wings

It’s time to revisit a subject (and maybe the first in a series of similar topics) for discussion here in the chilehead world: what are my favorite spicy snacks in the world?

On previous lists on this very topic in years past, I have included spicy sweets among fiery snacks. I decided to forgo the mention of candies, chocolates, confections, sweet baked items, and caramel sauces and hot syrups on this top 5 rundown, and instead will go for the more salty-based variety of munchies. This includes chips, baked or fried products made from potatoes, corn, wheat, or meat jerky.

As I was compiling this list, I discovered that a few “shoe-ins” unfortunately had to be left out as the manufacturer either stopped production of the item or the company went out of business altogether. It’s sad, but most of you know that the fiery foods industry can be a fickle and tough one to remain successful in, and sometimes the products for whatever reason did not gain the audience they deserved.

So, without further ado, here are what I think are the best chile pepper-laden snacks on the market today in order…

Assimilation of spicy food into regular American culture is in full swing. Led by popular trends such as the sriracha craze, fiery cuisine is completely unavoidable now.

In all of this, there is one smaller trend in spicy foods that has seemingly come out of nowhere that, for a lot of foodies and chileheads, remains mysterious. And that is “Nashville Hot” or “Nashville Hot Chicken.” Nationwide restaurant chains such as KFC and O’Charley’s have picked up on this style and have introduced menu items based on it.

“What precisely is Nashville Hot Chicken?”, you may be asking yourself? Nashville Hot is a type of fried chicken that is typically marinated in buttermilk, breaded and seasoning, and fried in a deep fryer, pressure cooker, or sometimes pan-fried. What makes Nashville Hot Chicken stand out from other forms of Southern fried chicken is the application of a dark, decadent, chile pepper-based paste made from lard and cayenne pepper powder. This paste is what separates regular buffalo chicken in that the buffalo style usually gets its spiciness from a hot sauce sauce.

The typical, traditional way of serving Nashville Hot Chicken dates back to the 1970s, and most recipes have included chicken parts (legs, thighs, or wings) or pieces (such as breast strips) that are served on white bread and topped with pickles. That has inspired other culinary variations, like Nashville Hot Chicken nuggets, sliders, salads, and even pork ribs at dining outlets such as the aforementioned chains, and Nashville Hot Fish in local Tennessee restaurants. How big will this trend be? Well, KFC’s addition in select markets in early 2016 have made executives rave about Nashville Hot as, “the most successful product testing in the company’s recent history,” so this may become a household term within the next 5-10 years.

It’s time for another captivating snack chip showdown! Of course, since I try to keep it spicy, I’ve selected a pair of nationally-available brand names with takes on fiery flavor variations. Since major snack manufacturers are scatter-shot when it comes to not only featuring a product that should appeal to chileheads, but also be delicious at the same time, I came into this review with no expectations.

Interestingly enough, there are now actually a wealth of hot n’ spicy options down the chip aisle (almost too many, to be honest!), so I had to be very judicious in not only selecting suitable review subjects.

I ended up choosing Doritos Dinamita Fiery Habanero Tortilla Chips and Ruffles Deep-Ridged Classic Hot Wings Potato Chips, and I was fortunate because they were two fairly dissimilar munchies in core ingredients, texture, and flavor styles…