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Grain-Free & Whole Food
Best Paleo Snacks: 15 Ancestral Options That Actually Taste Good
Paleo is one of my favorite approaches to eating, and it's the closest mainstream diet to how I actually eat. The core principles make sense: focus on whole, unprocessed foods that humans evolved eating for millions of years, and avoid the agricultural foods (grains, legumes, dairy) that only became dietary staples in the last 10,000 years.
What I appreciate about paleo is its emphasis on nutrient-dense animal proteins, healthy fats, and the complete elimination of processed garbage. I've researched dozens of snacks to find 15 paleo options that are legitimately grain-free, use quality ingredients, and taste good enough that you won't miss the junk.
Understanding Paleo Nutrition
The paleo diet focuses on foods our Paleolithic ancestors would recognize: meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. It excludes foods introduced by agriculture, grains, legumes, and dairy, as well as modern processed foods, refined sugars, and seed oils.
Paleo-Approved:
- • Grass-fed beef, wild fish, pasture-raised poultry
- • Eggs (preferably pasture-raised)
- • Nuts (almonds, walnuts, macadamia, NOT peanuts)
- • Fruits, vegetables, healthy fats
NOT Paleo:
- • Grains (wheat, rice, oats, corn, quinoa)
- • Legumes (beans, peanuts, soy, chickpeas)
- • Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, whey)
- • Seed oils, refined sugars, processed foods
Quick Comparison: Best Paleo Snacks at a Glance
| Product | Best For | Protein | Calories | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epic Beef Jerky Bites | High Protein | 10g | 90 | Amazon |
| Chomps Beef Sticks | Grass-Fed Protein | 10g | 100 | Amazon |
| RXBAR Protein Bar | Meal Replacement | 12g | 210 | Amazon |
| Siete Tortilla Chips | Chip Alternative | 2g | 140 | Amazon |
| Artisan Tropic Plantain Strips | Crunchy Snack | 1g | 150 | Amazon |
| Bare Apple Chips | Sweet Crunch | 0g | 120 | Amazon |
| LARABAR Original | Simple Ingredients | 4-5g | 200 | Amazon |
| Hu Dark Chocolate | Chocolate Fix | 2g | 180 | Amazon |
| 4505 Chicharrones | Zero-Carb Crunch | 8g | 80 | Amazon |
| Primal Kitchen Collagen Bar | Joint Health | 15g | 200 | Amazon |
| Simple Mills Crackers | Savory Crunch | 3g | 150 | Amazon |
| Solely Organic Fruit Jerky | Natural Sweet | 0g | 70 | Amazon |
| Wilde Chicken Chips | Protein Chips | 10g | 90 | Amazon |
| Evolved Chocolate Cups | Healthy Treat | 2g | 140 | Amazon |
| That's It Fruit Bars | Simplest Option | 1g | 100 | Amazon |
15 Best Paleo Snacks: Detailed Reviews
1. Epic Beef Jerky Bites - Best Overall Paleo Snack
Calories: 90 | Protein: 10g | Carbs: 4g | Sugar: 3g
Epic makes some of the best meat snacks on the market for paleo eaters. Their Beef Jerky Bites use grass-fed beef with clean, simple ingredients, no added nitrates, MSG, or weird preservatives. The Venison and Bison varieties are also excellent if you want to branch out from beef. At 10g of protein per serving with minimal carbs, these are exactly what paleo snacking should be: animal protein in portable form. Check Price on Amazon2. Chomps Grass-Fed Beef Sticks - Best Zero-Carb Option
Calories: 100 | Protein: 10g | Carbs: 0g | Sugar: 0g
Chomps has become the gold standard for clean meat snacks. 100% grass-fed beef, Whole30 approved, zero sugar, zero carbs. The ingredient list is remarkably short: beef, water, sea salt, and spices. No junk, no fillers, no seed oils. The Original flavor is my go-to, but the Jalapeño adds nice heat without weird additives. These are what I grab when I need protein on the go. Check Price on Amazon3. RXBAR Protein Bar - Best Meal Replacement
Calories: 210 | Protein: 12g | Carbs: 22g | Sugar: 13g
RXBAR stands out in the protein bar world because they use egg white protein instead of whey or soy, making them legitimately paleo. The ingredient transparency is refreshing: egg whites, dates, nuts. That's basically it. The Chocolate Sea Salt and Peanut Butter (wait, peanuts aren't paleo, so skip that one) are popular. Stick with Coconut Chocolate, Chocolate Sea Salt, or Blueberry for paleo compliance. Sugar is higher than I'd prefer (from dates), but it's all real food. Check Price on Amazon4. Siete Grain-Free Tortilla Chips - Best Chip Alternative
Calories: 140 | Protein: 2g | Carbs: 19g | Fat: 7g
When you're craving chips on paleo, Siete is the answer. Made from cassava flour (not corn or wheat), they're legitimately grain-free and taste like actual chips. The Sea Salt flavor cooked in avocado oil is the cleanest option. Pair with guacamole for a satisfying paleo-friendly snack. These prove that going grain-free doesn't mean giving up crunch entirely. Check Price on Amazon5. Artisan Tropic Plantain Strips - Best Crunchy Snack
Calories: 150 | Protein: 1g | Carbs: 20g | Fat: 8g
Plantains are a paleo-approved starch, and Artisan Tropic does them right, cooked in sustainable palm oil or coconut oil with just sea salt. The texture is satisfying and crunchy without the grains. Be mindful of portions since they're easy to overeat, but as a chip alternative, these are solid. The Naturally Sweet variety caramelizes slightly and hits that sweet-salty craving. Check Price on Amazon6. Bare Apple Chips - Best Sweet Crunch
Calories: 120 | Protein: 0g | Carbs: 28g | Sugar: 22g
Bare makes baked fruit chips with literally just one ingredient: apples (or whatever fruit variety). No added sugar, no preservatives, nothing artificial. The Granny Smith variety has a nice tartness that balances the natural sweetness. These work well when you want something sweet and crunchy. Yes, the sugar is high, but it's all from real fruit, and that's the paleo trade-off for fruit-based snacks. Check Price on Amazon7. LARABAR Original - Best Minimal Ingredients
Calories: 200-220 | Protein: 4-5g | Carbs: 24-28g | Sugar: 18-22g
LARABAR's simplicity is their strength, most flavors contain just 2-9 ingredients. Cashew Cookie? Just cashews and dates. Apple Pie? Dates, almonds, apples, cinnamon, walnuts. That's paleo in bar form. The downside is sugar from dates runs high, but if you need quick energy from real food, these deliver. Avoid flavors with peanuts or chocolate chips (may contain soy). Stick with fruit and nut varieties. Check Price on Amazon8. Hu Dark Chocolate - Best Chocolate Fix
Calories: 180 | Protein: 2g | Carbs: 14g | Sugar: 8g
When chocolate cravings hit, Hu is one of the best paleo-compliant options. They use organic cacao and coconut sugar (no refined white sugar), and they specifically avoid soy lecithin, a common emulsifier that many strict paleo followers avoid. The Cashew Butter variety is excellent. Not cheap, but the ingredient quality is legitimate. A square or two satisfies without derailing your diet. Check Price on Amazon9. 4505 Chicharrones (Pork Rinds) - Best Zero-Carb Crunch
Calories: 80 | Protein: 8g | Carbs: 0g | Fat: 5g
Pork rinds are the ultimate paleo crunch, zero carbs, high protein, and satisfying texture. 4505 elevates the category with quality sourcing and excellent flavors. The Classic Chili & Salt is my favorite. Unlike cheap gas station versions, these use quality pork and natural seasonings. Great for dipping in guacamole or eating straight. Zero guilt, maximum satisfaction. Check Price on Amazon10. Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel Bar - Best for Joint Health
Calories: 200 | Protein: 15g | Carbs: 16g | Sugar: 5g
Primal Kitchen uses grass-fed collagen protein instead of whey or plant proteins, making these legitimately paleo. Collagen supports joint health, skin, and gut lining, benefits you don't get from other protein sources. The Chocolate Hazelnut flavor is particularly good. Lower sugar than most bars while delivering 15g protein. Mark Sisson's brand consistently delivers quality paleo products. Check Price on Amazon11. Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers - Best Savory Crunch
Calories: 150 | Protein: 3g | Carbs: 16g | Fat: 8g
For savory snacking, Simple Mills makes grain-free crackers using almond flour as the base. The Fine Ground Sea Salt variety is my go-to, clean ingredients, good crunch, pairs well with paleo-friendly dips. Be aware: some flavors contain tapioca, which is paleo-gray-area for strict followers. Check ingredients if you're being particular. Great with guacamole or topped with smoked salmon. Check Price on Amazon12. Solely Organic Fruit Jerky - Best Natural Sweet
Calories: 70 | Protein: 0g | Carbs: 18g | Sugar: 14g
When you want something sweet without added sugars, Solely's fruit jerky is just organic dried fruit, nothing else. The Mango is excellent, as is the Pineapple. No added sugar, no preservatives, just real fruit in portable form. Good for hiking, kids, or satisfying a sweet tooth. Watch portions since the natural sugar adds up, but at least you know exactly what you're eating. Check Price on Amazon13. Wilde Chicken Chips - Best High-Protein Chips
Calories: 90 | Protein: 10g | Carbs: 1g | Sugar: 0g
Wilde takes chicken breast and egg whites, seasons them, and bakes them into chips. The result is a high-protein, low-carb chip alternative that's legitimately paleo. The Sea Salt and Buffalo flavors are my favorites. These scratch the chip itch while delivering 10g of protein per serving. Not quite as crunchy as regular chips, but the nutritional profile is far superior. Check Price on Amazon14. Evolved Chocolate Cups - Best Paleo Treat
Calories: 140 | Protein: 2g | Carbs: 8g | Sugar: 6g
Evolved makes paleo-friendly nut butter cups using coconut sugar and no dairy, soy, or refined sugar. The Cashew Butter and Coconut Butter varieties are excellent, rich, satisfying, and legitimately paleo. Lower sugar than you'd expect from a chocolate candy alternative. Store in the fridge for best texture. These prove you can have treats while staying paleo. Check Price on Amazon15. That's It Fruit Bars - Best Two-Ingredient Snack
Calories: 100 | Protein: 1g | Carbs: 23g | Sugar: 17g
The simplest paleo snack possible: That's It bars contain exactly two ingredients, apples plus one other fruit (mango, cherries, banana, etc.). That's literally it. No added sugar, no preservatives, nothing artificial. The sugar content is high because it's all from fruit, but you can't get more whole-food than this. Perfect for those who want zero processed ingredients. Check Price on AmazonIngredients That Break Paleo
Absolutely Avoid
- All Grains: Wheat, rice, oats, corn, quinoa, barley
- Legumes: Peanuts, soy, beans, lentils, chickpeas
- Dairy: Milk, cheese, whey, casein, yogurt
- Refined Sugars: White sugar, corn syrup, maltodextrin
Also Avoid
- Seed Oils: Canola, soybean, sunflower, safflower oil
- Soy Lecithin: Common in chocolate and processed foods
- Natural Flavors: May hide non-paleo ingredients
- Artificial Sweeteners: Sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame K
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a snack paleo-friendly?
Paleo-friendly snacks contain only foods available to Paleolithic humans: meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts (except peanuts), and seeds. They exclude all grains, legumes, dairy, refined sugars, and processed foods. The best paleo snacks are whole food based: beef jerky, nuts, dried fruit, and meat snacks.
Can you eat nuts on paleo?
Yes, most nuts are paleo-friendly EXCEPT peanuts, which are legumes. Paleo-approved nuts include almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts. Choose raw or dry-roasted over oil-roasted, and avoid anything cooked in seed oils.
Are protein bars paleo?
Most protein bars are NOT paleo because they contain whey (dairy), soy, or pea protein. Truly paleo protein bars use egg white protein or collagen. RXBAR, Epic bars, and Primal Kitchen bars are legitimate paleo options. Always check ingredients, many "healthy" bars hide non-paleo ingredients.
Is popcorn paleo?
No, popcorn is NOT paleo. Corn is a grain, and all grains are excluded from the paleo diet. For crunchy paleo alternatives, try plantain chips cooked in coconut oil, pork rinds, Siete cassava chips, or vegetable chips made with paleo-approved oils.
Explore More Snack Guides
Paleo eating aligns closely with my own dietary philosophy, focusing on whole, unprocessed foods and avoiding the agricultural products that cause problems for many people. Check out our other guides for more options that support ancestral eating principles.
Health Optimization Specialist & Founder
Jeff Walker is a health optimization specialist with 23+ years of personal research into nutrition and chronic health management. After overcoming digestive, metabolic, and inflammatory health challenges through dietary changes, he founded Healthy Snack Guides to help others make informed snacking choices backed by real data.