We Tried Every Single Cheetos Flavor We Could Find—These Will Always Be The Best Ones
I consider myself somewhat of a Cheetos connoisseur. I never arrive at book club without a bag in tow, and a multi-flavor Cheetos spread is a staple at my family's annual summer getaway. So it was with true joy that I undertook organizing the Delish-wide Cheetos taste-test so we could, once and for all, decide which Cheetos flavor ranks supreme. True service.
Even as a self-proclaimed Cheetos savant, even I had no idea some of these flavors existed! Luckily, I had the entire Delish staff in my arsenal to give their discerning opinions on each and every bag. After all, you might soon find yourself en route to a Super Bowl party empty-handed and there's nothing easier to pick up, or more crowd pleasing, than a bright orange bag of Chester's cheesy snack.
(One note: the brand recently launched the "Pizza Puffs" flavor. Alas, we didn't get our hands on that one for this ranking — but don't worry, I can vouch that they're good, just not top three good.)
Here's how it all panned out:
12. Mexican Street Corn
Admittedly, this is one of the flavors I was most looking forward to trying. Who doesn't love Mexican street corn?! However, I thought these missed the mark (lacking in cheesy flavor and a bit too artificial tasting) and I wasn't alone in my opinion. As one editor said, "I really wanted to love these but they're just ok." Another got straight to the point: "Eww."
But not everyone disliked this one. "So fun, so delicious," commented an outlier.
11. Buffalo
Slightly missing last place was Cheetos' Buffalo flavor. One colleague said, "Buffalo is just Frito Lay's excuse to use artificial butter." Another was perplexed: "Doesn't taste like buffalo?" (I personally ranked these pretty high, thinking the flavor was kind of like a marriage between Flamin' Hot and Buffalo.)
10. Cheddar & Jalapeño
Even though one staffer claimed that these are "the underdog Cheeto flavor that really tops them all," ultimately, these just didn't rank high overall. A common complaint was that they tasted too salty or too artificial. One editor simply said, "No ma'am." Guess these just aren't for everyone.
9. Flamin' Hot Limón
I wouldn't necessarily think to pair lime flavor with cheese, but I found that the citrus balanced out the heat quite nicely. No one seemed to hate these, but simply preferred other flavors more. Comments ranged from "was expecting more," to "tastes like artificial lime."
8. XXtra Flamin' Hot
Another middle ground flavor, people were not as heated (get it?) about these, either way. Some people found the flavor too similar to classic Flamin' Hot, while others found it too spicy for their delicate taste buds (it's me, hi). One person claimed that these are "good if you want to pace yourself," while another commented, "Classic, needed water though."
7. Simply White Cheddar Puffs
These puffs aren't as puffy as the classic version. The Simply collection are non-GMO, vegetarian (you read that right, not all Cheetos are veggie-friendly), organic, and made with real cheese. Opinions on these ranged from "love a light puff" to "air..." to "surprisingly obsessed."
6. Baked
The Delish team seemed to think that these were a pretty decent option for a healthier chip. (Do Cheetos count as chips?) While some proclaimed they were "too healthy tasting" or just "fine," one person shared that these were their favorite. "I always go for these," they noted.
5. Simply White Cheddar Crunchy
Another option from the brand's Simply product line is the crunchy version of their White Cheddar Cheetos. To me, these are more like a cross between Puffs and Classic Crunchy Cheetos in terms of texture, making them slightly airier than your classic crunch. One editor thought that these were "boring," but most of the team enjoyed the flavor, saying things like, "Love these," and "Yum!"
4. Original
Let's give it up for the OG Crunchy Cheetos! They're a staple for a reason. As one Delish staffer noted, you "can't go wrong" with these cheesy bites. They're great because you can have a lot at once, which isn't always the case with some of the spicier flavors, but to my surprise, one crazy person thought that they were "too cheesy." Wait, what?
3. Flamin' Hot
In the upset of the century, the spicy Cheetos that took the world by storm when they first launched did not come in first place. Or even second! A few editors weren't as gung-ho over these, with one saying they tasted a bit sour. Overall though, the Delish team enjoyed these immensely, ranking them higher than the XXtra Flamin' Hot.
2. Flamin' Hot Puffs
Go Puffs! I didn't even know they had a Puff version of their famous Flamin' Hot flavor so this was a fun Cheeto to try. We at Delish had strong opinions on this light and airy snack. The comments really speak for themselves: "One of the best chips of all time period." "I would pound an alarming amount of these." And last but not least, "Literally perfection, no notes!"
Winner: Puffs
It took over 20 years after Cheetos debuted with its original Crunchy flavor before Puffs were born. Puffs proves that sometimes the simpler, the better. Nothing can beat the classic cheesy goodness of a snack staple and the results are the proof in the pudding. Many Delish editors enjoyed these because they brought back memories of their childhood — the flavor is extremely nostalgic: "True comfort," said one. "The best <3," wrote another. The lighter, airier version of the classic cheese doodle makes for a timeless and addictive treat. Simply put, Puffs are "perfection." We dare you to come at us and our orange fingers over it.
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