15+ Easy 5-Ingredient Snack Recipes to Help Manage Blood Sugar

You only need five ingredients or less to make these easy snack recipes (not counting common pantry items like salt, pepper and oil). They’re a simple and healthy option for a bite between meals or a quick boost of energy. Plus, each recipe is also made lower in carbs, calories, sodium and saturated fat, making them ideal for managing blood sugar levels. Try our Cottage Cheese Snack Jar with Tomatoes, Cucumbers & Bell Peppers and our Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters for a filling, delicious and nutritious snack.

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Cottage Cheese Snack Jar with Tomatoes, Cucumbers & Bell Peppers

Photographer: Ali Redmond. 

Layered in a jar, portable and customizable, this cottage cheese snack jar with tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers is perfect for healthy eating on the go. It’s high in protein—a great choice for a midday energy boost or post-workout snack.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Carson Downing

Pumpkin seeds are packed with fiber, protein and magnesium, so they make a great healthy snack. It’s also easy to customize them with different seasonings so you can enjoy endless flavors—or keep things on the simple side with just a sprinkle of salt.

Everything Bagel Cottage Cheese Snack Jar

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

This cottage cheese snack jar is a high-protein snack that layers creamy cottage cheese with crunchy bell peppers and crispy chickpeas. Cottage cheese provides protein and calcium, while chickpeas add extra plant-based protein and fiber to keep you feeling full until your next meal. A sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning brings bold flavors in every bite.

White Bean–Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek

Mini bell peppers are the perfect vessel for delivering creamy bean dip with a crunchy chickpea topping in this easy snack. Crunchy chickpeas are easy to make at home, or you can buy them already prepared.

Tzatziki Cucumber Slices

Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

These cucumber slices offer a refreshing, quick snack with just three ingredients. The crispness of the cucumbers complements the creamy, tangy tzatziki, creating a light and flavorful bite.

Pickled Tuna Salad

Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

This pickled tuna salad gets its flavor from chopped dill pickles and uses the pickle brine to enhance the flavor. Serve it on a slice of toasted whole-wheat bread, on crackers or with crisp veggies for an easy snack.

Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters

Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek

These bite-size dark chocolate almond clusters blend dark chocolate with nutty almonds for an easy snack or dessert. Stick to the three ingredients we list here, or add your own twist by including dried cherries or toasted coconut for a little variety.

High-Protein Dip Formula

Ali Redmond

These high-protein cottage cheese dips are easy to whip up and pair perfectly with your favorite fruits and veggies. Whether you’re in the mood for something sweet or savory, these recipes will keep you full and energized while squeezing in an extra serving of veggies.

Cottage Cheese-Berry Bowl

Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

This no-sugar-added berry bowl highlights the natural sweetness of thawed mixed berries with a hint of vanilla for extra flavor. It’s a simple snack you can prepare in advance, but add the cereal just before serving so it stays crunchy.

Peanut Butter Stuffed Energy Balls

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Joshua Hoggle

Peanuts do double duty in this easy snack recipe: peanut butter makes a creamy center while chopped roasted peanuts add a welcome crunch to the exterior. Dates add a natural sweetness to this healthy snack.

Dark Chocolate Cashew Clusters

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Sue Mitchell, Prop stylist: Skylar Myers,

These 3-ingredient sweet treats are a breeze to make and, because dark chocolate clusters take just 15 minutes to prepare, they can be made on short notice to feed a crowd.

Savory Cottage Cheese Snack Jar

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

This creamy, crunchy snack packs 20 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber in one small mason jar. Adding the chickpeas right before serving will keep them crunchy.

Pizza Pistachios

Jennifer Causey

Nutritional yeast mimics the flavor of cheese, lending a pizza-like flavor to these playful spiced pistachios.

Chocolate-Hazelnut Energy Balls

These energy balls marry the flavors of nutty hazelnuts with rich chocolate. They’re chewy with a slight crunch and have just enough sweetness to curb a midday or post-dinner sweet tooth.

Cinnamon-Sugar Roasted Chickpeas

Roasting canned chickpeas until crispy makes a simple and healthy snack. In this riff on candied nuts, chickpeas are coated with cinnamon sugar to make them irresistible! This snack is best enjoyed the day it is made.

Vegan Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Banana Bites

These bite-size frosty morsels of frozen banana, peanut butter and vegan chocolate make a perfect low-calorie snack or easy dessert. These banana bites store well in the freezer, so make some ahead and keep them on hand for those moments you crave a taste of something sweet.

Fruit Energy Balls

Make a big batch of these no-bake energy balls to keep on hand when hunger strikes or you need a healthy pick-me-up.

Roasted Buffalo Chickpeas

Soaking chickpeas in vinegary hot sauce gives them a mouthwatering tang before they crisp up in the oven. The result? An addictively crunchy snack that’s actually good for you.

Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

These healthy peanut butter and chocolate energy balls deliver a mixture of simple and complex carbohydrates to help fuel you up whenever you need a little boost.

Greek Yogurt with Fruit & Nuts

This simple snack with protein and healthy fat will get you through the afternoon slump.