37 Protein Powerhouse Snacks

Our Test Kitchen staff, many of whom are busy parents themselves, came up with this fresh and fruity summer snack idea. It’s easy to make ahead and carry to the ballpark, beach or playground, and the cinnamon-spiced yogurt dip adds a fun touch kids love. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

The herby goodness of my favorite sauce shines in this nostalgic bread recipe that comes together quickly thanks to refrigerated biscuits. Serve warm as an appetizer with marinara for dipping, or as a side to an Italian entree. —Eden Dranger, Los Angeles

Guests will not be able to stop eating this savory dip. The orange color makes it natural for a party. —Gina Wilson, Austin, Texas

Looking for a lighter snack that’s still a crowd-pleaser? You’ve found it! Chili-Lime Roasted Chickpeas will have everyone happily munching. —Julie Ruble, Charlotte, North Carolina

My indulgent, nutty treat is simple to make and looks great. At our house, we use all-natural ingredients for them. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

My husband, friends and family love these soft, chewy pretzels. Let your machine mix the dough, then all you have to do is shape and bake these fun snacks. —Sherry Peterson, Fort Collins, Colorado

This special appetizer always makes it to our neighborhood parties and is the first to disappear at the buffet table. It’s attractive, delicious—and easy! —Laurie Casper, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania

My children resist veggies, but they love smoothies. This smoothie packs in lots of good-for-you fruits and veggies, but to my kids, it’s just a super delicious breakfast. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

You’ll be set for either a quick snack or an easy hostess gift when you use this recipe. —Anndrea Bailey, Huntington Beach, California

I’ve served this snack bread alongside spaghetti, as an appetizer and as a main dish. Because it stays so tender, I often bake it a day before. —Joan Nowacki, Pewaukee, Wisconsin

These appealing kabobs will add pizazz to any party—and you don’t even have to get out the grill! —Sherine Gilmour, Brooklyn, New York

Shredded zucchini adds makes these walnutty muffins extra tender. If you have lots of zucchini in summer as many of us do, this is a good way to use some of it. —Harriet Stichter, Milford, Indiana

This recipe, my son’s favorite, earned me an “A” in my early childhood nutrition course. It lets you take control of what your children snack on! —Cheri Majors, Claremont, California

Between working full-time, going to school and raising three children, finding time-saving recipes that my family likes is one of my biggest challenges. These quick pizzas pack a huge amount of flavor. —Amy Grim, Chillicothe, Ohio

Roasted pumpkin seeds are a classic fall snack. Kick them up a notch with instant coffee and cocoa powder for a mix that’s mocha genius at any time of year. —Rebekah Beyer, Sabetha, Kansas

This delicious dip is full of flavor, color and crunch, but not full of calories. There’s mild sweetness from the honey with a bit of heat at the end from the pepper flakes. If spicy food is your thing, feel free to add an extra dash of pepper. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota

This is my toddler son’s favorite breakfast—he’ll take one of these over pancakes any day! Get creative when mixing fruits and fruit-flavored yogurts; we love peach yogurt with mango, strawberry yogurt with blueberries or pina colada yogurt with mango and banana. —Dana Herra, DeKalb, Illinois

If you like classic bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches, check out these muffins. They’re perfect for pancake breakfasts and bring-a-dish dinners alike. You can serve softened cream cheese or butter alongside, but they’re awesome on their own. —Katie Koziolek, Hartland, Minnesota

I enjoy these frozen yogurt pops because they double as a healthy snack and a cool, creamy sweet treat. —Colleen Ludovice, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

I’m a caterer, and this is one of my best-selling appetizers. The shortcut of using prepared caramel makes these little apple skewers a snap to assemble. —Camille Ellis, Tampa, Florida

My kids love sausage and pancakes but making them during the week was out of the question. I bought the frozen variety on a stick but wasn’t keen on the calories, additives or price. This version of pigs-in-a-blanket is a tasty, thrifty alternativee. —Lisa Dodd, Greenville, South Carolina

I created this recipe a few years ago when I was craving something different to do with hard-cooked eggs. Three of my favorite foods—bacon, eggs and cheese—come together in these deviled eggs. They’re my go-to party snack. —Laura LeMay, Deerfield Beach, Florida

I like to give my family a hearty start in the morning, especially when they have to eat in a hurry. These easy-to-make “cookies” are perfect for a breakfast on the run and really appeal to the kid in all of us. —Wanda Cox, Roscommon, Michigan

On those busy days that just don’t stop, this mixture of dried fruit, cereal, nuts and more is the ultimate combination for munching. —Mike Tchou, Pepper Pike, Ohio

I have a massive herb garden in the summer, with an abundance of chives. This cream-cheesy dip helps use them up. Make it a few days in advance for best flavor. —Sarah Vasques, Milford, New Hampshire

We like to adventure out into the Selkirk mountain range surrounding our family cabin. These nuts never tasted better than when we enjoyed them together at the peak of an amazing hike. Almonds are extremely nutritious, and, when dressed up with a wonderful blend of spices, they go from ordinary to awesome! —Gina Myers, Spokane, Washington

We like to sweeten up Greek yogurt with honey, cinnamon and vanilla. It’s a tasty counterpoint to plump grapes and crunchy nuts. —Julie Sterchi, Campbellsville, Kentucky

If you’re looking for a grab-and-go sandwich, this is high in protein, low in fat and fills you up. Plus, it’s only about 200 calories! —Brenda Otto, Reedsburg, Wisconsin

People can’t get enough of these pop-in-your-mouth mini frittatas. They’re a cinch to make, freeze well and the recipe easily doubles for a crowd. —Nancy Statkevicus, Tucson, Arizona

This mildly seasoned snack mix is always a party favorite. Served warm from a slow cooker, the munchable mixture is very satisfying. —Dana Hughes, Gresham, Oregon

We love hummus, and this version is really amazing. If you have a pressure cooker, this is an easy, tasty reason to pull it out! We pair hummus with fresh veggies for a meal or snack. —Monica and David Eichler, Lawrence, Kansas

Marinated cheese, veggies and meat team up in a fun and fresh appetizer that’s a snap to make. —Vikki Spengler, Ocala, Florida

Serve these savory biscuitlike muffins for breakfast, at snack time or along with a hearty bowl of soup. —Doris Heath, Franklin, North Carolina

These sweet peanut butter bars are perfect for breakfast, dessert or anytime as a quick snack. You can add raisins instead of chocolate chips if you prefer. —Helen Velichko, Kansas City, Missouri

This thick, tangy drink combines the refreshing flavors of cranberries, raspberries and strawberries. Once you start sipping it, it disappears in a flash. —Beverly Coyde, Gasport, New York

Popcorn is good just about any way, but spicing it up makes it all the more special. I love this recipe because so many people enjoy it. Pile it in bowls for parties or spoon individual portions into sealed bags for take-along treats. —Leah Steenberg, Circle Pines, Minnesota

I wanted to put a new spin on muffins, so I mixed in some granola that contained lots of nuts, pumpkin seeds and shredded coconut. Then I brought a batch to work the next morning—success!—Megan Weiss, Menomonie, Wisconsin