The 5 Absolute Best Pickle Snacks to Try Right Now
I think it’s time we have a talk about pickles. For whatever reason, pickle-flavored everything has been the biggest food trend of the year — replacing pumpkin spice as the flavor of the moment — and it shows no signs of slowing down.
According to data calculated by Statista based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey, 239.17 million Americans consumed pickles in 2017. This figure is projected to increase to 245.56 million in 2020.
What first started as a food trend with people rediscovering the art of pickling vegetables in their home kitchens has grown to a full-fledged obsession with pickle-flavored foods and beverages. You can now buy pickle-flavored vodka, pickle ice cream, pickle-flavored lip balm, pickle-flavored mints, pickle juice soda, and canned pickle brine for cocktails. Earlier this summer, Sonic debuted a pickle juice slushie. And that’s not even including the pickle-flavored snack market.
I remember how polarizing the Lays Dill Pickle Chips and Pringles Screamin’ Dill Pickle lines were when they debuted years ago. Now, with more consumers embracing the pickle trend, snack companies are jumping on board and adding pickle flavoring to it all: chips, dips, popcorn, fried pork skins, sunflower seeds, and more.
If you’re a pickle-lover like me, this isn’t exactly bad news. I’m embracing the mania with a few of my favorite pickle-flavored snacks. Here are my top picks!
These pickle-flavored chips are, of course, just an extension of the classic salt-and-vinegar category, flavored with vinegar, salt, dill, and onion powder. They are similar in flavor to Lays Dill Pickle Chips, but the potato chips themselves are crunchier and more crispy, with a nice sour tang.
Who wants to cover their popcorn with butter when you can cover it with a briny dill pickle flavor instead? If you can’t find these at your local Trader Joe’s, the Boom Chicka Pop Dill Pickle Flavored Popcorn make a good pickle popcorn alternative.
These chips combine two trends: pickles and probiotics. Farmhouse Culture makes probiotic-rich sauerkraut, which is the main ingredient in these crispy chips. You get your fermented pickle fix and support digestive health all in the same bite.
A handful of these almonds dusted in organic vinegar powder, yeast extract, and “natural dill flavor” are perhaps the healthiest option for indulging in the pickle-flavored snack trend. It’s easy to go through a bag of these, so stock up now.
Love pickle juice? Then you’ll love these pickle ice pops, each filled with two ounces of tangy pickle brine. They’re also enhanced with electrolytes to help refresh you on a hot summer day or after a run to help prevent muscle cramps.
What’s your favorite pickle snack?