31 Cheap Snacks You Need to Try
Introduction
Hunting for delicious snacks that won’t break the bank? Look no further! These 31 cheap snacks are quick to prepare, crave-worthy, and perfect for satisfying hunger between meals. Whether you need fuel for work, school, or just the movies, this diverse list will help you snack smarter without sacrificing on flavor or your budget.
Flavorful, Budget-Friendly Snack Options
Snacking doesn’t have to mean plain crackers or boring granola bars. From protein-rich combos to sweet bites and crunchy delights, you can assemble dozens of creative snacks with pantry staples and minimal prep. Get ready—these snacks are winners for both your taste buds and your wallet!
Top 31 Cheap Snacks to Enjoy
Below are 31 great snack ideas, many requiring just 2–4 ingredients and only a few minutes of prep. Mix and match to keep every snack break interesting:
1. Peanut butter & banana on whole wheat toast
2. Greek yogurt with honey and sliced almonds
3. Microwave popcorn with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast
4. Homemade trail mix (peanuts, raisins, pretzels)
5. Sliced carrots and hummus
6. Cottage cheese with pineapple chunks
7. Apple slices with cinnamon
8. Rice cakes topped with ricotta and berries
9. Celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins (“ants on a log”)
10. Cheese quesadillas (using leftover tortillas)
11. Roasted chickpeas (season with garlic and paprika)
12. Sliced cucumbers with ranch or tzatziki
13. Air-popped popcorn with chili powder
14. Saltine crackers with canned tuna
15. Boiled eggs, sprinkled with black pepper
16. Oatmeal with a dollop of nut butter
17. Whole wheat pita chips and salsa
18. Sliced bell peppers and guacamole
19. Cottage cheese with chopped tomatoes and basil
20. Homemade banana pancakes (just mashed banana and egg!)
21. Graham crackers and yogurt dip
22. Mixed nuts (portioned into snack bags)
23. Bagel with light cream cheese and cucumber slices
24. Frozen grapes or berries
25. Mini quesadilla roll-ups with salsa
26. Sweet potato fries (baked at home)
27. Roasted sunflower seeds
28. Dried fruit (apricots, cranberries, mango)
29. Ramen noodles with seasoning (served crunchy as a snack)
30. Canned peaches with low-sugar granola
31. Hard pretzels with spicy mustard
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this snack list to automatically generate a shopping list categorized by grocery section, making planning snack breaks for the week easy and affordable.
How to Prep Cheap Snacks Efficiently
- Plan a snack rotation: Pick 4–6 snacks to prep in advance each week. Portion into containers or bags.
- Batch cook: Roast chickpeas, bake sweet potato fries, or boil eggs for several days’ worth at once.
- Portion and package: Use reusable snack bags or containers to keep servings budget-friendly.
- Mix and match: Combine ingredients like nuts, fruits, and dips to make snack time interesting and prevent burnout.
- Freeze extras: Snacks like banana pancakes and grapes freeze well and can be ready in minutes.
Weekly Meal Planning
These snack ideas aren’t just cheap—they’re also ideal for weekly planning. Save this snack roundup to your meal planning tool, then schedule snacks alongside lunches and dinners. Generate one smart grocery list that combines all recipe and snack ingredients, so you buy only what you need in one efficient shopping trip.
Planning Benefits:
- Consolidate shopping lists for all meals and snacks
- Track pantry staples and avoid overbuying
- Make prepping healthy, affordable snacks a weekly habit
- Reduce food waste by coordinating ingredient use across meals
Pro tip: When you plan multiple snacks and meals for the week, your shopping list will automatically adjust ingredient amounts — for example, just the right amount of bananas for both toast and banana pancakes!
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
Each snack on this list averages 100–250 calories per serving, depending on portion size. Combining protein (nuts, yogurt, eggs) with fiber (fruits, vegetables, whole grains) will keep you full and energized—without overspending.
31 Affordable Snacks—Your Ticket to Tasty Savings (Recap)
With these 31 cheap snacks, you’ll always have options to silence hunger pangs—without sacrificing taste or overspending. Keep your pantry prepped and your week fueled affordably using simple, satisfying snack ideas like these.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 2–10 minutes per snack (batch prep is faster)
Cook Time: 0–30 minutes (depending on snack choice; most are no-cook)
Total Time: 5–30 minutes per batch (or less for grab-and-go!)