Cheetos Is Launching Not 1 but 2 New Snack Flavors

This is a pretty good weekend to give your couch cushions a serious workout. College football fans can watch a top 10 clash between No. 7 Penn State and No. 3 Ohio State, while soccer supporters will find out if Arsenal and Tottenham can keep their unbeaten seasons going. The Major League Baseball playoffs are also in full swing (PUN DEFINITELY INTENDED), and Taylor Swift-spotters are already hoping she'll materialize at Sunday's Kansas City Chiefs game. So yeah, Cheetos chose the perfect time to release its crunchy, cheesy new snacks. 

The snack giant just dropped two flavors of its brand-new Cheetos Pretzels, including a Cheddar Flavored version covered in its iconic orange "Cheetle" dust, and a spicy Flamin' Hot option. Both options are already available at supermarkets, big box stores, and other retailers throughout the country. Both varieties are available in three-ounce individual snack-sized bags (which retail for $2.49 each) and a larger 10-ounce bag with a suggested retail price of $5.69. (And let's be honest: that one can also become an "individual snack-sized bag.”) 

"Our fans are always hungry for unique ways that they can experience Cheetos' signature cheesy flavor, which is why this latest innovation is breaking into an entirely new category," Tina Mahal, senior vice president of marketing at Cheetos parent company Frito-Lay, said in a statement. "Cheetos pretzels maximize the fan-favorite seasoning in each bite with the perfect product texture, ultimately bringing the Cheetos flavor experience to life in pretzel form."

In a press release, Cheetos said that it was inspired to release these new snacks because over half (63%) of regular Cheetos customers also buy pretzels. The company added that its research has shown that flavored pretzels are also a massive driver of growth in the pretzel category, so it basically decided, "Why not?" 

This isn't Cheetos' first extension into products beyond its OG crunchy snacks and fluffy puffs. It has previously launched Cheetos Popcorn in Cheddar, Cheddar Jalapeno, and Flamin' Hot flavors and has also expanded into boxed mac-and-cheese with Bold and Cheesy, Cheesy Jalapeno, and Flamin Hot versions. The mac-and-cheese is sold in both 5.9-ounce boxes and single-serving cups. 

Cheetos raised everyone's Cheetle-dusted eyebrows last month when it collaborated with Milk Bar to release a limited-edition birthday cake in honor of its 75th anniversary. The Cheetos x Milk Bar cake featured alternating layers of Milk Bar's birthday sponge cake, Cheetos snacks, and a creamy cheddar cheese frosting. And, because neither Cheetos nor Milk Bar wanted to restrain themselves AT ALL, it was also studded with sprinkles and topped with Cheetos. 

It's no longer available at Milk Bar, but there's no reason you can't bake one for yourself this weekend – and maybe throw a layer of the new Cheetos Pretzels in there too. Just try not to get any of it on the couch … or on the remote control.