With the rise in vegan, dairy-free, and allergen-friendly diets, many popular chip brands now offer dairy-free options. For those avoiding cow’s milk due to dietary restrictions or preferences, it’s important to check labels carefully, as dairy ingredients like milk powder, whey, and casein are commonly added to chip seasoning blends. The good news is that potato chips, corn chips, and other popular snack chips can easily be made without milk-derived ingredients. Here’s an overview of some of the top dairy-free chip picks on the market.
Are plain potato chips dairy-free?
Plain potato chips, made simply from potatoes, vegetable oil, and salt, are inherently dairy-free. Leading brands of plain potato chips, including Lay’s, Ruffles, Kettle Brand, and Utz, do not contain milk ingredients. Flavored potato chips, on the other hand, often contain dairy-based seasonings. Some flavors, like barbecue, salt and vinegar, and sour cream and onion, commonly include milk ingredients, so flavored chips require closer inspection of the ingredients list. When in doubt, plain potato chips are a safe bet.
What brand of tortilla chips is dairy-free?
Many popular tortilla chip brands offer dairy-free options.
Tostitos
Tostitos tortilla chips are dairy-free, except for flavors that contain obvious milk ingredients like Queso. Simply avoid the queso flavored and creamy dipping sauce options.
Mission
Mission tortilla chips are also dairy-free, apart from select flavors like Creamy Spinach and Artichoke. Stick to classics like the Yellow Corn, Blue Corn, and Restaurant Style tortilla chips.
Santitas
Santitas makes dairy-free Restaurant Style, White Corn, Blue Corn, and Multigrain tortilla chips. The Cantina Style tortilla chips contain milk powder, so these should be avoided if dairy-free.
Food Should Taste Good
This brand offers dairy-free tortilla chips in fun flavors like Sweet Potato and Blue Corn. Avoid the Chocolate variety, which contains milk chocolate.
What brand of pita chips is dairy-free?
Look for plain, unflavored pita chips from major brands to ensure they are dairy-free. Seasoned pita chip flavors may contain dairy-based ingredients.
Stacy’s
Stacy’s Simply Naked pita chips are dairy-free. Avoid milk-containing varieties like Parmesan Garlic & Herb.
Garden of Eatin’
Garden of Eatin’ makes dairy-free original blue corn and yellow corn pita chips. Their fun flavors like Ranch and Chili Cheese contain dairy.
Rhythm Superfoods
Rhythm Superfoods Hummus Pita Chips are dairy-free. Steer clear of their Honey Jalapeño and Beet veggie pita chips, which have dairy.
Are corn chips dairy-free?
Traditional corn chips without extra flavorings are generally dairy-free. Top corn chip picks include:
Fritos
Fritos Original Corn Chips only contain corn, oil, and salt. Other Fritos flavors that are dairy-free include BBQ and Chili Cheese.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips are dairy-free.
Late July
Late July Nacho Chipotle and Sea Salt & Lime corn chips are dairy-free. The Queso flavored variety contains milk ingredients.
Xochitl
Xochitl Totopos de Maiz are traditional Mexican corn chips fried in sunflower oil. They are dairy-free and come in salted or unsalted varieties.
What rice chips are dairy-free?
Plain, salted rice chips typically do not contain milk derivatives. Good dairy-free rice chip options include:
Lundberg
Lundberg Organic Rice Chips and Thin Stackers are dairy-free in flavors like Sea Salt, Chili Lime, and Barbecue.
Quinn
Quinn popcorn offers dairy-free rice chips in Butterfly Blue, Lemon Pepper, and Sea Salt varieties.
San Carlo
San Carlo Crunchy Rice Chips are dairy-free in Original, Salted, and Unsalted flavors.
Kellogg’s
The Rice Krispies brown rice pops and Sea Salt flavored puffed rice rolls from Kellogg’s are dairy-free.
Are cheesy chips dairy-free?
Most cheesy chips contain dairy-based cheese powders, making them unsuitable for dairy-free diets. A couple of chip brands manage to achieve a rich, cheesy flavor without the dairy:
Sweet Home Farm
Sweet Home Farm makes dairy-free, vegan Zesty Nacho and Chili Cheese flavored tortilla chips using natural flavorings, spices, yeast extract, and lactic acid to mimic cheese.
Late July
Late July uses a proprietary vegan cheese coating to produce their dairy-free Cheesy Salsa and Cheesy Nacho Tortilla Chips.
Other chips with cheese in the name usually contain real cheese powder, so they are not dairy-free.
What salty snacks are dairy-free?
In addition to the chip varieties mentioned, these savory, salty snacks are dairy-free:
Popcorn
Plain popcorn or popcorn flavored with olive oil or coconut oil is dairy-free. Some microwavable popcorn contains milk ingredients, so check labels.
Pretzels
Most pretzel brands are dairy-free, including hard pretzels, pretzel crisps, pretzel rods, and pretzel chips. Exceptions include specialty pretzels like those dipped in yogurt coating.
Vegetable crisps
Crisps and crackers made from lentils, beans, quinoa, and vegetables are naturally dairy-free options. Brands like Beanitos, Snack Factory, and RW Garcia make a variety of crunchy veggie snacks without dairy.
Nut and seed snacks
Triscuits, nut crisps, and seed crackers provide saltiness and crunch without milk-based ingredients. Brands like Mary’s Gone Crackers offer dairy-free variety packs.
Seaweed snacks
Roasted seaweed snacks from brands like Annie Chun’s are dairy-free and provide a salty, marine flavor.
| Chip Type | Recommended Dairy-Free Brands |
|---|---|
| Potato Chips | Lay’s, Ruffles, Kettle Brand, Utz |
| Tortilla Chips | Tostitos, Mission, Santitas, Food Should Taste Good |
| Pita Chips | Stacy’s, Garden of Eatin’, Rhythm Superfoods |
| Corn Chips | Fritos, Taco Bell, Late July, Xochitl |
| Rice Chips | Lundberg, Quinn, San Carlo, Kellogg’s |
| Cheesy Chips | Sweet Home Farm, Late July |
What about flavored chips?
When it comes to flavored potato chips and similar snack chips, a close inspection of the ingredients list is required. While chips flavored with spices and herbs are often dairy-free, flavors emulating creamy dips and cheesy seasonings commonly contain milk derivatives. Sour cream, onion, barbecue, and cheddar flavors frequently have added whey, buttermilk, or cheese powder.
Sweet flavored chips can also be tricky, as milk chocolate and yogurt coatings are used on many dessert-inspired flavors. Chips coated in a white drizzle or powder should be assumed to contain milk ingredients unless confirmed otherwise. As a rule of thumb, the more elaborate and decadent the flavor profile, the more likely it contains dairy.
When in doubt, reach for safer flavors like salted, barbecue, and salsa for dairy-free snack time. Brands that market dairy-free and vegan chips, like Late July, are also expanding their offerings of flavored dairy-free chip varieties using plant-based seasonings. With so many snacks to choose from, though, plain potato chips or corn chips are always a dairy-free standby.
Should chip ingredients lists be checked for hidden dairy?
It’s important for those avoiding dairy to check potato chips and corn chips for ingredients that secretly contain milk. Here are some common hidden sources of dairy to watch for:
Natural flavors
The term “natural flavors” is vague, and can sometimes mean dairy ingredients are included. When in doubt, look for a dairy-free label or contact the manufacturer for clarification.
Non-dairy creamer
Some chips list non-dairy creamer in ingredients. These creamer powders contain casein, a milk protein, so are not vegan or dairy-free.
Lactic acid
Added for tanginess, lactic acid is sometimes fermented from dairy. Vegan lactic acid from beets or other non-dairy sources is preferable.
Cheese cultures
Any chips listing cheese or bacteria cultures as ingredients contain dairy. Cultured dextrose or corn starch are dairy-free alternatives.
Whey protein
Whey is a milk byproduct, so chips with added whey protein are not dairy-free. Pea and other plant proteins are used instead for vegan snacks.
Should certain oil be avoided in dairy-free chips?
Vegetable oils are inherently dairy-free. Oils derived from nuts and seeds, like peanut, sunflower, safflower, and cottonseed oil, do not contain milk allergens. Some dairy-free consumers prefer to avoid highly processed oils though.
Here are tips for selecting healthier, more natural dairy-free chip oils:
Seeking simple ingredients
Choose chips made with just one or two oils rather than a laundry list of refined vegetable oils. Ingredient lists with just “sunflower oil” or “olive oil” signal less processing.
Prioritizing high oleic oils
Chips fried in high oleic oils like sunflower, safflower, peanut, and olive oil contain more monounsaturated fat and fewer inflammatory omega-6s.
Pairing with antioxidants
Oils paired with natural antioxidants like rosemary extract combat oxidation that leads to free radical formation in frying.
Rotating oils used
Chips made by brands that rotate through different oils depending on crop availability avoid overconsumption of any one type of vegetable oil.
Should certain brands or processing methods be avoided?
Some ingredients and preparation methods are promoted by dairy-free brands as being healthier:
Non-GMO
Non-GMO chips ensure oils and other ingredients are not from genetically engineered crops, appealing to health-conscious consumers seeking to avoid GMOs.
Gluten-free
Gluten-free chips typically use corn or rice flour instead of wheat. This accommodates those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Sprouted grains
Sprouting activates nutrients in grains and legumes. Sprouted corn and beans have a lower glycemic impact and more bioavailable minerals.
Upcycled foods
Chip brands like Re-Fined use upcycled flour from pasta scraps and discarded veggies to reduce food waste.
Compostable bags
Many leading dairy-free chip brands have shifted to using compostable bags to lessen plastic pollution impact.
Oven baking
Oven-baked chips are perceived as healthier than fried, though often still contain added oils. Baking avoids potential issues of oil oxidation and acrylamide formation in frying, providing a less processed snack.
Conclusion
From classic potato chips to trendy artisanal options, more and more crunchy snacks are going dairy-free. By studying ingredient labels and understanding hidden milk derivatives, dairy-free dieters can enjoy chips and crisps galore. For maximal nutrition and minimal processing, healthier oils and production methods are ideal. With so many dairy-free choices on grocery shelves today, though, those avoiding cow’s milk can munch on a wide range of delicious chips.
