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Home » Appetizers & Snacks

Best Beach Snacks

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: May 20, 2024 | Published: May 20, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. See my 
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The best beach snacks include tons of easy, portable ideas to keep you fed and fueled for a day by the shore. Includes a list to browse, packing tips and specific recipes.

A collage of snack ideas and a beach picnic basket with a text block in the middle.


 

We are coming up on beach season!

Or if you’re in the South like me, it’s already started.

I had a beach weekend with my wife recently, our first one together! It was full of long walks and delicious food, plus watching sunset from the porch. My favorite!

I also had my annual girls beach trip earlier this month.

There’s 8-12 of us and we rent a huge house on the water and just lounge around all day, cook together at night, stay up late drinking and talking, and enjoying some getaway time together. It’s divine.

And now that summer is upon us and school is out or almost out for most of us, we’re looking forward to some family trips with the kids.

Regardless of who you’re at the beach with though, packing snacks is key.

Now, yes, I am a HUGE snack proponent.

Previously I’ve shared this super popular list of snack ideas for kids, as well as some high protein snacks.

Y’all love these healthy snacks on the go and I’ve already shared a list of healthy summer snacks that are on the lighter side.

When we go hiking or camping, I pack enough snacks to feed a small army for a week. 

"Nowhere close to hungry" is apparently my motto.

Today, though, it’s all about the beach.

Beach snacks can mean the difference between relaxing and enjoying the day or having to make 15 gajillion trips back inside to restock and refuel. Not my idea of fun.

So, without further ado here are some of our favorite beach snack ideas for your next trip.

An assortment of healthy snacks arranged on a counter, including nuts, fruit, rice cakes and graham crackers.

Best Beach Snacks:

  • Chips
  • Cereal
  • Hummus and pita
  • Fresh fruit - watermelon, apple or orange slices, berries, cherries, etc.
  • Fresh veggies - baby carrots, bell pepper sticks, cucumber slices, etc.
  • Frozen grapes
  • Pretzels
  • Popcorn
  • Granola
  • Trail mix
  • Jerky
  • Nuts or seeds
  • String cheese
  • Cheese and crackers
  • Fruit leathers/fruit bars
  • Graham crackers
  • Rice cakes
  • Granola bars (non-chocolate)
  • Rice Krispie treats
  • Tortilla wraps or roll ups
  • Sliders
  • Sandwiches
  • Chicken salad (and crackers or rolls)
  • Pasta salad
  • Bean salad
  • Fruit salad

You can mix and match from this list, depending on your needs. (There's also a pin-able image of this list at the bottom of the post.)

Sometimes we just need snacks to last the morning before we head somewhere to grab lunch. Or maybe we’re packing lunch with us and truly staying out all day.

Whatever the case may be, we like to be prepared.

A picnic basket with fruit, cheese, bread and wine sitting in the sand with the ocean in the background.

A few quick tips and tricks on that note.

Tips and Tricks:

  • Be sure to use a cooler to keep foods chilled - for flavor as well as food safety.
  • Bring a small trash bag or some plastic bags to pack up your trash.
  • Napkins or paper towels - as well as wet wipes or hand sanitizer - are helpful to have in your bag, too.
  • Have a small towel or cloth that you can wipe sandy or wet hands off on before eating.
  • Bring some extra containers or clips to secure any bags or food that you open on the beach.
  • And of course, pack plenty of water to stay hydrated! And sunscreen to reapply, too!

Also, it’s helpful to pack dips - hummus, salsa, Ranch, guacamole, etc. - in small containers or jars with lids so they can be separate.

We’ve got a few containers we love that I thought I’d share.

Six wooden bowls arranged in a circle, each filled with a different snack.

Favorite Snack Containers:

  • Green Sprouts or OXO storage cubes: These are tiny and perfect for small servings of food (grapes, raisins, trail mix, etc.) to travel with.
  • Rubbermaid small round containers with lids (perfect size for muffins or slider rolls)
  • Small bowls with lids (great for cereal, nuts, dried fruit, granola, pretzels, etc.)
  • Reuseable snack bags
  • Nesting storage containers - colorful with leakproof lids, this is a handy set.

And of course, we also have ziplock snack bags and all manner of plastic Tupperware and containers that work well, too. Individual portions of chicken/bean/pasta salads work great in those.

And bigger plastic bowls with lids are great for larger quantities of food for sharing.

Finally, if you are looking for some delicious recipes to make and take to the beach, I’ve got you covered.

A collage of six different beach food and snack ideas with a text block in the middle.

Beach Eats Recipes:

  • Easy Chicken Roll-Ups
  • Folded Wraps (how to and 25 combos)
  • 3 Easy Greek Yogurt Dips
  • Lightened Up Hummus
  • 5 Ingredient Granola
  • Blueberry Oat Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Energy Balls
  • Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Balls
  • Crunchy BBQ Roasted Chickpeas
  • Summer Veggie Pasta Salad
  • Chicken and Hummus Pasta
  • Classic Spaghetti Salad
  • Black Bean and Mango Salad
  • Mediterranean Chickpeas Salad
  • Southwestern Orzo Salad

You can also check out these 17 healthy pool dinners for more ideas for easy summertime eats that travel well.

Finally, if I’ve left off any ideas here or you have some beach food favorites of your own, please leave a comment below and share with us!

I hope you have a beautiful day at the beach and I hope the snacks never run out.

XO,

Kathryn

A text list of the best beach snacks on a green background with snack graphics arranged to the side.
Pin

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Meet Kathryn

Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

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