101 paleo-friendly snacks to make or buy

If you want to eat paleo, it can be challenging to find paleo-friendly snacks. Unlike eating styles like keto, the paleo diet isn’t as widely known—and paleo products aren’t always available in stores.

So we’ve put together a list of 101 of our favorite portable, homemade, and store-bought paleo snacks to help you out.

Let’s start with a quick review of paleo. If you already know what paleo is, jump ahead to the snacks.

Quick review of the paleo diet

The paleo diet mimics the way our ancestors may have eaten during the Paleolithic era (2.5 million to 10,000 years ago). Paleo eaters focus on whole foods like meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, and nuts and seeds—foods that were likely available to our Paleolithic ancestors.

Foods like dairy products and grains, which only became available later through farming, aren’t part of the paleo diet.

Here at Noom, we don’t subscribe to any one eating style. Instead, we’re focused on supporting you in finding an eating style that works for you that’s enjoyable and sustainable.

If you’re interested in eating paleo or paleo-like (incorporating more whole foods into their diets), it’s convenient to have snack options. 

Paleo snack recipes to make at home

We’ve divided these homemade paleo snacks into crunchy, savory, and sweet to make it easy to find one that hits the spot. 

No-cook energy balls, with their endless combinations of ingredients, get a category of their own. 

Crunchy Paleo snacks

From granola to pakora, these paleo snack ideas deliver a satisfying crunch in a variety of flavors. 

Puffs, granolas, and trail mixes

Many store-bought snacks have added sugar and other non-paleo-friendly additives. Here are recipes to make your own instead.

1. Homemade paleo “Cheetos” from Gnom-Gnom

2. Paleo “Chex Mix” from The Harvest Skillet

3. Sunshine trail mix from A Clean Bake

4. Cranberry walnut paleo granola from Cook Eat Well

5. Paleo strawberry almond granola from Perchance to Cook

6. Honey chili spiced granola from Healy Eats Real

7. Crock pot chunky monkey paleo trail mix from Cotter Crunch

Veggie chips

For something even simpler, swing by the farmer’s market and make your own crunchy, savory veggie chips at home. 

8. Baked sweet potato chips from Paleo Grubs

9. Baked parsnip chips from Beauty and the Foodie

10. Baked veggie chips from The Big Man’s World

11. Baked zucchini chips from Low Carb Yum

12. Baked Brussels sprout chips from Mind Over Munch

13. Crispy green bean chips from Whole New Mom

14. Paleo potato pakora from My Heart Beets

15.  Air fryer tostones from What Great Grandma Ate

Nut mixes

Save money on store-bought nut mixes by buying nuts in bulk and roasting them with your favorite herbs and spices. 

16. Cinnamon spiced nuts from What Great Grandma Ate

17. Cinnamon and honey roasted walnuts from Paleo Grubs

18. Gingerbread roasted almonds from Perchance to Cook

19. Roasted pepitas from A Saucy Kitchen

20. Onion and chive mixed nuts from Healthy Little Peach

21. Spiced maple rosemary mixed nuts from What Great Grandma Ate

22. Honey mustard roasted almonds from Paleo Grubs

Savory paleo snacks

Meat and vegetables are the stars of paleo eating, so it’s not hard to come up with delicious savory snacks that fit into the paleo diet, from simple roasted veggies to homemade pizza rolls (yep, we said pizza rolls).

Jerky, vegetables, and combos

Take simple, paleo-friendly ingredients and turn them into a scrumptious snack.

23. Homemade paleo beef jerky from Paleo Grubs

24. Carrot fries from SnackNation

25. Cauliflower popcorn from Greatist

26. Roasted beets from A Clean Bake

27. Oven-roasted escarole from Nom Nom Paleo

28. Maple bacon wrapped carrots from Perchance to Cook

29. Air fryer avocado fries from What Great Grandma Ate

30. Homemade Paleo pizza rolls from A Saucy Kitchen

31. Roasted cauliflower with turmeric and mint from A Clean Bake

32. Avocado, bacon, and balsamic snack from Cook Eat Well

33. Smoked salmon cucumber bites from A Clean Bake

34. Air fryer fried pickles from What Great Grandma Ate

35. Paleo Vada from My Heart Beets

Dips

Hummus is a classic snack, but it doesn’t fit into a paleo lifestyle since it’s made from legumes. Try one of these paleo-friendly twists.

36. Pumpkin hummus from What Great Grandma Ate

37. Mediterranean hummus from Perchance to Cook

38. Roasted garlic babaganoush from A Clean Bake

39. Beet hummus from Nom Nom Paleo

40. Roasted garlic and cauliflower hummus from What Great Grandma Ate

41. Grapefruit guacamole from Perchance to Cook

Crackers

And what’s hummus without crackers for dipping?

42. Gluten-free paleo pita chips from A Clean Bake

43. Rosemary and sesame paleo crackers from The Healthy Foodie

44. Paleo tortilla chips from My Heart Beets

45. Crunchy paleo crackers from Paleo Flourish

46. Paleo “everything bagel” almond crackers from Perchance to Cook

47. Flax seed crackers from Paleo Grubs

Sweet paleo snacks

Cutting back on sugar? No problem. Satisfy your sweet tooth with these naturally sweetened paleo healthy snacks.  

Sweet treats

Cookies, doughnuts, and gummy snacks on paleo? Yep.

48. Chewy walnut pan bars from Taste of Home

49. Healthy oven-baked apple fritters from Paleo Grubs

50. Homemade paleo protein bars from All Natural Ideas

51. No-bake fruit tart from Healy Eats Real

52. Chocolate chip coconut macaroons from A Clean Bake

53. Paleo sweet potato cookies from Paleo Flourish

54. Paleo snickerdoodles from A Clean Bake

55. Baked apples from Nom Nom Paleo

56. Paleo gummy snacks from Primal Palate

57. Candied orange peels from Perchance to Cook

58. No-bake apple cinnamon sugar donut holes from What Great Grandma Ate

59. Paleo pecan bars from A Clean Bake

60. Pumpkin dip from Healthy Little Peach

Smoothies

Smoothies are refreshing summer snacks that are packed with nutrients—and you can usually make one with ingredients you already have on hand. 

Here are some paleo recipes to inspire you.

61. Strawberry banana smoothie from Wicked Spatula

62. Peach coconut milk smoothie from Cook Eat Well

63. Raspberry lemonade smoothie from Farmstead Chic

64. Kale cherry smoothie from Simply Jillicious

65. Salted caramel smoothie from Love Food Nourish

66. Pineapple smoothie with nutmeg from A Clean Bake

67. Carrot, apple, and banana smoothie from Paleo Flourish

68. Everyday paleo vegan smoothie from Paleo Running Momma

69. Pumpkin pie smoothie from Beaming Baker

70. Dragon fruit powder mango berry smoothie from Perchance to Cook

Energy bites (our favorite easy paleo snack) 

A favorite among paleo and keto eaters, no-bake energy bites (or balls) are simple, satisfying—and fun to make, too: Toss all the ingredients in your food processor, then roll ‘em into two-bite balls. 

71. Carrot cake bliss balls from A Saucy Kitchen

72. Chocolate date energy balls from Joy Food Sunshine

73. Coconut cashew energy bites from A Clean Bake

74. Blueberry paleo energy balls from A Saucy Kitchen

75. Cinnamon apple pie energy balls from Paleo Grubs

76. Three-ingredient no-bake almond butter balls from Beaming Baker

77. PB&J energy balls from Nom Nom Paleo

78. Coconut lime energy bites from Paleo Grubs

79. Chocolate chip cookie dough protein bites from A Clean Bake

80. Dark chocolate cherry energy bites from What Great Grandma Ate

81. No-bake chocolate energy balls from The Big Man’s World

The best paleo snacks to buy

Let’s be real—you’re not always going to be near your kitchen when hunger strikes. 

When you’re away from home and need something quick, here’s a list of paleo-friendly snacks you can pick up at almost any supermarket.  

Raw snacks

The produce department is a great place to start your search for a healthy snack. 

82. Fresh fruit and vegetables (like carrots, cucumbers, apples, and berries)

83. Olives

84. Artichoke hearts

85. Coconut chips

86. Cacao nibs

Prepared snacks

Our ancestors probably didn’t eat prepackaged foods, but in a pinch, these snacks are paleo-friendly.

87. Meat jerky (with no added sugar or artificial preservatives)

88. Nut butter

89. Pork rinds

90. Kale chips

91. Plantain chips

92. Seaweed snacks

93. Canned tuna, sardines, or salmon

94. Protein bars (with minimal ingredients and no artificial additives)

95. Dried fruits

96. Fruit snacks (with minimal ingredients and no artificial additives)

97. Nut mixes

98. Grain-free granola

99. Bone broth

100. Hard-boiled eggs

101. Dark chocolate

Paleo snacks FAQ

The rules of paleo aren’t always black and white. Here are a few “gray area” paleo snacks that people often ask about. 

Is popcorn allowed on paleo?

Technically, no. Corn is a grain, and grains are not included in the paleo diet. 

But if you’re going to “cheat,” there are worse snacks you could do it with—popcorn is low in calories and packed with fiber. 

If you do make popcorn, be sure to pop it in coconut oil and top it with grass-fed butter or ghee. And steer clear of microwave popcorn that includes artificial flavorings (which aren’t paleo-friendly).

Are tortilla chips paleo?

No, we’re sorry to say, because they’re also made with corn. But, again, there are worse things you could eat—especially if the chips are just made with corn, salt, and water. 

So, what will you dip in your guacamole if you avoid tortilla chips? Make your own paleo-friendly tortilla chips with just five ingredients. 

Are bananas OK on a paleo diet?

Yes. Bananas are a nutritious whole food, but because they’re also high in carbohydrates, some paleo eaters avoid them.

So, whether or not you choose to eat bananas might depend on why you’re following the paleo diet. If you’re trying to eliminate processed foods, bananas are a great paleo option. If you’re trying to cut carbs, you might want to limit them.

What else can (and can’t) you eat on Paleo?

Now that you’re all set with snacks, what should you put in your shopping cart for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners? 

We’ve got you covered. Check out our complete Paleo shopping list here.