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If like me you’re a huge savoury fan, you’re probably always on the hunt for a bag of gluten free crisps to devour.
I love cakes and bakes, but nothing beats sitting down of an evening with a sharing bag of crisps to myself.
Add a nice dip and you’re basically in heaven!
But if you’re new to coeliac disease or a gluten free diet, you might be wondering which crisps are actually gluten free.
There are a lot of crisp brands I used to love pre-coeliac which I now cannot eat, so I’ve been on a mission to find replacements.
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Are crisps gluten free?
Most classic crisps are made from potatoes, which are naturally gluten free.
However there are some brands of crisps which are not gluten free – and that’s where you have to get used to reading labels.
All Walker’s crisps carry a ‘may contain gluten’ warning, so even if there is no gluten in the ingredients, they are not suitable for people with coeliac disease.
On the flip side, a lot of crisps are safe to eat – for example, Kettle Chips are all labelled gluten free, as are many others.
The rule with crisps is the same as any other gluten free packaged foods.
If there’s no specific ‘gluten free’ label, firstly check the ingredients list to see if there are any gluten-containing foods listed, such as wheat or barley.
These will be highlighted in bold in the UK and EU so will be easy to spot.
And secondly, check to make sure there are no ‘may contain’ warnings – if there are, these are not suitable for people with coeliac disease.
The best gluten free crisp replacements
While there are lots of gluten free options, it’s frustrating when you miss you absolute favourite crisps.
Of course, ingredients do change over time so while these products are gluten free at the time of writing (July 2021) please always double check them.
I’m also aware some products look very similar but only some are gluten free.
For example while some of the Lidl and Aldi products look almost identical, only one of them is gluten free in some cases – so please always check the ingredients.
Here are some alternatives to my favourite crisp brands which contain gluten…
Gluten free Pringles
I know how much you guys love Pringles, and you’ll be pleased to know that while Pringles are not gluten free, there are alternatives!
Schär have brought out their gluten free Curvies crisps in recent years, which come in BBQ or plain flavours.
They’re just like Pringles and can be found in Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s free from aisles.
You’ll also find the Lidl Snacktastic Stacking Potato Snacks are the perfect Pringles dupe, and also gluten free.
They come in a range of flavours and are only 84p a pack (bargain) – just don’t get them confused with the Aldi ones which look similar but are NOT gluten free.
Gluten free Monster Munch
Finding these Lidl Monster Claws was probably one of the best discoveries of the last couple of years for me!
I absolutely LOVED Monster Munch – particularly the pickled onion ones – and when I tasted these it took me right back to primary school.
Monster Munch have no gluten in the ingredients but they do have several ‘may contain’ warnings (classic Walkers) so are not suitable for people with coeliac disease.
No I’ve found these Monster Claws I don’t even care, because they taste exactly like the real deal and they’re much cheaper too.
Gluten free Nik Naks
I used to be absolutely obsessed with Nik Naks back in the day, and I swear they used to be gluten free because my early coeliac food diaries contain a lot of them.
But that was 20 odd years ago and now sadly Nik Naks contain gluten.
However, these Well & Truly Crunchies are an absolute Nik Nak dupe – it’s uncanny!
I had forgotten how much I loved Nik Naks until I opened a pack of these Really Cheesey Well & Truly Crunchies and devoured the pack in one sitting.
You can find them in the Tesco free from aisle and they have a few different flavours – the cheese ones are by far my favourite though.
Gluten free Skips
Prawn cocktail fans listen up – these Tesco Prawn Shells are here to fill the Skips-shaped hole in your life!
Although Skips are largely made from tapioca starch, they’re another Walkers product which has no gluten in the ingredients but an annoying ‘may contain’ warning.
So while we wait for Walkers to get their act together, these Tesco Prawn Shells are just as good.
In fact, my gluten-eating other half demolished most of this bag and told me he think they’re better than the real thing.
Gluten free Frazzles
I bloody loved Frazzles but sadly they contain gluten, as do a lot of the supermarket versions.
However these Sainsbury’s Bacon Crispies have come to the rescue as the perfect Frazzles alternative.
They’re deliciously bacon-y and have that lovely crunch which then just dissolves in your mouth.
I actually had a bit of a love affair with these when I first discovered them; pretty sure some Sainsbury’s exec somewhere has retired off the profits!
But seriously, if you love a bacon crisp then you have to give these a go.
Gluten free Doritos
If I could pick one gluten-containing crisp to eat symptom-free forever, it would be Tangy Cheese Doritos.
I used to polish off a multipack of these a week pre-coeliac and was so gutted that none of the Doritos range is gluten free (thanks again Walkers).
So when I found out the Sainsbury’s own tortilla chips are gluten free AND come in cheese, original and chilli flavours, I was over the moon.
Lidl also do a range of gluten free Dorito’s dupes but trust me, the Sainsbury’s ones are SO much better.
The original and cheese ones taste just like the real thing – I have to stop myself buying them because once I open the pack I lose all control!
Gluten free Hula Hoops
Sadly Hula Hoops have a ‘may contain’ warning for gluten, despite not having gluten in the ingredients.
But if you miss those crunchy potato hoops, give Lidl’s Potato Hoops a try.
They come in the same range of flavours as KP’s original Hula Hoops but they’re gluten free.
These were always a lunchbox favourite of mine so it’s nice to be reunited – I think you just can’t beat the ready salted flavour if you ask me.
Gluten free Wotsits
Wotsits fans, don’t panic – it turns out there are quite a few alternatives out there for you.
While Wotsits themselves aren’t gluten free, you can get supermarket versions from which are safe to eat.
Because they’re made with maize they’re a fairly easy snack to replicate completely gluten free.
So if you’re missing these, enjoy the range on offer!
Gluten free onion rings
Anyone else used to think the highlight of a party spread would be a bowl of onion rings!?
I’m not talking the battered kind, but the crunchy, super-strong crisp variety!
Sadly onion ring crisps aren’t gluten free, but Tesco has brought out this free from version which are gluten, wheat and dairy free.
They taste just like the real deal and can be found in the free from aisle.
Party spreads are once again complete – if you can bear to share them!
Which gluten free crisps do you miss?
I know there are probably lots of crisps out there that you guys miss, so please let me know in the comments below so I can find alternatives!
There are also still a few crisps I’d love to find an alternative to but haven’t had any success – namely Quavers!
So if you manage to find any gluten free Quavers please do let me know.
Don’t forget you can also share all your new gluten free finds and get advice in my free Facebook support group – come on over!
Hi Whilst I did already know most of these, I love the positive way you highlight this help to Coeliacs, Thank you.
Some things I THINK are safe are: Sainsburys S&V Twirls, Sainsburys Cantina doritos (on the Thai Isle). Mamosa, M&S Cheese Puffs, M&S range or ‘doritos’,
I am still wishing for Chip sticks, Discos, Quavers and Squares, old school crisps 🙂 so if you do find them, please let us know xx
I’ve literally been diagnosed days ago and my first thought was crisps so this site really helps.. I’m so happy tangy toms and transform a snacks gluten free, are there any other “puff” crisps??.. hate the posh kettle crisps but could eat bags and bags of the puff crisps in an evening😃
Hope this is ok to post???
Why not try our Simpleas Snacks made from 100% British peas – gluten free, low calorie and come in 4 flavours (The Cheese and Herb is comparable to a Quavers and the Smoky Paprika to Frazzles!)
For our snacks and also a range of gluten free ingredients made from peas visit http://www.novofarina.com
Thank you for this blog! Im a very stressed mama helping my little one adjust to a new diet after being diagnosed with celiac disease. He loves snacking on crisp and almost all his faves have gluten in. This was so helpful to read and can’t wait to get some bits for him, especially the bacon crisp!!
Seabrook company are gluten free and they have a range of different types.
Thanks for the tips, really helpful! You sound like you share my weakness for crisps :-). My usual approach with NGCI products that have a ‘might contain’ warning is to try them and see if I react. They are covering themselves legally owing to how expansive each manufacturing facility is/multiple production lines, so it is a risk but generally quite small.