This page is a work in progress and is subject to change (hopefully soon). Last update on 16/09/2026
Ketchup Crisps
I love ketchup crisps, and when I was a teen Walkers had made the flavour part of their permanent rota. But whether I moved into a geographical lull, or the decade was just bad for the flavour, I hadn't seen it out and about in ages. It had got to the point where I had to buy expired packets by the box from ebay (which I shipped to work and had under my desk, back when I had a desk). I was desperate.
However, this decade is turning out to be fantastic for saucy snacks. Walkers have put it back into its rotation, and Tesco has it as part of their meal deal. Like, I could walk out of this building right now and find a packet. It's my break in five minutes, and I may do exactly that[1]. But this page isn't just about Walkers' ketchup crisps.
I mean, it is partly about Walkers' ketchup crisps, but not only Walkers' ketchup crisps.
There is a lot of nuance to ketchup crisps, and it can range from yes to "wait, this is just salt and vinegar". The flavour must be subtle, spiced, and tangy. The crisp should be seasoned until it is red (because one eats with their eyes). Most importantly ketchup crisps are not chilli crisps. They are not curry crisps. They must be sour, sweet, salty, savoury, and tangy.
[1] I went to buy some on my break and there weren't any. Welcome to the exciting and capricious world of flavour hunting.[2]
[2] Several lunch time shops later, Tesco had them back in stock and I had them with a pastrami/mustard/pickle sandwich.
Tasting Notes
Sweet, savoury spiced but not hot-spiced. Light and eatable.
Review
The most accurate ketchup crisp available. Heinz-Walkers is to me the gold standard of ketchup crisps.
Tasting Notes
Spicy and warm without a sharp piquante. The deep savoury flavour typical of Wheat Crunchies with a solid bite.
Review
They're okay. The majority of the tomato is swarmed by its generic cumin-curry spiciness which detracts from the overall flavour. They're very munchable though, but they're soon gone.
Tasting Notes
An empty flavour which is altogether too sweet. Puffed maize balls which turn into a thick, chewy paste to get stuck in your teeth.
Review
The marketing and concept is strong, and the idea of the little round balls should be great in principle - but in action they are needlessly starchy and tacky. The flavour is tomato-y but too sweet. Its saving grace is that they haven't tried to compensate for this with spiciness. They are at least tangy.
Tasting Notes
Spicy. Unfortunately the tangy ketchup flavour is massively overcome by the loud, vague spice. There's a nice ping of acidity and umami, but generally speaking it's a little disappointing.
Review
A special edition multipack for the NFL, which means that even if you did like it, it probably won't be around for very long. Unfortunately the flavour doesn't deliver on the big promises, and with so many moving parts in spiciness, umami and vinegar it drowns itself out. It's loud with a punch, but no real character of ketchup. If you told me it was smoky paprika I'd believe it.