Why Are Lay’s Ketchup Chips a Thing?

Lay’s potato chips have been many people’s guilty pleasure for years. They come in many flavors, and if you have taste buds, you’ll discover a flavor you enjoy. However, we’ve discovered that some flavors, such as Lay’s Ketchup Chips, push the limits.

Today, we’re looking at this unique flavor to see if it’s worth trying. So cleanse your palate, and let’s dive into this tangy creation. 

About Lay’s

Herman W. Lay set out to revolutionize the chip industry in the early 1930s. In 1932, Herman began selling his thin and crispy potato slices out of the trunk of his car. Between 1944 and 1965, the company went through a series of acquisitions before ultimately settling in the hands of the powerhouse PepsiCo. 

Lay’s has become a household name around the world, and you can find them in over 200 countries. Because tastes vary significantly by region, they often cater flavors based on unique regional preferences. 

Lays remains committed to offering quality and flavor variety while adapting to the constantly changing preferences of consumers. However, whether you prefer the original flavors or the more exciting options, like Lay’s Ketchup Chips, remains entirely up to you.

Do Other Companies Make Ketchup Chips?

Despite how you may feel about the flavor, Lay’s isn’t the only brand that offers ketchup chips. You can find options from Herr’s, Pringles, and Doritos. When it comes to brands in this market segment, these are as big as you can get. 

Where in the World Are Ketchup Chips?

Lay’s introduced its ketchup chips in Canada in the 1970s. This was primarily due to the extreme popularity of ketchup as a condiment throughout the country.

Many consumers were dipping their potato slices in ketchup, so the flavor made sense.

A Canadian Lay’s employee, Joe “Spud” Murphy, typically receives credit as the flavor’s pioneer. It hit the scene as a limited-edition flavor. However, the overwhelming response from Canadians revealed they were falling in love with the tangy taste.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujVPBuu6-HI

Can You Buy Lay’s Ketchup Chips in the US?

Lay’s Ketchup Chips are primarily a Canadian delicacy. However, you can occasionally find them in limited supply in the United States. Some specialty stores often carry imported brands from other countries, including Canada. If you can find them locally, you’ve hit the jackpot.

On the other hand, if you are still looking for them, you’re not exactly out of luck. You can order many foods online through Amazon, including Lay’s Ketchup Chips. However, don’t expect them to arrive quickly. Shipping to the United States can take more than a week.

Other Unique Lay’s Chip Flavors

If ketchup isn’t your favorite condiment, you’ll find many other exciting Lay’s chip flavors to choose from. However, just like the Canadian option, they may not be readily available in the United States. Let’s look at some unique Lay’s flavors that have been sold. 

Chicken and Waffles

Inspired by the famous Southern dish, Lay’s Chicken and Waffles provides a unique flavor. You can practically taste the Southern hospitality with every bite. The flavor combines savory notes of fried chicken with the sweetness of waffles. 

This flavor is typically available as a limited-edition flavor throughout the United States. It often makes an appearance for special promotions or as a limited-time campaign. As a result, it may not always be available in local stores.

Cappuccino

We’re fans of chips and Cappuccinos, but not together. However, we’re not knocking it if that’s your cup of tea. Lay’s Cappuccino combines salt and coffee into this unique chip flavor. When it comes to non-traditional flavors, this one makes the list.

Sadly, for those of you who love the idea of this combination, this was a limited-edition flavor. They were only manufactured for a short period in 2014. Unless something has changed and they return from the grave, we recommend passing on any you see on store shelves. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oFFTwA29Fs

Sriracha

For consumers who like it a bit spicy, Lay’s Sriracha provides a fantastic option. It combines chili peppers, garlic, and spices nearly perfectly. If you want a chip with lots of flavor and a kick of heat, this chip is for you.

Unfortunately, this flavor was a temporary promotion in 2013. It was only available for a limited time before the company stopped production. If we could have any flavor on our list come back to store shelves, this would be it.

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Southern Biscuits and Gravy

If you want your chips to taste like they’ll stick to your ribs, try Lay’s Southern Biscuits and Gravy. This flavor was among the many entries in the company’s 2015 “Do Us a Flavor” contest. Consumers loved it so much that it was the champion flavor of the competition.

Lay’s placed the winning chip flavor on store shelves for a year before pulling the plug.

However, that’s not stopping many fans from encouraging the manufacturer to resurrect it. Will they? We’ll have to wait and see! Does this flavor push the limits more than Lay’s ketchup chips?

West Coast Truffle Fries

Lay’s West Coast Truffle Fries chip combines many flavors West Coasters love. They contained parmesan, sea salt, and truffle oil covering the wavy slices of potatoes. A native Californian came up with the idea for this popular delicacy in the Golden State.

However, as was the case for many of the other flavors in the contest, West Coast Truffle Fries disappeared. Californians now must get their fix by eating truffle fries in non-chip form. 

Fried Pickles with Ranch

Again, we like fried pickles and ranch, but most definitely not together. Lay’s Fried Pickles with Ranch was a special summer release in 2018 and 2019. However, it got the ax during the chaos of 2020. 

Lay’s surprised customers in 2021 when they put it back into production. However, there was a twist. The chips were only available for a limited time at Sam’s Club locations.

We checked our local Sam’s Club location to see if they have returned for 2023, but they’re nowhere to be seen.

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Grilled Cheese and Ketchup

As we mentioned, Canadians aren’t shy about their love for ketchup. It is no surprise that Grilled Cheese and Ketchup won the 2013 “Do Us a Flavor” contest in Canada. However, not everyone loved the flavor as much as the original Lay’s Ketchup chips. 

Some consumers felt it tasted like a combination of sour cream and cheddar with a hint of ketchup. Ultimately, Lay’s discontinued the flavor, and we’ll likely never see it again. But it doesn’t sound like we’re missing out on much. 

Bacon Mac and Cheese

Lay’s Bacon Mac and Cheese won the 2014  “Do Us a Flavor” contest in the United States. You might be wondering how this flavor did not already exist. You can add cheese and bacon to anything and make it exponentially better. Right?

Unfortunately, consumers didn’t buy into the hype. Some felt it was little more than a cheese chip.

Any bacon flavoring was covered up by an abundance of salt, likely creating a smokey taste. Regardless, don’t expect to find it on store shelves anytime soon.

Why Are Lay’s Ketchup Chips a Thing?

You’re missing out if you’ve never tried chips dipped in ketchup. Because the condiment is readily available, using it as a dipping sauce is not uncommon. It adds a tangy and unique flavor with just enough crunch in each bite. 

Would you give Lay’s Ketchup Chips a try?

Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API