30 Easy After-School Snacks to Keep the Kids Full Until Dinner
Sweet and salty recipes to satisfy kids of all ages.
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Ree Drummond is no stranger to kids' snacking habits, especially at the end of a school day when "hungry doesn't begin to describe it!" she says. "Aside from the typical teenage snacks (hello, sour cream and onion potato chips!), they loved fresh mandarin oranges (they would eat five or six in one sitting), granola bars, carrot sticks with ranch dressing, and pepperoni slices. There isn't much they wouldn't snack on!"
If your kiddos are anything like Ree’s, they're probably scrounging for after-school snacks of any variety to curb their hunger, so why not have some tasty and satisfying options on hand? Here, you'll find easy snacks that are both sweet and savory. Try pepperoni pizza rolls or melty ham and cheese sliders for feeding a whole crew of hungry children. You can leave off the jalapeño if the kids don't love spice! There's also air fryer recipes like restaurant-worthy mozzarella sticks and the easiest homemade sweet potato fries.
But if it's make-ahead snacks you're hunting for, you'll find those, too. Whip up salty snack mixes and no-bake desserts, or treat the kiddos to something a little on the healthier side like a cool and refreshing smoothie. It's a long school year ahead, so go ahead and pick a few of these after-school snacks. With school, sports, and homework keeping them busy, these snacks are guaranteed to hold the kids over until family dinner. They might even thank you, too!
Caramel Apple Dip
Apple slices are super kid friendly. Make them more inviting with an easy dip that tastes like caramel and cheesecake. They'll love it for dessert, too!
Get Ree's Caramel Apple Dip recipe.
Potato Chip Rice Krispies Treats
Why choose between two classic snacks when they can have both in one bite? They're a heavenly blend of salty and sweet. The drizzle of melted chocolate takes them over the top!
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
Everything tastes better in pinwheel form! Salty ham and gooey cheese are wrapped in buttery, puffy crescent rolls and baked to golden brown perfection.
Get the Ham and Cheese Pinwheels recipe.
Rainbow Fruit Skewers
These colorful skewers are a great way to get a serving of fruit in their bellies. They're complete with a doughnut hole surprise at the end for an extra incentive.
Get the Rainbow Fruit Skewers recipe.
Air-Fryer Taquitos
Golden and delightfully crunchy, these taquitos are a simple, savory answer to your after-school snack prayers! The air fryer makes them healthier than traditional frying, plus they’re ready in just about 15 minutes.
Get the Air-Fryer Taquitos recipe.
Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
These bite-sized balls of mac and cheese will disappear in mere moments! They feature a gooey, cheesy filling and a crunchy potato chip crust that turns golden brown in the oven.
Get the Fried Mac and Cheese Balls recipe.
Chocolate Chip Muffins
Studded with chocolate chips and sprinkled with crunchy coarse sugar, these muffins taste like they're fresh from your favorite bakery. Plus, they'll double as breakfast for the next morning!
Get the Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
These mini sandwiches are seriously addictive! Filled with ham, cheddar, Swiss, and a tasty mustard sauce, they're easy and quick to pull together.
Get the Ham and Cheese Sliders recipe.
Homemade Dunkaroos
Kids from the '90s shouldn't be the only ones to enjoy this sweet treat. Now you can make your kids their own from scratch! Put those fun cookie cutters to good use.
Get the Homemade Dunkaroos recipe.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Give the kiddos a snack you can feel good about! These fries cook up in the air fryer with ease. Just add everyone's favorite dipping sauces like honey mustard, ketchup, or barbecue sauce.
Get the Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries recipe.
Iced Oatmeal Cookies
This cookie is like the nostalgic store-bought treat you grew up eating but meltingly soft and chock full of warm spices. Kids of every age will adore 'em!
Get the Iced Oatmeal Cookies recipe.
Zucchini Bread
For a sneaky way to get your kids to eat more vegetables, bake a loaf of this quick bread for an after-school bite. Thanks to cinnamon, vanilla, and a handful of chocolate chips, they won't even know they're eating zucchini!
Get the Zucchini Bread recipe.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
This super simple snack doesn't require turning on the oven so it couldn't be easier. Keep a stash in the fridge for a quick after-school snack.
Get Ree's No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars recipe.
Pumpkin Smoothie
Whether it's a Halloween treat or just a fall afternoon, you can't go wrong with something pumpkin flavored. And, this pumpkin smoothie is sure to be a hit.
Get Ree's Pumpkin Smoothie recipe.
Garlic-Ranch Party Mix
This party mix is loaded with savory, salty snacks—including cereal squares, pretzel sticks, and mixed nuts. To give it even more flavor, it's tossed with a homemade ranch seasoning mix.
Get Ree's Garlic-Ranch Party Mix recipe.
Yogurt Parfait
Here's a fun idea: Get your kids to help make their own parfait! They can layer the fruit, granola, and yogurt for a DIY project that's tasty and healthy.
Get the Yogurt Parfait recipe.
Vegetables with Dill Dip
Cut up a variety of veggies in a rainbow of colors for your little ones to snack on. They won't be able to resist when they have this creamy dill dip for dunking.
Get the Dill Dip recipe.
Brookies
If sweets are what the kids are craving, you can't go wrong with homemade brookies. They'll please both brownie lovers and cookie lovers alike.
Get the Brookies recipe.
Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
Refrigerated pizza dough makes this snack even easier. You can dip the cheesy bites into marinara sauce or even pesto if that's your thing.
Get Ree's Pepperoni Pizza Rolls recipe.
Watermelon Smoothie
This sweet and refreshing smoothie is made with fresh watermelon, strawberries, and Greek yogurt. But you can also swap out the strawberries for any frozen red fruits, like raspberries or cherries.
Get the Watermelon Smoothie recipe.
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