When looking for a tasty yet dairy-free snack, one often thinks of potato chips. However, there are many other chip snacks that are naturally dairy-free or have dairy-free versions available. This article will explore the most popular dairy-free chip snacks and brands to choose from.
Potato Chips
Traditional potato chips are made from potatoes, oil, and salt. Some seasoned potato chip varieties may contain dairy ingredients like cheese or milk powders. However, most plain potato chip brands are dairy-free, including:
- Lay’s
- Ruffles
- Pringles (Original)
- Kettle Brand
- Cape Cod
- Utz
- Boulder Canyon
When choosing flavored potato chips, read the ingredients carefully to avoid milk products. Some safe, dairy-free seasoned options include Lay’s Barbecue, Sour Cream & Onion, Salt & Vinegar, and Dill Pickle flavors.
Tortilla Chips
Corn tortilla chips make an excellent dairy-free crunchy snack. Most plain tortilla chip varieties are dairy-free, including:
- Tostitos
- Mission
- On the Border
- Calidad
- Food Should Taste Good
- Trader Joe’s
Many flavored tortilla chips are also dairy-free, but check the ingredients. Good dairy-free options include Tostitos Hint of Lime and Restaurant Style tortilla chips.
Pita Chips
Pita chips are typically made from wheat flour, oil, and seasoning. Plain pita chips are usually dairy-free, including brands like:
- Stacy’s
- Garden of Eatin’
- Trader Joe’s
- Blue Diamond
- Oven Baked Pita Chips
Some seasoned pita chip flavors contain dairy ingredients, so read labels carefully. Dairy-free varieties include Stacy’s Simply Naked and Blue Diamond Sea Salt pita chips.
Veggie Chips
Chips made from vegetables like beets, sweet potatoes, and kale are naturally dairy-free. Some tasty dairy-free veggie chip brands include:
- Simply 7
- Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Straws
- Food Should Taste Good Multigrain
- Trader Joe’s Potato & Kale
- Lundberg Organic Sweet Potato
Bean Chips
Chips made from beans, lentils and chickpeas are gaining popularity as a protein-packed snack. Here are some dairy-free bean chip brands to look for:
- Beanitos
- Food Should Taste Good Chickpea
- Way Better Snacks – Sweet Chili, Roasted Corn
- Simply 7 Lentil Chips
- Trader Joe’s Soy Crisps
Rice Cakes
These light, crispy snacks are naturally dairy-free. Plain rice cakes from brands like Quaker and Lundberg provide crunch without the dairy. Flavored rice cakes that are dairy-free include:
- Quaker Corn Cakes
- Lundberg Cinnamon Brown Rice Cakes
- Lundberg Brown Rice Seaweed Cakes
Popcorn
Air-popped or stove-top popped plain popcorn kernels are dairy-free. You can flavor popcorn yourself with olive oil or dairy-free butter sprays and salt or spices. Some dairy-free pre-packaged popcorn brands include:
- Smartfood Delight White Cheddar
- SkinnyPop Original
- Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt
- Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP Sea Salt
Crackers
Look for dairy-free crackers made without milk products like cheese or whey. Good options include:
- Blue Diamond Nut Thins
- Mary’s Gone Crackers
- Simple Mills Fine Ground Sea Salt Crackers
- Back to Nature Crispy Cheddar Crackers
Pretzels
Most pretzel brands are dairy-free, including:
- Snyder’s of Hanover
- Utz Sourdough Specials
- Rold Gold
- Herr’s Pretzel Sticks
Some pretzel varieties like honey wheat or yogurt-covered contain dairy. Stick to original, thin, or sourdough styles to avoid milk ingredients.
Corn Chips
Corn chips fried in vegetable oil are naturally dairy-free. Good options include:
- Fritos Original
- Bugles
- Tostitos Scoops
Choose plain corn chip flavors to be safe. Seasoned varieties may have hidden milk ingredients.
Other Dairy-Free Chips
You can also find other unique dairy-free chip varieties, including:
- Terra Exotic Vegetable Chips
- Brad’s Raw Food Kale Chips
- Food Should Taste Good Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
- Beanfields Bean & Rice Chips
- Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Straws
Tips for Finding Dairy-Free Chips
Whenever possible, opt for plain chip flavors to avoid hidden dairy ingredients. Also, be diligent about reading ingredient labels. Things to watch out for include:
- Milk
- Whey
- Cheese
- Cream
- Buttermilk
- Casein
- Lactose
- Curds
Shop at natural food stores for a wide selection of dairy-free snack chips. Many mainstream brands now label dairy-free options as “vegan” too. With so many tasty options, you can enjoy flavorful chip snacks on a dairy-free diet.
Summary of Dairy-Free Chip Brands
| Chip Type | Dairy-Free Brands |
|---|---|
| Potato Chips | Lay’s, Ruffles, Pringles, Kettle Brand, Cape Cod, Utz |
| Tortilla Chips | Tostitos, Mission, On the Border, Calidad |
| Pita Chips | Stacy’s, Garden of Eatin’, Trader Joe’s, Blue Diamond |
| Veggie Chips | Simply 7, Sensible Portions, Food Should Taste Good, Trader Joe’s, Lundberg |
| Bean Chips | Beanitos, Food Should Taste Good, Way Better Snacks, Simply 7 |
| Rice Cakes | Quaker, Lundberg |
| Popcorn | Smartfood, SkinnyPop, Boom Chicka Pop, Angie’s |
| Crackers | Blue Diamond, Mary’s Gone, Simple Mills, Back to Nature |
| Pretzels | Snyder’s of Hanover, Utz, Rold Gold, Herr’s |
| Corn Chips | Fritos, Bugles, Tostitos Scoops |
With this handy summary table, you can quickly reference some of the top dairy-free chip brands across popular snack categories. Keep it handy when shopping to find tasty chip snacks you can enjoy on a dairy-free diet.
Conclusion
From classic potato chips to veggie chips and crackers, there are plenty of crunchy, dairy-free snack options to choose from. Be sure to read labels and opt for plain flavors when possible. With some diligent label reading and smart snack selections, you can still enjoy all your favorite chips and crisps without the dairy.