48 Easy Snacks to Make at Home (Beyond Cheese & Crackers for the 1,000th Time)

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

This is my favorite deceptively-easy-yet-impressively-elegant snack. Take prosciutto, wrap it around slices of cantaloupe and drizzle with balsamic glaze. It's salty! It's sweet! It's refreshing and tangy too!

The only way you can mess this up is by leaving the rind on the cantaloupe before wrapping it, so uh, don't do that.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24 bites

You're craving a chocolate-covered strawberry but want something a little healthier—and a bit more filling. That's where these oat-and-nut-butter-based bites come in. I use crunchy peanut butter, but you could easily substitute Sunbutter or almond butter, if preferred.

Freeze-dried strawberries add a slight crunch and burst of tartness that complements the rich dark chocolate nicely.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2

This salty, savory gem with a glass of wine? Swoon. If using a spoon to mash the minced garlic with melted butter feels too involved, you could always substitute 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder instead. Layer in crushed red pepper flakes for added kick.

• Time Commitment: 13 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 1

The year was 2016 and...If the Instagram trend is making you seriously nostalgic (or you just want a filling snack that pairs well with a latte), look no further. Toast a slice of bread, top with mashed avocado, salt, pepper and spritz of lime, and consider the 3 o'clock slump conquered.

Oh, and if you're feeling extra fancy, you can click through to the recipe to learn how to make your own chili oil to drizzle on top for an added kick. But a pinch of red pepper flakes also gets the job done.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

This beauty is practically no-cook, since all the recipe calls for is toasting the pita in a skillet. The rest is all store-bought ingredients, like hummus, marinated artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers. Assemble the spread across four plates and wash it all down with a glass of white wine.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2

Level up your cheese and crackers with this salty-sweet dip. It was designed specifically for midnight snacking, so there are no stand mixers or fancy appliances required—just a little elbow grease (although you can easily mix the cheese and fry the bacon ahead of time).

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegan
• Serves: 6

You? Making your own veggie chips? Heck yes you can. While some may recommend a mandoline for thin, even slices, I would suggest using the slicing portion of a box grater or slicing these with a knife to keep things simple. From there, you're just tossing the vegetables with salt and herbs (but just salt is fine too, if that's all you have!) and roasting in a 400-degree oven until crispy.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegan
• Serves: 6

Initially conceived as part of a snack spread for a Return to Hogwarts-themed back-to-school party, this crudi-tot platter is so easy to whip up I'm surprised I haven't made it more often. It's as simple as heating tater tots according to the package's instructions, then serving them alongside a range of chopped veggies and dips.

When it comes to dips, to quote Ina Garten, "store-bought is fine," and I'm particularly fond of using Bitchin' Sauce (for a nutty, umami vibe), Good Foods Cucumber Feta Dip (for a crisp, refreshing note) and Athenos Mango Jalapeño Whipped Feta Dip (for a swangy element).

• Time Commitment: 48 hours (includes chilling time)
• Why I Love It: vegan, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4

Yes, these homemade pickles require two days to make—but they ask almost nothing of you. If you can boil water, you can make these, and they'll be crisper and fresher-tasting than anything you snag at the store.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: no-cook, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

You could follow this recipe exactly, or you could consider it general guidelines. As long as you have flour tortillas and a spread, you can pair it with whatever veggies, thinly sliced meat and cheese you have on hand. Lettuce, hummus and roasted peppers make for an excellent vegan snack; turkey, cheese and mayo are practically guaranteed to win over even the pickiest eaters. You do you.

• Time Commitment: 22 to 24 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 5

OK, OK, this is less of a recipe to make than a craft you can eat. Just unravel the outermost ring of each piece of store-bought cinnamon roll dough, then roll that bit up to form the "head" of each snowman. Bake according to the package's instructions, and once cool, get to decorating however you see fit. It's never been more fun to build a snowman.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan
• Serves: 1

No bananas, no problem. Adding cauliflower to boost this smoothie’s creaminess in lieu of the popular fruit might just be the best thing GP’s ever done. Mix the recipe up with whatever berries or greens you have on hand; let your overstuffed crisper drawer be your guide.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
• Serves: 2

This is a timeless, easy snack idea that soothes my inner child. It's even simple enough for kids to make on their own (hint, hint). Crunchy peanut butter is definitely ideal for texture, but creamy is fine for your picky eater. "You can also swap almond butter or another nut—or nutless—butter, and dried cranberries or cherries can replace the raisins…or go wild with carrot sticks, hummus and pine nuts for an entirely new take," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen suggests.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free
• Serves: 4

This low-effort, high-nutrient snack idea is everything. Get creative with the spices you use (the recipe suggests a shawarma seasoning mix or curry powder, for starters), and make sure to toast them for the full 30 minutes. This ensures a shatteringly delicious crunch.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It:  no cook, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

I first dreamed this recipe up as part of a Barbie party, but this snack mix can work for any gathering—or any time you're craving a dopamine boost (and a lil' treat). I swirled pink gel food coloring into melted white chocolate, but you could get a similar effect using crushed, freeze-dried strawberries in white chocolate or melting wafers. As for the mix-ins, go wild: pretzels! Chex! Roasted nuts! Dried berries! Why limit yourself?

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It:  <30 minutes, no cook, gluten free, vegan, low sugar
• Serves: 6

I'm always in the mood for the sweet and spicy flavors of this summer starter. "This is a medium-hot salsa, but it all depends on how spicy your peppers are," Gillen says. "Feel free to adjust the heat to taste, using more or less jalapeño—and omitting the cayenne—for a milder or hotter flavor."

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free
• Serves: 2

This sweet yet all-natural snack idea is great for kids and grown-ups alike. Once the bananas are finished, feel free to slather on your nut butter of choice (or fine, melted chocolate) before digging in.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours (includes freezing time)
• Why I Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

Have a watermelon on your hands? Make this frozen dessert that is 100 percent fruit and lasts for weeks in your freezer (if you don’t eat it all in one sitting, that is). "I think seeded watermelons have better flavor, but if you can't be bothered with seeds, pick one that's seedless," recipe developer Erin McDowell suggests.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, high protein, dairy free
• Serves: 1

This simple snack could easily turn into a meal, and I'm not opposed to it. The rosemary really elevates the salty-sweet flavor, but you can just as easily omit it if you don't have any handy.

To make this snack even easier to whip up, you could skip grilling it on a skillet and instead pop it in the toaster oven and warm until the cheese is a bit melty.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, high protein, dairy free
• Serves: 1

Replace your candy bar cravings with this smoothie that mimics everything that’s great about a peanut butter cup, from the chocolatey cocoa powder to the flaky sea salt. The vanilla almond milk adds another layer of dessert-inspired flavor to the sipper that you'll adore.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6

No tent or campfire necessary—these s'mores are sofa-friendly and just as good as the real thing. "The 'mallows will be toasty and the chocolate melted just enough without all the fuss," former PureWow food editor Heath Goldman writes. Because the broiler works quickly, keep an eye on the marshmallows while they're toasting.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes (includes chill time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 24 to 30 truffles

I've been making Oreo truffles since college, and the recipe is so easy I've memorized it—and you can too. You can buy any flavor of Oreos you'd like, toss 'em in a gallon-size resealable bag and smash them to crumbs (or use a food processor, if you have one), and then combine it with an 8-ounce block of cream cheese. (Let it come to room temperature before mixing the two, so you don't have to fight to combine it.)

You'll create a basic dough, which you can roll into one-inch balls and dip into melted chocolate. The end result is so fudgy and decadent—like a no-bake cheesecake dough ball—that I've had friends ask me to make them for birthdays, bridal showers and other parties...even though they're about as basic as can be.

• Time Commitment: 23 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy-free, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 20 pieces

What's that? These are just pigs in a blanket, only presented differently? You are correct, but c'mon, how fun is that name? People can't help but grin when they hear it. Puff pastry gives these dogs a flakier exterior that's more akin to beef Wellington's wrapper, but Crescent roll dough offers a buttery alternative.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

After thinly slicing the sweet spuds, all you need to do is oil them up, toss them in herbs and seasoning and bake to crispy perfection. They're so easy they've become a go-to weeknight side in my household. My kids love them with ketchup, but I like to mix a little mayo, lime juice, salt and pepper and create a tangy crema for dipping. (Garlic aioli is another great option.)

• Time Commitment: 25 to 28 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 16

You're six ingredients away from a great snack, with plenty leftover for breakfast the next day. I've been making these pumpkin muffins since college—all you need is spice cake mix and pumpkin puree—but the Cinnamon Toast Crunch topping is a new addition, and it really takes things to the next level. (And all you have to do is toss brown sugar, rolled oats and crushed cereal with melted butter and sprinkle it on top before baking.)

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, one pot, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Sometimes, an impeccably cooked egg just...hits the spot. This high-protein, easy snack idea takes mere minutes to make—and seconds to scarf down. Serve them with rice, savory oatmeal, toast sticks or as is. (I'd have them solo with a few dashes of hot sauce.)

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 8

Sun-dried tomatoes and Italian seasoning come together to emulate pizza in this zesty snack mix. And if you're making it ahead for a road trip, hiking excursion or another event, you're in luck: It'll keep for up to a week, unlike actual pizza. "Most trail mixes are packed with dried fruit and tend to have a lot of sugar, but this one has only 3 grams per serving," recipe creator Brittany Mullins adds.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour (including chill time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 24

Sweet-and-salty snack fans will love these ridiculously easy candies, which are prime for noshing and gifting alike. With just four ingredients and about ten minutes of work, you’ll have a pile of them to store for whenever you need a sweet treat.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: vegan, <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe
• Serves: 6

A healthy alternative to grains, chickpeas crisp up nicely and are snackable by the handful. Get creative with the spices—the ones in the recipe (sumac! smoked paprika! garlic!) are only a suggestion, so feel free to riff to your heart's content.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6

This granola hits that sweet spot between snack and dessert, thanks to a hearty mix of brown sugar, oats, chocolate chunks and almonds. Eat it by the handful or with milk. Just make sure it cools before adding the chocolate, so the individual chunks don't melt.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 12

You'll never buy granola bars again once you see how easy it is to make your own. These are pretty nutritious, but that shouldn't stop you from finishing them with a drizzle of chocolate. Since there are 12 bars per batch, you can share them with your coworkers...or eat them all yourself in a week or two.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 6

This tray of loaded tots is serving big snack energy. "Tortilla chips are great and all, but crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside potatoes just so happen to be an ideal base for nacho toppings, like spicy chorizo and melty cheese," Gillen asserts. "Add your favorite salsa, a drizzle of sour cream, some scallions, pickled onions and cilantro."

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, vegan, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <30 minutes
• Serves: 8

Part guacamole and part hummus, this party dip is a fabulous collaboration for the indecisive. (And yes, you can dip both pita and tortilla chips into this photogenic chickpea snack.) Consider adding extra cayenne or a drizzle of hot sauce if you have a hankering for spice.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, gluten free, vegan
• Serves: 12

Cashew butter is the base for these creamy, sweet, turmeric-filled bites. Melted coconut butter can double as frosting, if you're feeling decadent, but I recommend rolling them in toasted coconut flakes for texture and a pretty aesthetic. They're worth making an extra batch, trust me.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours (includes freezing time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, no cook, no bake
• Serves: 10

Don't let the prep time deter you: It's almost entirely hands-off. Even better, this treat is naturally colored instead of infused with artificial dyes. Once you've obtained your fruit juices and molds, the work is halfway done. You can just chill until the ice pops are...well, chilled.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4

I relish sipping this cozy bev from my favorite mug every chance I get, but this version is so rich that you'll need a utensil to enjoy it. Swap in semisweet or milk chocolate for bittersweet to make it sweeter and more kid-friendly, or omit the cornstarch to keep it drinkable. 

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegan
• Serves: 6

If you have a bag of edamame in your freezer, you essentially have everything you need to prepare this vitamin-packed finger food. The recipe makes four to six servings (although I wouldn't blame you for not sharing). Smoked paprika and lemon zest will bring every bite to life.

• Time Commitment: 38 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 24 pieces

Brie is normally paired with honey and berries for a sweet-tart effect, but its buttery base is a delightfully mellow counterpart to Buffalo chicken. This is one of my go-to Super Bowl/watch party recipes, and I'll usually boil a couple chicken breasts in advance to shred and use the day of. However, if you want to save some time, you can grab a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store and use it instead.

If you're not into brie, you can use pearl mozzarella or chunks of string cheese instead.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten-free, Paleo-friendly, Whole30-approved
• Serves: 30

Although it's difficult not to eat all of the components before they come together, the assembled bites are certainly a drool-worthy sight to behold. Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning if necessary, and if cilantro is a point of contention, go ahead and leave it out.

Oh, and if you want to save yourself some time and buy store-bought guac, I won't judge. (I'll applaud.)

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10

These two-bite cuties are the best easy snack idea for when you’re contemplating your next meal. Brie and bread make it filling, while fresh mint and balsamic strawberries fancy it up just a touch. You'll need to fire up the grill—or grab a grill pan—to bring this baby to life, but this recipe is otherwise pretty straightforward.

And, honestly, you don't have to be confined to the recipe. Mix up the toppings if you're feeling a different fruit or condiment (peaches and honey, perhaps?). Make it your own.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
• Serves: 4

You deserve a fancy toast. In fact, you deserve many fancy toasts. Start your snacking on the right foot with this one, which is pretty enough to serve at brunch yet easy enough to tackle on a random weekday. (Yes, you're making the jam from scratch, but it takes minutes to prepare on the stovetop.)

Sprinkle it with extra lemon zest for an Insta-worthy finishing touch.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 20

Greek yogurt makes up most of the filling for these sweet cuties, so yes, they’re a healthy-ish snack. Cheesecake may seem intimidating, but not this version—there's no fussing with a water bath here. You partially bake the graham cracker crust in a muffin tin, top it with the filling and bake. The hardest part is waiting as they sit in the refrigerator to firm up before serving.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, vegan
• Serves: 12

Walnuts and sweet bananas add so much texture to this snackable bread. It's bound by a flax egg, which is not as complicated an egg substitute as you may think. Once it's cooled, slather some slices with plant-based butter or Nutella.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

Dress up a regular pack of saltines with this easy snack recipe that makes the plain crackers equal parts sweet, spicy and crispy. Be sure to coat them generously, but not drown them—there's nothing worse than a soggy snack that's supposed to be crunchy.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, crowd pleaser
• Serves: 6

Imagine noshing on a crispy, hot chicken flauta while curled up with the latest Netflix drop and your bev of choice. Yeah—it's totally doable. You only need three ingredients: rotisserie chicken, flour tortillas and cheese. (Oh, and lots of sour cream and salsa for dipping, of course.)

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 3

These Cheez-Its replicas are easier to make than you'd expect, and you can customize the type of cheese you use to suit your palate (although I'm sold on a mix of freshly grated cheddar and aged Parmesan). When you're done making them, store them in an airtight container for up to a week.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, filling
• Serves: 1

TikTok trends come and go as fast as you can scroll, but some are worth an extended look, like the grated egg toast obsession. It earned level-three-easy-snack status because you've got to boil and peel the eggs before shaving them to bits with a grater, but the added effort is worth it. The light, fluffy texture is a nice contrast to the hearty bread and mashed avocado base.