Who says healthy snacking has to be expensive? Oh yeah, our kids! My kids would snack all day long and be content. Some days I wonder if I need to make dinner at all?! So instead of reaching for the convenient and usually overpriced snack packs from the store, I’m sharing some of my favorite cheap healthy food snacks.
There are plenty of budget-friendly snack recipes out there, and the best part is that they’re often quick and easy to make! As a mom on a budget, I know how hard it can be to keep up with the endless demands for healthy and delicious snacks.
That’s why I’ve curated a list of 25 cheap healthy food recipes to try. These recipes are not only easy on the wallet, but they’re also sure to impress your family and friends.
So, let’s dive in!
Cinnamon-Sugar Pita Chips
Ingredients: Pita bread, butter, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon.
Steps for preparation: Cut pita bread into wedges and brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Bake in the oven at 400°F for 8-10 minutes until crispy.
Recipe here.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.25
- You could do this with tortillas too.
Cream Cheese Stuffed Celery
Ingredients: Celery stalks and cream cheese. Let the cream cheese sit out so you can spread it if you don’t buy the spreadable ( which we don’t because we are frugal!)
Steps for preparation: Cut celery stalks into bite-sized pieces and stuff with cream cheese.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.10
Ants on a Log
Ingredients: Celery stalks, peanut butter, and raisins.
Steps for preparation: Cut celery stalks into bite-sized pieces, spread peanut butter on top, and add raisins on top for “ants.”
Approximate cost per serving: $0.20
BBQ Roasted Chickpeas
Ingredients: Chickpeas, BBQ seasoning, and olive oil.
Steps for preparation: Drain and rinse chickpeas. Toss in BBQ seasoning and olive oil. Bake in the oven at 400°F for 25-30 minutes until crispy.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.30
Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Ingredients: Peanut butter, rolled oats, honey, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips.
Steps for preparation: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, roll into small balls, and store in the fridge for an easy grab-and-go snack.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.50
- You could add different seeds/nuts to this mix, too, depending on your budget and allergies.
For help with meal planning, grab my meal planning binder here!
Baked Tortilla Chips
Ingredients: Corn tortillas, olive oil, and salt.
Steps for preparation: Cut tortillas into wedges, toss in olive oil and salt, and bake in the oven at 400°F for 8-10 minutes until crispy. Or try it in the air fryer for 5-10 minutes. ( I do this with the low-carb wraps for low carb chips)
Approximate cost per serving: $0.15
Microwave Popcorn
Ingredients: Popping corn kernels, salt, and butter.
Steps for preparation: Place 1/4 cup of popping kernels in a large microwave-safe bowl, cover with a microwave-safe plate (upside down), and heat for 2-3 minutes until the popping slows down. Drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with salt to taste.
*bonus grab some of the popcorn flavorings from Aldi for a few dollars.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.15
Chocolate Banana Bites
Ingredients: Bananas, chocolate chips, and coconut oil.
Steps for preparation: Cut bananas into slices, spread melted chocolate on top with a bit of coconut oil, and store in the fridge until the chocolate hardens.
You can also make banana sandwiches. This was my kid’s favorite! Slice up the bananas melt the chocolate as mentioned above, and then put peanut butter between two bananas.
Dunk the banana sandwich in chocolate. I put these ones in the freezer.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.40
Greek Yogurt Dip
Ingredients: Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and dill.
Steps for preparation: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and serve with veggies or crackers for dipping.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.30
Cucumber Slices with Hummus
Ingredients: Cucumbers and hummus.
Steps for preparation: Cut cucumbers into slices and serve with hummus for dipping.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.30
Baked Apple Chips
Ingredients: Apples, lemon juice, and cinnamon.
Steps for preparation: Cut apples into thin slices, sprinkle with cinnamon and a little lemon juice, and bake in the oven at 200°F for 2-3 hours until crispy.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.30
No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients: Rolled oats, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract.
Steps for preparation: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, shape into cookies, and let cool in the fridge until firm.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.40
Ranch Popcorn
Ingredients: Popcorn kernels, butter, and ranch seasoning.
Steps for preparation: Pop 1/4 cup of kernels in a pot with melted butter, toss with ranch seasoning, and serve.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.20
Veggie Quesadilla
Ingredients: Tortilla, shredded cheese, and veggies of your choice.
Steps for preparation: Fill a tortilla with cheese and veggies and grill until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crispy.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.50
Peanut Butter and Jelly Roll-Ups
Ingredients: Tortilla, peanut butter, and jelly.
Steps for preparation: Spread peanut butter and jelly on a tortilla and roll up. Cut into bite-sized pieces for a fun snack.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.30
Cinnamon Roasted Almonds
Ingredients: Raw almonds, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Steps for preparation: Toss almonds in a mixture of sugar, cinnamon, and salt and bake in the oven at 300°F for 25-30 minutes until fragrant.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.50
Mini Bagel Pizzas
Ingredients: Mini bagels, pizza sauce, shredded cheese, and toppings of your choice.
Steps for preparation: Spread pizza sauce on mini bagels, sprinkle with cheese and toppings, and bake in the oven at 400°F for 8-10 minutes until crispy.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.60
Apple Nachos
Ingredients: Apples, peanut butter, and chocolate chips.
Steps for preparation: Cut apples into slices and arrange on a plate. Drizzle with melted peanut butter and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.40
Trail Mix
Ingredients: Nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate chips.
Steps for preparation: Mix together your favorite nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate chips in a bowl for an easy and satisfying snack.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.50
Buffalo Roasted Chickpeas
Ingredients: Chickpeas, buffalo seasoning, and olive oil.
Steps for preparation: Drain and rinse chickpeas. Toss in buffalo seasoning and olive oil. Bake in the oven at 400°F for 25-30 minutes until crispy.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.30
Easy Guacamole
Ingredients: Avocado, lime juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Steps for preparation: Mash avocado in a bowl and mix the ingredients for a perfect dip for veggies or tortilla chips.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.50
Tuna Salad on Crackers
Ingredients: Tuna, mayo, relish, salt, and pepper.
Steps for preparation: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and serve on top of crackers for an easy snack or lunch.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.40
Garlic Parmesan Popcorn
Ingredients: Popcorn kernels, butter, garlic powder, and grated parmesan cheese.
Steps for preparation: Pop 1/4 cup of kernels in a pot with melted butter, toss with garlic powder and parmesan cheese, and serve.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.25
Sliced Apples with Peanut Butter
Ingredients: Apples and peanut butter.
Steps for preparation: Cut apples into slices and serve with peanut butter for dipping.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.30
Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
Ingredients: Pretzels and chocolate chips.
Steps for preparation: Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, dip pretzels in the chocolate, and let cool on a sheet of wax paper.
Approximate cost per serving: $0.50
Snacking doesn’t have to be expensive; you don’t have to sacrifice taste or nutrition to stick to a budget. With these 25 new budget-friendly snack recipes, you can satisfy your cravings without breaking the bank.
Plus, most of these recipes are easy and quick to make, so you save time and money. Next time you need a snack, try one of these ideas – your taste buds (and budget) will thank you!
If you have an Aldi near you pick up your shopping list items there. I find they have the best prices.