45 Sweet & Savory High-Protein Snacks That Make It Easier To Hit Your Goals
Here at Delish, we're BIG fans of salty snacks, sweet snacks, and everything in between. There’s always something fun to try in our office and test kitchen—whether we’re trying out new Girl Scout cookie flavors or are ranking all the best potato chips—but when we’re snacking to help get us through our day, we know we can’t be so mindless about our noshing. Instead, we turn to high-protein options that will keep us feeling fuller and won’t give us a sugar crash. Check out our 45 high-protein snack recipes for ideas, then prep a big batch—when you’ve got these ready to go ahead of time, you’ve practically already won against any mid-afternoon hunger strike.
When it comes to high-protein foods, there are a few stand-outs that are perfect for turning into snacks, whether you’re looking for a mini meal to hold you over or something you can eat by the handful. It’s a no-brainer that there’s tons of protein-packed options available, from things like chicken, fish (canned tuna, we love you), Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu, and eggs. Our Cobb egg salad, our cottage cheese bark, our curried chicken salad, our tofu nuggets, and our soy marinated eggs are just a few examples of ways to turn those proteins into snack foods.
Even if you’re avoiding animal products (or just don’t want to be that person smelling up the office, sorry tuna), you’ve got options. Nuts and seeds are also high in protein (and often fiber, antioxidants, and plant-based omega-3s too!). Check out our chia pudding, our homemade almond butter, our curry-lime cashews, or our peanut butter protein balls for ideas.
Finally, you really can’t beat the convenience of a can of beans for a high-protein snack. And not just straight out of the can (we’re not monsters 😉)—instead, turn canned chickpeas or black beans into something like our chickpea “tuna” salad, our cowboy caviar, or our roasted chickpeas. They’re fun, flavorful, and ripe for improvisation, so change ‘em up with whatever you like.
Want more health-conscious snack ideas? Check out our best high-fiber snacks, our top healthy snacks for work, and our favorite healthy snacks to buy too.
Cowboy Caviar
Some call it Cowboy Caviar; others call it Texas Caviar. Different names, same idea, and lots of variations—we love ours for how delicious and health-supportive it is. Black-eyed peas contain vitamin K, black beans aid in lowering blood pressure, and avocados contain omega-3 fatty acids. 😍
Get the Cowboy Caviar recipe.
Cottage Cheese Bark
By blending cottage cheese until it’s smooth, drizzling it with peanut butter, jelly, granola, and freezing it, we’ve created a healthy snack that will fill you up and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time. Packed with protein, this cottage cheese bark is like a bowl of yogurt that you can hold in your hand.
Get the Cottage Cheese Bark recipe.
Kibbeh-Spiced Lamb Skewers
The grated onions in the lamb mixture make for an extra tender kebab, and the orange zest adds an unexpected flavor combination that accompanies the spiced meat perfectly. Cooking these on the grill gives a nice char to the meat, but apartment dwellers can nix the charcoal and use a broiler or skillet.
Get the Kibbeh-Spiced Lamb Skewers recipe.
Cosmic Brownie Protein Bites
Need a little sweet something at 4 p.m. to carry you until dinner? Cosmic brownie protein bites are here for you. Made with a handful of pantry ingredients plus your favorite protein powder, these simple stir-together protein bites will become as integral to your adult snacking life as their namesake was to your childhood.
Get the Cosmic Brownie Protein Bites recipe.
Tofu Nuggets
Soggy baked tofu nuggets are a thing of the past with this one-ingredient upgrade. These bite-sized beauties get irresistibly crispy in the oven, making them the perfect vehicle for a dunk in ranch dressing or curry ketchup.
Get the Tofu Nuggets recipe.
Avocado Chicken Salad
This isn't your mom's chicken salad—this recipe is packed with diced avocado, corn, fresh cherry tomatoes, red onion, mango, and a simple herby dressing that ties everything together. It comes together in just 30 minutes too!
Get the Avocado Chicken Salad recipe.
Chicharrones
Deep-fried pork should be an official love language. Here, garlic-, sour orange-, and oregano-marinated cubes of pork belly are boiled until tender then fried until deep golden brown, crunchy, and insanely juicy. Topped with a sprinkle of flaky salt and a squeeze of lime, these are the perfect two-bite snack.
Get the Chicharrones recipe.
Egg Salad
Classic egg salad should be easy to make, and ours is a classic BBQ side and a quick high-protein lunch you can rely on. It centers around just 6 core ingredients; use it as a base for creative mix-ins and variations, or enjoy as is for a truly classic recipe.
Get the Egg Salad recipe.
High-Protein Mousse
You don’t need any protein powder to make this high-protein
chocolate mousse, only one staple, protein-packed ingredient (that we turn to again and again): cottage cheese. Depending on the brand of cottage cheese you buy, this recipe hits about 30 grams!
Get the High-Protein Mousse recipe.
Soy Marinated Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are great, but they can be a little one note. Instead, these eggs are first soft boiled to jammy perfection, then marinaded off the heat in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, sugar, and rice wine vinegar for an extra flavorful, high-protein snack.
Get the Soy Marinated Eggs recipe.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
When we're hungry for more than a light snack, sometimes I like to bulk things up, just like in this Mediterranean-inspired chickpea salad. Thanks to the chickpeas, this salad will keep you full for hours, and is satisfying in a way that leafy greens never could be (sorry not sorry, kale).
Get the Mediterranean Chickpea Salad recipe.
Warm Figs With Greek Yogurt
Juicy, sweet figs pair flawlessly with the zesty orange here, creating a heavenly flavor combination. It's a stunning sweet treat that's simple yet elevated, and it’s ready in just 15 minutes! You also only need 5 ingredients to make it, including the figs.
Get the Warm Figs With Greek Yogurt recipe.
Scotch Eggs
We didn’t think a jammy egg could get any better—until we tried Scotch eggs. Featuring a layer of sausage wrapped around a boiled egg, battered, and deep-fried, this popular British snack is our new favorite thing to eat for breakfast, lunch, mid-afternoon snack... and any meal in between.
Get the Scotch Eggs recipe.
Carbonara Deviled Eggs
If deviled eggs had a classy Italian cousin, she would be these carbonara deviled eggs. Loaded with cheese and topped with crispy pancetta bits, these carbonara deviled eggs had a little extra something to the classic snack.
Get the Carbonara Deviled Eggs recipe.
Smoked Salmon Dip
Lox lovers—this smoked salmon dip is about to be your new go-to. Smoked salmon, spicy horseradish, bright lemon, and finely chopped dill all get mixed into a cream cheese and Greek yogurt base for the creamiest savory dip imaginable.
Get the Smoked Salmon Dip recipe.
Copycat Chobani Yogurt Protein Drinks
Getting all your protein in doesn’t have to be a wallet-busting nightmare—these protein-packed, 5-minute copycat Chobani yogurt drinks will help you face the day feeling full, focused, and fiscally responsible.
Get the Copycat Chobani Yogurt Protein Drinks recipe.
Creamy White Bean Dip
Love hummus, but want to expand your horizons a bit? You've gotta try this white bean dip! It's just as easy and creamy (tip: roast your garlic ahead of time), and might just have you getting creative with all the canned beans you've got in your pantry.
Get the Creamy White Bean Dip recipe.
Tempeh Buffalo “Wings”
Quicker to make and easier to eat than Buffalo chicken wings, this plant-based version swaps chicken for snackable triangles of tempeh to mimic the crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Get the Tempeh Buffalo “Wings” recipe.
Steamed Edamame
Simple, steamed edamame is an amazing good-for-you snack that is nutritious and comes together really quickly. The little soybeans are endlessly poppable and are a fun, hands-on hors d'oeuvre (especially with the addition of our homemade chicken-salt).
Get the Steamed Edamame recipe.
Curried Chicken Salad
Traditional chicken salad is great—but stir in some curry powder, toasted cashews, and cilantro, and you have one of the most satisfying snacks EVER.
Get the Curried Chicken Salad recipe.
Peanut Butter Protein Balls
We wanted these protein balls to taste a little bit like cookie dough (😈), so we added some mini dark chocolate chips. When you need a little energy boost, these peanut butter bites will give you new life.
Get the Peanut Butter Protein Balls recipe.
BLT Egglets
Looking for an easy, quick low-carb, high-protein snack? Look no further than these BLT egglets. They’re kind of like a cross between a BLT sandwich and egg salad, but portable, and we are here for it. 🙌.
Get the BLT Egglets recipe.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Pinwheel sandwiches are here with their totally retro swirls, ready to be packed into lunchboxes, piled onto game day spreads, or just eaten as a high-protein afternoon snack. The best part is that there are endless combinations of fillings you can customize these with. As long as you stick with the basic formula and amounts, the sky's the limit.
Get the Pinwheel Sandwiches recipe.
California Sushi Bites
This crunchy cucumber snack is inspired by popular California roll sushi, without any of that pesky rolling. Do you have a seasoning blend you're obsessed with right now (Trader Joe's always has cool ones)? These are the perfect venue for it, so go wild.
Get the California Sushi Bites recipe.
Homemade Hummus
Hummus is one of our all-time favorite dips, but making it from dried chickpeas can be a tall order. After multiple rounds of testing, we found a couple of simple hacks that will allow you to turn canned chickpeas into superlative, silky-smooth hummus, with no sacrifice of flavor and zero chickpea soaking required!
Get the Homemade Hummus recipe.
Roasted Chickpeas
Chickpeas are good for so much more than just creamy homemade hummus. (Though that's definitely a good use of them!) They also make for a particularly good, fiber-and-protein-ful salty snack and are infinitely adaptable based on what you've got in your spice cabinet.
Get the Roasted Chickpeas recipe.
Cobb Egg Salad
Egg salad is a wonderful snack as is, but add bacon, blue cheese, avocado, and tomatoes, and you've got something you'll dream about in lieu of a mid-day slump. Hot tip: The red wine vinegar–Greek yogurt dressing is amazing and works well in regular Cobb salad, too.
Get the Cobb Egg Salad recipe.
Air Fryer Steak Bites
Meat lovers alert! Your favorite steak dinner is now the ultimate snack. Air-fried to juicy perfection and tossed in warm garlic butter, these irresistible steak bites might just become the best part of your day.
Get the Air Fryer Steak Bites recipe.
Egg Muffins
Egg muffins are one of the BEST healthy breakfasts or snacks, especially if you're meal prepping, because you easily make a big batch of them at once. They will keep in your fridge for up to 7 days, so you can grab them when you're craving something fast and easy all week.
Get the Egg Muffins recipe.
Buffalo Popcorn Chicken
Those that feel the bone just gets in the way with Buffalo wings will absolutely love this recipe. Fried popcorn chicken is coated in Buffalo sauce for a crunchy, spicy, irresistible bite everyone will enjoy.
Get the Buffalo Popcorn Chicken recipe.
Chickpea "Tuna" Salad
A little wary of tunafish? Try this chickpea salad instead! It hits all the same flavor notes and similar protein stats, without any fishy smell or taste. Eat it with crackers or on its own for the perfect afternoon snack.
Get the Chickpea "Tuna" Salad recipe.
Chia Pudding
Cooking with chia seeds might seem intimidating, but in reality this high-protein pudding couldn't be easier to whip up. Simply add liquid, give it a good stir, and let time do the rest. We like ours topped with fresh fruit—juicy berries, sweet bananas, or fragrant pears work great—and crunchy granola, but feel free to go crazy with your favorite toppings.
Get the Chia Pudding recipe.
Greek Feta Dip
Loaded with cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta, this dip was inspired by our favorite Greek salad. Whipped feta has become the base for many of our most popular dips (who can forget our cranberry whipped feta), but when we're craving fresh summer flavors, we turn to this Mediterranean-inspired recipe.
Get the Greek Feta Dip recipe.
Air Fryer Crunchy Chili-Spiced Chickpeas
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these snack-able chickpeas are delicious as a crunchy topper for salads, creamy soups, or grain bowls, too. You can also toss them with hot popcorn for a pretty killer, protein-packed movie snack.
Get the Air Fryer Crunchy Chili-Spiced Chickpeas recipe.
Bunless Burger Bites
No buns, no problem. Skewer these little meatballs with all your favorite burger toppings, then snack away!
Get the Bunless Burger Bites recipe.
BLT Cups
This lighter take on a classic BLT skips the bread and puts major emphasis on the bacon—which is what you really want, right? We replaced the mayo with Greek yogurt to help make these lighter and more protein-packed as well, but you can use the traditional mayonnaise or even sour cream if you prefer.
Get the BLT Cups recipe.
Curry-Lime Cashews
Sure, a handful of these tasty nuts curbs hunger pangs, but they’re more than just an on-their-own snack. Try these chopped up as a crunchy topping on your favorite roasted vegetables or atop a spoonful of some Greek yogurt.
Get the Curry-Lime Cashews recipe.
Jalapeño Popper Crisps
These jalapeño crisps might just send potato chips packing. They're got all our favorite flavors: spicy, cheesy, and... bacon-y, and are low-carb, high-protein to boot!
Get the Jalapeño Popper Crisps recipe.
BLT Sushi
This iteration of a BLT is a bacon lover's dream: First you'll make a bacon weave (harder than it sounds!), then spread with a thin layer of mayo, top with chopped tomatoes and romaine, and roll it up! Slice it up into "sushi"rolls—and make a pact to never eat a traditional BLT again. 😉
Get the BLT Sushi recipe.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds have 10 grams of protein per 1/3 cup, and are great prepared super-simply, roasted with salt and melted butter. We also love topping them with ranch seasoning, taco seasoning, or cinnamon sugar for an added pop of flavor. Out of season? Look for store-bought pepitas instead!
Get the Roasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe.
Chocolate Keto Protein Shake
Who needs protein powder anyway? Packed with almond milk, almond butter, chia seeds, and hemp seeds, this shake will energize you and keep you full whenever you drink it. If you're not really a chocolate person and prefer fruit smoothies, our coconut berry keto smoothie is for you.
Get the Chocolate Keto Protein Shake recipe.
Salami Chipss
If you feel it's impossible to quit your potato chip addiction, then you need to try salami chips. They're the perfectly low-carb, high-protein salty snack. Bonus: You can make them in the oven or in your air fryer.
Get the Salami Chips recipe.
Homemade Almond Butter
It might sound a little hippy dippy to make your own almond butter, but hear us out: It's often cheaper and better for you than store-bought, and it makes for an incredible high-protein snack. Try it mixed into chia pudding or paired with apple slices for a snack that's sure to satiate.
Get the Homemade Almond Butter recipe.
Chicken Salad
For us, good chicken salad is ALL about the technique. This recipe expertly combines well-seasoned chicken, a rich mayo dressing, plenty of fresh celery, and a touch of acid. It's then chilled until cold, giving the flavors time to meld and saturate the chicken, resulting in a refreshing, creamy, and super-satisfying healthy snack or meal.
Get the Chicken Salad recipe.
Classic Deviled Eggs
This is our OG recipe, but we have tons of fun variations too: guacamole deviled eggs, dill pickle deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail deviled eggs... the list goes on and on. Check out a full list of our favorite deviled egg recipes, or go rogue and create your own! The possibilities are truly endless.
Get the Classic Deviled Eggs recipe.
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