14 Best Goldfish Flavors, Ranked
Goldfish crackers are one of the snackiest snacks of all time. They're tiny, tasty and most importantly, you can eat an entire bag in one sitting (although, for health reasons, we don't recommend that). Since 1962, when Pepperidge Farm founder Margaret Rudkin introduced Goldfish to the US, Goldfish have remained a snack staple in pantries everywhere. (Although Rudkin didn't give us the iconic Goldfish smile until 1997.) Nowadays, there's an array of flavors beyond the original cracker that stole the hearts of millions. These are the 14 best Goldfish flavors, ranked from worst to best.
How many flavors of Goldfish are there?
There are currently 13 different flavors of Goldfish available in the US market, with a few Canadian exceptions that are available for purchase in the US via Amazon. However, that does not include Goldfish Grahams, a line of sweeter graham cracker-esque baked crackers that currently come in two flavors: Vanilla Cupcake and S'mores. Pepperidge Farm also used to make a spinoff line of Goldfish called Goldfish Puffs, but they have since been discontinued.
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But that's just what's being made right now. According to Taquitos.net, there have been as many as 53 Goldfish flavors over the years, including crossover and limited edition flavors like Epic Crunch Ranch and Old Bay Seasoned Crackers.
Do Goldfish have different flavors?
There are several different flavors of Goldfish, but when it comes to debating what's considered "original" vs. cheddar, the discussion can get pretty heated.
When Goldfish first debuted, there were five flavors: Lightly Salted (now known as Original), Cheese, Barbecue, Pizza and Smoky. If you can believe it, the Cheddar Cheese Goldfish wasn't released until four years later (and therein lies the controversy!)
However, if you're eating one box or bag of Goldfish, you won't find different flavors in one bag. Except for the Goldfish Mixes lines or special editions of Goldfish, it's one Goldfish flavor per box.
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What flavor is Goldfish?
Tons of Goldfish lovers use the word "original" when referring to the flavor that is actually Cheddar. But that would be incorrect. The true original Goldfish flavor is Lightly Salted and is now called Original. The classic Goldfish flavor so many of us have come to know and love is actually Cheddar (and it's often referred to as the "classic" Goldfish flavor).
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What are the flavors of rainbow Goldfish?
The same "one flavor per Goldfish box" rule holds true for the fan-favorite rainbow Goldfish—AKA Goldfish Colors. Though one bag contains yellow, green and red fish, they're all actually Cheddar.
Goldfish Colors Cheddar Cheese Crackers, Baked Snack Crackers, 6.6 oz Bag (Pack of 6)
14 Goldfish flavors, ranked
Disclaimer: This list does not include Goldfish Grahams, Goldfish Mixes or any flavors from Goldfish's Baked with Whole Grains or Baked with Non-GMO Ingredients lines.
14. Goldfish Blasted Sour Cream and Onion
Don't come for us, sour cream and onion lovers! This vinegary combo may have a passionate fanbase, but it's not for everyone. Regarding sour cream and onion-flavored foods, we'd prefer to keep them away from our beloved Goldfish.
Goldfish Flavor Blasted Cheddar and Sour Cream Crackers, Snack Crackers, 6.6 oz bag (Pack of 24)
13. Goldfish Limited Edition Dunkin' Pumpkin Spice Grahams
Not gonna lie, this limited-edition flavor threw tons of people for a loop (including us). Considering pumpkin spice is either hit or miss, it's not as bad as it could have been. It's a cutesy little take on a favorite holiday flavor (even though pumpkin spice is seriously spiraling out of control), but either way, you'd probably only eat these the first week of fall before getting sick of 'em.
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12. Goldfish Parmesan
Goldfish Parmesan is good but not like, cancel-all-your-plans-and-stay-home-watching-Netflix-and-eating-Goldfish good. Just a little sharper than the regular Cheddar, it's good enough to earn a spot on the team, but not exactly good enough to break away from the crowd.
Goldfish Baked Snack Crackers, Parmesan, 6.6 Oz. (Pack of 6)
11. Goldfish Blasted Screamin' Salt and Vinegar
The Blasted Salt and Vinegar flavor may not be currently available in the US, but since you can technically get it shipped from Canada via Amazon, we had to include it. Salt and vinegar may be a divisive flavor, but Goldfish holds its own against other brands known for their successful takes on salt and vinegar (ie. Pringles and Lays). It really does scream "FLAVOR!" in your mouth.
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Flavour Blasted Salt and Vinegar, 180g/6.34 Ounces {Imported from Canada}
10. Goldfish MegaBites Sharp Cheddar
Speaking of sharp, Goldfish MegaBites Sharp Cheddar is about as sharp as they get. While we didn't include every MegaBites Goldfish (because they're larger-sized fish but have the same flavors as the regular line), MegaBites Sharp Cheddar is the only Sharp Cheddar Goldfish. Because the fish are mega-sized though, chompin' on a box of these can get old really quickly.
Goldfish Mega Bites, Sharp Cheddar Crackers, 26.7 Oz Carton
9. Goldfish Pretzels
It was a bit of a moral dilemma deciding whether or not to include Goldfish Pretzels in this ranking because they're something entirely different. They're obviously pretzels, not crackers, so it's next to impossible to stack them up against other crackers. Still, Goldfish Pretzels are technically a part of the regular Goldfish line, so include them we must. Don't let the #11 ranking fool you, however. Goldfish Pretzels are a go-to (especially while on the go) and the only reason they're so low down the totem pole is because they're not comparable to other crackers.
Goldfish Baked Snack Crackers, Pretzel, .75oz Pouches, Pack of 15
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8. Goldfish Blasted Xtra Cheesy Pizza
Hardcore fans of the standard Goldfish Pizza flavor will likely love the Blasted Xtra Cheesy Pizza flavor—a cheesier version of the original pizza. For others though, it may come off as too strong. One minute you're having a handful and the next thing you know, your living room is an Italian restaurant and your breath smells like onion and garlic.
Goldfish Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheesy Pizza Crackers, 6.6 Oz. Bag (Pack Of 24)
7. Goldfish Blasted Cheddar and Sour Cream
As a flavor, Cheddar and Sour Cream is usually an easier combo to digest in comparison to Sour Cream and Onion, which can be so oniony that it's polarizing. This Goldfish flavor is a little more subdued than SC&C, but let us not forget that it's still a "Blasted" flavor, which means it's dosed with extra seasoning.
Goldfish Flavor Blasted Cheddar and Sour Cream Crackers, Snack Crackers, 6.6 oz bag (Pack of 24)
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6. Goldfish Blasted Cheddar Jack'd
All of Goldfish's Blasted flavors are bold, but the Blasted Cheddar Jack'd might be the boldest of 'em all. After all, it takes its inspiration from two powerful flavor profiles: cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack. Let's just say there's nothing light about it except for its weight.
Goldfish Flavor Blasted Cheddar Jack'd Crackers, Snack Crackers, 6.6 oz bag (Pack of 24)
5. Goldfish Pizza
For so many other snacks, a pizza flavor didn't come around until much later during the snack's production, but for Goldfish, Pizza was always included in the OG lineup. However, despite all the years, Goldfish Pizza has been in the rotation, it still comes up a little short. It's a great Goldfish flavor, of course, but if you pick up the wrong fish, you could find your mouth in an accidental explosion of oregano...and only oregano.
Goldfish Crackers, Baked Snack, Pizza, 6.6 Oz. (Pack of 4)
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4. Franks RedHot Goldfish
There are very few food collabs that Franks RedHot does that we don't like. The tagline of Franks is right when it says to "put that sh*t on everything," and for us, that includes Goldfish. This flavor is a spice lover's dream come true, but if your tongue gets a little too caliente, make sure you have some ranch around to cool down.
Goldfish Crackers, Limited Edition Frank's RedHot Snack Crackers, 6.6 oz. bag
3. Blasted Xtra Cheddar
For those of us that LOVE the heck out of regular Cheddar Goldfish, there's Blasted Xtra Cheddar. It's just a more extreme version of the classic flavor we know and love so if you've ever wished for a cheesier version, this is it.
Goldfish Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar Cheese Crackers, Baked Snack Crackers, 6.6 oz Bag (Pack of 6)
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2. Goldfish Original
What's known as the Original Goldfish is really a light cracker flavor with a hint of saltiness. That might sound bland, but beware—the saltiness of the Original makes it near impossible to put down and two goldfish can very quickly turn into three, four, seven, seventy-five, 100!!!!
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Original 200g/7.05 Ounces Imported From Canada
1. Goldfish Cheddar/Goldfish Colors
This one's a tie because, well, they're both the same flavor—AKA Cheddar—even though they are marketed very differently. (Side note: There's even Baby Cheddar, which is basically cheddar-flavored Goldfish that are small enough for babies and kids.) The Cheddar Goldfish is, in fact, the Classic Goldfish flavor we think of when we think of Goldfish and for that reason alone, it reigns supreme.
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers, 1.5 oz. Snack Packs, 30-count Multi-pack Box
