14 Discontinued Salty Snacks We Wish Would Make A Comeback
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From chips to crackers and pretzels, there are loads of salty snacks out there to satiate your craving for the crunch. But what happens when your favorite snacks are taken off the market? With so many brands and flavors out there, it's inevitable that some beloved snacks will end up being discontinued.
Whether your favorite pretzels are no more, there's a limited-edition chip flavor that's long gone, or the cheesy crackers you once snacked on at every available opportunity have vanished into oblivion, many of us feel a deep sense of nostalgia for our favorite snacks we can no longer enjoy. There are some salty snacks out there that definitely had their lifespan cut short to the dismay of many and we would love to see them brought back one day.
We've rounded up 14 salty snacks we wish were still around. Who knows, maybe some of these will make a comeback in the future.
1. Lay's Wavy Fried Green Tomato Chips
Based on the classic Southern comfort food, Lay's Wavy Fried Green Tomato chips were conceived as part of the 2017 Do Us A Flavor contest. It wasn't the winning flavor (that honor went to Crispy Taco), but the mildly spicy, tomato-y, salty, zesty seasonings made these chips popular at the time of their release.
Contest flavors are usually released for a limited-edition run, which could be why these chips were discontinued soon after the campaign. While some flavors end up sticking around, those that prove to be generally unpopular are discontinued, and it looks like that's what happened here. There isn't enough room on store shelves to keep every single flavor ever conceived around, sadly.
Another reason these never lived on could be that they didn't really taste much like fried green tomatoes at all. There was a decent amount of tomato flavor and spice, but those craving Southern fried green tomatoes would be better off making the original dish instead. Still, they were a tasty snack that we wish was still around.
2. Cheeto's X's and O's
These super crunchy, "dangerously cheesy" snacks didn't stick around for long at all. Introduced to the market in 1999, they were just a cheesy memory by the year 2000.
A review on Taquitos.net says, "The Xs are better than the Os," though there's no real reason why that should be the case. Either way, what other snack can you not only chow down on but also play a game of Tic-Tac-Toe with?
We're sad that these moreish cheesy corn puffs are no longer around, and we're not the only ones. It seems like plenty of other people are too, as there's a Facebook page dedicated to bringing back the beloved snack.
Craving strangely shaped, cheesy corn snacks? Nowadays you can grab a bag of cheesy Cheetos Paws to fulfil your craving, but we have to say that they're just not the same, and we'd love for the original X's and O's to make a return to store shelves.
3. Lay's Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese Chips
Cast your mind back to 2014, when Matt Allen from Troy, Ohio, won $50k for coming up with Lay's Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese flavor chips. Though this wasn't the winning flavor in Lay's Do Us A Flavor Contest that year, the classic mac and cheese with bacon combo ensured they were a popular choice.
You might be surprised to hear the winning flavor that year was Wasabi Ginger. We'd take these chips over those any day.
There aren't many people who would turn down the combo of mac and cheese, bacon, and salty potato chips in one delightfully moreish snack. These wiggly-shaped chips had a much milder flavor than you might expect, though, which could have led to their demise. According to a review on Taquitos.net, their flavor has "a hint of smoke, but not really bacon."
Lay's Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese flavor made a brief comeback in 2019, available exclusively at Sam's Club, but their return was sadly short-lived. It's disappointing that such a classic flavor combo is no longer around, but we're still hopeful they'll come back for good someday.
4. Pizzarias Pizza Chips
Children of the 90s (and adults too) will fondly remember these pizza-shaped, pizza-flavored chips. Available in three flavors, Cheese Pizza, Zesty Pepperoni, and Pizza Supreme, they were loaded with flavor, ensuring their popularity from their launch in 1991 to their sad demise a decade later.
Made from pizza dough and packed with flavorsome seasonings, they stained your fingers, a bit like Doritos do today, but we still couldn't get enough of them. A review on Taquitos.net mentions the fact that there was "a lot of powder on the chip," so there was no risk of these lacking flavor.
Keebler described them as "the most successful savory snack debut in the company's history," (via USA Today) and, according to Snack Food Association, they were one of the brand's biggest sellers.
Sadly, they were discontinued when Kellogg's bought Keebler in 2001. Could they come back though? There's a Bring Back Pizzaria Chips made by Keebler Facebook page that currently has more than 7,000 followers, so it's not totally out of the question, and we'll be first in line if they do.
5. Sun Chips Sweet & Spicy BBQ
Sun Chips' multigrain chips came in a variety of flavors, but none were as tasty as Sweet & Spicy BBQ. Launched in 2013, these were made with real honey and chipotle, loaded with zingy, hot BBQ flavor with just a hint of sweetness that made them the perfect snack.
These chips were also a healthier choice than some others on our list, made with 100% wholegrain — though they were still deep fried. They also contained no artificial colors or preservatives, ensuring they were popular for kids' lunchboxes.
No longer listed on Sun Chips' product page, this flavor of Sun Chips has also vanished from store shelves, and we miss them. Nowadays, you might be lucky enough to find a few bags of these through an online re-seller. You can still buy Sun Chips in other flavors, with classics like cheesy Harvest Cheddar, French Onion, Original, and Garden Salsa available at major retailers.
6. Doritos 3D's
These conical-shaped Doritos 3D's have earned a place in everyone's hearts, and memories. They came in four delicious flavors: Nacho Cheesier, Texas Paprika, Zesty Ranch, and Jalapeño & Cheddar, and according to a review on Taquitos.net, they "have a unique crunch" that could be something to do with the shape.
Sadly, Doritos 3D's weren't around all that long, first hitting store shelves in 1998 before vanishing forever (well, sort of) in 2004. Ok, so they actually did make a comeback, of sorts, in 2021. They weren't the same chips we knew and loved though, rebranded as Doritos 3D Crunch, with Spicy Ranch and Chili Cheese Nacho replacing the original flavor lineup.
Later, other flavors like Extreme Cheese and Smoky BBQ were also introduced. There was even a limited-edition "Stranger Things" version for fans of the Netflix show.
But are these as good as the original Doritos 3D's, and will we ever get our old favorite 3D snacks back? Opinions are mixed on the new flavors, but it seems like Doritos 3D Crunch is here to stay.
7. Wild n' Mild Ranch Fritos
Wild n' Mild Ranch Fritos were some of the most popular corn chips of the 80s and 90s, with their Wild West-themed commercial in 1989. These chips had quite a mild flavor, with a review by Chip Review comparing the flavor to Doritos Cooler Ranch, though they were "missing a bit of the sour creaminess that we love about ranch." The same review also noticed that the corn flavor of the chips somewhat overpowered the ranch seasoning.
By the 90s, these chips were sadly discontinued, though they had a brief comeback as a limited-edition flavor in 2012. They're clearly missed, as a Bring Back Wild n' Mild Ranch Fritos Facebook page has over 1,000 followers. The chips have also been the subject of various discussion board threads desperately hoping for their return.
Ranch seems to have had its heyday in the 90s, both as a seasoning and a salad dressing. It seems unlikely that we'll see these chips make a comeback, although who knows — they could return again as a limited-edition flavor.
8. Lay's Southern Biscuits and Gravy Chips
There's nothing in the world as delicious as freshly baked biscuits with gravy, the classic Southern comfort food. Strangely though, as a potato chip flavor, these weren't a huge success.
Lay's Southern Bicuits and Gravy were the winner of the 2015 Do Us A Flavor contest, netting creator Hailey Green a cool $1 million. Their creamy flavor with mild spices was described by one Amazon reviewer as "strangely kind of fun." Another review on Taquitos.net commented on the flavor being "delivered with appropriate intensity."
Despite their positive reviews, this flavor didn't stick around for long, like most Do Us A Flavor winners. It seems like memories of the unusual flavor live on though, with many nostalgic comments on Reddit. In 2022, a petition was started to bring back the Southern Biscuits & Gravy variety of Lay's, but with under 120 signatures to date, we're not expecting the company to re-release them anytime soon.
9. Crunchy Cheetos Salsa Con Queso
Crunchy Cheetos Salsa Con Queso landed on shelves in 2000, and weren't discontinued until 2008. That's a relatively long run compared to other Cheetos varieties like Paws (two years) and X's and O's (one year). The spicy flavor returned briefly to Dollar General Stores in summer 2020, but it wasn't around for long.
Fans were sad when the flavor was discontinued as there really isn't anything else like these on the market. The packet promises queso sauce flavor with tomato, jalapeno, and lime, and that shines through. They're not super spicy, though.
A review on Taquitos.net describes the flavor as not too strong, and not particularly hot. Over time, that does build to a nicely intense, fairly spicy level, but it's never so spicy you need a break from eating these snacks.
Crunchy Cheetos Salsa Con Queso has already returned once, so chances are good we could see these pop up again on store shelves in the future. We'll be ready to grab a few packs if and when they make a reappearance. Until then, our search for a similar flavor continues...
10. Doritos Guacamole
If there's one dip everyone loves, it's classic guacamole. Instead of just dipping your chips in it, why not bring that guac flavor to the chips themselves? It seemed like a genius idea, but Doritos Guacamole wasn't the expected hit.
These chips first hit store shelves in 2003, and they were only around for three years before they vanished for good, being discontinued in 2006. They just weren't a bestseller, it seems. One reason for that could be that 13 out of 17 current Doritos flavors pack some spice, and the Guacamole flavor just wasn't hot enough.
Speaking of heat, there's a hint of jalapeno, alongside bold guacamole flavor and lime, but these are only mildly spicy. A review on Taquitos.net said they tasted a bit like Nacho Cheese Doritos initially, with the guacamole coming through as an aftertaste.
Some people loved them, though, and a revival of this flavor is definitely a possibility. There are a number of petitions out there, including one that's still active with over 900 signatures. If you're planning a trip to the UK in the near future, you can now find this long-lost flavor for sale in stores there, branded as Doritos Dipper Guacamole, available from most major supermarkets.
11. Keebler Munch 'Ems
It seems like a lot of people out there have fond memories of these "crackers that crunch like chips," as they were billed. Part of Keebler Munch 'Ems' appeal was that they were somewhere between a cracker and a salty potato chip, and they really packed that crunch.
First arriving on the scene in 1991, these crispy little crackers stuck around until the early 2000s. They started out as a hexagon shape with a grooved texture that really held the flavoring, but later they took on more of a bubbly texture.
You could enjoy Keebler Munch 'Ems in various flavors including ranch, cheddar, and sour cream and onion, and these savory mini crackers have been sorely missed since they left shelves for good. The good news is that some Redditors say Cheez-It Grooves is a decent substitute for the original grooved Munch 'Ems, though they're square shaped rather than the hexagonal crackers we knew and loved.
12. Lay's Wavy Milk Chocolate Covered Chips
There's nothing more indulgent than rich, creamy milk chocolate, and nothing satisfies a salty snack craving quite like potato chips. So why not combine the two? That's what Lay's figured in 2013, when it introduced its Wavy Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips, sprinkled with a hint of sea salt.
The perfect combination of sweet and salty, this flavor was sadly always intended to be a limited edition, so these moreish crunchy chips didn't stick around for long. In 2021, fans of the flavor were excited when Lay's brought them back for Valentine's Day. You couldn't pick these up in a store, though, as they were only available to win through a giveaway.
Later, other brands like Trader Joes brought out their own versions of chocolate-dipped potato chips, which also went on to be discontinued. We're not sure why these sweet and salty chips can't seem to stick around in one form or another, but one thing we do know is that the Lay's variety is the one we miss most. Hopefully, this flavor will make a comeback to store shelves one day so we can stock up.
13. Pringles Cinnamon and Sugar
Why choose between churros and chips when you can have both together in one sweet, salty, crunchy snack? Pringles nailed the churro-chip combo flavor with its Cinnamon & Sugar chips, and we remember them fondly.
This was one of the first sweet flavors Pringles offered, and it came out as a limited edition holiday flavor in 2014, alongside white chocolate and pecan pie flavors. You had to be quick to get your hands on these babies though, as by 2016 they were just a distant memory.
These chips were a mild cinnamon sugar flavor that was delightful. They smelled pretty heavenly too, with a cinnamon toast aroma hitting you when you opened the tub, though it wasn't overpowering.
There aren't enough salty and sweet snacks around today, and it could be because the flavor combo is a love-it or hate-it affair. Every time holiday season rolls around, there's a glimmer of hope Pringles will bring back its Cinnamon & Sugar chips, or at least release something similar, but we'll have to wait and see if that ever happens.
14. Cheetos Cracker Trax
Little cracker snacks shaped like Chester Cheetah's paws? What's not to love? People did love these, from their inception in the early 90s right through until they were discontinued in the mid-2000s.
Available in spicy cheddar and cheesy cheddar flavors, these little paws were crunchy plain crackers covered in bright orange cheese seasoning. They were unfeasibly cheesy and delicious and went down a treat.
The good news is that Cheetos released a new cheesy snack called Paws in 2000 that's shaped the same as the snack crackers we all knew and loved. Though they were officially discontinued in 2003, they made a comeback and you can buy them today.
The bad news? These paw-shaped treats are made with corn instead of wheat, so they're less of a cracker and more of a corn puff, though they still pack in bags of cheesy flavor. If life isn't the same without Cheetos Cracker Trax and you're looking for a cheesy cracker replacement, the closest you'll currently come is Cheez-Its, though there's none of that cute Cheetah paw shape going on.