheddar and semi-soft cheese, but Monterey Jack is included in the mix. A big difference here is that it uses both red and green dried jalapeños. In my experience growing jalapeños, the red is typically slightly sweeter yet still spicy. It does not have that green, vegetal taste you might associate with jalapeños or green bell peppers. This creates a flavorful, thoroughly spicy cheese with a bit more richness and creaminess. 

The jalapeño pieces are a little more noticeable as well, adding a slight textural contrast to the otherwise creamy cheese. This would work well for stuffed jalapeños poppers and other applications. The flavor delivers everything it advertises and does so in a delicious way. I think this flavor is exciting and really enticing for people who want a spicy cheese offering, but the next flavor is my go-to and one I think an even wider audience would love.

The Garlic & Herb Laughing Cow cheese appears to be very popular because it was out of stock when I was looking for it a couple of weeks ago. And then, as I placed a pick-up order to pick up all the cheeses for this article, they said it was out of stock again. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find it in my bag when I got home. After trying it, I can understand why it's beloved. 

I'm happy that they found a magical Laughing Cow Cheese round for my order because this flavor is impeccable. It uses cheddar and semi-soft cheese, along with garlic extract, dehydrated onion, parsley, and some natural flavor to achieve the namesake taste. If you love an herby cheese, then this delivers exactly that. 

It's well-flavored, so you don't have to do any extra brunt work of mixing in extra flavors. If you need to spread it onto a sandwich, it already imparts a welcome, delicious savory flavor. In a way, this reminds me of the Garlic & Fine Herbs Boursin cheese flavor, but with a totally different texture. Laughing Cow is smooth and creamy, much like a cream cheese or Neufchâtel cheese block you get at the grocery store. I'd reach for this flavor time and again, whether I ate it alone, on a rice cake, or in a more complex snack. 

I bought all the cheeses available at my nearest Albertsons. While Laughing Cow now has plant-based options, they were not sold near me. I tried all the cheeses one after another to get a sense of each cheese's flavor. I ripped off small morsels and tried them all, then went through and did it again. If it sounds like a lot of cheese — it kind of is, but not really. I didn't eat seven wedges of cheese all at once. 

I ate the cheese on its own to get a better sense of how it tastes, but, of course, it's even better when incorporated into various dishes or applications. The wedges may resemble a slice of cheddar or brie, but they're lighter and less dense. That's why the calories range from 25 to 45 per 19-gram serving compared to a typical cheddar cheese, which would have more than 55 per 19-gram serving. 

I was looking for the most interesting, enjoyable flavor that also had versatility — whether that means working with any number of ingredients for a sandwich or toast, or some other dish. The textures were about the same, except for some minor differences that I noted; texture doesn't affect the ranking, but it can help you understand what to expect.