The 15 Healthiest Chip Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best
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While many of us try to eat healthy, we also love our snacks, specifically chips. One reason chips are so delicious has a lot to do with the crunch factor. Per Eat This Not That, researchers have studied the addictive quality of potato chips and found that the notorious crunching sound has a big role in how much consumers like a food. The louder the noise, the more desirable the chip.
While chips are also delicious, they tend to get a poor health reputation. Consumption of potato chips has been associated with weight gain, likely due to their high content of refined carbohydrates, fat, and salt (via Healthline). Additionally, because they are most often fried, they are typically higher in trans fats, calories, and can contain a toxic substance called acrylamide, according to Healthline. With that in mind, it's no wonder that brands with a greater focus on healthier snack options are booming in popularity. According to Fortune Business Insights, the healthy snack foods market has been growing rapidly since 2016, and is expected to keep booming, reaching a $108.11 billion market size by 2027.
Whether your eating preferences are grain free, vegan, gluten free, or you just want to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet, check out our list of 15 healthy chip brands, ranked from worst to best. Keep reading, and you might just find your new favorite snack.
15. Jackson's Honest
Fans of ABC's "Shark Tank" may be familiar with Jackson's Honest. The founders, the Reamer Family, made the shift to a high fat, low carbohydrate diet in order to better the health of their son who was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. As a result, the brand focuses on sweet potato chips made from higher quality oils like coconut and avocado, and flavors include from sea salt to Carolina BBQ.
As much as we appreciate the backstory for Jackson's Honest, the chips can fall short. Opinions on Amazon for the coconut oil sweet potato chips are mixed with nearly 10% of reviewers giving the snack a 1-star rating, and several people complaining that the price is too high. But for individuals with strict dietary preferences and those following elimination diets, don't completely discount Jackson's Finest — just be careful about which flavor you pick. Our favorite happens to be the avocado oil spicy tomatillo.
14. Good Health
True to its name, Good Health is the health-focused brand by Utz. The line of snacks includes familiar territory such as popcorn, veggie sticks, and pretzels with a focus on non-GMO ingredients and the use of different types of cooking oils. There are multiple kettle style potato chips to choose from with flavors such as avocado oil sea salt, olive oil sea salt, avocado oil barbecue, and avocado oil jalapeno.
According to the Amazon reviews of the avocado oil barbecue flavor, people seem to like these chips. The general consensus is that they are not too greasy or salty and they taste great. Our only complaint is that these are not nearly as healthy as some of the other brands on this list due to their high carbohydrate and high fat content (7 grams of fat and 17 grams of carbs per 1-ounce serving for the barbecue chips). According to Food & Wine, the method used to cook kettle style potato chips requires stirring slices of potato in an oil-filled kettle — oil, of course, being a large source of fat in these chips.
13. Brad's
If you're looking to stock your pantry with strictly plant-based products, consider Brad's. Among the brand's multiple snack options is a line of chips made with air dried organic vegetables that includes flavors such as broccoli cheddar, red bell pepper, and Vampire Killer. Are you as intrigued as we are by that last one? Well, it happens to be a lemony kale chip made with cashew cheese, and, not surprisingly, lots of garlic.
The brand, however, has its detractors, with complaints on Amazon ranging from an unpleasant aroma from the chips to quality inconsistency from bag to bag. One reviewer mentions love for these chips, but notes that you must eat them with dip for the best taste. Though we prefer a chip that stands on its own, these are a solid bet for vegans in search of a low calorie, low fat and high protein snack.
12. Bare
Bare specializes in baked chips made from freeze dried fruits. These sweet treats are available in familiar fruit varieties, including apple, banana, coconut, strawberry, and pineapple. While these are not your typical chips, Amazon reviews of the pineapple & coconut variety show indicate many people find them as a great replacement for standard potato crisps. However, there are some complaints of being overpriced and containing added sugar, though many note that these chips are kid-approved, which is a major plus. We know how hard it can be to get kids to eat fruits, and an item like this may ease their reluctance — in which gets case you can justify the high cost.
The Bare product line may come in handy for certain snacking situations, but it fails to offer the salty goodness that we generally look for when we're craving chips. For that reason, we've placed these towards the bottom of the ranking.
11. Snacklins
Air popped chips made from ingredients like mushrooms, yuca, and onions is the name of the game for Snacklins. Because these plant crisps are so airy, they are very low in calories — a mere 90 per 0.9-ounce bag. Snacklins offers a variety of flavors ranging from the familiar bbq and nacho to teriyaki and cinnamon churro. One thing we appreciate about Snacklins is that we've never had any chips like these and we appreciate the root vegetable swap from potato to yuca (sometimes referred to as cassava), which is used quite frequently in grain free products because of its high starch content, per Lakewinds Food Coop.
Unfortunately, according to the Amazon reviews of the Snacklins variety pack, there are some mixed opinions of these chips. While some people love that these chips are tasty options that fit into their diet plans like WW or keto, others complain about a recent product recipe change that resulted in an inferior product.
10. Siete Foods
Siete Foods is a Mexican-American brand devoted to making grain free food products that range from cookies to sauces. When it comes to chips, there are several bags to choose from including multiple kettle cooked potato-based flavors, but the most options are of the tortilla variety.
Because the tortilla chips are made without grains (cassava serves as a substitute for the familiar corn base), we find that the texture is a bit too fragile. As a result, they don't have the best crunch, not to mention, we tend to find that the bag is filled with broken crumbs that aren't suitable for dipping. Still, the flavor delivers. According to the Amazon reviews of the dip chips, even those that are not interested in following a grain-free diet love these chips for their taste. While they are a bit pricey, many people note that these chips are super tasty.
9. Barnana
You may have come across banana and plantain chips in your supermarket aisle, but Barnana takes the snack to a whole other level (it's no surprise that the founder is from Brazil). Over the past decade, the company has expanded its product line to include multiple sweet and savory banana-based treats including several flavors of chips that fall into either the kettle cooked or tortilla categories.
Per the Amazon reviews of the Acapulco lime plantain chips, Barnana delivers on offering a desirable potato chip alternative. They not only taste delicious, but they are great for specialty diets including AIP and Whole 30. We happen to agree that these chips are fantastic. It all comes down to the strong texture of plantains, which offer the most epic crunch ever. As for our favorite flavors, we prefer the sea salt & vinegar and the spicy mango salsa which delivers some welcome sweet heat. If you haven't tried these banana chips yet, what are you waiting for?
8. PopChips
PopChips sell a variety of chips that are never fried, but instead placed in a high pressure environment forcing them to pop. We love that these are made from potatoes, instead of corn, ensuring that they taste more like a traditional chip, at least compared to some of the other healthy chip options. PopChips offers a deep flavor roster with varieties including barbeque, aged white cheddar, sour cream & onion, sea salt & vinegar, and Crazy Hot. If you prefer your chips with ridges, the brand also offers those too.
While we heartily endorse PopChips, make sure you try them with the right expectations. They are not fried chips, so the crunch and flavor factor won't be comparable. But that difference is made up for by the fact that, on average, a 1-ounce serving of these is 4 grams of fat and 120 calories compared to 10 grams of fat and 160 calories for a standard fried potato chip. For our money, PopChips is among the best chip brands, healthy or otherwise.
7. Late July
Late July offers a wide range of organic and non-GMO snacks. While the brand includes a line of potato chips, tortilla chips reign supreme and flavor choices include the standard sea salt as well more interesting options such as Mexican Street Corn and Garden Ranch. Our personal favorite is the restaurant style sea salt and lime tortilla chips which offers a welcome citrus kick.
We're also fans of the chia & quinoa tortilla chips. We find that these have just a hint of flavor that we look for in tortilla chips — plus they taste amazing with salsa and guacamole. It's also nice knowing we can increase our intake of healthy omega 3 fatty acids with the addition of the chia seeds (via Healthline). In fact, Late July produces several multigrain chips that include chia seeds from your basic blue corn to sweet potato and the cheesy citrus Mild Green Mojo. Considering the variety of chips and tasty flavors, this is a brand that delivers.
6. PopCorners
There is a reason PopCorners earned a coveted spot on the JetBlue snack roster. Because these aren't fried (they happen to be yellow corn chips that have been popped, via high pressure), PopCorners contain less sodium and about half the fat content of typical potato chips, according to Maple Holistics. Beyond including non-GMO ingredients, most flavors are gluten free.
PopCorners may not offer a lot of variety, but the limited flavors tend to be great. Our suggestion for first timers: Opt for a variety pack, which includes a range of options such as white cheddar, sweet chili, spicy queso. These chips are the essentially perfect cross between tortillas and popcorn. Beyond the delicious taste, also have an ideal texture somewhere in the sweet spot of pillowy soft and crispy crunchy. While we enjoy the more adventurous flavors like sweet and salty kettle corn, keep in mind that the basic sea salt only contains three ingredients, which we definitely appreciate.
5. Beanitos
Beanitos makes chips from beans. Yep, you read that right. Why would anybody do such a thing? Well, beans have a high amount of plant-based protein and fiber in addition to their starchy content, per Healthline, making them a great nutrition-packed alternative to making chips with potatoes.
This Austin, Texas brand, which was founded in 2010, sources it beans from American farmers and cook them low and slow, to create a bean masa that serves as the base for the tortilla-style chips. Beanitos are made from white beans, pinto beans, and black beans, and flavors include sea salt, sweet chili & sour cream, and chipotle bbq. Each option packs an impressive 5 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per serving. For snack foods fans looking to add fiber and protein to their diet plan, but don't want to sacrifice on flavor and crunch, make these chips a priority.
4. Food Should Taste Good
Food Should Taste Good was founded in 2006 by Pete Lascoe, who was inspired to create a snack brand that sourced high quality and wholesome ingredients. The brand is also devoted to the transparency of sourcing ingredients and non-GMO products, as well as supporting positive farming practices that make the soil healthier.
These tortilla chips are essentially divided into two categories: plain and flavored. To be clear, plain doesn't equate to boring. Far from it. Beyond the familiar blue corn, Food Should Taste Good also offers multigrain, sweet potato, and black bean chips, all of which are well-suited for dipping. But for straight snacking, you won't get enough of the flavored chips. The pre-loaded guacamole chips include actual avocados in the seasoning, while the cheddar is made with real cheese. For some heat, the spicy jalapeño will do the trick, and for something a little tangy, we recommended the Korean-inspired kimchi flavor.
3. Beanfields
It shouldn't be much of a surprise what the main ingredient is in the tortilla chips that come from Beanfields. Since these chips are made from beans, they contain more fiber and plant based protein than normal potato chips. Whether you opt for spicy queso, pico de gallo, or salt and vinegar, chips, you can expect 4 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per serving.
We've noticed that the sour cream & onion flavor is one that is often lacking in the healthy chip category, so we are thrilled that Beanfields offers that option. Speaking of all-time great chip flavors, the brand's nacho is an ideal alterative to Doritos. Reviewers on Amazon mention that they are fairly crunchy and hold up well with dips, which is a good factor to consider when choosing any chips. People also love that Beanfields are healthier than the competition, but taste just like corn tortilla chips.
2. SkinnyPop
Known for its healthier popcorn varieties, SkinnyPop also carries a few types of chips including sea salt and cheddar & sour cream. Because these chips are made from popped corn, their fiber content is higher than traditional potato chips, which is great for those looking to add that to their diet. According to Healthline, fiber intake is associated with a decreased risk of colon cancer, balanced blood sugar, and increased digestion.
Sometimes simple is superior, and SkinnyPop's sea salt chips impress with great taste and an equally impressive crunch, which are obviously two important qualities to look for in a chip. Plus you have to appreciate that a serving of 20 chips in a mere 100 calories, not to mention that there are no artificial ingredients and everything is non-GMO. Oh, and they're also gluten free. As much as we enjoy Skinny Pop popcorn, the brand's chips just might be its superior product.
1. Terra
You've likely heard of Terra chips. You know the ones made from all sorts of veggies? The brand has been making chips from real whole vegetables since 1990 and does an incredible job sourcing other root vegetables beside the classic potato, including especially nutritious picks, per Healthline, like beets, turnips, sweet potatoes, and carrots.
While we appreciate all the different Terra products throughout the years, the Original real vegetable chips (a blend of parsnip, taro, sweet potato, yuca, and batata) remain a must-eat snack. They offer the perfect amount of crunch and salt, with just a touch of sweetness. But the gold standard vegetable chip has some competition from the Blues potato chips, which skews more towards purple, but regardless, they definitely won't leave you sad. With over three decades of experience producing high quality chips, it is no wonder why Terra is at the top of our ranking.