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You can feel it, deep down inside… a rumbling stomach.
Breakfast was a couple hours ago. Uh-oh. You’re hungry again.
Panic is upon you. But you know exactly what you need:
The perfect snack!
If you’re standing in front of an open refrigerator and can’t find anything in there you want to eat, close the fridge door and open up your pantry instead!
Celery sticks? Hummus? Yogurt? Nah, not today, my friends!
No matter if it’s before lunch, before dinner, late at night, or at whenever-o’clock, we’re on a mission to deliciously destroy your snack attack with the most unique shelf-stable nibbles. Your taste buds will be entertained, and your tummy will be satisfied until the next meal.
Among the selections on our list of 21 fun and tasty pantry snacks, we have a huge variety of goodies to satisfy any kind of craving to share with you.
Options are available for everyone – a sweet tooth isn’t the only mouth we want to feed! You’ll find the perfect nibble to address that snack attack, whether it’s salty, sugary, savory, crunchy, chewy, chocolaty, and or meaty snacks you’re after.
So stock up on your favorites and hunker down for a day (or two, or three, or four, or – honestly, who’s keeping count anymore?) of loafing on the couch, watching your favorite reruns, and eating a bagful, jar, or bar of something delicious!
21 of Foodal’s Favorite Pantry Snacks
Sugary and Crunchy
When a sugar crash and a snack attack hit you all at once, you’ll be more than prepared if you have one of these sweet and crunchy goodies stashed in your cupboard!
1. Orange Pistachio Shortbread
Are chocolate chip cookies too run-of-the-mill for you?
Maybe that’s a trick question. Of course not, they’re the best. What a silly thing to ask…
Smart Cookie Orange Pistachio Shortbread, available from Mouth
But as a contrasting complement to your favorite gooey chocolate chip cookie, why not let a crunchy cookie tag along?
Try Mouth’s Orange Pistachio Shortbread for a unique sweet, made with toasted pistachios, orange zest, and vanilla. This buttery, crumbly cookie is perfect as a late-night snack with a glass of milk or a mug of warm tea.
2. Lemon Cranberry Brittle
Lemon Cranberry Brittle from Brooklyn Brittle is a bright bagful of Italian cookies with the texture of brittle candy.
Lemon Cranberry Brittle, available from Mouth
Made without any eggs or high fructose corn syrup, these crunchy delights have a light and crispy texture.
There are plenty of flavors to choose from this company, but we’re really enjoying this sweet and sour combination of dried sweetened cranberries, pure lemon oil, and organic lemon juice that you’ll find here.
The thin powdered sugar glaze is a perfectly sweet topping for each bite-sized cookie!
Find this spin on a classic snack now on Mouth.
3. Cashew Coconut Granola
Granola is the go-to, to-go goddess of the snack world. With a crunchy medley of assorted nutrient-rich ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, it’s always been an essential item in my cupboard.
Here’s one that I’ve fallen in love with recently: Hudson Henry Baking Co.’s Cashews and Coconut Granola.
Hudson Henry Baking Co. Cashews and Coconut Granola, available from Mouth
Instead of using butter and honey, typical animal-derived ingredients found in granola, this one features maple syrup and coconut oil to keep it vegan.
And with rolled oats, cashews, almonds, and shredded coconut, you’ll want to munch on this granola by the hefty handful!
Enjoy it as a cereal with your favorite type of milk, or sprinkle it on top of a smoothie bowl or yogurt for a crunchy garnish on a protein-rich snack.
Sweet Spreads
It’s about time for your PB&J to get a glamorous makeover with new spreads! Our suggestions for an alternative nut butter and a delicious jam will give your snacktime sandwich a flavorful boost.
4. Maple Vanilla Almond Butter
I like peanut butter. I like cashew butter. But I LOVE almond butter!
Maple Vanilla Almond Butter, available from Stonewall Kitchen
This almond butter from Stonewall Kitchen is far from ordinary.
Flavored with maple syrup, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, you’ll never want to go back to plain nut butter after you’ve tried it.
Every nut butter and jelly sandwich will taste better, every apple slice that you spread it on will become the perfect bite, and every spoonful stolen straight from the jar will be pure pleasure!
Buy a jar from Stonewall Kitchen.
5. Cherry Berry Jam
To accompany your new nut butter, you’ll need a new jam!
Stonewall Kitchen’s Cherry Berry Jam is the ideal combination of sweet and tart.
Cherry Berry Jam, available from Stonewall Kitchen
Your lips will be puckering with pleasure every time you partake in this tasty jam, a mix of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
Spread it on your favorite bread, muffins, or scones for the perfect second breakfast!
If you’re like me and can’t go a day without cheese, make a fancy little cheese plate for a snack, with a ramekin of this jam, some salty, firm cheeses, and crisp crackers.
Get your sweet spread now from Stonewall Kitchen.
Dynamic Dips
Every corn chip deserves to be dipped in the best of the best! Whether you want a velvety, creamy dip or a chunky and spicy salsa, your chips will thank you for choosing these options.
6. Bacon Queso
Rich, creamy, smoky, and super cheesy, Stonewall Kitchen’s Bacon Queso has “the perfect nacho dip” written allllll over it!
Bacon Queso, available from Stonewall Kitchen
The classic Mexican queso dip gets a savory upgrade with added bacon. Is there really anything more satisfying than dipping a crispy tortilla chip in warm, velvety cheddar cheese dip that’s swimming with bits of cured and smoked pork?
Need more info? Visit Stonewall Kitchen now.
7. Ghost Pepper Salsa
Do you consider yourself to be bold, fearless, and adventurous when it comes to the spice level of your food?
Answer carefully, because you might regret dipping your next chip in Stonewall Kitchen’s Ghost Pepper Salsa, you daredevil.
Ghost Pepper Salsa, available from Stonewall Kitchen
The ghost pepper is listed as one of the hottest peppers in the world, with a Scoville heat unit (SHU) level of a little over 1 million.
Yeah, it’s hot!
So if you need to kick up your snacking routine a touch, this is the salsa to do just that! Featuring a crave-worthy blend of peppers, tomatoes, onions, and spices, this dip will give you a powerful punch of that heat you crave.
But don’t blame us if you find that you really can’t handle the heat…
Buy a jar now from Stonewall Kitchen.
Chocolate Any Time of Day
There are no rules when it comes to eating chocolate. And I’ll make up any excuse to eat it outside of the dessert realm! To my fellow chocoholics, please enjoy a bite of any of these decadent snacks whenever the mood strikes.
8. Raw Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle Bar
Hazelnut and chocolate, what a fine pair they make!
Rather than dipping your spoon into that store-bought sugary Nutella spread, you could make your own at home… or try our recommendation for a nutrient-dense treat made with raw, natural ingredients.
Raw Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle Bar, available from Mouth
The Raw Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle Bar from Mouth contains only three ingredients: organic hazelnuts, organic coconut sugar, and organic cocoa beans.
Paleo friendly, this is the bar to choose when you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle without sacrificing big, beautiful flavor.
Get your chocolate fix from Mouth.
9. Milk Chocolate-Covered Quinoa and Currants
Would you ever believe that quinoa could be your new favorite sweet treat?
It’s totally possible with a bag of the aptly named Undercover Quinoa Milk Chocolate Quinoa and Currants from the Undercover Chocolate Company!
Undercover Chocolate Co. Milk Chocolate Quinoa and Currants, available from Mouth
Each naturally gluten-free cluster is a light and airy bite of popped quinoa and dried currants mixed together with milk chocolate.
Not only will you love the entertaining tastes and textures, you’ll also appreciate this snack’s high protein and fiber content.
Get more information on Mouth.
10. Rainbow Bark
There’s a mystical unicorn living inside all of us. And that unicorn needs chocolate.
Bang Candy Co.’s Rainbow Bark brings the magic with layer after layer of bright colors and textures.
Bang Candy Company Rainbow Bark, available from Mouth
A thick bottom layer of Belgian dark chocolate is covered with Belgian white chocolate marbled with pretty swirls of orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink.
For an added spark of magical goodness, the chocolate is embedded with popping candies and garnished with rainbow sprinkles!
The sprinkles and multi-colored swirls are made with natural, vegetable-based food colorings.
Salty, Savory, Satisfying
Sweet munchies not your thing? No current chocolate cravings? If you prefer to stick with the savory and salty snacks, try any of the unique bites described below.
11. Vegan Cheddar Crackers
Vegan, gluten-free, plant-based, non-GMO, soy-free…
Does this sound like a cheddar cracker to you?
Green Mustache Cheddarish Mustache Munchies, available from Mouth
With Green Mustache’s Cheddarish Mustache Munchies, it’s totally possible to have a vegan product that tastes just like your favorite crisp and crunchy cheddar cracker.
Believe it or not, the ultimate “cheese” flavor is achieved with an artful combination of chickpea flour, spices, yeast extract, pea protein, and kale.
12. Brined and Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
You’ll never want to go back to plain ol’ roasted pumpkin seeds after eating these Brined and Roasted Pepitas from Stony Brook WholeHeartedFoods!
Stony Brook WholeHeartedFoods Brined and Roasted Pepitas, available from Mouth
Grown and prepared in the Finger Lakes region of New York, the pumpkin seeds are first submerged in a flavorful salty brine before they are slow roasted until crisp.
Eat them on their own, or use them as a garnish with a salty kick on top of a salad or a bowlful of yogurt.
Find this crunchy snack on Mouth.
13. Salt and Vinegar Popcorn
There is always a bag or two of popcorn and a box of popcorn kernels in my cupboard. What’s not to love, when it comes to those little toasty, chewy, puffy, fluffy popped kernels?
Live Love Pop’s Salt and Vinegar Popcorn, available on Mouth
While I typically play it safe with either plain or cheddar flavor, Live Love Pop’s Salt and Vinegar Popcorn has inspired me to step outside of my usual snacking zone!
And now, it has become my latest munchies obsession. Pretty soon, it’ll be yours, too!
This popcorn is tossed with sea salt and white vinegar powder, a bold combo with as much dynamic flavor as there is mouth-puckering power.
14. Crunchy Pickled Carrots
Cucumbers are cool, but carrots are cooler!
Little did you know that they were also destined to be pickled.
Tillen Farms Pickled Crunchy Carrots, available from Stonewall Kitchen
The Pickled Crunchy Carrots from Tillen Farms offer an interesting variation from the typical pickle.
With just one bite, you’ll experience the best balance of flavors. Naturally sweet carrots provide the perfect contrast to a sour, vinegary brine.
Buy this uncommon variety of pickled veggies on Stonewall Kitchen.
15. Sea Salt Knekkebrød
A unique cracker to placate any snack attack or place on a cheese board, Sea Salt Knekkebrød from Norwegian Baked has so much crunchy personality in every simply seasoned bite.
Norwegian Baked’s Sea Salt Knekkebrød, available from Mouth
Wheat-free, nut-free, and vegan-friendly, this “crispbread” is a staple in many Scandinavian homes, and it’s made with nutrient-rich ingredients.
You’ll enjoy the combination of sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, and flax seeds, along with rye flour, oats, and oat bran. Maldon sea salt flakes tie everything together with bountiful flavor.
Try Knekkebrød as a low-carb, high-fiber base for avocado toast!
Check out this crispbread now at Mouth.
Meaty Munchies
When you need more sustenance and protein to hold you over until the next meal, reach for one of these dried meat products!
16. Spicy Apple Buffalo Chicken Bites
For anyone who enjoys the fiery flavors of buffalo chicken, you need to try this special kind of jerky.
The Spicy Apple Buffalo Chicken Bites from Field Trip are packed with protein and serious flavor.
Field Trip’s Spicy Apple Buffalo Chicken Bites, available from Mouth
Combining fiery spiciness with the subtle sweetness of dried apples and coconut sugar, you’ll love these uniquely seasoned morsels.
Each delightfully chewy bite is finished with a big punch of flavor that you won’t soon forget!
Buy this spicy snack now at Mouth.
17. Filet Mignon Beef Jerky
Is it possible to feel fancy while you’re chewing on jerky?
Yes, sir or madam, it is!
Three Jerks Jerky Filet Mignon Beef Jerky, available from Mouth
Filet Mignon Beef Jerky from Three Jerks offers savory sophistication to the most dignified of peckish, hangry eaters.
Since the filet mignon cut of beef has minimal connective tissue, the final dried product isn’t as chewy as traditional beef jerky.
Enjoy the softer, satisfying texture – with pinkies up, of course!
For more details, visit Mouth now.
18. Black Truffle Beef Jerky
Do you love rich umami flavor?
Don’t save all the fun for dinner – enjoy your favorite big and bold taste between meals with Righteous Felon Craft Jerky’s Truffle-O Bill Jerky.
Righteous Felon Craft Jerky’s Truffle-O Bill Jerky, available on Mouth
Your culinary mind will be blown away by this tender black truffle beef jerky, made with pasture-raised black angus top round beef that is transformed into a crazy-delicious flavor bomb by Righteous Felon.
Rather than using truffle-infused oil, the O.G. Hickory marinade that flavors this jerky is mixed with black truffle powder sourced from Italy.
Get all the tasty details now on Mouth.
Sweet and Salty Combos
Sweet and salty is a match made in heaven, especially when it comes to snack foods!
19. Beer and Caramel Pretzel Nuggets
Say it with me, slowly: Beer. Caramel. Pretzel. Nuggets.
What is this tasty madness?
Roni-Sue Chocolates Beer Caramel Pretzel Nuggets, available from Mouth
The New York-based company Roni-Sue Chocolates crafts these Beer Caramel Pretzel Nuggets with ingredients sourced from other local businesses: pretzels from Martin’s Pretzels and beer from Brooklyn Brewery.
The pretzels are coated with handmade caramel made with the beer, which creates a subtle hoppy flavor. Once coated with the caramel, the nuggets are then mixed with candied mustard seeds.
Find this sweet and salty crunchy creation on Mouth.
20. Bacon Toffee Caramel Popcorn
Just when you think things couldn’t get any tastier, this sweet and salty popcorn shows up to the party!
Black Pig Meat Company Rodeo Jax Bacon Caramel Corn, available from Mouth
Rodeo Jax Bacon Caramel Corn from Black Pig Meat Company uses a brilliant combination of a caramel-toffee glaze and smoked brown sugar bacon to coat fluffy organic popcorn.
You need some. Go get it.
21. Everything Seasoned Candied Pecans
Your favorite bagel seasoning mix gets a snacky makeover!
Nutkrack’s Everything Seasoned Candied Pecans marries two unlikely worlds together into one sweet-and-salty snack.
Nutkrack’s Everything Seasoned Candied Pecans, available from Mouth
Crunchy caramelized pecans are mixed with kosher salt, dehydrated onion, dehydrated garlic, black sesame seeds, and poppy seeds for the ultimate snack food that truly is the best of both worlds.
Snack Attacks Don’t Stand a Chance
Your hunger pangs won’t last long at all if your home pantry is full of fun and filling snacks!
We covered a range of different styles of munchies here to keep any fanatic foodie’s appetite totally satisfied. And we wholeheartedly recommend stocking up on products from each category, so you’ll be prepared for any kind of unexpected snack attack.
You might crave something sweet and crunchy one day, spicy or salty and savory another. Stay equipped with snack foods to satisfy every craving!
Dry pantry staples and jarred items are manufactured to generally last longer than fresher ingredients and food products, so you can maintain a large supply of food that will last for an extensive length of time.
Whether you’re planning to keep a well-stocked pantry for any emergency, whether to stay satiated during a snowstorm or relieve a sudden snack attack, or if you just want to collect cool goodies to fulfill your snack-loving obsession, add any of these unique items to your list!
What will you dive into first? Think you’ll go for some sugary cookies? Or maybe a handful of meaty jerky? Whatever you decide, be sure to tell us! Leave a comment below.
Would you rather challenge your cooking your cooking skills by making your own homemade snacks? Foodal can help you to have fun in your kitchen with these delicious recipes:
© Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photos via Mouth and Stonewall Kitchen. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. Originally published on April 6, 2020. Last updated on December 12, 2022.
About Nikki Cervone
Nikki Cervone is an ACS Certified Cheese Professional and cheesemonger living in Pittsburgh. Nikki holds an AAS in baking/pastry from Westmoreland County Community College, a BA in Communications from Duquesne University, and an MLA in Gastronomy from Boston University. When she's not nibbling on her favorite cheeses or testing a batch of cupcakes, Nikki enjoys a healthy dose of yoga, wine, hiking, singing in the shower, and chocolate. Lots of chocolate.
