Cheez-Its have been crunching their way through American snack drawers for over a century, and in that time, they’ve evolved from a single orange square into a full-blown cheese-flavored empire. From toasted classics to wild card experiments, these bite-sized crackers have been reimagined in ways both brilliant and baffling.
But let’s be honest—not all Cheez-Its are created equal.
Some flavors are a full-blown cheese revelation, the kind of snack that makes you say “just one more” until the box is mysteriously empty. Others? Let’s just say they belong in the snack hall of shame. Whether they’re over-seasoned, underwhelming, or straight-up strange, not every flavor deserves your pantry space—or your taste buds’ trust.
So we did the snack-loving public a favor: we tasted them all, judged them mercilessly, and sorted the Cheez-It royalty from the cheesy imposters. Here’s the only Cheez-It ranking you’ll ever need—from flavors that absolutely slap to those that are a crime against crackers.
1. Delicious: Extra Toasty
Imagine the original Cheez-It left in the oven just long enough to develop a deeper, more complex personality. That’s Extra Toasty for you! The crackers sport a gorgeous amber hue that signals the flavor explosion waiting inside.
The extended baking time caramelizes the cheese notes, creating an almost umami-like depth that regular Cheez-Its can only dream about. The enhanced crunchiness adds another dimension to the snacking experience.
No wonder this flavor developed its own cult following! Fans hoard boxes during shortages and celebrate when they find fully-stocked shelves. It’s the flavor that proved sometimes accidents (it was originally a manufacturing mistake) make the tastiest traditions.
2. Delicious: White Cheddar
White Cheddar Cheez-Its bring a touch of sophistication to snack time with their pale golden appearance and distinctive tanginess. Unlike their orange cousins, these crackers offer a smoother, creamier flavor profile that feels slightly more grown-up.
The magic lies in the balance – they deliver a sharp cheddar punch without overwhelming your taste buds with saltiness. Each bite starts with that familiar Cheez-It crunch before melting into a rich, dairy-forward finish.
Perfect for cheese board pairings or straight-from-the-box snacking, White Cheddar elevates the humble cheese cracker into something special. Even cheese snobs find themselves reaching for another handful before they realize what’s happening.
3. Delicious: Original
Nothing beats the nostalgic comfort of Original Cheez-Its. These bright orange squares have remained virtually unchanged since their debut, proving that perfection doesn’t need constant reinvention. The first bite delivers that signature real cheese tang that’s been imitated but never duplicated.
What makes the original so special? The balance. Salt levels that enhance rather than overwhelm, a crunch that satisfies without shattering, and that unmistakable aged cheddar flavor baked right into the cracker.
Original Cheez-Its are the flavor equivalent of your favorite old t-shirt – familiar, comfortable, and exactly what you need. They’re the benchmark against which all other cheese crackers are measured, and for good reason.
4. Extra Cheesy
Extra Cheesy Cheez-Its don’t mess around – they’re on a mission to deliver maximum cheese impact with every bite! These crackers sport a visibly thicker coating of cheese dust, promising (and delivering) an intensified flavor experience that puts regular Cheez-Its to shame.
The first crunch releases an avalanche of sharp cheddar flavor that lingers long after the cracker is gone. Your fingertips will be coated in that telltale orange dust – the mark of a truly committed cheese cracker.
Sure, they’re slightly messier than their more restrained cousins, but that’s a small price to pay for cheese nirvana. Keep napkins handy and embrace the dust – this is what happens when Cheez-It creators listen to fans who said, “More cheese, please!”
5. Delicious: Pepper Jack
Pepper Jack Cheez-Its deliver that familiar cheesy crunch with a surprising kick that builds with each handful. Red and green flecks visible in the crackers hint at the flavor adventure waiting inside – a harmonious marriage of creamy cheese and peppery heat.
Unlike some spicy snacks that overwhelm your taste buds, these maintain perfect balance. The heat is noticeable but never drowns out the fundamental Cheez-It character we all love. You’ll taste the cheese first, followed by a gentle warmth that keeps things interesting.
These crackers are the ideal gateway snack for spice-curious friends – bold enough for heat-seekers but approachable enough for everyone. They’re particularly amazing paired with cold drinks, as the contrast amplifies both the cheese and spice notes.
6. Delicious: Cheddar Jack
Cheddar Jack Cheez-Its combine two cheese powerhouses to create a flavor that’s greater than the sum of its parts. The familiar sharp cheddar foundation gets an exciting boost from the addition of monterey jack, creating a more complex, layered cheese experience.
Each square packs a one-two punch of flavor: the initial sharp cheddar bite followed by the creamy, slightly milder jack notes. The combination creates depth without venturing too far from what makes Cheez-Its great in the first place.
These crackers hit the sweet spot between innovation and tradition. They’re different enough to be interesting but familiar enough to satisfy your Cheez-It cravings. For cheese lovers who appreciate nuance in their snacking, Cheddar Jack offers a more sophisticated flavor journey without any pretentiousness.
7. Disappointing: Buffalo Wing
Buffalo Wing Cheez-Its promise the perfect marriage of spicy buffalo sauce and cheesy crackers, but deliver something closer to confusion in a box. The first bite brings an oddly sweet tanginess that bears little resemblance to actual buffalo sauce, followed by a mild heat that feels more like an afterthought.
The biggest disappointment? The cheese flavor gets completely lost in the shuffle. These crackers seem unsure whether they want to be buffalo wings or cheese crackers, ultimately failing at both.
The artificial flavor profile lingers strangely, leaving you reaching for water not because of spiciness, but to wash away the peculiar aftertaste. Even buffalo wing fanatics find themselves returning to original Cheez-Its after this underwhelming experiment in flavor fusion.
8. Disappointing: Zesty Cheddar Ranch
Ranch seasoning can elevate many foods, but Zesty Cheddar Ranch Cheez-Its prove there’s definitely such thing as too much of a good thing. These crackers ambush your taste buds with an overwhelming assault of artificial herbs and a chemical tanginess that drowns out any cheese flavor.
The powdery coating leaves an unpleasant film on your tongue that persists long after eating. What should be a harmonious blend of cheese and herbs instead tastes like someone emptied an entire ranch seasoning packet onto otherwise innocent crackers.
9. Disappointing: Parmesan & Garlic
Garlic and parmesan should be a winning combination – they’re culinary soulmates in pasta, bread, and countless other dishes. Somehow, Parmesan & Garlic Cheez-Its manage to take this foolproof pairing and transform it into something borderline inedible.
The garlic doesn’t just take center stage – it hijacks the entire performance with an artificial, almost metallic intensity that overwhelms everything else. The parmesan notes, which should add depth and richness, are barely detectable beneath the garlic onslaught.
The aftermath might be the worst part: the powerful garlic flavor lingers for hours, repeating with every breath. Even garlic lovers find themselves questioning their life choices after finishing a handful. These crackers might protect you from vampires, but they’ll definitely repel human companions too.
10. Italian Four Cheese
Italian Four Cheese Cheez-Its arrive with grand promises – a sophisticated blend of cheeses offering complex, European-inspired flavor. Reality delivers a muddled, vaguely sour cracker that leaves you wondering where all those cheeses went hiding.
Instead of distinct notes from each cheese creating a harmonious quartet, you get a confusing, almost fermented flavor that doesn’t resemble any recognizable cheese. The “Italian” aspect seems limited to the box design rather than the actual taste experience.
Most puzzling is the flat, one-dimensional flavor profile from something promising such complexity. Four mediocre cheese flavors don’t add up to one good one. These crackers prove that sometimes ambition exceeds execution, leaving you with a bland disappointment that makes you appreciate the honest simplicity of original Cheez-Its.
11. Disappointing: Hot & Spicy
Hot & Spicy Cheez-Its commit the cardinal sin of spicy snacks – delivering heat without flavor. The first bite brings an immediate pepper burn that feels disconnected from the cracker itself, like someone dusted regular Cheez-Its with cayenne as an afterthought.
The cheese flavor that should form the foundation of any Cheez-It experience gets completely overshadowed by the one-dimensional spiciness. Unlike the balanced heat of Pepper Jack, this version offers no complexity or development of flavor – just a straightforward burn.
Most disappointing is how the heat builds with each cracker until your taste buds are so overwhelmed that you can’t taste anything else. The experience becomes more endurance challenge than enjoyable snack.
12. Disappointing: Sharp White Cheddar
Cheez-It Grooves represent a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes Cheez-Its special. These ridged pretenders abandon the signature dense, flaky texture for a lighter, airier bite that feels more like a generic cheese chip than a proper Cheez-It.
The Sharp White Cheddar flavor should be the saving grace, but it too disappoints with a muted, almost apologetic cheese presence. The flavor seems to evaporate instantly, leaving behind only a vague memory of cheese rather than the bold impact of traditional Cheez-Its.
The grooved design supposedly holds more cheese dust, but this theoretical advantage doesn’t translate to actual flavor enhancement. These identity-confused snacks leave you wondering why they didn’t just stick with what works instead of chasing trends with this unnecessary reinvention.
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