Ever had one of those days when you snack your way through the afternoon and suddenly realize you’re not hungry for dinner? These 17 snacks are so hearty and pleasing, they’ll make you forget about cooking a full meal. Perfect for when you need something quick but don’t want to compromise on flavor or fullness. Get ready to discover snacks so filling, you’ll skip dinner altogether and still feel completely content.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Sure, grandma’s fried chicken was good, but have you tried Air Fryer Fried Chicken? It’s all the crispy, crunchy goodness of nostalgia minus the guilt of a vat of oil. Gobbling these down is like crunching your way to cloud nine, and before you know it, dinner becomes just a fleeting thought. Plus, you can brag about being on team ‘air fryer’—the cool new cook on the block.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Instant Pot Spare Ribs
Who says you need a BBQ pit to get those ribs finger-lickin’ good? Not us, thanks to the magic of the Instant Pot Spare Ribs. These bad boys come out fall-off-the-bone tender in a jiffy; they’re the kitchen equivalent of hitting the fast-forward button on deliciousness. And let’s be honest, you’ll probably need a nap after, because who has room for dinner after a rib fest?
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Spare Ribs
Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings tossed in a mythical blend of simple spices to create a flavor that’s no fairy tale. These crispy morsels are a spellbinding mix of salty, peppery, and 100% yummy. They turn snack time into crunch time, and dinner time? Well, that’s now just an optional quest. Let’s be honest, when wings call, we answer.
Get the Recipe: Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
Paneer Rolls
Paneer Rolls are the vegetarians’ answer to ‘more fun, less meat,’ packing a punch with spiced paneer that’s all wrapped up and ready to rumble. These street-smart snacks are crispy, spicy, and everything nice-y. Like seriously, who knew paneer could throw such a good party? Might as well cancel that dinner reservation now—these rolls have you all tied up.
Get the Recipe: Paneer Rolls
Mochiko Chicken
You don’t have to jet off to Hawaii to get a taste of island life, just grab some Mochiko Chicken and let the luau begin. This snack’s got all the sticky, sweet, and savory goodness to make your regular meals feel like they’re on vacation. Cue the ukulele because once you start, you won’t stop until you’re doing the hula with joy and sorry, dinner—who?
Get the Recipe: Mochiko Chicken
Air Fryer BBQ Wings
Air Fryer BBQ Wings are the answer when your stomach’s rumbling like a thunderstorm and only a meat cloud can fix it. These wings come out so crispy that you’ll want to applaud, and slathered in BBQ sauce like a masterpiece. It’s like they’ve been kissed by angels and baptized in smoky goodness. So, who’s up for skipping right past dinner to wing heaven?
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer BBQ Wings
Thai Chicken Satay
Who needs a passport when you’ve got Thai Chicken Satay to transport you to the streets of Bangkok? These skewers of happiness come loaded with exotic flavors that’ll make your kitchen feel like a street market. Dodge the dinner doldrums and spear yourself some of this grilled glory. It’s your ticket to a flavor adventure, so all aboard—next stop, Snacksville!
Get the Recipe: Thai Chicken Satay
Instant Pot Shrimp
If you think shrimp are just for fancy dinners, meet the Instant Pot Shrimp—your new snack-time sidekick. These little guys swim into a flavor whirlpool and emerge victorious, ready to kick hunger to the curb. They’re so speedy, you’ll be fooled into thinking you’re dining with the Flash. And they’re not just quick; they’ve got enough swagger to make you forget about mealtime formalities.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Shrimp
Chicken 65
Chicken 65 is the dish with a name as mysterious as its origin, but who cares about history when you’ve got spicy chicken knocking at your door? It’s crispy, it’s fiery, and it might just be your new best friend. This Indian street food hero is ready to rescue you from the perils of boring snacks. But be warned: you might end up playing ‘hide and seek’ with your dinner plans once these little guys march onto the scene.
Get the Recipe: Chicken 65
Char Siu Bao
Biting into a Char Siu Bao is like receiving a warm hug from your favorite grandmother—if she was a master chef from Guangzhou. These little pockets of joy are stuffed with sweet and savory pork that’ll make you reconsider sharing. It’s okay to be selfish once in a while, especially when steamed buns are involved. Just try not to spoil your appetite; these fluffy delights are sneakily pleasing.
Get the Recipe: Char Siu Bao
Samosa Chaat
Samosa Chaat is the superhero of the snack realm, swooping in with its cape of tangy chutneys and the crunch of fried pastry to save you from the clutches of humdrum snacks. It’s chaos in a bowl—a delicious, disorderly mash-up that’s one-part snack, one-part masterpiece. Just a heads up, your taste receptors might stage a protest for more of this crunchy, flavorful fiesta.
Get the Recipe: Samosa Chaat
Vietnamese Summer Rolls
Cool as a cucumber and fresh as a daisy, Vietnamese Summer Rolls are your roll model for healthy snacking. These bundles of joy are jam-packed with crisp veggies and herbs, with an optional protein hit for the win. They’re like a garden party in your mouth and guess what? Your stomach’s invited. Plus, they’re so darn wholesome, you’ll pat yourself on the back with every bite.
Get the Recipe: Vietnamese Summer Rolls
Arepas con Queso
The Arepas con Queso are like the cool kids on the block that everyone wants to hang with. Packed with oozing cheese and snuggled inside a cornmeal pocket, they’re ready to throw a fiesta in your mouth. Sure, you had dinner plans, but let’s be real—these cheesy delights have other ideas. Just go with the flow and let the arepas do the talking.
Get the Recipe: Arepas con Queso
Har Gow
Sometimes simple is simply the best, and Har Gow is here to prove it. These shrimp dumplings are like the ninjas of the appetizer world—stealthily filling and surprisingly packed with flavor. They glide into your meal routine and before you know it, you’re cancelling your dinner plans. Get those chopsticks ready; it’s about to be a flavor throwdown in your mouth.
Get the Recipe: Har Gow
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are what happens when your zucchini decides to go on an adventure in the wild west of your kitchen. They come out guns blazing with that crispy exterior, and you’ll be wrangling them straight into your mouth. They’re the renegades of the fry world, causing a ruckus in your snack routine. And guess who’s skipping dinner because they got too wild with the fries? That’s right, you.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Fried Pork and Shrimp Wontons
Fried Pork and Shrimp Wontons are the power couple of the kitchen world, and when they show up, it’s party time for your palate. Each morsel is a mini explosion of savory delight, as if fireworks are going off inside your mouth. Don’t be fooled by their dainty looks; they’re here to fill you up and possibly even induce a food coma. So go ahead, treat yo’self and let dinner time become just a distant memory.
Get the Recipe: Fried Pork and Shrimp Wontons
Paneer Pakora
Ever wished for cheese to have a crunchy overcoat? Voilà! Paneer Pakora is at your service, ready to crunchify your snack time. These golden nuggets are a one-way ticket to snack heaven, and let’s face it, you won’t want to come back. If dinner plans were on the agenda, consider them canceled; these are just too good to stop at one.
Get the Recipe: Paneer Pakora