Spicy Snacks: Tim’s Extra Thick & Crunchy Jalapeno Chips

Bottom Line: These chips deliver a good crunch and good taste along with a nice kick of Jalapeno heat and they stand out among the competition.

There are lots and lots (and lots) of jalapeno potato chips out there, many of which are good, though not too many bring the heat. Pretty much every brand has a jalapeno flavor of some sort trying to appeal to those who like a little kick with their crunch. But often times I find that one is not much different than the other. Tim’s Extra Thick & Crunchy Jalapeno chips stand above the pack, though, and this is a spicy snack worth searching out.

These are kettle style chips, a particular favorite of mine, and they are extra thick which is all the better. They are definitely heavily seasoned, but that is not a bad thing. They bring plenty of flavor with a distinct jalapeno taste (more like the roasted chili than the fresh one) and a little bit of sweetness. They have a good amount of saltiness as well, but not too much. And because the chips are extra thick, they deliver a good crunch as expected.

Heat-wise, these chips do deliver, though it may vary based on the bag you get. Even though it doesn’t say it on the bag, these are apparently cooked in smaller batches than chips put out by the bigger companies. Because of that, I have had some that tend towards mild and some that are hotter than medium (though not quite at the hot heat level). In general, they come in at around medium and that is good for Jalapeno chips. They have a kick, and no matter the level of heat, they have good taste and are quite addictive.

These remind me very much of Bob’s Texas Style Jalapeno chips, even the red and white bag is similar to the look of Bob’s when I first started buying them. I still recall loading up on the huge bags from Sams back in the late-80s/early-90s and scarfing them down. And those chips definitely had a kick at that time (they seem to be milder now). Bob’s have become much harder to find for me these days, though allegedly Walmart sells them (I have not found them at the ones near me). Tim’s claims to have started in 1986 which is right about when I first discovered Bob’s. Not certain if one copied the other, but both are certainly good.

Tim’s chips are made in Washington State (“in the shadow of the Cascade Mountains” according to the bag) and I find them at World Market. Some grocery stores and/or specialty markets may carry them, and you can buy them online as well (though the tend to be a bit pricy there). Tim’s also makes the Hawaiian Brand chips (and the Wasabi flavor is quite good), and I regularly find those at World Market as well.

Tale of the Tape:

Ingredients: Potatoes, vegetable oil (corn oil and/or sunflower oil), salt, maltodextrin, dextrose, jalapeno pepper, onion powder, torula yeast, monosodium glutamate, cottonseed oil, garlic powder, natural and artificial flavor, modified corn starch, extractives of paprika.

Serving Size: 28g (About 17 Chips)
Calories: 140
Fat: 8g (1g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 17g
Carbs: 2g
Sodium: 220mg