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Nestlé
Note: Dates marked with “~” are estimates.
Discontinued: 1983
Before Hot Pockets became a household name, there was the Tastywich. Created by Iranian-Jewish brothers Paul and David Merage, this was the prototype that started it all. Sold primarily to restaurants, it was a microwaveable calzone-like sandwich that proved the concept could work.
The brothers had to mortgage their house multiple times to fund the Tastywich. By 1983, they had perfected the formula and rebranded it as “Hot Pockets.”
Discontinued: 1983
Talk about a short-lived experiment. Sloppy Joe Hot Pockets debuted alongside the very first Hot Pockets lineup in 1983, featuring seasoned ground beef in tangy tomato sauce.
This might hold the record as Hot Pockets’ first discontinued flavor. Perhaps America wasn’t ready for handheld sloppy joes.
Discontinued: 2011
These weren’t just bigger Hot Pockets, they looked and tasted like real calzones. Calzones required their own special dough formula and more filling.
But every different dough type meant higher production costs. So the calzones were put in the frozen food cemetery of Nestlé.
Discontinued: ~2014
The Chili Cheese Dog Hot Pocket featured chili sauce with pork franks, beef and chicken pattie crumbles and cheese. An entire ballpark meal in your hands.
Fans absolutely loved this limited edition flavor, with some begging Hot Pockets not to discontinue it.
Discontinued: 2013
2013 was both the birth and death year of this ambitious flavor. Despite the “spicy” branding with flames on the package, reviewers described it as more “two-alarm spicy” than truly fiery. The seasoned crust held spicy beef, mozzarella, jalapeños, onions, and cheddar sauce.
It had a similar taste profile to the existing Fiesta Nacho Snackers.
Discontinued: 2020
Launched in 1987 during the diet craze, Lean Pockets promised guilt-free indulgence with about 270 calories versus regular Hot Pockets’ 310. The green packaging screamed “healthy” because, well, green equals healthy, right?
For 33 years, varieties like White Meat Chicken Jalapeño Cheese in Pretzel Bread and BBQ Recipe White Meat Chicken attracted healthy consumers. But 2020 changed everything. During COVID, people wanted comfort, not calorie counting.
Nestlé retired the entire lineup with one infamous tweet.
Discontinued: ~2022
This one hurts. The pretzel crust was chewy, golden, and dusted with coarse salt. Combined with melted cheese and just enough jalapeño kick. It was a special kind of Hot Pocket.
We’ll light a candle tonight for this one.
Discontinued: ~2015
Originally called “Hot Pockets Pizza Snacks,” these bite-sized versions offered authentic pizza flavors in snackable portions. Perfect for kids’ lunch boxes or adult portion control.
But each different product required its own dough type, and different doughs mean higher production costs.
Discontinued: ~2015
Longer, submarine-shaped crusts filled with deli-style meats and cheeses. It was Hot Pockets’ attempt to bring Subway to the microwave.
Discontinued: ~2015
The mid-2000s were the panini years. Every café had a panini press, and Italian-inspired pressed sandwiches were everywhere. Hot Pockets wanted in on the action.
These featured Italian-inspired fillings designed to mimic the pressed sandwich experience. But trends fade, and by 2015, the panini craze had cooled.
Discontinued: ~2015
While savory breakfast Hot Pockets like Bacon, Egg & Cheese became classics, the sweet fruit pastry versions never found their audience. Featuring fruit fillings in flaky crusts, they were designed to compete with Pop-Tarts and similar breakfast pastries.
Introduced in 2001 as part of the breakfast expansion, these proved that Hot Pockets’ strength lay in savory, not sweet.
Discontinued: ~2015
This represented Hot Pockets’ attempt to move beyond sandwiches into pie territory. Featuring pie-style fillings in flaky crusts, it was a completely different product line under the Hot Pockets brand umbrella.
Innovation requires focus, and Hot Pie Express proved that brand extensions don’t always work.
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