Aldi: Snackrite BBQ Flavour Popouts

There’s always a moment of hope when you open a bag of crisps with an unfamiliar shape — the sense that you might discover a new favourite.

Aldi’s Snackrite BBQ Flavour Popouts certainly look the part: popped rather than fried, dusted in rusty-orange seasoning, and shaped a little like the lovechild of a rice cracker and a puffed wheel. But sadly, despite their promising crunch and cheerful branding, these ones don’t quite deliver the satisfying experience you’d hope for.

A flavour that doesn’t quite land

Barbecue is one of those flavours that divides opinion at the best of times — it can be smoky and rich, or cloying and artificial.

In the case of the Popouts, it leans heavily toward the latter. There’s a sweetness that arrives first, but it’s not the warm, rounded sweetness of tomato or smoked paprika. Instead, it feels a bit synthetic, like something trying to impersonate flavour rather than embody it.

The smokiness is subtle to the point of being barely there, and the salt is modest — which might be admirable on paper but leaves the crisp tasting oddly unfinished. After a few bites, the flavour begins to fade into something vague and starchy, and that’s when the texture steps in. Unfortunately, it doesn’t save the day.

Texture without substance

Popouts, as the name suggests, are popped snacks rather than fried — which I guess should be a good thing – They’re lighter, less greasy, and often a bit kinder nutritionally.

But in this case, the texture is a little too airy and dry. It reminds me more of a packing peanut than a crisp.

There’s a crunch, yes, but not the satisfying kind that keeps you reaching into the bag. It’s all snap and no chew — a texture that leaves you aware of the absence of something, rather than the presence of flavour.

Trying, but not quite succeeding

To Aldi’s credit, the Popouts do have their place. They’re low in fat, appealing to those after a lighter snack, and they’re inexpensive. But the flavour just doesn’t carry enough weight to keep them interesting. If you’re someone who enjoys gentle barbecue notes with a low-oil profile, these may work for you. But if you’re looking for boldness, richness, or a crisp you’ll remember ten minutes later, these probably won’t be it.

I wanted to like them — I really did. But sometimes a crisp just doesn’t click. And that’s okay. Not every snack needs to be a favourite. Some simply pass through the cupboard once, and quietly don’t return.