Best sweet chilli crisps: the supermarket crisps that beat Walkers and Pipers

If you're after the best-tasting sweet chilli crisps, we've found two great packs worth picking up next time you're at the shops.

Our panel of 64 crisp fans blind-tasted sweet chilli crisps from big brands including Pipers, Tyrrells and Walkers, as well as supermarket own-label products from Lidl, Tesco and more. 

Tyrrells came top, while another big brand came in last overall. We also found a Great Value supermarket option costing less than £1.50 per pack that impressed our tasters.

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Best sweet chilli crisps

Tyrrells and Tesco sweet chilli crisps were the most popular with our consumer panel. 

They were the best-rated packs overall, scoring higher on appearance, aroma, flavour and texture than other crisps we tested.

Best Buy: Tyrrells Sweet Chilli & Red Pepper Crisps, 76%

£2.50 for 150g (£1.67 per 100g)

Tasters rated Tyrrells highly for both appearance and texture. The flavour also impressed, with most testers finding the level of sweetness and chilli flavour just right. 

These crisps were one of the pricier options we tested, but it's worth keeping an eye out for special offers as the packs are often on sale at a discounted price – we've seen them for £1.75 (at Asda currently). 

Available from Asda, Co-op, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Best Buy and Great Value: Tesco Finest Thai Inspired Sweet Chilli Crisps, 73%

£1.35 for 150g (90p per 100g)

Tesco's 'Thai Inspired' Sweet Chilli crisps also proved a hit with our tasters, scoring high marks across the board.

Our panel thought the flavour was superior to other supermarket own labels, and more than three quarters were satisfied with the thickness and crispy texture. 

As one of the cheapest packs on test, Tesco's crisps are also our best-value pick at just £1.35 a pack.

Available from Tesco.

Asda Extra Special Sweet Chilli Hand Cooked Crisps, 68%

£1.35 for 150g (90p per 100g)

Asda's 'Extra Special' crisps aren't too far behind the top two. They scored reasonably well, impressing tasters with their good thickness, crispness, and colour. 

The flavour wasn't quite as well liked as higher scorers, with 63% finding the chilli flavour a little weak.

Even so, they're a decent choice and worth considering if you're looking for a cheaper option, as they're the same price as Tesco's crisps.

Need more summer food picks? See our expert recommendations for the best extra virgin olive oil

How Lidl, M&S, Walkers and other sweet chilli crisps compare

The rest of the crisps we tried were pretty middling, with Sainsbury's, M&S and Walkers coming next in line, and Pipers bringing up the rear.

Piper's were the least liked overall, falling short on flavour despite being the priciest pack on test. Here's what our tasters thought:

• Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Thai Sweet Chilli Crisps, 66% Generally well liked, but the flavour and aroma didn't match up to our Best Buys. £1.50 for 150g (£1 per 100g). Available from Sainsbury's.
• Walkers Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli Crisps, 66% Most of our panel liked the texture and thickness of Walkers, but they lost marks for appearance, with 70% finding them too pale. £2.50 for 150g (167p per 100g). Available from Asda, Iceland, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.
• M&S Sweet Chilli Hand Cooked Crisps, 65% Scored relatively well across the board, however around half of tasters thought they were lacking in the spice stakes. £1.70 for 150g (£1.13 per 100g). Available from Ocado.
• Lidl Deluxe Thai Sweet Chilli Crisps, 63%. Though they scored well on texture, 83% said the chilli flavour was too weak. £1.25 for 150g (83p per 100g). Available from Lidl (in-store only).
• Pipers Biggleswade Sweet Chilli Crisps, 57% Most tasters thought they were lacking in both sweetness and chilli flavour. £3 for 150g (£2 per 100g). Available from Ocado.

For more taste-tested food recommendations, see our pick of the best beef burgers, best sausages and best ice creams

Are sweet chilli crisps spicy?

While Thai chillies themselves are very spicy, Thai sweet chilli flavoured crisps tend to have a mild to moderate spice level.

Our taste test results show that heat levels do vary depending on which brand you choose.

Most of our panel thought Tyrrell's and Tesco's crisps had just the right spicy kick. However, those from Lidl and Pipers both lost marks as more than three quarters of tasters thought they lacked heat. If you prefer a milder crisp, these might be a better pick for you.

What's in sweet chilli crisps?

All of the sweet chilli crisps we tested are high in fat so they're best eaten as an occasional snack. A 30g serving provides between 120-150 calories.

Sweet chilli crisps typically contain slightly more sugar compared to other crisp flavours (although the amount is still relatively low), and they have a medium level of salt.

Are all sweet chilli crisps vegan?

Asda, M&S, Pipers, Sainsbury's and Tesco all state that their sweet chilli crisps are suitable for vegans.

However, some brands' offerings aren't as they contain dairy, so it's always worth checking.

Walkers Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli Crisps, for instance, are made with buttermilk powder.

Best cheap food and drink – discover the own-brand options that beat big brands in our taste tests

How we tested sweet chilli crisps

The crisps were tasted in July 2024 by a large panel of crisp-loving consumers. 

The make-up of the panel broadly represents the demographic profile of adults in the UK. 

Each product was assessed by 64 people. Each taster rated the taste, texture, aroma and appearance of the crisps, then told us what they liked and disliked about them. 

The taste test was blind, so our testers didn’t know which brand they were trying. The order in which they tasted the crisps was rotated to avoid any bias. Each person had a private booth, so they couldn’t discuss what they were tasting or be influenced by others.

The overall score was based on:

• 50% flavour
• 20% texture
• 20% aroma
• 10% appearance

How to recycle crisp packaging

Crisp packets can’t go in your regular household recycling. This is because of the plastic film that lines the inside of crisp bags. 

These days, many big supermarkets accept 'flexible plastics' including crisp packets, so you can drop them off when you shop. Terracycle drop off points also often accept them. Check your nearest option on Recycle Now.

Price and availability checked 8 August 2024.