Call it lazy, call it busy, or just call it not wanting to spend an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen. Even the least cooking-inclined of us get hungry for a real snack once in a while- something beyond tortilla chips, but falling short of gourmet.
Great news: there are lots of great, easy to make snacks out there.
Even better news: I did all the digging for you. You can save the energy it would take to type “snack ideas” into Google, and apply it to actually making these treats. Then, if if you have any strength left, you can even lift them to your mouth and enjoy.
Here are 10 flavorsome and easy to make snack recipes:
1. Greek Yogurt Cookie Dough
What’s not to love about cookie dough? Well, mostly the risk of contracting salmonella from raw eggs. You don’t have to worry about that with this ridiculously easy and much better for you alternative. All you need is some plain Greek yogurt, some nut butter, some sweetener if you like, and a few chocolate chips.
It’s so easy, you’ll wonder how you never thought of it before. Unless you have, in which case, good for you.
2. Summer Squash Tartines with Ricotta, Rosemary and Lemon
“Whoa! Tartines? What happened to not going gourmet?” Settle down there, this recipe won’t make a Julia Child out of you. It’s pretty basic stuff.
You slice and cook some squash for 5 minutes, and toast some bread. You then smear some cheese on the bread, and plop the squash slices on top. Done.
3. Roasted Nuts
In the recipe writer’s own words, “So easy, so good.” That they are. Ready within a whopping 15 minutes, these savory little guys will be ready before you can say, “I’m so hungry I’m gonna pass out.” Well… maybe if you say it really slowly. You’ll make it though, I promise.
Try these with olive oil instead of butter for a lighter option.
4. Peanut Butter Oat Granola Bites
Just combine those oats you’ve been meaning to eat for breakfast, that peanut butter (or whatever nut butter) you usually just eat by the spoonful, some chia seeds (if you have them), and a few mini chocolate chips if you really want to go decadent, and you’ve got a super satisfying snack on your hands.
Form that glob into attractive little bites and chow down.
5. Avocado Caprese Salad
Back in the old days, people used to use things called knives to cut things like avocados and tomatoes. Then they would put them into a bowl with lettuce (fancy or normal) and drizzle some dressing over the top. Sometimes they would even throw some cheese into the mix.
Salad making is a lost art that is far simpler than writing in cursive. It takes no time at all and it rates highly enough on the yum-to-healthy ratio to make you feel good about yourself.
6. Pan-Fried Curried Chickpeas
A can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) + a stove top= a love story. Spiced with curry powder or whatever else you can dream up while managing your growling tummy, these slightly crunchy, nuggets of spice just need 7 minutes in the frying pan and 5 minutes to cool before you can enjoy them.
7. Garlic Lemon and Parmesan Roasted Zucchini
Easier and healthier than french fries, these oven-roasted zucchini are softened, but crisped by the short burst of high heat. Lightly seasoned and sprinkled with parmesan if desired, they’ll hold you over without weighing you down.
8. Two Ingredient Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Guess what the two ingredients are? If you said banana and peanut butter, good for you. If you had to think about it, you’ve probably been misled a lot in your life and I’m sorry. That’s really all it is, folks.
Bananas being a high sugar fruit, you don’t even need to add sweeteners to the ice cream- and the combination of the sugar and the nut butter will make it creamy. How cool is that?
9. Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips
These ones take a bit of time in the oven to dry out, but the actual time you spend in the kitchen is nothing more than turning on the oven to a low heat and slicing the apples. Then you can pretty much pop them in and go watch TV for an hour, or at least sit on the couch and wonder where the remote is. Then flip the apples, and repeat.
Use Truvia or coconut sugar for a lower GI version- or skip the sweetener altogether. I mean, c’mon they’re apples.
10. Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream and Dill Dressing
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Martha Stewart is totally awesome.
This refreshing cucumber salad is light, but satisfying and the perfect zesty summer snack or side dish. You could swap out the sour cream for yogurt if you’re looking for an even healthier option.
