13 Discontinued Fritos Flavors We Aren't Getting Back

Fritos is a classic American snack that has been around for generations. But despite the loyal following, not all Fritos flavors have stood the test of time. The snack industry is an ever-changing landscape driven by consumer preferences, market demands, and a quest for new and exciting tastes. On occasion, even the most cherished flavors have fallen victim to discontinuation, leaving fans yearning for those of the past. While it's difficult to bid farewell to those that have been discontinued, it's important to understand the reasons behind their disappearance. Sometimes, it fails to resonate with a wider audience and falls short of sales expectations. Other times, changes in ingredient availability or production costs may prompt companies to streamline their offerings and discontinue less popular varieties to focus on flagship products.

So come join us as we explore the discontinued Frito flavors that have vanished from store shelves. We'll delve into the stories behind these lost chips and reminisce about those that once delighted our taste buds. While we may never taste them again, their memory lives on in the hearts of snack lovers everywhere.

For a golden period in the late 80s into the early 90s, Fritos Non-Stop Nacho was on the market. We can only assume that the chip was similar in taste and texture to another nacho cheese chip, the Dorito, also owned by Frito-Lay. This is because one of the TV spots advertised the flavor as a "big nacho crunch" with a subtle Mexican fiesta theme. "I wished Fritos would have a nacho flavor back" lamented one fan while reminiscing on the advertising campaign.

While there is no doubt that nacho cheese-flavored chips are delicious, the flavor was likely discontinued because it doesn't make sense for Frito Lay to sell two identical chip flavors that might compete against each other. While we would love to get our hands on a bag, the flavor hasn't been seen on supermarket shelves in nearly 30 years, so it's pretty unlikely we will ever get a chance. The closest we're likely to get is simply making a killer nacho recipe with Fritos as the base.

Available for a glorious decade from the late 1990s into the onset of the 2000s, Cheddar Ranch Twists Fritos still have fans today. "Am I the only person who remembers these," tweeted one fan with a photo of the snack, sparking a nostalgic conversation that even drew the attention of the official Frito-Lay account. "Sadly, we're no longer producing Fritos Flavor Twists Cheddar Ranch Flavored Corn Snacks" it replied. "We know it's a bummer, but we'll be sure to pass your note on to our Fritos team so they know they have fans who miss the snack. Thanks for being a loyal fan!"

Unfortunately, this answer wasn't acceptable to fans who missed the unique combination of sharp cheddar cheese and smooth, creamy ranch dressing. "I made a Twitter just to beg you guys to bring these back," one particularly passionate fan pleaded. While you can't find the chip in stores or online, the best bet to recreate the flavor is to mix Fritos with Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch Doritos for a taste that's at least a little similar. And maybe, if you really want to try them, keep tweeting Frito-Lay with your requests.

The popular Twitter account Discontinued Foods started a conversation about Texas Grill Fritos in 2022. The chip had a tangy honey BBQ flavor and even a superstar-studded ad campaign but was still only available from 1995 to '97. Besides the flavor, another feature that set these chips apart was they had grill marks painted onto each chip to make them appear even more authentic. Country singer Reba McEntire starred in a funny 1995 ad campaign for the chip which shows her putting on a full concert in a gas station parking lot to convince a cashier to sell her a bag of chips after hours. However, even Reba's seal of approval wasn't enough to keep the flavor on the market.

There have been many attempts by fans to bring back the chip over the years, with one particularly dedicated snacker even starting a Change.org petition to try and get Frito-Lay's attention. "I miss these. They were the best," wrote one signer. "They were the best chips ever," wrote another. While the petition only has few signatures, it is still active and slowly expanding. Yet, unless the number of names suddenly rockets up into the six figures, we doubt that we will ever get to taste this chip again.

Fritos Classic Ranch is a more recent flavor, first made available in 2016. Many fans enjoyed it. You could even see the spices with your naked eye. "I opened the bag to find that the chips had the expected Fritos shapes, but also noticeable was a light smattering of small green and red seasoning bits," a fan wrote on Taquitos. "I crunched in to find a tasty ranch flavor on the first bite, not particularly strong but still a good ranch taste, slowly transitioning into a more standard Fritos taste as the ranch wore off."

This sentiment is widely shared, as another fan of the flavor left this glowing review. "I love and hate these!!! I could honestly eat a bag in one day. Seriously, I've done it," one commentor wrote. "They are the perfect crispy/crunchiness. Perfectly seasoned ... not overly salty. I have to fight the urge to buy it when I'm in the market. It's got a delicious ranch flavor added to that nice deep-fried taste without being greasy." 

Although Fritos Classic Ranch was popular and loved, they are no longer listed on the official Frito-Lay website. Major retailers like Walmart used to have backstock, however, many locations are now out, so if you find them, grab them while you still can. Fritos doesn't bring many flavors back, so we don't have much hope for Classic Ranch.

Fritos Lime & Chile smelled "mostly like regular Fritos, but there is a very slight lime and chile smell, too. These smell better than regular Fritos," per one reviewer. They also tasted pretty good, as they "had a mild enough level of lime and chile flavoring that you could still taste the Fritos." Lime & Chile Fritos were so beloved by fans that there is even a Facebook group begging FritoLay to bring them back. "Bring Back Lime and Chile Fritos...The Movement!" has just over 300 members and active posting history dating back to 2010, which is roughly around the time, we assume, that the chips first left shelves. "Let's have a sit in front of headquarters," a particularly passionate fan suggested.

This was after FritoLay officially acknowledged the group with some disappointing news. "We're so glad to know one of our past products reached your 'favorite snack' list! We understand each brand or flavor will end up being a front-runner for someone," the message read. "We wish we could carry them all. Regrettably, some snacks must be discontinued in order to make room for new ideas and the ever-changing market demand." Sounds like the final word on Fritos Lime & Chile.

In 2010, a limited-edition Fritos flavor graced our shelves for a short while, never to be seen again — Ballpark Nacho. There is hardly a mention of the flavor anywhere on the Internet, other than a loving shout-out on the Discontinued Foods Twitter page. The chips were "Fritos corn chips meant to taste like eating nachos at a ballgame, featuring a flavor profile that was part salsa, part nacho cheese." They were a true hit for those who remember them from their brief tenure. "The bygone glory days of Ballpark Nacho Fritos," lamented one fan in the replies.

When asked if these Nacho Cheese Fritos tasted anything like Nacho Cheese Doritos, a Flickr user said, "Nacho Cheese Doritos actually taste more like real cheese. The Ballpark Nacho Fritos taste more like that artificial, Velveeta-y cheese they dump on ballpark nachos." No matter whether the chip authentically recreated a ballpark dining experience, it still only lasted less than a year. We think it's safe to say we won't be seeing these Fritos again anytime soon.