Loaded Crisps: The UK's New Snack Trend Ranked from Best to Worst
Ready salted, prawn cocktail, pickled onion, and smoky bacon – crisps are undeniably the nation's favourite snack, enjoyed on 94% of all consumption occasions in the UK. Often paired with dips or torn open on pub tables, they are a staple of British snacking. But now, the humble crisp bag is undergoing a creative revamp with the rise of loaded crisps.
What Are Loaded Crisps?
Loaded crisps are essentially a no-cook version of nachos or loaded fries, where various toppings are dropped directly into an opened bag of crisps. This trend, also known as Basque nachos or soggy crisps, mimics the pintxos tradition of bite-sized snacks from the Basque region. It gained popularity on TikTok, with videos showcasing homemade creations, and has been served at places like Pablos in Nottingham, where ground beef or molten cheese is dolloped into crisp bags. Customisable, quick, and easy to make, loaded crisps are perfect for picnics or parties as finger food.
Four Loaded Crisp Recipes Tested and Ranked
We prepared four popular loaded crisp recipes in minutes, ranking them from best to worst based on taste, texture, and overall appeal.
- Cheddar and Onion Pipers with Fennel Salami, Gherkin, Feta, and Dill
This recipe features a deconstructed sandwich in a bag, with cheese on cheese crisps, cured meat, crunchy pickles, and a herby garnish. Pipers crisps are thickly cut, providing sturdiness to hold the generous toppings. While messy to eat, the combination is absolutely delicious, earning a top score.
- Eat Real Salted Lentil Crisps with Roasted Red Peppers, Hummus, and Chopped Parsley
A plant-based option that comes surprisingly close to tasting fresh. The lentil crisps are light, making it less stodgy than others, though wet ingredients can turn it sloppy if left too long. The curved shape of the crisps aids in scooping hummus, making it perfect finger food with manageable salt content.
- Ready Salted Walkers with Brie, Fig Jam, and Thyme
This transforms the traditional ready salted crisp into a makeshift charcuterie board. While a salted cracker might work better than the greasy potato base, the sweet and salty mix is worth trying. Remove thyme stems to avoid chewing foliage, and enjoy the upgrade from a boring classic.
- Torres Truffle Crisps with Anchovies and Green Olives
As noted by online commenters, this combination is horrendously salty. The truffle crisps have intense flavour alone, and adding extra salty toppings like anchovies and olives makes it taste like drinking the ocean. The oil and brine result in a soggy, crunch-less potato that even salt lovers struggle to stomach beyond a few bites.
Loaded crisps offer a fun, customizable twist on a British favourite, but not all recipes are created equal. From delicious deconstructed sandwiches to overly salty disasters, this trend is worth exploring with caution.
