51 Easy Snacks to Make at Home (That Aren’t Cheese and Crackers for the Millionth Time)

• 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," asserts senior food editor Katherine Gillen. "Add your favorite salsa, a drizzle of sour cream, some scallions, pickled onions and cilantro."

• 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 easy enough for a kid 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," recommends senior food editor Katherine Gillen.

• 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 on four plates and wash it all down with a glass of white.

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

The timeless party appetizer was overdue for an umami-rich makeover. Not only is the filling infused with soy sauce and toasted sesame oil, but each egg is finished with black sesame seeds and roasted seaweed for crunch. The best part? You can prep the filling two days ahead.

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

I said no cheese and crackers...but this over-the-top version of the last-minute snack is fair game. And because it's made for midnight snacking, there are no stand mixers or appliances required—just a whisk and some elbow grease. Bonus points for candying the bacon in maple syrup and brown sugar.

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

These Cheez-Its replicas are extremely easy to make, and you can customize the type of cheese you use to suit your palate (although I'm partial to a mix of cheddar and Parmesan). When you're done making them, store them in an airtight container for up to a week.

• 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 dip is fabulous 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: 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 enough. Additionally, you can totally mix up the toppings if you're feeling a different fruit or condiment (peaches and honey, perhaps?).

• 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. A sing-along and ghost stories are optional, but recommended. Because the broiler works quickly, keep an eye on the mallows while they're toasting.

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

High heat and a mandoline are all you need to make these crispy baked chips. Using a variety of root vegetables offers a beautiful range of colors, flavors and textures—but if you only have one or two of the suggested ingredients, that’s OK too. Feel free to riff on the herbs as well, though I'm partial to sage, rosemary, and thyme.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, vegan, make ahead
• Serves: 6

If standard potato chips are more your thing, we've got you covered. Broiling thinly sliced spuds coated in oil creates a crispy chip that’s even better than its bagged counterparts. And even though the Old Bay seasoning is technically optional, I can't imagine why you'd skip it.

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

Pickling is a great way to preserve your produce and transform it into a new easy snack. These Kirby cukes turn mouth-puckering and zingy after two days in a vinegary brine. They'll also keep for up to two weeks.

• 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 hearty 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 when you see how easy it is to make your own. These are pretty nutritious, but that won't stop us 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.

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

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 12

You know that nuts are a healthy, easy snack, but they can also be...kinda boring. Zhuzh them up with flaky salt, dry seasonings and fresh herbs, then eat them warm to take them out of womp-womp territory.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegan, make ahead
• Serves: 4

Consider this your challenge to do better than baby carrots straight out of the bag, drenched in ranch dressing. A gorgeous presentation gives you the easy snack break you deserve. Recipe creator Sarah Copeland also recommends preparing an extra batch of romesco to spread on future sandwiches.

• 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. (In my book, that means I'm going for seconds. And thirds.) Let them sit in the refrigerator to firm up before serving.

• 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 (but I won't blame you for not sharing). Smoked paprika and lemon zest will bring every bite to life.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, kid-friendly
• Serves: 10

Soft pretzels stuffed with cheese are the epitome of self-care—even if you do end up scorching your mouth on that hot, melty Brie. Go the extra mile by finishing the bites with everything bagel seasoning instead of coarse salt.

• 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). Although the recipe developer encourages using a seedy watermelon, seedless works too.

• 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 a banana may be the best thing GP’s ever done. Mix the recipe up with whatever berries or greens you have on hand.

• 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 make it drinkable. 

• 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.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, vegan, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 4

Your Taco Tuesday spread just got a million times more impressive. Serve them with plenty of guac and salsa. (Might I suggest this grilled mango variety?) Regardless, eat them ASAP; while they stay good for up to two days, they're best when hot.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, high protein
• Serves: 4

So much better than the version from the freezer aisle, these poppers are super easy to make—and even easier to eat. No game day is complete without 'em. Keep them vegetarian by leaving out the bacon...or don't.

• Time Commitment: 6 hours and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10

Congrats on adulthood: You can finally eat as many fruit roll-ups as you want—and from scratch! The recipe is for mango-peach or strawberry-blackberry varieties, but it also provides instructions for making the basic roll-ups, so you can choose your own fruits.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, one bowl, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Sometimes, you just need a brownie break in the middle of the day. These easy handhelds (which are loaded with crumbled Oreos, BTW) are here for you. And don't worry: These brownies are nut-free—although you can add some if you'd prefer.

• 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.

• 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. It's worth making extra, trust.

• 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 an easier vegan egg substitute than you may realize. Once it's cooled, slather some slices with plant-based butter, cream cheese or Nutella.

• 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. The seasonings are mashed into the melted butter before it's poured on, so each piece of popcorn is dripping with garlicky, cheesy splendor. Layer in crushed red pepper flakes for added kick.

• 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. Make sure to butter them generously, but not too much—there's nothing worse than a soggy snack.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, vegan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

These cookies have everything: tahini, maple syrup, oatmeal, my heart. While it's an easy snack recipe, the developer stresses that small changes make a big difference, so measuring carefully is crucial. Make a second batch of dough for the freezer to bake whenever a craving strikes.

• 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 or eat them solo.

• 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 you curl up with the latest Netflix drop. You'll only need three ingredients: rotisserie chicken, flour tortillas and cheese. (Oh, and lots of sour cream and salsa for dipping, of course.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

If you have 20 minutes and a bounty of fresh peaches, you’ll want to whip up a batch of these simple bars. The recipe takes just 20 minutes to pull together and comes out of the oven in less than 40. Dig in while they’re warm, but know that they keep marvelously in the fridge for a few days, so you'll have a midnight snack at the ready.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 12

Who remembers downing an entire pack of Milano cookies as an afternoon snack? Good news: This recipe makes a few bags’ worth, and the whole process takes about 30 minutes. For a fresh spin on the chocolate filling, add mint extract to the mix.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 9

A hot slice of cornbread is a wonder, but the addition of sweet potatoes makes it something to behold. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have fresh sweet potato, feel free to swap in canned puree. Serve warm with butter, maple syrup or honey.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, low sugar, air fryer recipe
• Serves: 4

Slice your vegetables (I like sweet potatoes, carrots and beets) on a mandoline to ensure thin, even rounds. When frying, it’s recommended to give the basket a shake every five minutes or so to ensure even cooking. Make a triple batch and your midnight snack is set for the week.

• 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 super-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: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, <30 minutes
• Serves: 20

Cinnamon and sugar are a great pairing, especially in a gluten-free, dairy-free package. They’re loaded with almond butter, maple syrup and vegan chocolate (even dried cranberries, if you're feeling creative). They're the perfect pick-me-up to combat the afternoon slump.

• 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. Once you've obtained your fruit juices and molds, the work is basically done for you. You can just chill until the pops are...well, fully chilled.

• 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 easy to make, and it's great for on-the-go munching. Once they're finished, feel free to slather on your nut butter of choice (or fine, melted chocolate) before digging in.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

Everyone likes mozzarella sticks, so this one is kind of a no-brainer. But these are bite-size, meaning they're extra snackable. Pick your favorite marinara sauce or pesto—just try your best to wait for them to cool before devouring.

• 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, and make sure to toast them for the full 30 minutes. This ensures a shatteringly delicious crunch.

• 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. Serve with ketchup, or get creative—a curry sauce or spicy aioli would take things up a notch.

• 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. The amount of jalapeños you end up using will determine how spicy it ends up being, so choose your own adventure.

• 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, it's certainly a sight to behold once the bites are assembled. Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning if necessary, and if cilantro is a point of contention, go ahead and leave it out.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, kid-friendly
• Serves: 8

This cake-inspired snack idea is dippable and oh-so decadent. Those concerned about consuming raw flour in the cake mix can microwave it on high in 30-second intervals, until an instant-read thermometer reaches 165°F. This cooks the flour and will keep you from getting sick.

• 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.