So Lay’s went out, ran their first Do Us a Flavor contest in seven years, got over 700,000 flavor submissions from fans across the country, narrowed it down to three finalists — and America voted these the winner. Lay’s Bacon Grilled Cheese chips. The chip that beat Korean-Style Fried Chicken and Valentina & Lime to claim the crown. Paula George from Sapulpa, Oklahoma walked away with a million dollars for this idea. Her late father’s bacon grilled cheese sandwich, immortalized in chip form.
That’s a genuinely sweet backstory. I respect it. But the chips still have to deliver.
I’m Cliff, this is I Tried That, and let’s get into it.
First Impressions
Right out of the bag, these smell pretty much like… chips. Nothing hits you over the head. There’s a faint whiff of something — I’d call it vaguely cheesy — but if you handed me the bag without the label, I wouldn’t have guessed grilled cheese on my first sniff. Visually, they look like standard Lay’s. Nothing too crazy going on.
For reference, the ingredient list includes cheddar cheese, blue cheese, sour cream, butter, and bacon fat. On paper, that sounds like a flavor bomb. In practice, it’s considerably more restrained than that.
The Taste Test
Here’s the thing with these novelty chip flavors — and I’ve said it before — a lot of them hint at what they’re supposed to taste like rather than actually going there. Lay’s Bacon Grilled Cheese falls squarely into that category.
There is a smoky, bacony quality to these. It’s the fake-bacon-flavor kind — you know the one — but it’s present. I’ll give them that. What I couldn’t find, no matter how many chips I went through, was the grilled cheese part. I could smell something cheesy in there, but it wasn’t translating on the tongue. The cheese note registers more like a muted cheddar-and-sour-cream vibe than anything that says “buttered bread, melted cheese, hot off the skillet.”
My honest take is that these taste like a smokier, slightly tangier version of Lay’s Cheddar & Sour Cream. Which is fine. That’s a solid chip. But that’s not what’s on the bag.
Would They Work with Anything?
Interestingly, yes — and this is the best thing I can say about them. Served alongside actual tomato soup and a real grilled cheese sandwich? These would probably be a solid side. They’d fit the vibe. On their own as a snack, though, they’re a little so-so.
The Verdict
6 out of 10. Edible, inoffensive, and not without some charm — but unremarkable for a contest winner. America voted these above Korean-Style Fried Chicken, and I genuinely don’t understand it. The concept is great. The execution just doesn’t fully commit.
If you’ve tried them and you love them, drop a comment and tell me what I’m missing. I want to know why you think these took the crown.
Where to Buy
Lay’s Bacon Grilled Cheese chips are available at most major retailers for a limited time.
