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Frito-Lay
Discontinued: 1990
When celebrity chef Paul Prudhomme made Cajun cuisine the hottest trend of the 1980s, Ruffles knew they had to ride the wave. So they created Cajun Spice, a bold blend of cayenne, garlic, onion, and paprika that promised to bring New Orleans straight to your snack bowl.
PBS chef Justin Wilson, with his heavy Louisiana accent and iconic "I gah-ron-tee!" catchphrase, became the face of these fiery chips. His commercials were as memorable as the chips themselves.
Like bell-bottoms and big hair, the Cajun craze eventually fizzled. By 1990, America had moved on to the next food trend, taking these legendary chips down with it.
Discontinued: 2004
The late 90s were obsessed with fat-free everything. Ruffles jumped on the bandwagon with WOW Chip—zero fat, 75 calories per ounce, and made with a "revolutionary" ingredient called olestra.
$400 million in first-year sales! Americans couldn't get enough of guilt-free snacking.
Then came the side effects. The FDA required warning labels about "abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence." Sales plummeted to $200 million by 2000.
By 2004, WOW became "Light" products. The Olestra experiment was over, but the jokes lived on forever.
Discontinued: Early 2000s
Imagine that Y2K was approaching, gas was cheap, and you could buy a bag of chips for under a buck. Ruffles' Flavor Rush line promised maximum flavor for minimum cash.
These chips defined a generation's snack time. Kids traded lunch money for these smoky, cheesy delights that packed more flavor than anything else on the shelf.
When they disappeared, one devotee wrote: "These chips almost defined my childhood... I never saw them again, never realizing that would be the last time....forever."
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Discontinued: Unknown
If chips were basically thin fried potatoes, why not make them taste like a fully loaded baked potato?
Bacon, sour cream, and all the fixings of your favorite steakhouse side dish, compressed into rigid perfection.
The Works were essentially sour cream and onion chips with a whisper of bacon. Fans wanted more bacon, more cheese, more everything.
Like many beloved discontinued chip flavors, The Works inspired its own bring-back petition. It didn't succeed.
Discontinued: Unknown
If ridges make chips crunchier, what if we made them EXTRA crunchy?
The Double Crunch line was kettle-cooked to maximum crispiness. Some loved the texture; others thought it was too much.
These Ruffles delivered real Cheddar Jack flavor with heat that built as you ate. Each chip was perfectly coated in cheesy, spicy goodness.
The tangy mustard flavor, combined with a heat kick, made this a standout. It was so popular that it occasionally resurfaces as a limited release.
Discontinued: Unknown
When restaurant potato skins became America's favorite appetizer, Ruffles said "Hold my beer" and turned the concept into a chip.
These chips had a strong smell when you first opened the bag. But push past that initial shock, and you'd discover cheesy, smoky perfection.
Discontinued: Unknown
In a bold departure from tradition, Ruffles ditched their signature ridged chips and created... french fry-shaped chips.
Why just taste like fries when you could look like them too? This was Ruffles thinking outside the bag.
This represented one of the few times Ruffles abandoned their classic design. Innovation? Yes. Long-lasting? Not so much.
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Discontinued: 2021
For decades, Canadians everywhere were enjoying All Dressed Ruffles chips. Americans had no idea what they were missing.
Ketchup + barbecue + salt & vinegar + sour cream & onion = pure magic. It sounds chaotic, but it tastes perfect.
When Ruffles brought All Dressed to America in 2015, it became an instant obsession. Fans called it the best chip flavor ever created.
COVID-19 supply chain issues killed All Dressed in late 2020. Desperate fans can still order it from Canada, as long as you are willing to pay that Canadian tariff.
Discontinued: Unknown
In an era where pickle-flavored everything dominates TikTok, Ruffles quietly released their take on the trend.
This wasn't just dill pickle, it was SPICY dill pickle. Medium heat met tangy dill in perfect harmony.
Somehow, this limited release flew under the radar. By the time pickle lovers discovered it, it was already gone.
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Discontinued: 2023
When NBA legend Charles Barkley joined Ruffles' "Chip Deal" athlete roster, he made one request: hot dog-flavored chips.
The launch of the flavor came with a full marketing spectacle tied to NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City.
February 18, 2023, 1-4 PM, J.Dawgs restaurant in Salt Lake City. That's it. Miss that window, and you missed history.
Those lucky enough to taste it gave rave reviews. America apparently needed hot dog chips, but 99.9% of Americans never got the chance to find out.
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