28 Beach Snacks To Stash In Your Cooler

Don't miss a minute of beach time to satisfy your hunger!

By

Patricia S York

Updated on June 15, 2024

Southern Living Classic Guacamole in a bowl to serve with tortilla chips on the side — Photo:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

The waves are splashing, the sun is shinning...you're even sitting in a beach chair with your own personal umbrella. You haven't a care in the world, until someone asks for a snack—a question for which you always want to be prepared for as there's something about playing in the sand that has beach goers hankering for a snack no matter how recent your last meal.

We've rounded up recipes that can be prepared in advance so you can pull them right out of the fridge or pantry and pop them straight into your cooler.

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Fritos Corn Salad

Southern Living Fritos Corn Salad in a bowl to serve with corn chips — Jessica Furniss

This crunchy and creamy snacking dip proves Fritos aren't just a dipping vessel—you can also use them in your dip. You'll only need 15 minutes to whip up this recipe. Serve with chips, more Fritos, or veggies.

02 of 28

BLT Pasta Salad

Southern Living BLT Pasta Salad in a bowl to serve with extra bacon on the side — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

We took the beloved summertime sandwich and turned it into an easy meal that's perfect for on-the-go. No need to worry about soggy bread or individually wrapped sandwiches with this pasta salad.

03 of 28

Pepper Sauce Watermelon Wedges

Southern Living Pepper Sauce Watermelon Wedges on a blue platter to serve — Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

Upgrade your watermelon with pepper sauce to make snack time on the beach feel a little more special. Pre slice wedges for easy access and drizzle with pepper sauce as desired when ready to enjoy.

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Basic Pimiento Cheese

Southern Living Basic Pimento Cheese in a bowl to serve with crackers and vegetables — Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

Of course we have our guacamole and onion dip, but a beach day is nothing without pimiento cheese. This easy homemade spread is perfect for spreading on crackers, baguette slices, or celery sticks.

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Funeral Sandwiches

Southern Living Funeral Sandwiches baked and ready to serve — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

There's nothing better than a good sandwich on the beach. To keep things simple, make a tray of these fan-favorites with ham and cheese layered between Hawaiian rolls that everyone will love.

06 of 28

Classic Boiled Peanuts

Classic Boiled Peanuts — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Pair boil peanuts with boldly flavored ingredients, like barbecue sauce or Old Bay seasoning, to create your own unique peanut adventure. The time it takes to make these—an overnight soak and then boiling for about 5 to 8 hours—will yield a delicious snack you can store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days or freeze.

07 of 28

Homemade Chicken Salad

Homemade Chicken Salad on a white plate with lettuce leaves, tomatoes, and crackers — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Whip up a big batch of this delicious chicken salad to have ready to go all week. Whether you like to enjoy it straight out of the bowl like a dip or between two slices of bread, you can't go wrong with chicken salad on the beach.

08 of 28

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Southern Living Black Bean Corn Salsa in a bowl to serve with tortilla chips, lime wedges, and glasses of beer — Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Grab the tortilla chips and get to dipping. This dip is loaded with vegetables and flavor-packed from herbs and seasonings, and it's versatile too, by adding chopped mango or fresh garlic—it can be adopted to your beach goers' liking.

09 of 28

French Onion Dip

French Onion Dip - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Upgrade your bag of chips with a little something homemade. This French onion dip is so good you'll wonder why anyone ever makes onion dip from a packet. Chopped and sautéed yellow onions provide the addictive flavor. Pack your favorite dippers—potato chips, crackers, or crudités—and your creamy and crunchy beach snack is good to go.

10 of 28

Cheddar Cheese Straws

Southern Living Cheese Straws on a platter to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Think this classic Southern snack is only meant for parties? Think again. Pull these straws out by the sand and get ready for a welcomed substitution for gold fish crackers or Cheezits. These can be made into a wafer shape as well by shaping the dough into logs and chilling it before making 1/4-inch-thick slices.

11 of 28

Guacamole

Southern Living Classic Guacamole in a bowl to serve with tortilla chips on the side — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Guacamole will turn your beach day into an outdoor fiesta. Traditional onion, tomato, lime juice, and cilantro start this guacamole mix. But the addition of jalapeño and queso blanco really turns it into something special.

12 of 28

Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Crust-free for the kids and full of flavor for the adults, these mini sandwiches are just the thing to hold you over for a few more hours in the sun before heading in for the day. With tomatoes being a star ingredient in this snack, use the best you can.

13 of 28

Cheese Lover's Snack Mix

Southern Living Cheese Loverâs Snack Mix in a bowl to serve — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Why settle for one store-bought cheesy snack when you can combine them into one extra-flavorful medley thanks to ranch dressing mix, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne.

14 of 28

No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Southern Living Peanut Butter Bars cut on a plate to serve with a glass of milk — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This no-bake recipe uses cornflakes, creamy peanut butter, and chocolate chips to satisfy any sweet tooth craving. Top with flaky sea salt or even add chopped peanuts for an extra crunch. Let them chill for at least 4 hours and keep in your cooler.

15 of 28

Crispy Fried Chicken

Southern Living Crispy Fried Chicken on a platter to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

No Southern beach day is truly complete without some cold fried chicken. Whether you pick it up from your favorite local spot, Publix, or make a fresh batch yourself—fried chicken is an irresistible beach bite.

16 of 28

Texas Caviar

texas caviar in a bowl with a bowl of tortilla chips — Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Black-eye peas, white hominy, and green tomatoes give this popular dip a unique take. Combine the ingredients, toss with Italian dressing, chill for 2 hours, and drain before serving. This dip compliments guacamole and salsa, serve as a trio with tortilla chips.

17 of 28

Bloody Mary Poached Shrimp

Southern Living Bloody Mary Poached Shrimp — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

It's only fitting to enjoy some delicious seafood when on the shore, but why wait for dinner time. These poached shrimp are packed with flavor and are easily transportable in a zip-top bag nestled in your cooler.

18 of 28

Ranch Oyster Crackers

Southern Living Ranch Snacker Crackers in a bowl to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

These seasoned oyster crackers delight every time. They're crisp and just salty and savory enough to keep you away from the true junk food. A spice blend of ranch dressing mix, dried dill, lemon pepper, and onion and garlic powder combines with butter to coat the crackers.

19 of 28

Charcuterie-Board Snack Mix

Southern Living Charcuterie-Board Snack Mix in a bowl to serve — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Hitting the beach for cocktail hour? Take your charcuterie board on-the-go with this fancy snack mix that incorporates all the traditional elements—prosciutto, crackers, almonds, pistachios, figs, and Parmesan cheese crisps.

20 of 28

Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad

Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

It's not a trip to the beach without some watermelon. While we're always up for a simple slice, this salad takes things up a notch. Dress the salad right before serving to prevent the cucumber and watermelon from watering down the vinaigrette.

21 of 28

Fire Crackers

Southern LIving Fire Crackers in a bowl to serve — Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Enjoy these gussied-up saltine crackers on their own or dip them in your favorite spread, like pimento cheese.

22 of 28

Red, White, and Blue Popsicles

Red, White, and Blue Popsicles — Jennifer Causey

Whether you're at the beach for Memorial Day, July 4th, or just because it's hot, nothing says summer like a patriotic popsicle. Just be sure to get to licking quickly before they become slush in your cooler. Fresh berries, yogurt, and citrus juices blend into a healthier alternative to ice cream truck treats.

23 of 28

Nuts And Bolts

Nuts And Bolts — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

You'll never buy store-bought chex mix again after making this smoky-sweet homemade version. While the recipe calls for an array of cereals and crunchy snacks, you can always adjust the ingredients to include your favorite items.

24 of 28

Conecuh Sausage Pigs In Blankets

Southern Living Fancy Pigs in Blankets on a plate to serve with sauce — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch

It doesn't get any easier than putting together conecuh sausages and refrigerated crescent roll dough to pull off this savory snack.

25 of 28

Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus

Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus — Hector Manuel Sanchez

This high protein dip will help curb hunger while burning calories from beachside activities. Hummus gets a Southern twist by replacing chickpeas with black-eyed peas and adding some smokiness from smoked paprika. After blending the ingredients, top with olive oil and lemon zest and serve with pita chips.

26 of 28

Smoky Snack Mix

Smoky Snack Mix — Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This addictive snack mix is sure to please between rounds of playing in the water, sun, and sand. Smoked almonds, smoked paprika, and chipotle chile powder provide three layers of smoky flavor to this crunchy mix. This recipe easily doubles or triples.

27 of 28

Fresh Fruit Salad

Fresh Fruit Salad — Jen Causey

Pack it in some Tupperware and bring down some forks. There's nothing more refreshing than a Fresh Fruit Salad. A dressing of orange juice, honey, and fresh chopped mint adds tang, sweetness, and brightness to the fruit.

28 of 28

Bacon Bow Tie Crackers

Bacon Bow Tie Crackers — Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman

Simple and satisfying, these easy cracker snacks come together with just two ingredients: buttery crackers and salty bacon slices. Wrap crackers in bacon without overlapping the ends and bake on low heat for an hour and a half. Giving the bacon pieces a gentle stretch helps it to wrap around the crackers more easily.

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