Pretzels have evolved significantly from their once bland and hard-to-eat state. Nowadays, there are numerous options available, with seasonings that add much more flavor than you might remember.
1. Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels Original Seasoned
The first time I tried Dot’s Original pretzels, I was pleasantly surprised. I expected “original” to mean plain and had previously found snack pretzels to be lacking in flavor, but these proved otherwise. The seasoning is difficult to pinpoint but is best described as buttery, with savory notes of onion, sweetness, creaminess, and tang. They offer a satisfying crunch and a hint of traditional pretzel flavor. Although they are somewhat expensive, they are worth it.
2. Snyder’s Pretzel Pieces Buttermilk Ranch
Snyder’s Pretzel Pieces are intriguing and enjoyable to eat, made from broken pretzel bits, each with a unique size and shape. They are the crunchiest of the bunch, with larger pieces being particularly hard. The best aspect is how the rough edges hold onto the abundant seasoning, with the buttermilk ranch flavor being especially delightful, featuring strong garlic and dill notes with a tangy finish.
3. Rold Gold Tiny Twists Cheddar
These cheddar pretzels are underrated but deserve more attention. They offer the best cheesy flavor among seasoned pretzels, partly due to their nostalgic twisted shape. The cheese flavor is rich, complemented by a strong onion taste. The seasoning adheres well to the pretzels, avoiding messy fingers.
4. Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels Parmesan Garlic Seasoned
While I was eager to try more of Dot’s flavors, the parmesan garlic variety was underwhelming. The parmesan or garlic flavors were not distinct, making them almost indistinguishable from the Original flavor. Despite this, they remain delicious due to the excellent original flavor.
5. Snyder’s Twisted Seasoned
For those who enjoy Dot’s Original pretzels but prefer a lower price, these Snyder’s “Seasoned” flavored pretzels are a great alternative. They share a similar buttery taste with hints of garlic, onion, and tang. The pretzel sticks are tender and resemble crunchy breadsticks, making them ideal for dipping.
6. Snyder’s Pretzel Pieces Honey Mustard and Onion
Although I’m not a fan of mustard, these Snyder’s Pieces are compelling regardless of the flavor. Some may desire more heat from the mustard, but the balance with sweetness is excellent, complemented by a hint of onion.
7. Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels Southwest Seasoned
Southwest is an unusual pretzel seasoning, which intrigued me. The seasoning’s aroma is strong upon opening the bag, featuring a mild chili powder flavor and a hint of lime alongside Dot’s signature buttery taste.
8. Zapp’s Pretzel Stix Spicy Cajun
Zapp’s is a well-regarded brand for snacks, but the pretzel varieties do not match the quality of their potato chips. The pretzel twists have a thick seasoning coating, making it difficult to eat more than a handful. The heat builds gradually, with celery salt reminiscent of Old Bay seasoning.
9. Clancy’s Pretzels Pub Style
These pretzels are clearly intended to be consumed with beer due to their high salt content. The seasoning is abundant, but the main flavors are onion and garlic, with a strong aftertaste reminiscent of plain pretzel rods.
10. Utz Mixed Minis Garlic Butter
This Utz mix, reminiscent of trail mix or Chex Mix, features various shaped pretzels. However, the flavor is lacking despite the plentiful seasoning, resulting in a very mild garlic taste.
11. Snyder’s Twisted Pretzel Sticks Nacho Cheese
These nacho cheese-flavored pretzel sticks were disappointing, with only a brief Kraft mac and cheese-like flavor and not much else.
12. Snyder’s Twisted Pretzel Sticks Sour Cream & Onion
While sour cream and onion is a beloved chip flavor, it doesn’t translate well to pretzels. The sweet onion flavor clashes with the sour cream tang and baked pretzel taste.
13. Clancy’s Pretzel Slims Everything
These flat, crispy pretzel slims from Aldi are inexpensive but reflect the cost in quality. The crispiness is unsatisfactory, and the onion and garlic flavors are overly bitter.
14. Zapp’s Pretzel Sticks Voodoo
I expected the Voodoo seasoned pretzels to be better but found them too sweet and overwhelming. As someone familiar with Voodoo chips, these pretzels just don’t fit the flavor profile.
15. Pop Daddy Pretzels Peppercorn Ranch
These thin, single-strand pretzel sticks are the only ones of their kind on this list, but they rank the lowest. The flavor is dominated by a harsh peppercorn taste with little ranch presence, making them one-dimensional and nostalgic in a juvenile way.
Which are your favorites? Comment below!