vegochef.com/guides/vegan-snacks/Vegan snacks: 30 easy homemade and shop-bought ideas
By the Vegochef team · Editorial standards · Last checked · 6 min read
Vegan snacking is easier than ever: many everyday snacks are already vegan, and the best homemade ones take five minutes. Here are 30 ideas: quick homemade snacks, high-protein options, sweet treats and what to look for in the shop.
Quick homemade snacks
- Apple or banana with peanut butter. See peanut butter protein.
- Hummus with carrot, cucumber and pepper sticks.
- Avocado on rice cakes with chilli flakes and lemon, or a half-slice of our avocado toast.
- Popcorn made in a pan with a little oil and salt, or tossed with nutritional yeast for a cheesy taste. See what is nutritional yeast.
- Tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole.
- Olives and a handful of almonds.
- Cherry tomatoes and cucumber with a pinch of salt and olive oil.
- Wholegrain crackers with hummus or a bean dip.
- Fresh fruit: clementines, grapes, berries or a pear.
- Medjool dates filled with peanut or almond butter.
High-protein vegan snacks
- Edamame in pods, steamed and salted: about 8–9 g of protein per cup of pods. See edamame protein.
- Dry-roasted edamame (30 g bag): about 13 g.
- Roasted chickpeas with smoked paprika (½ cup): about 7 g.
- Pumpkin seeds (30 g): about 8–9 g.
- Soy yogurt with hemp seeds and berries.
- Peanut butter on wholegrain toast: about 11 g.
- Soy milk smoothie with oats and peanut butter: about 15 g.
- Baked tofu cubes with a dipping sauce. See how to cook tofu.
More ideas, including vegetarian ones: high-protein snacks.
Sweet vegan snacks
Chia Pudding with Raspberries
Mini Banana Pancakes
Coconut Rice Pudding with Cherries
Mango Pineapple Smoothie Bowl
- Chia pudding with raspberries, made the night before.
- Mini banana pancakes: banana slices in a cinnamon batter.
- Coconut rice pudding with cherries, warm or cold.
- Mango pineapple smoothie bowl for a sunny afternoon.
- Energy balls: oats, dates, nut butter and cocoa rolled into bites.
- Dark chocolate (check it's dairy-free) with a few almonds.
- Frozen banana "nice cream": blend frozen bananas until creamy.
- Dried fruit: apricots, mango or figs.
Shop-bought vegan snacks
Many supermarket snacks are vegan by accident. Common ones, though recipes vary by brand:
- Plain or salted crisps (chips) and tortilla chips.
- Pretzels: most are just flour, water, yeast and salt.
- Roasted nuts, seeds and trail mix (check for honey glazes and milk chocolate).
- Seaweed snacks, rice cakes, oat bars and fruit bars (check for honey and milk).
Ingredients to check on the label
- Milk, whey, casein, lactose, milk powder or butter (dairy)
- Egg or egg white
- Honey (from bees)
- Gelatin (from animals): in gummies and marshmallows
- Carmine, also listed as E120 or cochineal: a red colour made from insects
- Shellac or confectioner's glaze (from insects): on some shiny sweets
- Vitamin D3: often made from sheep's wool, unless labelled vegan
A "vegan" label or certification saves you the checking. Unsure what counts? See vegan vs vegetarian.
Tips for better snacking
- Combine protein and fibre to stay full: hummus + vegetables, peanut butter + apple, edamame + fruit.
- Keep snacks visible: a bowl of fruit and a jar of roasted chickpeas beat a packet in the cupboard.
- Prep once: roast chickpeas, make energy balls and chia pudding for the week.
More ideas: vegan breakfast ideas and our vegan grocery list.
Frequently asked questions
What are good vegan snacks?
Fruit with peanut butter, hummus and vegetables, roasted chickpeas, edamame, nuts and seeds, popcorn, soy yogurt with granola, rice cakes with avocado, dark chocolate and homemade energy balls.
What are high-protein vegan snacks?
Edamame (about 18 g per cup shelled), dry-roasted edamame, roasted chickpeas, soy yogurt with hemp seeds, peanut butter on toast, pumpkin seeds and protein balls made with plant protein.
Is dark chocolate vegan?
Often, but not always. Many dark chocolates contain milk or milk fat. Check the ingredients, or look for a vegan label.
Are crisps (chips) vegan?
Plain salted ones usually are. Flavoured ones, such as cheese, sour cream or some barbecue flavours, often contain milk. Check the label.
Is popcorn vegan?
Plain popcorn is. Butter popcorn and some sweet or toffee popcorn contain dairy.
Recipes to try
Related guides
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Sources
- USDA FoodData Central: protein in edamame, chickpeas, nuts, seeds and soy yogurt (fdc.nal.usda.gov)
- The Vegan Society: animal-derived ingredients to check (vegansociety.com)
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