Ritz Bits Just Dropped a New ‘Epic’ Flavor for the First Time in Nearly 10 Years

There’s always a place in the pantry for Ritz crackers. Whether you’re entertaining and need the perfect buttery round for your Christmas cheese ball, find yourself craving an easy late night snack, or just want a sweet and salty dessert, the ridged-edged cracker can do it all. 

Ritz crackers were introduced in 1934 and we would be willing to guess that it was no easy task for the folks at Nabisco to improve upon such an iconic snack. However, in the late ’80s, the brand struck gold with the launch of Ritz Bits: an even snackier version with your choice of cheese or peanut butter sandwiched between two mini Ritz crackers. 

Now, for the first time in nearly a decade, the brand is expanding its Ritz Bits lineup with a fiery new addition. 

The New Ritz Bits Spicy Queso

Nabisco is dialing up the heat on snack time with Ritz Bits Spicy Queso. The new flavor features the classic mini buttery crackers with a spicy cheese filling. According to a recent press release, the inspiration comes from fans’ love for spicy flavors and the brand’s success with Ritz Toasted Chips’ Sweet Habanero, which launched earlier this year. 

“With Spicy Queso, we’re answering consumers’ demands for exciting, bold flavors and turning up the heat on the Ritz Bits you know and love,” said Steven Saenen, Ritz Vice President of Marketing.

Food insider @Markie_devo recently posted a photo of the new Ritz Bits and fans were eager to share their excitement. “On snap, I gotta have these. I love Ritz Bits,” said one Instagrammer.

While the brand doesn’t give much insight into exactly what Spicy Queso tastes like, one person who has tried the crackers compared the taste to a popular cheese. “They pretty much taste like pepper jack cheese which isn’t a bad thing,” they wrote. 

Many are looking forward to trying the new flavor but some commenters are disappointed that Nabisco hasn’t brought back another fan favorite, Ritz Bits S’mores, which was discontinued in 2016. “With all these comebacks in recent years, they gotta bring back the s’mores one for the people,” said one fan. 

We don’t know if Ritz will answer fans’ pleas for the return of S’mores, but the brand did bring them back in 2022 for a limited release, so it’s not impossible. In the meantime, you can fill up your snack drawer with Ritz Bits Spicy Queso, which is now available in 3-ounce bags in select convenience stores. If you’re looking for a larger size, however, you’ll have to wait until next year. Ritz Bits Spicy Queso in 8.8-ounce boxes is expected to hit shelves in February 2025 at major retailers nationwide.