Manufacturer: PepsiCo Foods U.S. (Frito-Lay)
Parent Company: PepsiCo, Inc.
Product Category: Savory Snacks, Tortilla Chips, Cheese-Flavored Snacks
Number of Varieties: Five as of October 2026
Key Product Claims: No artificial flavors or dyes
Packaging: White bags with minimalist Doritos and Cheetos branding

Doritos and Cheetos Go NKD

PepsiCo introduced Simply NKD in November 2025, offering new versions of its popular Doritos and Cheetos snacks made without artificial dyes or flavors. The collection launched with four varieties, including Doritos Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch, alongside Cheetos Puffs and Flamin’ Hot Crunchy. Distribution began at Walmart before expanding to additional retailers in 2026.

The most noticeable difference is their appearance. Without the familiar orange and red coloring, the snacks have a much paler look, presented in minimalist white packaging that emphasizes the reformulated recipes. The original Doritos and Cheetos products remain available, giving consumers the choice between the traditional snacks and their Simply NKD counterparts.

Nacho Cheese, Cool Ranch, and Dinamita

Doritos Simply NKD launched with two of the brand’s best-known flavors, Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch. Both retain the familiar triangular tortilla chips and their characteristic crunch. Nacho Cheese delivers a savory, cheesy seasoning, while Cool Ranch combines tangy ranch flavor with herbs and spices. The removal of artificial dyes gives the chips a noticeably lighter appearance, particularly the Nacho Cheese variety, which traditionally has a strong orange coating.

The collection expanded in June 2026 with Doritos Dinamita Chile Limón, introducing a spicier option with tightly rolled tortilla chips and a chili-lime seasoning. Across the three varieties, the emphasis remains on preserving the familiar eating experience, including the intensity of the seasonings and the textures that distinguish regular Doritos from the rolled Dinamita chips.

Cheesy Puffs and Flamin’ Hot Crunchy

Cheetos Simply NKD includes two varieties that represent different sides of the brand’s snack collection: Puffs and Flamin’ Hot Crunchy. The Puffs retain their airy, melt-in-your-mouth texture and familiar cheesy seasoning, with a pale appearance replacing their signature orange coating. Their light, porous structure delivers the same combination of crunch and softness associated with traditional Cheetos Puffs.

Flamin’ Hot Crunchy undergoes an even more dramatic visual transformation, losing the bright red coloring that has become synonymous with the popular spicy snack. The irregularly shaped corn snacks maintain their firm crunch and intense chili-forward seasoning, delivering the familiar heat without the artificial dyes and flavors. Both varieties preserve the contrasting textures that have helped define the Cheetos brand.

What’s Different About Simply NKD?

The defining change in Simply NKD is the removal of artificial dyes and flavors from the recipes. PepsiCo developed the original collection in approximately eight weeks, reformulating its familiar snacks to retain their recognizable tastes and textures. The products reflect growing consumer interest in ingredient transparency and alternatives to synthetic food coloring, with PepsiCo introducing Simply NKD as part of a broader effort to expand these choices across its snack portfolio.

The reformulation does not fundamentally change the nutritional profile of Doritos or Cheetos. Simply NKD products remain processed corn-based snacks containing oils, seasonings, sodium, and comparable amounts of calories and fat. The absence of artificial dyes and flavors gives consumers a different ingredient option, although it should not be confused with a substantial reduction in calories or an overall transformation into a health-focused snack.

Doritos and Cheetos Go NKD

Nacho Cheese, Cool Ranch, and Dinamita

Cheesy Puffs and Flamin’ Hot Crunchy

What’s Different About Simply NKD?

Simply NKD Options