The Best New Grocery Store Snacks of 2017

No matter how many wacky flavor ideas Kettle Brand Potato Chips tries, the brand always hits the nail on the head. A potato chip flavored like tropical salsa sounds like it could be hit-or-miss, but the careful balance of mango salt, tomato powder, jalapeño powder, and bell pepper powder really makes the salty potato chips pop.

How freaking cute are these?! Star Wars fans need to scour the snack aisle to find this impossibly adorable bag of Popchips, which features white cheddar puffs in four fun shapes: BB-8s, Millennium Falcons, Stormtroopers, and TIE Fighters. The themed snack looks cool but also tastes pretty out of this world.

If you're too lazy to make queso, grab Kettle Brand Krinkle Cut Potato Chips in Spicy Queso instead. The crinkle-cut chips are sturdy and have a nice texture, and each one is coated in a generous amount of a cheesy, slightly spicy, and totally queso-like seasoning. These are the next best thing to an actual bowl of hot queso with tortilla chips to dip in it.

Calling all sriracha-lovers! This huge bag of popcorn is your dream come true. The Gold Emblem Abound Heavenly Light Popcorn kernels are light and airy, and they're coated just enough in a vinegary seasoning mix that it makes the popcorn taste like you drizzled it with a little bit of sriracha. Not too spicy, this popcorn is dangerously addictive.

There's yet another new Kettle Brand variety worthy of your attention this year, and that's Chile Verde. Fans of tomatillo salsa will love these zesty potato chips that are seasoned with chili powder, jalapeño powder, and parsley. They are truly reminiscent of a homemade green salsa.

Move over, Doritos! Yet another new chip flavor from Paqui has won over our taste buds, and this time it's Spicy Queso. If you love nothing more than tortilla chips and cheesy queso dip, this is the queso-flavored snack for you. Spiced with jalapeño and seasoned with garlic powder, chipotle pepper powder, and bell pepper powder, these addictive chips contain no artificial ingredients and taste exactly like spicy queso dip. Pro tip: overload on the cheese flavor by dipping these in actual queso for the best snack ever.

Véa is a brand-new snack brand that uses simple and flavorful ingredients to take your entire snacking game to a whole new level. These particular sweet potato crunch bars are like mini crunchy granola bars made with actual sweet potatoes from Peru and brown rice and some other spices. They're bursting with the taste of real sweet potatoes and are completely addicting. If sweet potatoes aren't your thing, Véa has a bunch of other options to choose from.

Not only is Pipcorn Delicious Mini Popcorn adorable thanks to the fact that it's made with miniature kernels, but it's also really, really good. We're particularly partial to the truffle flavor, as it's not overwhelming and adds just the right amount of savory flavor to the gluten-free, whole-grain popcorn. The Pipcorn Sea Salt flavor is just as delicious if you prefer a more classic variety.

We're not sure why Annie's hadn't had cheese puffs before, but no matter — they're here now. If you're like us, you'll need to pour yourself a serving size into a bowl, otherwise you'll quickly eat the entire bag and lick every last crumb off your fingers. Annie's Organic Cheddar Cheesy Puffs are perfectly airy, crunchy, and coated in plenty of sharp cheddar cheese dust.

Thin and crunchy cookies are having a moment, and the Chocolate Chip Dessert Thins from Snack Factory are some of the best you'll find in stores. Each square cookie is both buttery and crispy and is packed with tons of miniature chocolate chips. Satisfy your chocolate-chip-cookie craving by skipping the oven and diving into one of these bags instead.

Annie's completely nails it in the cheesy category, whether it's a crunchy snack or creamy mac and cheese. The new Organic White Cheddar Bunny Tail Puffs are our latest obsession, along with the Cheddar Cheesy Puffs. These adorable bunny-tail-shaped snacks offer a new take on a cheese puff, and the salty white cheddar flavor is irresistible.

Listen up, cheese-lovers. We've found the snack you've been missing your entire life: Snyder's Wholey Cheese crackers. These baked cheese crackers will be your new favorite alternative to Cheez-Its, and they're dangerously addictive. We love the flavors Mild Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, and Swiss & Black Pepper, but the third flavor comes out on top, in our opinion. The gluten-free, swiss-cheese-shaped crackers (which also have cheddar for sharpness) are super savory and crunchy, and they even remind us of our favorite cheesy and peppery Italian pasta, cacio e pepe.

Yes, these are hot-dog-flavored potato chips. Welcome to America. And you know what? They're SO good. We were skeptical upon trying these because we weren't exactly sure what gave these chips a hot-dog flavor. But after one bite, we totally got it. Just like the olden days of dipping potato chips in ketchup (did anyone else do this?), these thin and crunchy chips deliver a sweet ketchup flavor along with a smoky flavor that can only be described as the char of a grill. If you set out a bowl of these at your next outdoor BBQ, they'll be devoured alongside the actual hot dogs — trust.

If you're always on the hunt for a high-quality, store-bought tortilla chip, you'll find your next favorite at Target. One of the store's food brands, Simply Balanced, has new Organic Restaurant-Style Corn Tortilla Chips, and they're nearly perfect. The thin and crispy corn chips are sturdy enough to stand up to a dip, but are also great as a snack on their own.

What does a new flavor of Doritos called Heat Wave actually taste like? Surprisingly, not crazy-spicy. These orange chips are just like the classic Doritos you know and love, but with a manageably spicy kick. The package promises "first chipotle cream, then heat," and it holds true. The nacho cheese chips have a hint of chipotle flavor and a punch of heat in every bite.

Unless you read the label on the back of the bag and discovered that the first ingredient in these chips is soy protein, you'd never know these are actually good for you. Our Little Rebellion Protein Crisps are a satisfying alternative to potato chips, and we're smitten with the Wasabi Ginger flavor. These protein-packed chips are so good, you'll be tempted to eat the whole bag.

Kettle corn can be hit or miss, but this new Sweet & Salty Organic Kettle Corn from Simply Balanced is a hit. The sweetness of the light and airy kernels is rounded out by the perfect amount of salt, and there's no artificial taste whatsoever. If kettle corn is your kryptonite, you won't be sorry for grabbing a few bags of this.

If you're looking for a healthier ridged potato chip, you'll love this fiery new product from Popchips. Be warned, the Buffalo Ranch flavor is notably spicy and isn't for wimps, but if you douse everything in buffalo sauce and live for a crunchy chip, this is the snack for you.

Your favorite chocolate Milano cookies just got an even chocolatier upgrade. The Double Milk Chocolate Milano cookies are like Double Stuf Oreos but with buttery shortbread cookies with a rich chocolate filling instead. The thick layer of milk chocolate in between each cookie makes these classic cookies more decadent than usual, and you'll be obsessed.

First things first: pickle snacks are a big "dill" right now. And did you ever imagine you'd be eating a chip made from sauerkraut? The two worlds have collided with the Dill Pickle-flavored Kraut Krisps from Farmhouse Culture, and the result is seriously addictive. The flavor combination of salty, briny sauerkraut and tangy pickles is a match made in heaven. These chips allow you to eat a snack full of probiotics without even realizing it.

Farmhouse Culture's Kraut Krisps are so good we couldn't choose just one flavor. Our second favorite variety is the Zesty Garden Veggie — it makes us feel like we're eating a healthy Dorito. These crispy chips are coated in the flavors of tomato, basil, onion, red bell pepper, and garlic.

The newest product in the Harvest Snaps lineup is arguably the best one yet: Mango Chile Lime Black Bean Crisps. If you've tried the brand's popular pea snacks but want to try something new, pick up a bag of these sweet, salty, and incredibly flavorful black-bean-based puffs.

These protein-packed peanut butter snacks from Barnana are the perfect afternoon energy booster. The Organic Crunchy Banana Brittle will remind you of a thin and crispy oatmeal cookie, but the gluten- and dairy-free snack won't leave you with a sugar slump.

There's a new Pepperidge Farm cookie in town, and it just might replace your love for Milanos. People who love thin and crispy cookies like the ones from Tate's Bake Shop will want to devour this entire package. You can taste the brown sugar and vanilla in each cookie, and the melty chocolate chips are the ultimate counterpart to the crispy texture.

The peanut butter crackers you know from your childhood just got an even more nostalgic upgrade in the form of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Lance's PB&J Toasty Cracker Sandwiches are made with Welch's Grape Jelly and have a fruity kick in every bite. Each cracker is like a mini PB&J sandwich with a crunchy cracker crust, and you won't be able to stop at just one.

People who love a thin and crispy potato chip will want to try the new, thinner version of Cape Cod chips. We're big fans of the Smoky Barbecue flavor, which is equal parts sweet and salty, but the original flavor is just as finger-licking good.

Finally, a cheesy cracker for gluten-free eaters! This new snack from Lance is entirely addictive and will be universally appreciated by all, no matter the gluten preference. They taste similar to Cheese Nips and have a sharp cheddar flavor.

Remember animal crackers from your childhood? These are like those, but better. Good Zebra Spirit Animal Crackers are made with organic honey and pea protein (yes, really!) and you can taste the difference — in the best way. We're partial to the vanilla flavor because of its simplicity, but there's also lemon and chai if you prefer different flavors.

Spoiler alert: this is the first of a few fava-bean snacks that you'll want to try this year. The Balsamic Herb Favas + Peas from The Good Bean are downright addictive. Every little fava and pea is packed with the sweet and tangy flavors of balsamic vinegar, and you definitely won't feel like you're eating vegetables.

These have been available in the UK for a long time, but they just made their US debut! The bite-size chocolate malt balls are sweet and crunchy, and any fan of Whoppers is sure to love them.

All popcorn is not created equal, and this new one from Whole Foods 365 is a step above plenty of other reduced-fat popcorns out there. Superfluffy and not oily at all, the kernels keep their natural flavor and are enhanced by just a little bit of salt. Plus, this comes in convenient individual packages ideal for snacking on the go or at your desk.

Honey-roasted chickpeas are easy enough to make in the oven, but if you'd rather pick up a bag already made, go with Biena Chickpea Snacks in the Honey Roasted flavor. They taste like a slightly sweet corn chip, but they're totally healthy, gluten-free, and full of protein. With honey and a little salt, they're a great balance of sweet and savory.

Discovering new Lay's flavors is always fun, but new shapes are even better. The Poppables are puffy, ridged chips that almost resemble waffle fries, and the white cheddar flavor is perfectly cheesy and salty.

People who prefer a thin and crispy chocolate chip cookie over a soft one will want to pick up a bag of Mrs. Thinster's Chocolate Chip Cookie Thins. Other notable flavors of the bite-size cookies include Brownie Batter and Coconut, but the classic chocolate chip is the one we can't stay away from.

Rice cakes are OK, but popcorn cakes are way better. We love that Skinny Pop took 100-percent popcorn and formed it into a crunchy cake that brings something new to our snacking routine. The White Cheddar flavor has just enough cheesy dust, and it's like eating cheddar popcorn in a whole new way.

If white chocolate is your jam, go for another limited-edition flavor from Nonni's: White Chocolate Cherry Biscotti. With pieces of dried cherries and a white chocolate drizzle on top, it's a sinfully good flavor combination.

Dried-coconut snacks can fall flat, but the Chia + Pineapple Coconut Bites from Bare Snacks are anything but boring. The toasty bits of coconut are sprinkled with crunchy chia seeds for added texture, and the pineapple flavor provides just enough sweetness and tang.

You might be able to convince yourself you're eating healthy Cheetos when you snack on these puffed peas and carrots from Snack Factory. The orange and green veggie sticks are light, airy, and perfectly salted.

If carrots aren't your thing but you're all about snap peas, you'll love the all-pea bag of Snack Factory's Veggie Sticks. Pea snacks are a trend you'll see all over shelves this year, and this particular variety is a must try.

Simple and flavorful, these Skinny Pop Popcorn Cakes in Sea Salt are like the White Cheddar kind but without any flavored dust on the exterior. Made with sunflower oil and sea salt, the popcorn's natural flavor shines.

We're huge fans of the new chip flavors Paqui released last year, and this latest addition will quickly become a favorite, too. As you might have guessed, the Wild Wild Ranch tortilla chips taste similar to Cool Ranch Doritos, but they contain no artificial ingredients.

With just a few ingredients including cinnamon and sugar, these Skinny Pop Popcorn Cakes are wonderfully sweet and crunchy. Sort of like a guilt-free cinnamon sugar cookie, these mini popcorn cakes are totally irresistible.

For those of you who'd rather than on fruit sticks than veggie sticks, the Apple Fruit Sticks from Snack Factory are meant for you. The crunchy apple sticks are sweet enough to take care of a sugar craving, and you might want to reach for these instead of candy.

Sour Patch Kids Tropical prove that coconut and pineapple have the power to upgrade any candy. Just as sour as the original Sour Patch Kids, these tropical gummies come in four flavors: pink (paradise punch), white (pineapple), orange (tropical twist), and purple (passion fruit).

Whoa. Talk about a decadent, rich, and smooth chocolate truffle. If you're a mint-chocolate everything type of person, these will become your new must-have staple hidden in your pantry. Made with coconut oil and cocoa butter, the white center of these truffles is perfectly gooey and melts in your mouth. With a dark chocolate outer shell and a generous hint of peppermint, each one of these is guaranteed to give you a moment of bliss.

Boom Chicka Pop has an array of new flavors, and we can't get enough, starting with the Dark Chocolaty Drizzled Sea Salt Kettle Corn. Even if you consider yourself kettle corn averse, you'll appreciate this version that incorporates sea salt to cut through the sweetness. The drizzles of dark chocolate cause the popcorn pieces to form into these bite-size clusters with sweetness and crunch in every bite.

How did Boom Chicka Pop not have a cheddar flavor before? All we know is we're glad it exists now. The bag claims the snack gives you "whole grain energy," so we're taking our chances that eating half a bag in one sitting is good for us.

Hi-Chew has come out with fizzy soda-inspired flavors, and eating them makes us feel like we stepped back into the '90s. Orange-beverage fanatics will want to stock up on the Orange Soda flavor, while diehard Cola fans will appreciate that flavor. Ever so slightly fizzy, Hi-Chew Fizzies are a fun switch-up from the traditional flavors we're used to.

Not only are these grain-free tortilla chips made with coconut flour, but they're also cooked in coconut oil. A healthy corn-chip alternative, the chips are crunchy, nongreasy, and clean, and we like the Himalayan Pink Salt flavor most. Not to mention the aesthetically pleasing pink packaging!

Holy chocolate-peanut-butter explosion. If that flavor combo is your kryptonite, do yourself a favor and pick up this kettle corn, which is lightly coated in peanut butter and has milk-chocolate drizzles all over.

Sometimes classic is best, as is the case with buttered popcorn. Boom Chicka Pop's new Real Butter Popcorn is made with ghee, aka clarified butter, which is lactose free. The flavorful popcorn is lightly salted and leaves the richest buttery flavor in your mouth — but without the yucky residue of microwave buttered popcorn.

Speaking of popcorn made with clarified butter, the next must-have new popcorn is Oh My Ghee! by LesserEvil. This organic popcorn is made with organic grass-fed clarified butter and Himalayan salt, and that's it — the natural flavors really come through. We plan on sneaking a bag (or three) of this into the movie theater next time.

We never thought we'd voluntarily eat fava beans as a snack, but Fava Crisps from World Peas have changed our minds. The crunchy, protein-packed dried beans have irresistible crunch and the slightest touch of sweetness. We're particularly into the ranch flavor, which offers up a punch of tang and kick of salt.

OK, soda isn't exactly a "snack," but Sprite came out with new cherry flavors, and they're worthy of recognition. The regular Sprite Cherry and Sprite Cherry Zero both have that lemon-lime flavor you're familiar with but with a pleasant zing of cherry that makes the beverage even more refreshing.

The verdict is in, and the best flavor of Ben & Jerry's new Pint Slices is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. It's like the Ben & Jerry's cookie dough you know and love, but squished into a Klondike Bar-like form. The pint slices are the perfect size to satisfy your cravings without allowing yourself to accidentally eat an entire pint.

Offering the perfect ratio of peanut butter to pretzel, these bite-size gems are crunchy, slightly salty, and ideal for beating late-afternoon hunger.

Pasta chips in the shape of bow ties?! We were smitten the moment we saw these, but the tough part was choosing a favorite flavor out of Creamy Ranch, Meatball Parmesan, Smoked Cheddar, and Honey Butter. The verdict is in, and the cheesy flavor reigns supreme for sure. This pasta-inspired snack is an exciting alternative to your average potato chip.

Because they are that good, we couldn't choose just one bag of Pasta Bow Ties. If sweet and salty is your thing, opt for the Honey Butter flavor. At the exact same time, two of our editors said, "These taste just like the Texas Road House rolls!" If you know about those glorious rolls with honey butter, you know you need these in your life.

Epic Artisanal Pork Rinds were one of the best new snacks of 2016, and this year we're all about the brand's meat strips. Skip the Slim Jim and try Epic's protein-packed strips of venison, beef, salmon, or turkey. The venison, which is seasoned with just sea salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, is a favorite of ours.

It's hard to pick a favorite Hi-Chew flavor, but this grapefruit-flavored candy is our favorite one so far. The sour kick makes your mouth pucker up in a satisfying way, and the natural grapefruit flavor really shines.

Grab these limited-edition Little Bites Chocolate Party Cakes while you can. If Little Bites Chocolate Chip Muffins and Cosmic Brownies had a baby, this snack would be it. Moist and chocolaty, these miniature cakes satisfy your sweet tooth immediately.

This new Ben & Jerry's flavor is caramel overload in the best way possible. Not only is the burnt caramel ice cream amazing on its own, but the bourbon-infused caramel also adds even richer flavor.

Who knew eating peas as a snack could be so enjoyable? Sort of like green Cheetos without the cheesy dust, these crispy sticks made of organic pea meal will become one of your favorite guilt-free snacks.

Ben & Jerry's beloved flavor Oatmeal Cookie Chunk was discontinued, but don't worry. Oat of This Swirled is the new oatmeal-cookie flavor in town, and it's even better. The ice cream tastes like an actual oatmeal cookie, and the fudge flakes are the perfect complement to the buttery brown sugar ice cream. You'll find no shortage of oatmeal cinnamon cookie swirls and chunks throughout the pint.

There's a new chip for people who not only love to snack on potato chips but also love to put crushed-up chips on everything: FailChips. FailChips purposefully come already broken in the package, ready to be sprinkled on sandwiches, casseroles, or mac and cheese. Our personal favorite is Salt & Vinegar, but there's also BBQ and Jalapeño.

If your chocolate mantra is "the darker, the better," this bitter bar is for you. Alter Eco's Dark Super Blackout Organic Chocolate is a whopping 90 percent cocoa, leaving little room for sweetness and plenty for bold, bitter, and dark flavors. A square of this chocolate is rich enough to satisfy your midafternoon cravings.

Watch out, Cool Ranch Doritos. Whole Foods has a new chip in town, and it's dangerously good. These corn tortilla chips have just the right amount of salty and garlicky flavor, leaving you licking your fingers after each handful.

Late July makes some of the best tortilla chips you'll find in grocery stores. A standout addition to the company's lineup is the Thin and Crispy Cantina Dippers, which are the perfect chips for scooping up queso, salsa, and other dips. Since the first ingredient is white corn, the gritty texture and corn flavor comes through in every bite.

Americans were blessed when Ruffles All Dressed, Canada's exclusive potato chip, came to the US. Now Whole Foods has its own version inspired by the Canadian chip, and let's just say you'll want to pick up at least two bags. The coveted chips are seasoned with the perfect combination of vinegar, ketchup, sour cream, onion, and BBQ flavors.

Vegans, rejoice! This is the year you finally get to snack on "beef jerky," courtesy of coconut meat. You'll go crazy for Cocoburg's Vegan Coconut Jerky, particularly the Ginger Teriyaki flavor. Its texture is strikingly similar to traditional jerky, and the ginger amps up the savory flavor.

These are not your average tortilla chips — they're above average. Don't be afraid when you see flaxseeds and sesame seeds in the list of ingredients. The seeds add nutty flavor, and the rolled shape makes the chips even crunchier and sturdy enough to stand up to dips.

It's pretty incredible that someone thought to make crispy chips out of jicama, sea salt, and olive oil. There are plenty of other JicaChips flavors to try, like Smoked BBQ and Spicy Soy Ginger, but our favorite is hands down the original. The natural sweetness of the jicama isn't compromised by the olive oil and sea salt.

You'll feel like a kid again when you bite into this take on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which is a peanut butter shell stuffed with strawberry jam. Not too sweet and pleasantly crunchy, these fruity nibbles will shake up your snacking routine.

These chewy bars from Kind have just four ingredients: strawberry, apple, cherry, and chia seeds. Sort of like a grown-up Fruit Roll-Up, they're soft, sticky, tart, and totally delicious.

Another new Kind product you don't want to overlook is the Cinnamon Oat Bar. A combination of oats, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, and plenty of cinnamon gives each bar a toothsome texture and lots of spice.

If you're a complete sucker for corn chips coated in orange dust, do yourself a favor and pick up these nacho-inspired chips from Whole Foods ASAP.

Our immediate question before trying this was, "Are these like healthier Cracker Jacks?!" And yes, they basically are. A combination of sorghum and cashews gives these sticky clusters plenty of substance, and the caramel coating is the glue that ties it all together.