17 Low-Sodium Snack Recipes That Use Nuts (2024)

Be sure to stock up on some unsalted nuts and nut butters for these irresistible snack recipes. From energy balls and bars to muffins, these snacks highlight delicious almonds, pecans, pistachios and more. Plus, each serving has no more than 240 milligrams of sodium to meet the American Heart Association’s recommendations for a low-sodium diet, which can help combat symptoms of excessive salt intake like bloating, constipation and frequent headaches. Recipes like our Almond-Date Bars and Maple-Pecan Energy Balls are nutritious, flavorful and help you feel your best.

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Maple-Pecan Energy Balls

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This energy ball is packed with just the right amount of sugar and spice. To really emulate a sticky bun, we added a caramel pecan topping for a nice extra crunch. You can substitute any nut butter for the cashew butter if you prefer.

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3-Ingredient Chocolate & Almond Butter Dates

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These stuffed dates can be an easy dessert or snack when you're craving something sweet. We love the mild flavor of almond butter, but natural peanut butter would be a nice substitute. A flaky sea salt like Maldon elevates the flavor. Be sure to sprinkle the salt over the dates before the chocolate has set.

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Peanut Energy Bars

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This carbohydrate-rich bar, full of nuts, seeds, fruit and oats, was adapted from Amy Harrison's prize-winning submission in the Plains (Georgia) Peanut Festival recipe competition sponsored by The Peanut Institute. It includes a little protein, and is a great grab-and-go pre-workout snack on mornings when you don't have time to digest a full meal.

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Savory Date & Pistachio Bites

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A touch of sweetness from the dates and raisins paired with crunch and nuttiness from the pistachios make these bites perfect for an on-the-go snack or as an accompaniment on a cheese board.

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Almond-Date Bars

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These no-bake snack bars are packed with nuts, dried fruit and rice cereal. For the best texture, use naturally sticky whole pitted dates. Make these bars ahead of time and pack them in a lunchbox for work or school.

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Chocolate Nut Bark

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Use your favorite combination of nuts to make this quick and easy chocolate nut bark.

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Apple with Cinnamon Almond Butter

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With a pinch of cinnamon, this healthy snack goes from basic to brilliant.

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Cranberry-Almond Energy Balls

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These energy balls are the perfect make-ahead snack. Filled with cranberries, almonds, oats and dates, these energy balls come together in minutes. Maple syrup and tahini help bind everything together while adding a touch of sweetness and bitterness.

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Jonathan Perno's Spiced Candied Pecans

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At home or at Campo, the restaurant he oversees at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm in Albuquerque, chef Jonathan Perno likes to welcome guests with spiced New Mexican pecans. You won't see this in most spiced-nut recipes, but Perno blanches them to reduce some of the bitter tannins in the skin that can sometimes overwhelm the pecans' delicate flavor.

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Salted Peanut Butter Pretzel Energy Balls

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Finding a snack that satisfies your craving for something sweetandsalty while providing the best fuel for your body and brain isn't always easy. But luckily, these energy bites check every box! They're simple to make: double the batch and freeze some to have an energizing snack at the ready. Feel free to swap in other nuts and nut or seed butters.

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Orange & Almond Coffee Cake

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In this orange and almond coffee cake, we swapped the traditional sour cream for tangy yogurt, and swirled applesauce and orange zest into the batter to give the cake its ultra-plush crumb and bright, sunny flavor. A triple dose of almond flour, sliced almonds and almond extract combine to make the cake's thick streusel cap.

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Pumpkin-Oatmeal Muffins

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These healthy pumpkin-oatmeal muffins will get you in the mood for fall. Sprinkling the muffins with pecans adds a nutty crunch to every bite. Serve them for breakfast or as a grab-and-go snack.

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Carrot Cake Energy Bites

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These no-cook energy bites keep well in the fridge or freezer and are easy to grab on the go for a healthy snack.

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Candied Hazelnuts

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Use these nuts in both sweet and savory dishes. Top a tart for a cinnamony sweet and crunchy finish, or crack them and sprinkle over chicken salad. They're good on their own, and you can change the flavor to suit many tastes. In place of cinnamon, try a little garam masala for an Indian-inspired flavor or pumpkin pie spice to play up the autumn season. You can also add a tiny bit of ground red pepper to any of these flavor combos to add a spicy kick. The nuts make a great hostess gift or the perfect treat to include in a care package sent during college final exam season.

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Coconut Fruit & Nut Bars

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With just five ingredients, these simple, no-bake energy bars are tastier than any bars you can buy! Dates, cashews, almonds and coconut whir up in the food processor for an easy homemade version of a Larabar. Pack one up for a healthy snack for work, or send some off with your kids for an energizing snack before soccer practice.

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Blueberry-Pecan Energy Balls

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Dried blueberries and pecans team up with cacao nibs for a chocolaty treat any time of day. The cacao is a bit more bitter than chocolate, but the maple syrup helps tame it. Almond butter and chia seeds provide protein to make these bites substantial snacks to fuel your body.

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Raspberry-Pistachio Greek Yogurt Bark

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Mix Greek yogurt with sweet jam and crunchy pistachios and freeze so you can break into chunks just like chocolate bark (but healthier!). This colorful snack or healthy dessert is perfect for kids and adults alike. Use full-fat yogurt to ensure the creamiest bark possible.

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