Potato chips, ruffled, barbecue flavored
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
A classic, deeply satisfying crunch with a bold, smoky-sweet barbecue flavor that coats every ruffled ridge. The texture is a key draw, offering a sturdier, more substantial bite than flat chips. Nutritionally, it's a high-energy snack, delivering nearly 487 calories per 100g, primarily from fats and carbohydrates.
Calorie split: 5% protein · 42% carbs · 53% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for the intense, savory-sweet barbecue flavor that's both nostalgic and addictive, often evoking memories of cookouts and summer. The ruffled texture is a major draw, providing a superior crunch and better 'scoopability' for dips compared to flat chips.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
This is a calorie-dense, high-sodium snack that can contribute to blood sugar spikes and water retention. To mitigate, practice strict portion control (e.g., a single serving from the bag), pair it with a protein source like hummus or a hard-boiled egg to slow digestion, and ensure you drink plenty of water to help manage sodium intake.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from carbohydrates.
- Contains a modest amount of dietary fiber (3.8g/100g).
- Offers a small protein contribution (6.51g/100g).
- Can serve as a quick, convenient, and satisfying savory snack.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The barbecue flavoring on chips is often a complex blend of over 20 different spices, herbs, and flavor compounds, including smoke extract, to mimic the taste of slow-cooked meats without any actual meat.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 2.5 g |
| Energy | 487 kcal |
| Protein | 6.5 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 31.1 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 55.9 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 3.8 g |
| Total Sugars | 5.5 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 32.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.4 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 58.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 145 mg |
| Potassium, K | 1186 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 545 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.98 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.25 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.40 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 62.4 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.22 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.12 mg |
| Niacin | 5.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.38 mg |
| Folate, total | 64.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 64.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 64.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 11.5 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 20.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 203 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 5.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 60.0 ug |
| Lycopene | 130 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 151 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 4.4 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 16.1 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 4.0 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.05 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 2.8 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.80 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 13.2 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.05 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 13.0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.12 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 12.2 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 11.9 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.30 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Snacks, potato chips, made from dried potatoes, sour-cream and onion-flavor — USDA does not publish this profile for Potato chips.
| Tryptophan | 0.07 g |
| Threonine | 0.28 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.31 g |
| Leucine | 0.48 g |
| Lysine | 0.44 g |
| Methionine | 0.10 g |
| Cystine | 0.08 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.29 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.25 g |
| Valine | 0.38 g |
| Arginine | 0.31 g |
| Histidine | 0.15 g |
| Alanine | 0.25 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.93 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.1 g |
| Glycine | 0.21 g |
| Proline | 0.37 g |
| Serine | 0.29 g |
FAQ
Are ruffled chips healthier than regular chips?
Not necessarily. The nutritional profile (calories, fat, sodium) is very similar. The main difference is texture; the ridges can hold more seasoning and dip, which might lead to consuming more.
Why are they called 'barbecue' flavored if there's no meat?
The flavor is a synthetic blend designed to mimic the sweet, smoky, and tangy profile of barbecue sauce, using ingredients like liquid smoke, paprika, garlic powder, and sugar.
Can I make a healthier version at home?
Yes, you can slice potatoes thinly, toss with a small amount of oil and your own spice blend (smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, a touch of brown sugar), and bake or air-fry until crispy to control sodium and fat.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 4.87 kcal/g · 5% calories from protein · 3.8 g fiber · 5.5 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.46 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.