As a vegan, I know how hard it can be to find healthy snacks for a plant-based diet that satisfy the urge for something creamy or crunchy. Raw vegan snacks like carrot sticks and cucumber are great, but the lack of a luscious, creamy dip can leave them tasting a little bland.
That’s why I’ve spent a good amount of time bringing together these healthy snacks — gluten-free, dairy-free, and completely vegan-friendly — that celebrate crunch and creaminess.
Carrot and Homemade Hummus
One of the best plant-based snacks every vegan turns to once in a while is carrot sticks. Carrots are rich in vitamin A which is so important for eye health and can even boost your immune system. Knowing what to dip carrots in is the next step and the answer is nearly always hummus! Hummus contrasts beautifully with the crunch of carrots and is packed with healthy lemon, garlic, chickpeas, and tahini.
The advantage of pairing carrot and homemade hummus is that you can control the ingredients of your hummus and its texture. I love a chunky hummus with a few whole chickpeas left in for a lovely bite. But if you prefer a smooth whipped hummus, that’s easy to achieve with a longer setting on a food processor.
You can also go beyond hummus’ original flavor and add your own seasoning. Homemade spicy hummus is simple to make by whizzing in some fresh chili or chili oil during the food processor step. You can also make homemade hummus without garlic if you find that flavor overpowering.
What do you dip in hummus apart from carrots? Let me know in the comments.
Bell Peppers With Vegan Spinach Dip
Raw vegan snacks are some of my favorites and bell peppers are in my top five, for sure. They’re sweet yet fresh tasting with a satisfying crunch and there are so many ways to eat bell peppers as a snack. Check out your local grocery store for pre-cut snack bell peppers or smaller peppers you can simply slice once and munch. Don’t eat the seeds, though!
One of my best plant-based snacks is bell peppers paired with my vegan spinach dip recipe. If you think spinach is dull or tasteless, you’ve probably only ever had it served once all the taste has been boiled out of it. Vegan spinach dip is anything but tasteless and provides a super-creamy texture that’s just right for dipping bell peppers in.
An added benefit of spinach vegan dip is that it’s an incredibly crowd-pleasing addition to any pot-luck or buffet table. It has the look of a high-class blue cheese dip — without any of the dairy or unhealthy saturated fats.
Celery and Cashew Queso
When we’re talking about raw vegan snacks with crunch, celery has got to be top of mind. That satisfying, juicy crunch — there’s nothing much else like it. That’s why there are hundreds of recipes for dips for celery, ranging from cool and fresh to sweet and spicy.
Plant-based ingredients help you make healthy dips for celery that still taste amazing. If you’re wondering what to dip celery in, gluten-free vegan cheese made from cashew nuts is a delicious option.
Combining cashew nuts with other ingredients like nutritional yeast produces some of the best vegan queso I’ve ever tasted. You can make healthy dips for celery with this gluten-free and dairy-free “cheese.” Add whatever other ingredients you like to customize your cashew nut dip. Chipotle adds a smoky depth to your queso dip, while blended sundried tomatoes can give it a Mediterranean vibe.
You can use other ideas in this article as low-calorie dips for celery, too. Swap out cashew vegan dip for dairy-free ranch or hummus. Celery is versatile and offers a number of health benefits, including being incredibly low in calories. That’s why it’s such a common addition to meal plans focused on weight loss or management.
Endive and Avocado Mayo
If you’re looking for the perfect endive dip then look no further. Avocado mayo dip (no dairy or egg required) is the ideal side dish when you’re eating endive raw. The crisp crunch of endive pairs perfectly with the creamy texture of avocado.
I was looking for the best dip for endive because I love this leafy green. It’s firm and snappable — so satisfying when you’ve got the urge to crunch. All it needs is a luscious yet healthy avocado mayo recipe to take the edge off its slightly bitter taste — just like adding cream to coffee. If you prefer a milder tasting endive, look out for the pinkish-red varieties. They work just as well with an avocado mayo dip and others like my vegan ranch.
My recipe for avocado mayo focuses on the natural qualities of the avocado. The flesh should be smooth, creamy, and not grainy, so always check your avocados are ripe before attempting to turn them into mayo. You can make a dip by simply blending avocado until it’s soft, which results in a cool, creamy “mayo”. Add a little avocado or olive oil or dairy-free milk to loosen the dip to the consistency you want.
Flavoring avocado mayo is simple — just add whatever ingredients you like to switch up the taste. A sharp splash of vinegar gives a bright, spring-like energy to this dip. Cilantro and a little chopped, red chili take it closer to guacamole for a Mexican twist. Garlic and avocado are also brilliant partners, and lime juice elevates the flavor completely. Just don’t add so much lime or garlic that you lose the flavor of the avocado completely.
Crunchy Chickpeas With Vegan Ranch Sauce
I learned how to make healthy ranch dip because I was tired of missing out due to my plant-based diet. It turns out that my crunchy chickpeas snack recipe goes beautifully with my best vegan ranch dip — a double win!
You can use vegan ranch dip for veggies or crackers but as a complement to a crunchy chickpeas snack, it’s a flavor sensation. I make organic roasted chickpeas — no oil — and use different seasonings depending on my mood. Garlic roasted chickpeas are one of my favorites as are some with a little chili heat.
Learning how to make healthy ranch dip was easier than you might think, and now that I know how to make ranch veggie dip, I’m snacking on it all the time. Sometimes I have more ranch than veggies and just use the roast snacks as chickpea croutons. It’s delicious.
Cucumber and Tahini
Combining Greek tahini with a few other key ingredients to make a homemade tahini dip is all you need to make cucumber sticks the best they can be. Tahini makes an easy dip for cucumbers and combines their fresh crunch with a silky, creamy dip I can’t get enough of.
If you’re looking for spice, tahini straight out of the jar isn’t one of the best dips for cucumber sticks. It’s smooth and creamy, but definitely not spicy. Tahini seasoning is usually just salt and the main flavor comes from healthy, protein-rich sesame seeds. I have found some versions at the grocery store that have more of a kick. Garlicky tahini is very nice as is a version with a touch of chili. Of course, when you make homemade tahini dip, you can make it as spicy or cool as you like.
As a bonus, using cucumber sticks for dips like tahini-based ones is keto-friendly. Cucumber is largely just water and vitamins, and tahini is a powerhouse of protein and healthy fats.
Apple and Almond Butter Dip
Apple with almond butter is the flavor combo made in heaven! I was searching for healthy things to dip apples in and almond butter apple dip is seriously tasty. Plus, almond butter dip for apples is 100% plant-based and packed with vitamins. It works well with both sharp and sweet apples, so try both and see which you like best.
If you’re looking for a protein dip for apples, almond butter dip has that covered too. Almond butter is high in protein and healthy fats, making it one of the best dip recipes for apples if you’re on a high-protein diet.
You can pack healthy dips for apples with fall flavors, too. Just add a sprinkle of cinnamon or mixed spice to your almond butter dip.
Apples are simple, healthy fruit snacks for kids and the almond butter apple dip makes it seem like you’re giving them a real treat! But you know that this healthy dip for apples will help give them slow-release energy and an all-important portion of fruit.
What Are Your Best Plant-Based Snacks?
Hopefully, I’ve given you some yummy ideas for raw vegan snacks that you can make any time hunger strikes. Let me know which are your favorites in the comments or share your best plant-based snacks and recipes. And remember, all these ideas are adaptable to any diet you might be on like keto or Atkins, so get creative!