Summer is here, and there’s no better way to celebrate than firing up the grill, gathering friends and family, and indulging in a laid-back garden barbecue. While the burgers and ribs often steal the spotlight, there’s one snack that always holds its own are potato chips. Crispy, flavourful, and endlessly versatile, chips are the unsung heroes of any garden BBQ. Whether you're hosting a big summer bash or a chill backyard gathering, the right chips can elevate your spread from good to unforgettable. At Heavenly Snacks, the premier snack delivery company serving the UK and Europe, we believe that great chips are just as important as great grilling. We’ve handpicked 10 of the best chips to serve at your BBQ this season, so your party guests can snack in style.
Why Chips Are the Perfect Barbecue Companion
Chips might seem like a simple snack, but they bring so much more to the table (literally and figuratively). Here’s why every garden BBQ needs a generous helping of chips:
Effortless Entertaining: Hosting a BBQ can be a juggling act: grilling, mixing cocktails, chatting with guests, and keeping sides replenished. Chips require minimal preparation. Just open, pour into bowls or paper cones, and place around the party zone. No slicing, dicing, or fetching utensils means you can focus on the fun.
Endless Flavour Possibilities: From classic salt to exotic spice blends, chips come in an array of flavours that complement or contrast with BBQ mains. Want to cool down spicy wings? Reach for a tangy Cool Ranch. Craving an extra kick? Jalapeño or hot honey chips have you covered.
Crowd-Friendly Snacking: Unlike more formal canapés or sides, chips are universally loved. They cater to kids and adults alike, meat-eaters and vegetarians, and even picky eaters. With multiple flavour options, you can ensure every guest finds at least one bag they’ll devour.
Versatility in Presentation: Chips aren’t limited to bags or bowls. They can be used as:
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Dip Scoopers: Sturdy, ridged or tortilla chips are perfect for chunky salsa, queso, or guacamole.
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Base for Nachos: Layer chips with cheese, beans, jalapeños, and pulled pork for a shareable tray of BBQ nachos.
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Crunchy Toppings: Crushed chips add texture to salads, burgers, and even grilled corn.
Great for Leftovers: Got leftover ribs or brisket? Break out a batch of Takis Nacho Xplosion or Fritos Honey BBQ Twists, top with shredded meat and cheese, and bake for 10 minutes. Instant lunch, courtesy of yesterday’s BBQ.
By combining minimal effort with maximum impact, chips ensure your BBQ remains casual, fun, and flavour-packed.
Choosing the Best Barbecue Chips
With so many chip options on the market, narrowing down to just ten can be a challenge. We focused on three critical criteria to guide our selection:
Freshness and Crunchiness: A chip that has lost its crisp is a BBQ buzzkill. We chose brands with strict quality controls, sealed packaging, and a reputation for delivering fresh, crunchy goodness. Look for ridged or thicker-cut chips, as they tend to retain their snap longer when out in the sun and near sauces.
Complementary Flavour Profiles: Not all chip flavours pair equally with every BBQ dish. We tested each flavour alongside grilled meats, seafood, vegetables, and dips to ensure they:
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Enhance: Accentuate smoky, charred notes (e.g., smoky BBQ twists).
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Contrast: Provide a cooling or tangy counterpoint to spicy mains (e.g., Cool Ranch).
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Balance: Add sweetness or creaminess to hearty flavours (e.g., hot honey, sour cream).
Availability and Accessibility in the UK & Europe: Heavenly Snacks is all about convenience. Each chip on our list is readily available on our website. While some imports may be niche, we ensure you can get them delivered straight to your door without any hassle.
10 Chips to Elevate Your Summer Barbecue Experience
Below, discover ten crowd-pleasing chips that bring variety, bold flavour, and irresistible crunch to your garden gathering.
Cheetos Cheddar Jalapeno
Cheetos Cheddar Crunchy delivers a fiery punch of real jalapeño seasoning alongside Cheetos’ signature cheesy undertones. Each chip offers a satisfying snap that stands up to dips or enjoys perfectly on its own. Try pairing these spicy bites with grilled burgers topped with pepper jack cheese or chicken fajitas to amplify the heat, or serve them with a creamy ranch dip to soothe the spice. For a creative twist, mix Cheetos Cheddar Jalapenos with pretzels, peanuts, and mini cheese crackers for a zesty party snack mix that guests will return to throughout the evening.
Takis BBQ Blast Chippz
Takis BBQ Blast Chippz combine the crunch of Takis with a sweet-smoky barbecue flavour that evokes summer cookout vibes. These kettle-cooked chips are thick enough to scoop hearty dips like guacamole or smoky bean dip without losing their shape. They shine alongside smoky pulled pork sliders, chilli-lime buttered corn on the cob, or drizzled with chipotle aioli for a tangy accent. For an interactive platter, layer BBQ Blast Chippz with shredded brisket, pickled onions, and melted cheddar to create a unique brisket nacho experience.
Takis Nacho Xplosion
Takis Nacho Xplosion brings bold, carnival-style flavour to your BBQ table with its intensely cheesy, tangy, and spicy profile. These thin, crispy chips form the ideal foundation for loaded nachos: top them with refried beans, diced tomatoes, jalapeño slices, and dollops of sour cream, then pop under the grill until the cheese bubbles. For individual portions, fill a pan with layers of Nacho Xplosion, BBQ chicken, corn kernels, and cheese for personal nacho bites that disappear in seconds.
Ruffles Potato Chips Cheddar & Sour Cream
Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream has deep ridges to deliver extra crunch, making them ideal for hearty dips and toppings. The tangy cheese flavour and cooling sour cream notes complement both meaty and vegetarian dishes, from charred halloumi skewers to veggie burgers. Crush them over a mixed green salad with grilled corn and crumbled feta for an instant texture upgrade, or serve them alongside a chilled cucumber-yoghurt dip that complements the chips’ zesty tang.
Doritos Cool Ranch Tortilla Chips
Doritos Cool Ranch brings a refreshing blend of garlic, onion, and herb flavours in a sturdy triangular chip that stands up to the heat of grilled foods. These chips are a perfect counterpoint to spicy mains( like jalapeno poppers and chipotle wings) and scoop easily into fresh salsa or zesty corn and black bean salad. Build a colourful nacho bar featuring Cool Ranch chips as one of your base options, and watch guests pile on avocado, queso, and pulled pork for endless customisation.
Pringles Hot Honey
Pringles Hot Honey offers a playfully sweet and spicy contrast in Pringles’ familiar flavour options. A light honey glaze gives way to a background of chilli heat, making these crisps an addictive snack. They pair beautifully with grilled sausages brushed in honey mustard or charred pineapple slices that echo the sweetness. For a gourmet garnish, crush Hot Honey Pringles over a soft cheese platter or use them to coat chicken skewers, adding both crunch and a honey-chilli kick.
Herr’s Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Herr’s Sour Cream & Onion is a US classic that combines a creamy tang with a mild onion bite in a thicker-cut chip for extra crunch. This versatile flavour complements grilled salmon fillets, lamb kebabs, or a warm spinach and cheesy dip. For a fun twist, crush the chips and mix into breadcrumbs to coat chicken tenders before grilling or baking, resulting in a crisp, flavour-packed exterior.
Herr’s Baby Back Ribs Potato Chips
Herr’s Baby Back Ribs chips capture the smoky-sweet essence of rib seasoning in a robust potato chip form. The balanced blend of smoky paprika, brown sugar sweetness, and herb notes recreates the taste of BBQ ribs without the utensils. Serve them alongside actual baby back ribs, baked beans, and tangy coleslaw, or offer a “mini rib plate” of rib bites paired with a side of these chips for a playful presentation.
Fritos Honey BBQ Twists
The Fritos Honey BBQ Twists are spiral-shaped Fritos that deliver an eye-catching form and a bite bursting with honeyed sweetness and smoky barbecue seasoning. Their twisted shape traps seasoning and sauce, making every bite flavorful. Enjoy them with grilled chicken wings glazed in honey BBQ sauce, stir them into mac ‘n’ cheese for an unexpected crunch, or sprinkle over creamy coleslaw to introduce a sticky-sweet texture contrast.
Lay’s Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue Potato Chips
Lay’s Sweet Southern Heat combines sweetness, smoky paprika, and a gentle cayenne pepper kick in a thin yet sturdy chip. These Southern-inspired chips work wonders alongside pulled pork sliders, halloumi and pepper kebabs, or a refreshing watermelon and feta salad. For a creative take, use crushed Sweet Southern Heat chips to coat grilled cheese sandwiches amd press the crumbs onto the exterior before grilling to achieve a crispy, flavour-packed crust.
Tips for Pairing Chips with Barbecue Dishes
Pairing chips with your BBQ menu adds a playful, interactive element to mealtime. Follow these guidelines for a memorable snacking experience:
Match Regional Flavours
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American-Style BBQ: Offer Lay’s Sweet Southern Heat and Herr’s Baby Back Ribs alongside slow-cooked ribs and brisket.
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Tex-Mex Themes: Choose Doritos Cool Ranch and Takis Nacho Xplosion for tacos, fajitas, and quesadillas.
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Sweet and Spicy: Pringles Hot Honey and Fritos Honey BBQ Twists pair beautifully with honey-glazed wings or pineapple kebabs.
Use Chips as Creative Bases
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Loaded Nachos: Pick a sturdy chip like Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream or Takis BBQ Blast, and layer with melted cheese, grilled veggies, and pulled meats.
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Crunchy Toppings: Crushed chips add texture to salads, baked potatoes, and saucy BBQ casseroles.
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Dip Samplers: Arrange different chip flavours around multiple dips (salsa, guac, queso, aioli) for a fun snacking station.
Balance Heat and Cool
When serving spicy mains, keep cooling chip options on hand:
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Spicy Mains: Grilled jerk chicken or chipotle shrimp. Offer Doritos Cool Ranch, Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream, and plain salted chips for relief.
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Cooling Dips: Accompany zesty chips with cucumber-yoghurt dip, tzatziki, or a yoghurt and mayo-based dip.
Upgrade Your Presentation
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Cones and Cups: Serve individual portions in paper cones or cups lined in wax paper; it is ideal for mingling guests.
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Themed Platters: Group chips by flavour family on a board with matching condiments.
Where to Buy These Chips in the UK?
Tracking down every global chip variety can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Our speciality at Heavenly Snacks is delivering your favourite snacks right to your door. Visit our website and explore our curated snack collection. Add your favourites to the cart and enjoy quick shipping. Dive into your summer BBQ without the hassle of store runs.
Chips That Make Your Barbecue Unforgettable
As you put the finishing touches on your summer garden BBQ, remember that snacks set the tone for your gathering. The right chip selections can spark conversation, inspire DIY snack creations, and keep energy levels high from first bites to the last.
Recap of Our Top 10 Picks:
We encourage you to experiment, pair different chips with unexpected dishes, mix and match flavours, and share your creations with us in the comments. If you think we have missed any of the top chips, make sure to leave a comment.
This summer, transform your Barbecue into a crunchy celebration. After all, every great garden party deserves an unforgettable crunch!