Snacks have evolved into their own cuisine in America. A bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or a Snickers bar might be just as—if not more—iconic than quintessential American foods like a slice of pizza or a classic street-cart hot dog. Chalk it up to our nation’s love affair with Red Dye No. 3 (RIP) or road trip culture (there’s nothing like a good QuickTrip haul). But in true American fashion, we didn't just embrace snacks—we revolutionized them.
While snacking’s roots date all the way back to the Industrial era with the birth of potato chips, which were initially sold in bulk and without any branding, the market has exploded since. Lays climbed the corporate (snack) ladder, releasing dozens of flavors worldwide, Twinkies rode a rollercoaster from typical junk food to pop culture phenomenon, and Totino’s became every drunk college kid’s idea of a nutritious meal—and that’s just a few examples of many. From chips to candy bars, here are the 100 most iconic snacks that made America's snack game what it is today.
Snacks Worth Their Salt
From OGs like Triscuits and Saltines (which have been around for over 100 years) to forever faves (Pringles and Funyuns, you’ll always have a place in my heart), these savory snacks have been there for it all—school lunches, road trips, your first heartbreak.
And while they’ve probably played an integral role in your lifespan, their history dates back further than your first Takis experience. Cheez-Its made its debut in the 1920s, kicking off the cheese snack revolution, followed by Cheetos' beginnings about two decades later. By the early 1990s, the brand’s Flamin’ Hot spin-off was widely available. No matter your junk food palette, you have to admit: From Pirate's Booty to Pizza Combos, these all deserve a spot in the Snack Hall of Fame.
- Cheese Nips
- Cheetos
- Cheez-Its
- Chex Mix
- Combos
- Corn Nuts
- Extreme Cheese Goldfish
- Flamin’ Hot Cheetos
- Funyuns
- Goldfish Crackers
- Gripz
- Jack Link’s Beef Jerky
- Pirate's Booty
- Pizza Combos
- Planters Cheese Balls
- Pork Rinds
- Pringles
- Ritz Bits
- Ritz Crackers
- Saltines
- Slim Jims
- Smartfood Popcorn
- Snyder’s Pretzels
- Takis
- Triscuits
- Wheat Thins
Sugar-Rush Hour
Whether it was the HoHos packed in your lunchbox or a Jell-O cup waiting in the fridge after school, these iconic sweet treats are like the childhood bestie that always showed up—but was definitely not your dentist’s favorite or the teacher’s pet. From Pop-Tarts to Fruit Roll-Ups, these iconic snacks serve as so much more than just a way to satiate your sweet tooth. They’re like an edible time machine that takes us all the way back to our most cherished childhood mems.
- Animal Crackers
- Chips Ahoy!
- Cracker Jacks
- Ding Dongs
- Dunkaroos
- Entenmann’s Little Bites
- Famous Amos Cookies
- Fig Newtons
- Flipz Pretzels
- Fruit Roll-Ups
- Gushers
- Honey Buns
- Hostess Cupcakes
- Hostess Donuts
- Hostess HoHos
- Jell-O Cups
- Keebler Fudge Stripes
- Kudos Bars
- Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies
- Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies
- Little Debbie Zebra Cakes
- Mother’s Circus Animal Cookies
- Nutter Butter
- Oreo Cookies
- Pop-Tarts
- Rice Krispies Treats
- Snack Pack Pudding
- Teddy Grahams
- Twinkies
- Welch’s Fruit Snacks
Chosen Chips
Nothing hits quite like a perfectly crisp chip, whether it’s dunked in a rich French onion dip, piled onto a sandwich, or inhaled straight from the bag. And just like, well, every other snack category, it’s overflowing with variations—kettle-cooked, ruffled, baked, flavored, you name it, Lays, Zapp’s, or Doritos have made it.
- Bugles
- Cool Ranch Doritos
- Doritos Nacho Cheese
- Fritos Original Corn Chips
- Kettle Brand Sea Salt & Vinegar
- Lay’s Barbecue
- Lay’s Classic
- Munchos
- Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream
- Ruffles Original
- SunChips Original
- TGI Fridays Potato Skins Chips
- Tostitos Scoops!
- Zapp’s Voodoo Chips
Perfect Confections
The candy business has been booming since the 1920s, and honestly, we get it. There’s a reason Snickers will solve your hanger, or even just strolling through the candy and chocolate aisle is an instant mood boost. Sometimes you just need some sugar to keep chugging through the day. Milk Duds, Red Vines, and Junior Mints have become a movie theater staple, while every kid searches for the Reese’s and 3 Musketeers at the bottom of their Halloween bucket.
- 3 Musketeers
- Almond Joy
- Butterfinger
- Fun Dip
- Junior Mints
- Kit Kat
- M&Ms
- Milk Duds
- Red Vines
- Reese’s
- Reese’s Pieces
- Skittles
- Snickers
- Sour Patch Kids
- Starburst
- Twizzlers
Fridge & Freezer Finds
The frozen and refrigerated snack category is really that girl—it has everything you need. Craving a full-blown dinner? Hot Pocket, no question. Need a quick protein hit? Grab a Babybel! Last-minute appetizer? SuperPretzel’s Soft Pretzels are a sure-fire crowd pleaser. You’ll find something sweet (Drumstick Ice Cream Cones), convenient (Go-Gurt or Lunchables, easy), or nutritious enough you can call it healthy (Laughing Cow Cheese) here.
- Babybel Cheese
- Bagel Bites
- Drumstick Ice Cream Cones
- Freezer Pops
- Go-Gurt
- Hot Pockets
- Laughing Cow Cheese
- Lunchables
- SuperPretzel Soft Pretzels
- Totino’s Pizza Rolls
Satisfying Nuts & Seeds
Just because sugary candy and greasy potato chips dominate the snack category doesn’t mean there aren’t healthy options on the market. Nuts and seeds are a great alternative with a storied past in our country. Planters is a prime example. The company first appeared on the scene in 1906 with its now-famed salted peanuts. By 1998, when snacking trends really began to grow, it introduced another hit: Trail Mix. The snack that doubles as an activity—David Sunflower Seeds—has similarly been around for a century: Its founder began roasting and selling the seeds in the 1920s.
- Beer Nuts
- David Sunflower Seeds
- Planters Salted Peanuts
- Planters Trail Mix
