Steak flavored potato chips have become an increasingly popular snack food item over the past few years. As more companies release their own versions of steak chips, consumers have a lot of options to choose from. But who are the major manufacturers producing steak flavored potato chips? A few major brands dominate this market niche.
Lay’s Steakhouse Potatoes
One of the most popular steak flavored potato chip brands is Lay’s Steakhouse Potatoes. Lay’s is owned by PepsiCo, one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world. PepsiCo also owns other major chip brands like Frito-Lay and Ruffles.
Lay’s Steakhouse Potatoes feature a bold steak flavor that tries to mimic the taste of a well-marinated, grilled steak. They contain flavors like A1 steak sauce, garlic, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. Lay’s recommends pairing this variety with a sandwich for a satisfying lunch.
Steakhouse Potatoes have been part of the Lay’s brand since the early 2010s. They are marketed as a limited time offering that comes and goes throughout the year. Their temporary availability helps drive consumer demand and excitement.
Pringles Loaded Steak Fajita
Pringles, known for their uniform saddle-shaped chips and stackable packaging, offers their own take on steak flavored chips with the Loaded Steak Fajita variety.
Like Lay’s, Pringles is owned by PepsiCo and has access to their product development resources. The Loaded Steak Fajita chips attempt to capture the taste of fajitas with flavors like grilled sirloin steak, sauteed peppers and onions, cheddar cheese, and a creamy sauce.
Pringles recommends pairing this zesty chip with avocado dip for a complete appetizer-inspired snacking experience. The Loaded Steak Fajita chips are currently available at major retailers like Walmart and Target.
Utz Steakhouse Onion
Utz is a popular regional chip brand based out of Pennsylvania that offers their own steakhouse style chip called Steakhouse Onion.
The Utz Steakhouse Onion potato chips feature a reddish-brown color and the taste of grilled steak, onions, garlic, and oregano. They have a crispy, crunchy texture and strong onion flavor.
Utz is known for its quality chips and bold flavors. The Steakhouse Onion variety can be found in stores across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. It’s a nice option for steak flavored chips from a lesser known brand.
Ruffles Flamin’ Hot Steakhouse Onion
Ruffles, another Frito-Lay owned brand, offers their own unique take on steak chips called Ruffles Flamin’ Hot Steakhouse Onion.
As the name implies, these Ruffles chips combine two popular flavors – steakhouse onion and flaming hot spice. They aim to deliver the taste of marinated grilled steak topped with spicy onions.
The Flamin’ Hot Steakhouse Onion Ruffles have a reddish color and strong smoky, spicy taste. They bring high heat and savory umami flavor. This variety provides a more intense chip experience than regular steakhouse styles.
Wavy Lay’s Steakhouse Garlic Pepper
Lay’s also produces another steak chip variety under their wavy brand – Wavy Lay’s Steakhouse Garlic Pepper.
These wavy cut chips aim to mimic the taste of a garlic peppercorn crusted steak. They have an intense garlicky flavor combined with cracked black pepper.
The Wavy Lay’s Steakhouse Garlic Pepper chips deliver steak flavor in a unique wavy shape and texture. This variety is a little harder to find than the regular Lay’s Steakhouse chips, but can be found at select grocery retailers.
Cape Cod Steakhouse Cut
Cape Cod is known for their premium kettle cooked potato chip varieties. Their Steakhouse Cut chip lives up to that reputation.
The Cape Cod Steakhouse Cut chips are thicker than regular chips with a hearty crunch. They are cooked in peanut oil and feature a bold mix of steak and smoke flavors. Worcestershire sauce adds depth along with garlic and onion.
Cape Cod focuses on quality ingredients and cooking techniques for full flavor. The Steakhouse Cut delivers a premium steak chip experience. They are sold for a higher price point matching their positioning as a gourmet brand.
Great Value Steakhouse Recipe
Great Value, Walmart’s private label brand, offers budget conscious consumers a steak flavored chip option with their Steakhouse Recipe variety.
As the name suggests, this chip tries to mimic the taste of a well seasoned grilled steak. It likely features flavors like garlic, onion and A1 steak sauce.
For a low price, Great Value’s Steakhouse Recipe potato chips provide the core flavors people expect from a steak chip. The quality likely won’t match premium brands, but the value is appealing.
Kirkland Signature Steakhouse Select
Similar to Walmart’s private label, Costco offers their own take on steak chips under the Kirkland Signature brand called Steakhouse Select.
These chips offer a premium product at a budget price by selling in bulk quantities. The Steakhouse Select chips aim to replicate the taste of a delicious marinated steak with seasoning blends and natural flavors.
Overall, Kirkland Signature Steakhouse Select provides Costco members another option for quality steak chips for an affordable price thanks to bulk savings.
365 Organic Steakhouse Style
For consumers looking for a more natural steak chip, 365 Organic from Whole Foods provides a solid option.
365 Organic Steakhouse Style potato chips are certified organic and non-GMO verified. They are cooked in expeller pressed sunflower oil. The chips get their seasoning and flavors from organic ingredients like onion, garlic, paprika extract, and natural grill flavor.
While not as bold as artificial flavors, 365 Organic does a nice job creating an authentic steakhouse taste profile from real foods. This provides a good option for an organic steak chip.
Other Steak Chip Options
Beyond the major national brands covered already, there are some other smaller niche brands offering steak flavored potato chips as well:
- Dirty Steakhouse Kettle Chips by Dirty Potato Chips
- Route 11 Steakhouse Style Potato Chips
- Steakhouse Thick Cut by The Whole Earth
- Steakhouse Grill by Gaslamp Popcorn
- Steakhouse Potato Chips by Jack’s Links Beef Jerky
While not as widely available as larger brands, these specialty steak chips provide more variety and choice for steak and potato chip enthusiasts seeking out unique flavors. Smaller brands are able to focus on very specific seasonings and ingredients to differentiate their products.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key takeaways on the major brands producing steak flavored potato chips:
- Frito-Lay owns the leading steak chip brands including Lay’s, Ruffles, and Wavy Lay’s steak varieties.
- Other major brands like Pringles, Utz, and Cape Cod also have popular steak chip varieties.
- Retailer private label brands like Great Value and Kirkland Signature offer cheaper steak chip options.
- 365 Organic provides a natural steakhouse style chip for consumers looking to avoid artificial flavors.
- Smaller niche brands help round out the marketplace with unique takes on steak chips.
In general, steak flavored potato chips remain a popular segment of the broader potato chip market across both mass market and specialty brands. The combination of savory, smokey, and spicy flavors delivers an indulgent snack experience consumers love. While new brands and flavors continue to emerge, a few major players like Lay’s and Utz own a large portion of the steak chip category. But there are plenty of options available for steak and potato chip lovers of all kinds no matter your budget or preferences.
Conclusion
Steak flavored potato chips have become a sizzling snack sensation, combining the hearty flavor of grilled steak with the crunch and convenience of potato chips. Major brands like Lay’s, Pringles, Utz, and Ruffles lead the way, using blends of seasonings and artificial flavors to recreate the taste of meats like garlic peppercorn steak or fajitas. Retailer private label chips offer cheaper alternatives, while niche brands provide more unique flavor experiences. Whether you prefer the mass appeal of Lay’s or seeking something new from a small batch producer, steak lovers have plenty of spicy, savory chips to choose from. With so many brands competing for attention, innovation continues to drive new steak chip creations and line extensions, meaning more choices for chip lovers in the years ahead.