Protein Doritos Now Exist, and We Got an Early Taste
It was only a matter of time.
Image Courtesy of Doritos
If you’re trying to pack more protein into your diet, you might have given up on some of your previous go-to junk food in favor of snacks with more "functional" ingredients. Big brands have noticed this shift as much as anyone else, and while there’s an endless array of protein products out there, from crunchy cereals and popcorn to sparkling drinks and dessert-flavored shakes, they know that sometimes you just want a handful of Doritos. And why shouldn’t those cravings fit into your protein goals, too?
As of this month, they can — thanks to the arrival of Doritos Protein.
“Seventy percent of consumers want their salty snacks to have protein and now we are making it more accessible,” Hernán Tantardini, Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo Foods U.S., says in a press release. “The launch of Doritos Protein marks our strategic expansion into the protein snack category.”
How much protein is in Doritos Protein chips?
Doritos Protein offers 10 grams of protein per one-ounce serving, about 10 chips. By contrast, a regular serving of normal Doritos Nacho Cheese chips contains only two grams of protein. If you’re watching carbohydrates, OG Doritos contain 17 grams, while Doritos Protein only contain eight grams per serving.
You'll also find differences in the ingredients lists. Regular Doritos begin with corn but, for Doritos Protein the top-listed ingredient is casein, a protein derived from dairy. Corn and rice flour are also in the mix, so does that additional protein boost affect how these chips crunch?
My honest review of Doritos Protein chips:
Adam Campbell-Schmitt
We received a sample of the Doritos Protein Nacho Cheese flavor to try head to head with both regular Doritos Nacho Cheese and Simply Doritos Nacho Cheese. (The latter, like the new protein chips, are made without artificial colors or flavors.)
At first glance, you could be fooled into thinking Doritos Protein are just regular Doritos, but a side-by-side comparison reveals there’s definitely a textural difference between the two. The protein version is a little flatter and less bubbly. The texture when taking a bite is denser, but only slightly. Compared to other popular wannabe-Doritos protein chips we’ve tried, Doritos Protein certainly hits closer to the intended target. Aside from that, the flavor of Doritos Protein Nacho Cheese is as bold and zesty as you’ve come to expect from the brand.
When can you buy Doritos Protein chips?
Doritos Protein Nacho Cheese and Sweet & Tangy BBQ flavors are hitting store shelves in both 7-ounce and larger 12.75-ounce bags starting this month, March 2026. Single-serving bags (boasting 17 grams of protein per bag) will arrive later this year.
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