Goldfish Spicy Dill Pickle Crisps: Tangy & Yummy

Bowl of Goldfish Crisps Spicy Dill Flavored crackers with the text "You need these Goldfish Crisps (Even if you don't know it yet)"

A light, airy, chip-like snack with a spot-on spicy dill flavor

I’m terrible at the grocery store: I’m extremely prone to impulse purchases, especially when it comes to new snacks. So when I saw Goldfish Spicy Dill Pickle Crisps (not crackers, but a chip-like version of Goldfish), I had to take the plunge.

“Light & Airy” = Awesome (and Kind of Chip-Like)

Let me tell you, I was rewarded handsomely. These things are incredible. I can’t stop eating them.

After trying them, here’s what stood out—starting with the texture.

Pepperidge Farm’s marketing department wasn’t messing about when they decided to put “Light & Airy” on the package—these crisps nail it.

A bowl of Goldfish Crisps Spicy Dill Flavored Crackers

Now “light” and “airy” aren’t necessarily good traits. Imagine you had a steak that was light and airy—you’d be concerned. But for a snack like this, it works incredibly well.

Compared to traditional Goldfish crackers—which are comparatively dense—these crisps land somewhere between a cracker and a potato chip.

Let’s talk about the texture. These have a crunch very similar to potato chips, but with more heft. Still, they absolutely scratch the potato-chip itch.

Considering that one iteration of the packaging even refers to Goldfish Crisps as being “The chip-like Goldfish”, I have a feeling that Pepperidge Farm was targeting potato chip eaters when they crafted this snack.

And I’d say they succeeded! They’re not exactly potato chips—but if I’m craving chips but want something less greasy, I’d absolutely reach for Goldfish Crisps.

These crisps are also incredibly munchable. As much as I love potato chips, I actually find it easier to keep reaching for Goldfish Crisps. From a snacking perspective, that’s amazing. From a health perspective? Maybe not so much.

That chip-like feel isn’t random—potatoes are the first ingredient.

Compared to classic Goldfish crackers, these feel lighter, crispier, and much more snackable in a “chip-like” way.

If you like snacks that sit somewhere between crackers and potato chips, these are absolutely worth trying.

The Flavor Is Really Good (Spicy Dill Done Right)

Close up of Goldfish Crisps Spicy Dill Flavored Crackers

Great texture doesn’t mean much without great flavor though. I have great news: the spicy dill flavor is fantastic for a few key reasons:

Light (but noticeable) spice
A clear dill flavor
A light tang

You might be thinking, “So…all you’re telling me is that they taste like what the package says?”

Yes! And that’s worth calling out, because a lot of snacks don’t deliver on their promised flavor (looking at you Virginia Diner Street Taco Peanuts).

But more importantly, the flavor isn’t just accurate—it’s also really good. Everything tastes pleasantly just as a spicy dill pickle snack should. In particular, the dill is strong enough to stand out without overpowering everything else. Bonus note: Pepperidge Farm uses real dill oil, which probably explains why these crisps taste so spot on.

As for the tang, this comes from a combination of citric acid and vinegar powder. Together, these do a very good (though not amazing) job of simulating the tang of a pickle.

I’m planning to try the other flavors. But, in the meantime, I highly recommend starting with the Spicy Dill.

Update

I tried a couple other flavors: BBQ and Salt and Vinegar. The Salt and Vinegar variety is excellent. If you want something akin to Spicy Dill but without heat, Salt and Vinegar Goldfish Crisps are a great choice.

As for the BBQ flavor. They’re…fine. But they lack the magic of the Spicy Dill or the assertive flavor of Salt and Vinegar.

Building the Flavor: Yeast and Dairy

There are a few other ingredients that help build the foundation of the flavor—and help explain why these crisps are so addictive:

Cheddar cheese
Yeast extract
Buttermilk

This combination helps give the crisps a fuller flavor and more satisfying mouthfeel than typical snack crackers.

Do These Taste Like Cheese?

Although these are Goldfish, they don’t taste notably cheesy. I’m fine with that because the flavor they do have is fantastic and doesn’t need cheese to succeed.

That said, I came across a review that criticized these crisps for not tasting enough like cheese. I think that’s a little unfair. Just because they’re Goldfish, do they need to be overtly cheese flavored?

After all, Pepperidge Farm also makes pretzel- and graham cracker-flavored Goldfish. Should Harry Potter Butterbeer Butterscotch Flavored Graham Cracker Goldfish have a pronounced cheese flavor? That sounds pretty gross.

In my view, the goal isn’t for every Goldfish product to taste like cheese. The goal is for it to taste good. And these definitely do.

But if you’re looking for cheese flavor, Pepperidge Farm has you covered with two cheese-flavored varieties of Goldfish Crisps: Cheddar and White Cheddar.