Monster Munch currently comes in three main flavours: Pickled Onion, Flamin’ Hot, and Roast Beef. Pickled Onion is the fan favourite and the original. Flamin’ Hot is the boldest. Roast Beef is the most consistently underrated. Here’s how they rank and why.
Monster Munch has been on UK shelves since 1977. Nearly 50 years of the same monster claw shape, the same outsized portions, the same commitment to flavours that actually taste of something. Not all crisps can say that.
The current range is smaller than it used to be, but what remains is worth knowing inside out. Whether you’re buying a single bag or picking up a box of Monster Munch in bulk, the flavour you choose matters.
What Is Monster Munch?
The Basics
Monster Munch is a baked corn snack made by Walkers (which is itself owned by PepsiCo). The monster claw shape has stayed consistent since launch, though the size of individual pieces has been a point of controversy over the years. Many long-term fans insist the claws used to be bigger. They’re probably right.
They’re not technically a crisp in the potato-slice sense, but they sit firmly in the crisp aisle and nobody argues about it.
A Brief History
Launched by Smiths Crisps in 1977, Monster Munch was acquired by Walkers in the 1980s after PepsiCo took over the UK snack market. The monster branding and the horror-themed packaging have evolved over the decades, but the core identity has stayed the same: big, bold, and a bit monstrous.
If you want more background on how Walkers fits into the broader UK crisp market, the Lays and Walkers connection article covers the PepsiCo ownership story in detail.
Every Monster Munch Flavour Ranked
1. Pickled Onion (The Winner)
The original and still the best. Pickled Onion Monster Munch has a flavour intensity that most crisps don’t get close to. It’s genuinely sharp, genuinely vinegary, and leaves a smell on your fingers that you can identify in a dark room. None of that is a complaint.
The flavour is consistent across every bag, which matters more than people realise. You know exactly what you’re getting. There’s a reason this flavour has outlasted every competitor and every format change. It earned its position.
If you’re buying Monster Munch in bulk, Pickled Onion is the safe bet. Grab a box here.
2. Flamin’ Hot (The Bold Option)
Flamin’ Hot is the one you choose when you want to make a statement. The heat builds rather than hitting immediately, which is a sign of a properly developed flavour rather than just added chilli powder. It’s genuinely hot by crisp standards.
Some people find it too much. If your baseline for “spicy” is salt and vinegar, Flamin’ Hot will surprise you. If you regularly eat actually spicy food, it’ll be comfortable heat with good flavour underneath. Either way, it’s interesting.
These also make an appearance on the Flamin’ Hot Monster Munch product page if you want to buy a full box.
3. Roast Beef (Underrated, Full Stop)
Roast Beef is chronically underrated and it’s not close. The flavour is more subtle than the other two, which works against it in a side-by-side comparison but rewards you if you actually pay attention to what you’re eating. It’s savoury, it’s warm, and it has a depth that Pickled Onion and Flamin’ Hot don’t bother with.
It tends to be the last bag left at parties, which is entirely the fault of the people at those parties.
Why the Monster Munch Range Shrank
Discontinued Flavours
The range used to include more options. Saucy BBQ was available for a period. Various promotional flavours have come and gone. There was a period where Monster Munch experimented with cheese-based flavours that divided opinion sharply and were quietly removed.
Each reduction came down to sales. If a flavour doesn’t move enough volume, it doesn’t get restocked. The current three-flavour range is what survived that process.
What Fans Want Back
Online, the requests for discontinued Monster Munch flavours are consistent. Saucy BBQ comes up regularly. Some people ask about old limited editions that most of the market barely remembers. The common thread is that people want more variety while keeping the existing three.
Whether Walkers will expand the range again is unknown. Given that Pickled Onion and Flamin’ Hot are both well established, a fourth permanent flavour seems plausible at some point.
Monster Munch vs the Competition
How It Compares to Other Corn Snacks
Wotsits are lighter and cheesier. Quavers are delicate and airy. Monster Munch is none of those things. It’s denser, more aggressively flavoured, and designed to be eaten in large quantities without becoming tedious. It occupies a specific space in the corn snack market and doesn’t really compete directly with anything else.
If you’re thinking about the broader Walkers range, Wotsits and their cheese flavour are worth a look if you want something lighter to go alongside Monster Munch.
Are Monster Munch Vegan?
This depends on the flavour. Pickled Onion Monster Munch is vegan. Flamin’ Hot is also suitable for vegans. Roast Beef contains beef extract and is not vegan. Always check the packaging for the most current ingredient information, as recipes do get updated. Our complete vegan crisps guide has more detail on which crisp brands work for plant-based diets.
Buy Monster Munch in Bulk
Single bags are fine, but Monster Munch is one of those snacks that works best bought in volume. The flavour holds, the bags don’t go stale quickly, and if you’re feeding a household or a workplace, individual bags work out expensive. Browse the Monster Munch range at One Pound Crisps for box prices.
What flavours does Monster Munch come in?
Monster Munch currently comes in three main flavours: Pickled Onion, Flamin’ Hot, and Roast Beef. Pickled Onion is the original and best-selling variety. Various limited-edition and seasonal flavours have appeared over the years but the core range is these three.
Is Monster Munch vegan?
Pickled Onion and Flamin’ Hot Monster Munch are suitable for vegans. Roast Beef Monster Munch contains beef extract and is not vegan. Always check the current packaging as recipes can change.
Who makes Monster Munch?
Monster Munch is made by Walkers, which is owned by PepsiCo. The brand was originally launched by Smiths Crisps in 1977 before being acquired by Walkers.
Is Monster Munch gluten free?
Monster Munch is not certified gluten free and is produced in facilities that handle wheat. It is not recommended for people with coeliac disease or a gluten intolerance. Check our gluten free crisps guide for alternatives.
What is Monster Munch made of?
Monster Munch is a baked corn snack, meaning the main ingredient is cornmeal rather than potato. This gives it a lighter, airier texture compared to a standard potato crisp, despite the bold flavouring.
Why did Monster Munch get smaller?
Walkers reduced the size of Monster Munch pieces at various points, a practice sometimes called “shrinkflation.” Many long-term fans report that the individual claws are smaller than they were in the 1980s and 1990s, though the flavour profiles have remained broadly similar.