30 Homemade Salty Snacks That’ll Satisfy Even The Biggest Potato Chip Craving
Move over, store-bought.
When the craving for a super-savory, umami-laden snack hits, nothing else will do. You could turn to store-bought chips and their ilk, but if you’re here, we’re betting you’re the type who prefers something a little more homemade. Whether you’re looking for healthier options for you and your family or just like a DIY challenge, we’ve got 30 homemade salty snack recipes for you here. Bonus: They’re perfect for party spreads too, so bookmark them for your next game day or cocktail party.
Got a hankering for some chips? Try our sweet potato chips, our “fauxtato” chips (made from radishes!), our pasta chips, or our salami chips. Want something you can munch on by the handful? Check out our roasted chickpeas, our curry-lime cashews, our stovetop popcorn, or our ramen snack mix. Is your preferred snack more of a mini meal? Try our homemade chicken nuggets, our Japanese onigiri, our mac & cheese balls, or our herby baked falafel. Whichever you choose, many of these go great with dips, so go crazy with everything from tahini sauce to marinara to ranch dressing.
When a snack attack hits, we want something salty and crunchy, FAST. That’s why we’ve also included a number of air fryer recipes on this list. There really is no better way to get that crispy outside you crave, without busting out fryer oil or preheating your oven for ages. Check out our air fryer French fries, our air fryer hot pockets, our air fryer kale chips, or our air fryer broccoli ranch tots. Don’t have any air fryer? Don’t worry, most recipes have alternative oven instructions too (you just might have to wait a tiny bit longer for your snack fix!).
Want even more snack ideas? Check out our favorite sweet snacks, our top healthy snacks to buy, and our best high-fiber snack recipes too.
Air Fryer Kale Chips
These air fryer kale chips are a super-tasty way to start a healthy chip habit. They take just minutes to prepare, and using your air fryer means less grease and guilt. Feel free to customize your chips with different herbs and spices—the possibilities really are endless.
Get the Air Fryer Kale Chips recipe.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkins are pretty amazing. One of their best (and often overlooked) attributes is their seeds! They're great prepared simply, roasted with salt and melted butter, but the variations are completely endless. We love ranch seasoning, taco seasoning, or even curry powder for added flavor.
Get the Roasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe.
Air Fryer Pasta Chips
You've heard of toasted ravioli, and now it's time to learn about pasta chips! They're the perfect thing to dip in a bowl of warm marinara and snack away.
Get the Air Fryer Pasta Chips recipe.
Soy-Marinated Eggs
These are a version of a classic Korean banchan (side dish) called gyeran jang jorim. Rather than simmering hard-boiled eggs in soy sauce, the eggs are first soft-boiled to jammy perfection, then marinated off heat. Trust us, these are the best eggs you'll ever have.
Get the Soy-Marinated Eggs recipe.
Scallion Pancakes
Crispy, flaky, and with the *slightest* bit of chew, these are the perfect addition to any snack plate, Chinese-inspired or otherwise. If you've got more pancakes than you can handle, we've got good news—these freeze well too.
Get the Scallion Pancakes recipe.
Cheese Straws
Crunchy, flaky, and cheesy—what's not to love? These are studded with cheddar, green onions, and sesame seeds for the most flavor-packed cheese straws we've ever had, and using store-bought puff pastry makes them extremely easy to pull together for an anytime snack.
Get the Cheese Straws recipe.
Fried Buffalo Artichoke Hearts
We bet you've heard of wings made from cauliflower or tempeh, but what about artichokes? These fried Buffalo artichoke hearts are the perfect vegetarian alternative to beloved Buffalo wings. Hip hip hooray for another Buffalo-fied appetizer to get excited over!
Parmesan Bread Bites
If you're a fan of garlic knots, this recipe is basically bite-size snack version, covered in gooey cheese, garlic butter, and fresh herbs. Though technically optional, we highly recommend drizzling these bites with hot honey for a delicious balance of savory, spicy, and a touch of sweet.
Get the Parmesan Bread Bites recipe.
Baked Yuca Fries
Are you a sweet potato fry fan? You’re going to LOVE these. These sweet, savory, and nutty cassava fries do take a bit of preparation, but once you’ve peeled, chopped, and boiled them, you can turn them into extremely crispy fries that’ll rival any French fry.
Get the Baked Yuca Fries recipe.
Curry Lime Cashews
Sure, a handful of these tasty nuts curbs hunger pangs, but they’re more than just a snack. Try these chopped up as a crunchy topping on your favorite roasted vegetables or atop a spoonful of yogurt for breakfast.
Get the Curry Lime Cashews recipe.
Ramen Snack Mix
Instant ramen is good for way more than just soup. It can be used to make ramen burger buns, an indulgent ramen carbonara, and now, a highly snackable savory party mix that's great for a midday snack, and even better with beer at cocktail hour. 😋
Get the Ramen Snack Mix recipe.
Soft Pretzel Bites
We pretzeled refrigerated biscuit dough in our pretzel ring beer cheese dip and again in our cheesy pretzel twists. Both times, the pretzels were so good, we decided they needed to have their own recipe (but mini, ofc!).
Get the Soft Pretzel Bites recipe.
Fried Pickles
We’re always down for a fried snack, and we'll have a special place in our hearts for fried pickles. Crispy and crunchy on the outside, juicy and briny in the middle, they’re sure to be one of your favorites too.
Get the Fried Pickles recipe.
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Want to feel like a kid again? Make homemade chicken nuggets. Coated in crispy seasoned bread crumbs, these tender, juicy bites are hard to beat. The recipe may technically serve 2 to 4, but we’ve definitely demolished an entire tray all by ourselves. 😉
Get the Homemade Chicken Nuggets recipe.
Jalapeño Popper Crisps
You only need 5 ingredients (including pepper!) and 25 minutes to make this extra-crunchy snack featuring our three favorite flavors: spicy, cheesy, and bacon-y.
Get the Jalapeño Popper Crisps recipe.
Air Fryer French Fries
Want to know the secret to super-crispy French fries? It's air frying! Forget about oil temperature, soaking, and all the other steps associated with the perfect deep-fried French fry. This air-fried version is way better tasting and healthier than anything you’d get in a restaurant too.
Get the Air Fryer French Fries recipe.
Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)
If you're a sushi fan, onigiri is a must-try: a humble rice ball accented by a variety of fillings, wrapped in roasted seaweed (nori), and perfect for snacking or a light meal. Onigiri is open to customization and experimentation too—try one of our filling options, or create your own.
Get the Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls) recipe.
Fauxtato Chips
Craving chips but avoiding potatoes? We get it. Try these crispy, salty, light-as-air radish version that are a million times better than the carb-y alternative. Try them dipped in homemade ranch dressing or garlic hummus—we bet you won't even miss the potato!
Get the Fauxtato Chips recipe.
Air Fryer Broccoli Ranch Tots
Switch up your normal tater tots by adding finely chopped broccoli and ranch seasoning. Bonus: Using your air fryer will give you ultra-crispy tots in half the time!
Get the Air Fryer Broccoli Ranch Tots recipe.
Herby Baked Falafel Bites with Spicy Mint Tahini Dip
Pistachios, mint, cilantro, dill, and parsley combine to turn these falafel a celebratory bright green (perfect for the holidays, springtime, etc.). Bonus: These are baked, not fried, for less mess.
Get the Herby Baked Falafel Bites with Spicy Mint Tahini Dip recipe.
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