Nik Naks are extruded corn snacks made by KP Snacks, available in three flavours: Nice ‘N’ Spicy, Tangy ‘N’ Cheesy and Rib ‘N’ Saucy. The irregular squiggly shape is distinctive and deliberate. One Pound Sweets stocks Nice ‘N’ Spicy and Tangy ‘N’ Cheesy in cases of 20 x 75g.
There are crisps you eat without thinking about and then there are crisps you seek out specifically. Nik Naks fall firmly into the second category. The distinctive squiggly shape, the heavy seasoning, the texture that is somewhere between crunchy and melt-in-the-mouth. Once you are a Nik Naks fan you tend to stay one, and when you cannot find them in your usual shop you notice.
This is the full guide to the range: the history, all three flavours and where to buy them properly rather than picking up a single bag from a petrol station.
What are Nik Naks?
Nik Naks are an extruded corn snack made by KP Snacks. They are not a potato crisp. The base is corn meal that has been pushed through a die and puffed, which creates the irregular squiggly shape that makes Nik Naks immediately recognisable from across a snack aisle. The shape is not random, it is a result of the extrusion process, and it is one of the reasons Nik Naks have such a distinctive texture.
They launched in the UK in 1981 and have been part of the KP Snacks range ever since. Like Wheat Crunchies, they have never had a huge marketing presence but they have built a loyal following based almost entirely on people discovering them and coming back for more.
What makes the Nik Naks texture different
The extruded corn base gives Nik Naks a texture that sits somewhere between the crunch of a standard crisp and the airiness of a puffed snack. Each piece has a satisfying resistance when you first bite in, then dissolves slightly as the corn base gives way. Combined with the heavy, clinging seasoning, the eating experience is more intense than you would get from a plain corn puff or a standard potato crisp.
The irregular shape also means more surface area for the seasoning to stick to, which is part of why the flavour on every piece tends to be consistent and bold rather than patchy. This is the same principle at work as with ridged crisps like McCoy’s, just applied to a completely different base.
The three Nik Naks flavours
Nice ‘N’ Spicy is the one most people encounter first and the one that tends to bring people back. The flavour is a warm, slightly sweet spice blend that builds as you eat rather than hitting you all at once. It is not aggressively hot, but it has enough heat to be interesting, and the savoury base note underneath keeps it from becoming one-dimensional. A case of 20 x 75g Nice ‘N’ Spicy is available at One Pound Sweets.
Tangy ‘N’ Cheesy is the sharper of the two flavours stocked here. The cheese element is bold rather than subtle, with a tanginess that gives it a slightly sour edge on top of the savoury base. If you like cheese and onion crisps but want something with more intensity, Tangy ‘N’ Cheesy is worth trying. The corn base carries the cheese flavour particularly well. You can grab a case of 20 x 75g Tangy ‘N’ Cheesy at One Pound Sweets.
Rib ‘N’ Saucy is the third flavour in the range and the one with the most devoted following among hardcore Nik Naks fans. The BBQ rib flavour is smoky and slightly sweet with a meaty depth that the other two flavours do not have. It sits in a similar territory to McCoy’s Flame Grilled Steak but with the lighter corn base giving it a different eating experience. One Pound Sweets does not currently stock Rib ‘N’ Saucy, but it is worth knowing about if you are a fan of the brand.
Nik Naks vs other corn snacks
The obvious comparison is to Wotsits, which are also extruded corn snacks. The main difference is texture and seasoning intensity. Wotsits are softer and airier, with a milder cheese flavour that coats your fingers rather than the snack itself. Nik Naks are firmer, more irregular in shape, and seasoned more heavily. They are a more aggressive snack in the best possible sense.
Skips are another extruded corn snack comparison point, though Skips are prawn cocktail flavoured and dissolve much more quickly on the tongue. Nik Naks have more structural integrity and a more intense flavour. They are not really competing for the same eating occasion.
Buying Nik Naks in bulk
For offices, events or anyone who gets through Nik Naks at a regular rate, buying by the case is the right move. Both flavours come in cases of 20 x 75g bags, which at that size gives you a serious supply. The per-bag price buying by the case at One Pound Sweets beats supermarket single-bag pricing, and free delivery is available on qualifying orders.
Browse both flavours on the crisps and snacks category alongside McCoy’s, Wheat Crunchies, Space Raiders and the rest of the range.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Nik Naks crisps