I’m a potato chip person: I’ll eat them straight from the bag, tuck them into a sandwich for extra crunch, and even shower leftover crumbs over my mac ‘n’ cheese like supercharged breadcrumbs. So when Lay’s brought Thanksgiving dinner to its Holi-LAY’s lineup with three limited-time flavors, I was ready to taste-test them, one crisp bite at a time.
Thanksgiving flavors are having a moment in the snack aisle. Lay’s isn’t alone: Trader Joe’s and Aldi have offered turkey-and-stuffing chips. Pringles once made an entire Thanksgiving Dinner collection. Even Oreo released a limited-edition tin of Thanksgiving-inspired cookies last year—including flavors like Creamed Corn and Turkey and Stuffing. For brands, familiar holiday dishes make for playful, limited-time flavors that can stand out on crowded shelves.
I got an early taste of Lay’s Roasted Holiday Turkey and Maple Bacon chips when I visited their farm and factory in Wisconsin. More recently, I tried them again alongside the new Cheddar Scalloped-Style Potatoes flavor. Here’s how I’d rank the lineup.
1. Cheddar Scalloped-Style Potatoes
This one really surprised me—in the best way. Cheddar gets top billing, but Parmesan adds a subtle nuttiness and a deeper savory umami. There’s a whisper of herbs, too, and the whole chip tastes richer and more rounded than a straight-up cheese flavor. It’s ridiculously satisfying—like a holiday side dish, minus the casserole dish and oven time. I love these.
2. Roasted Holiday Turkey
I’m a big fan of Lay’s entree-inspired savory flavors, especially the kinds you find abroad: Poulet Rôti in France, Jamón in Spain, and Kobe Steak in Japan. Roasted Holiday Turkey has the same savory, umami appeal, but what really got me was how uncannily it tastes like Thanksgiving turkey—with thyme coming through so clearly, it’s as if the herb had gone straight into the gravy.
3. Maple Bacon
Maple Bacon lands in third, mostly because I prefer my chips salty and savory. This one is very sweet, with major Aunt Jemima pancake-syrup vibes, and the bacon flavor is just as smoky. It’s giving breakfast in a chip—which may be exactly what some want, but it’s not my personal snacking sweet spot.
When are Lay’s new holiday flavors available?
Lay’s Cheddar Scalloped-Style Potatoes and Roasted Holiday Turkey chips hit shelves nationwide on October 25. Maple Bacon, making its U.S. debut, arrives November 8.
The verdict
Cheddar Scalloped-Style Potatoes was the surprise winner: layered with flavors, satisfying, and much more than a basic Cheddar chip. Roasted Holiday Turkey is a strong pick for fans of savory chips inspired by classic meat dishes, while Maple Bacon is best suited to anyone who likes a sweet-and-smoky snack.
