Are Cheetos Vegan? All Products Reviewed (2023)

Cheetos are the popular cheesy snack that come in a lot of flavors and varieties, including the beloved Flamin' Hot products. But are Cheetos vegan? Unfortunately, no. All Cheetos products contain dairy ingredients. But there are some delicious snacks that have that cheese flavor but are made without dairy products and can fit in with a vegan diet.

Let's check out all of the ingredients lists below. All ingredients and nutritional information can be found on the Cheetos website.

Crunchy Cheetos

Crunchy Cheetos are a much loved snack in the United States. Unfortunately, all of the flavors contain real cheese and other milk products. All animal ingredients are in bold below.

Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil), Cheese Seasoning (Whey, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Canola Oil, Maltodextrin [Made from Corn], Natural and Artificial Flavors, Salt, Whey Protein Concentrate, Monosodium Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Artificial Color [Yellow 6]), and Salt.

Crunchy Flamin's Hot Cheese Flavored Snacks Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil), Flamin' Hot Seasoning (Maltodextrin [Made from Corn], Salt, Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Artificial Color [Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 6, Yellow 5], Sunflower Oil, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Onion Powder, Whey, Whey Protein Concentrate, Garlic Powder, Natural Flavor, Buttermilk, Sodium Diacetate, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate), and Salt.

Crunchy Flamin' Hot Limon Cheese Flavored Snacks Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil), Flamin' Hot Limón Seasoning (Salt, Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Artificial Color [Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 6, Yellow 5], Corn Syrup Solids, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Sunflower Oil, Onion Powder, Whey, Lime Juice, Maltodextrin [Made from Corn], Whey Protein Concentrate, Garlic Powder, Natural Flavor, Buttermilk, Sodium Diacetate, Disodium Inosinate, and Disodium Guanylate).

Crunchy XXTRA Flamin' Hot Cheese Flavored Snacks Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil), Xxtra FLAMIN' HOT® Seasoning (Salt, Maltodextrin [Made From Corn], Sugar, Yeast Extract, Monosodium Glutamate, Citric Acid, Artificial Color [Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 6, Yellow 5], Sunflower Oil, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Onion Powder, Whey, Natural Flavor, Garlic Powder, Whey Protein Concentrate, Buttermilk, Corn Syrup Solids, Sodium Diacetate), and Salt.

Crunchy Cheddar Jalapeno Cheese Flavored Snacks Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil), Cheddar Jalapeno Seasoning (Whey, Maltodextrin [Made From Corn], Salt, Canola Oil, Buttermilk, Romano Cheese [Cow's Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Monosodium Glutamate, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Onion Powder, Sugar, Corn Starch, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Modified Corn Starch, Dextrose, Spices, Lactose, Jalapeno Pepper, Garlic Powder, Sodium Caseinate, Artificial Color [Including Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 40], Skim Milk, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Sunflower Oil, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate), and Salt.

Cheetos Puffs

The popular Cheetos Puffs also all contain milk ingredients unfortunately. All ingredients are listed below.

Puffs Cheese Flavored Snacks Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil), Cheese Seasoning (Whey, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Canola Oil, Maltodextrin [Made from Corn], Natural and Artificial Flavors, Salt, Whey Protein Concentrate, Monosodium Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Artificial Color [Yellow 6]), and Salt.

Cheetos Bolitas Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, And/Or Sunflower Oil), Whey, Cheedar Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Corn Syrup Solids, Buttermilk, Maltodextrin (Made From Corn), Salt, Spices, Whole Milk, Monosodium Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Onion Powder, Malic Acid, Artificial Color (Yellow 5 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 6 Blue1 Lake), And Garlic Powder.

Puffs Flamin' Hot Cheese Flavored Snacks Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, and Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola and/or Sunflower Oil), Flamin' Hot Seasoning (Maltodextrin [Made From Corn], Salt, Sugar, Artificial Color [Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 6, Yellow 5], Monosodium Glutamate, Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Sunflower Oil, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Onion Powder, Whey, Natural Flavor, Garlic Powder, Whey Protein Concentrate, Buttermilk, Corn Syrup Solids, Sodium Diacetate, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Sodium Caseinate, Skim Milk)

Paws Cheese Flavored Snacks Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola and/or Sunflower Oil), Cheese Seasoning (Whey, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Canola Oil, Maltodextrin [Made from Corn], Natural and Artificial Flavors, Salt, Whey Protein Concentrate, Monosodium Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Artificial Color [Yellow 6]), and Salt.

White Cheddar Bites Cheese Flavored Snacks Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Sunflower, Corn, and/or Canola Oil), White Cheddar Seasoning (Whey, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Canola Oil, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Maltodextrin [Made from Corn], Artificial Color, Salt, Whey Protein Concentrate, Monosodium Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Acetic Acid), and Salt.

Cheetos Simply

The Simply Cheetos products are the "healthier" Cheetos for those who consume dairy products. All 3 flavors contain non-vegan ingredients.

Simply Puffs White Cheddar Cheese Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sunflower Oil, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Whey, Maltodextrin (Made from Corn), Sea Salt, Natural Flavors, Sour Cream (Cultured Cream, Skim Milk), Torula Yeast, Lactic Acid, and Citric Acid

Simply Puffs White Cheddar Jalapeno Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sunflower Oil, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Maltodextrin (Made from Corn), Skim Milk, Sea Salt, Whey, Natural Flavor, Buttermilk, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Yeast Extract, Jalapeño Pepper, Citric Acid, Spice, Lactic Acid, and Milk Protein Concentrate.

Simply Crunchy White Cheddar Cheese Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sunflower Oil, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Whey, Sea Salt, Maltodextrin (Made from Corn), Natural Flavors, Sour Cream (Cultured Cream, Skim Milk), Torula Yeast, Lactic Acid, and Citric Acid.

Cheetos Baked

There are two flavors of Baked Cheetos which contain less fat than that regular cheese snacks. But, they also both contain milk ingredients.

Baked Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, And/Or Sunflower Oil), Whey, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Maltodextrin (Made From Corn), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Salt, Whey Protein Concentrate, Monosodium Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, And Artificial Color (Yellow 6).

Baked Crunchy Flamin' Hot Cheese Flavored Snacks Ingredients: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil), Salt, Sea Minerals (Calcium Carbonate and Magnesium Carbonate), Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Yeast Extracts, Citric Acid, Artificial Color (Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 6, Yellow 5), Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Onion Powder, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Whey, Maltodextrin (Made from Corn), Whey Protein Concentrate, Garlic Powder, Buttermilk, Natural Flavor, Sodium Diacetate, Lactic Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, and Skim Milk.

Cheetos Fantastix

Cheetos Fantastix are touted as containing whole grains but they have a scary list of ingredients which also contain several kinds of milk products.

Fantastix Chili Cheese Flavored Baked Corn & Potato Snacks Ingredients: Whole Corn Meal, Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil), Dried Potatoes and Less than 2% of the Following: Maltodextrin (Made from Corn), Salt, Whey, Spices, Monosodium Glutamate, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Onion Powder, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Garlic Powder, Dextrose, Cream Powder, Torula Yeast, Swiss Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Colby Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Butter (Cream, Salt), Sodium Diacetate, Sour Cream (Cultured Cream, Skim Milk), Yeast Extract, Artificial Color (Yellow 5, Yellow 6), Jalapeno Pepper, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, and Beta-Carotene

Fantastix Flamin' Hot Flavored Baked Corn & Potato Snacks Ingredients: Whole Corn Meal, Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil), Dried Potatoes, and Less Than 2% of the Following: Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Salt, Whey, Buttermilk, Monosodium Glutamate, Tomato Powder, Romano Cheese (Part-Skim Cow's Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Whey Protein Concentrate, Onion Powder, Artificial Color (Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 6), Natural Flavor, Garlic Powder, Lactic Acid, Sugar, Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, and Beta-Carotene.

Cheetos Popcorn

Cheetos also has three flavors of popcorn...that all have dairy products. Check out the ingredients below.

Cheddar Jalapeno Popcorn Ingredients: Popcorn, Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola oil and/or Sunflower Oil), Cheese Seasoning (Whey, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Canola Oil, Maltodextrin [Made from Corn], Natural and Artificial Flavors, Salt, Whey Protein Concentrate, Monosodium Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, and Artificial Colors [Yellow 6], and Salt.

Cheddar Popcorn Ingredients: Popcorn, Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola oil and/or Sunflower Oil), Cheese Seasoning (Whey, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Canola Oil, Maltodextrin [Made from Corn], Natural and Artificial Flavors, Salt, Whey Protein Concentrate, Monosodium Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, and Artificial Colors [Yellow 6], and Salt.

Flamin' Hot Popcorn Ingredients: Popcorn, Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola and/or Sunflower Oil), Flamin' Hot Seasoning (Maltodextrin [Made From Corn], Salt, Yeast Extract, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Monosodium Glutamate, Sunflower Oil, Whey, Potassium Chloride, Citric Acid, Artificial Color [Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 6, Yellow 5], Onion Powder, Sugar, When Protein Concentrate, Corn Syrup Solids, Buttermilk, Garlic Powder, Natural Flavors, Sodium Diacetate, Disodium Inosinate, and Disodium Guanylate).

Vegan Alternatives to Cheetos

While there aren't any "vegan Cheetos", the good news is that there are plenty of snacks that taste similar but do not contain any animal products. Below are some of the best vegan options.

Hippeas Vegan White Cheddar - These organic chickpea puffs are super tasty and also have that cheesy flavor. They are similar to the Cheetos Simply White Cheddar Puffs.

Earth Balance Vegan Aged White Cheddar Flavor Puffs - These delicious crunchy puffs are also similar to the Cheetos Simply White Cheddar Puffs.

Vegan Rob's Dairy Free Cheddar Puffs - These are another good option if you are looking for something similar to Cheetos Puffs.

PeaTos Crunchy Fiery Curls - This healthier vegan alternative is a great snack for those who are looking for a similar product to the Flamin' Hot Crunchy Cheetos.

FAQ

Are Cheetos gluten free?

The good news is that many of the flavors of Cheetos are gluten-free. To learn about which varieties are, check out Are Cheetos Gluten-Free by Meaningful Eats.

Are Flamin' Hot Cheetos vegan?

No. Unfortunately all varieties of Flamin' Hot Cheetos contain dairy and are not vegan.

Summary

Unfortunately, all varieties of Cheetos contain dairy products and are not vegan. The good news is that there are several brands of vegan cheese snacks that taste similar but only contain plant-based ingredients.

Wondering if other snack foods are vegan? Check out: