A Guide to What Kind of Snacks You Can Eat on the Carnivore Diet?

November 1, 2025 •

4 min read

The carnivore diet is famously restrictive, eliminating all plant-based foods, which can make finding suitable snacks a challenge. Many commercial snack options are off-limits, but with some planning, there are plenty of satisfying and compliant choices. This guide explores what kind of snacks can you eat on the carnivore diet to help you stay fueled and on track throughout your day.

Quick Summary

This article details a variety of high-protein, animal-based snack options for the carnivore diet, including meat jerky, cooked leftovers, eggs, and specific dairy products. It provides tips for preparation and selecting compliant, additive-free versions of these snacks to maintain dietary goals.

Key Points

Prioritize reading labels: Always check packaged snacks for hidden plant-based ingredients like sugars, vegetable oils, and spices.
Prep in advance: Batch cook and prep snacks like hard-boiled eggs or leftover steak bites to have convenient options readily available throughout the week.
Include dairy cautiously: If you tolerate dairy, stick to full-fat, low-lactose products like hard cheeses, full-fat cottage cheese, or heavy cream.
Embrace nutrient-dense options: Organ meat crisps and bone broth offer significant nutritional benefits in a concentrated form.
Choose simple, clean ingredients: The best carnivore snacks consist of only animal products with minimal seasoning, such as salt.
Opt for fatty cuts: Fatty meats and dairy products provide sustained energy and satiety, which helps manage cravings.

The carnivore diet, or 'zero carb' diet, requires adherents to consume only animal products, eschewing all plant-based foods, grains, and added sugars. While this strict framework can initially make snacking seem impossible, many delicious and convenient options are available with a little forethought. The key is to focus on high-quality, minimally processed animal products to avoid hidden ingredients and maximize nutritional benefits.

Meat-Based Snacks for the Carnivore

Meat is the cornerstone of the carnivore diet, and many cuts and preparations make for excellent snacks.

Dried and Cured Meats

These are perfect for on-the-go situations and are shelf-stable. However, it is crucial to read labels carefully to avoid non-carnivore ingredients like added sugar, soy, or vegetable oils often found in commercial versions.

Beef Jerky and Biltong: Look for varieties made simply with beef and salt. Biltong, a South African dried meat, is air-dried and often offers a softer texture.
Meat Sticks: High-quality beef and pork sticks can be a quick, portable protein source. Check for nitrate-free options with minimal ingredients.
Artisanal Cured Meats: Options like prosciutto, coppa, or salami provide concentrated flavor and are great for variety. Again, scrutinize the ingredient list for compliance.

Cooked Meat Leftovers

Cold, leftover meat is one of the simplest and most satisfying carnivore snacks. Cooking extra dinner portions is an easy way to prepare for the next day's snacks.

Steak Bites: Cut leftover steak, especially fatty cuts like ribeye, into bite-sized pieces.
Roast Strips: Strips of leftover lamb, pork chops, or roast beef are excellent for a quick, filling snack.
Bacon Chips: Cook bacon until it's extra crispy and store the 'chips' in the fridge for a salty, crunchy treat.

Egg-cellent Carnivore Options

Eggs are a versatile, nutrient-dense carnivore staple. They can be prepared in various ways to combat flavor fatigue.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

This is a go-to portable snack for a reason. Boil a batch of eggs at the beginning of the week for easy grab-and-go access.

Deviled Eggs

Mix the yolk with compliant mayonnaise (typically made from egg yolk and animal fat like lard) and a pinch of salt for a flavorful and satisfying snack.

Dairy-Based Snacks (If Tolerated)

Some carnivore dieters include dairy, especially full-fat, low-lactose options, while others avoid it completely. If you tolerate dairy, these can add variety and texture to your snack routine.

Cheese

Full-fat hard cheeses like cheddar, gouda, and parmesan are low in carbohydrates and rich in fat and protein.

Cheese Crisps: Bake thin piles of hard cheese until golden and crispy for a carb-free chip alternative.
Cheese Sticks: Pre-packaged cheese sticks offer ultimate convenience for snacking on the go.

Other Dairy Snacks

Cottage Cheese: Full-fat cottage cheese is rich in protein and naturally low in carbs, offering a creamy, satisfying option.
Yogurt: Unsweetened, full-fat yogurt can be enjoyed plain or with other animal fats for a smooth, tangy treat.

Other Satisfying Snacks

Pork Rinds and Cracklings

Plain pork rinds (fried pork skin) are a crispy, airy, and zero-carb snack. Ensure they contain only pork and salt.

Bone Broth

This is a soothing and nourishing option, particularly useful in colder months. Make your own to avoid non-compliant seasonings found in many store-bought broths.

Canned Fish

Canned sardines, salmon, and mackerel are packed with protein and omega-3s. Opt for varieties packed in water or their own juices rather than vegetable oils.

Homemade vs. Store-Bought Carnivore Snacks


Feature	Homemade Snacks	Store-Bought Snacks
Control over ingredients	Complete control; ensures no hidden sugars, additives, or vegetable oils.	Requires careful label reading; some brands contain non-compliant ingredients.
Convenience	Requires time for preparation, such as dehydrating meat or hard-boiling eggs.	Highly convenient for busy lifestyles or travel; grab-and-go options readily available.
Cost	Often more budget-friendly, especially when buying meat in bulk.	Can be more expensive, especially for specialty carnivore-friendly brands.
Variety	Limited only by your culinary creativity within the diet's rules.	Increasingly varied with specialty brands, but still less diverse than homemade.
Nutrient Density	High, especially with fatty cuts or organ meats like liver crisps.	High in quality carnivore-compliant brands, but lower quality can exist.

Conclusion

While the carnivore diet is restrictive, a wide array of protein and fat-rich snack options exists to keep you satisfied between meals. Whether you opt for portable, shelf-stable items like beef jerky and canned fish or prefer simple homemade snacks like hard-boiled eggs and leftover steak bites, preparation is the key to success. Remember to scrutinize the ingredient lists of any pre-packaged products to ensure they adhere strictly to carnivore principles by avoiding hidden sugars, fillers, and plant-based additives. By rotating through these animal-based choices, you can maintain flavor and texture variety, making snacking on the carnivore diet both sustainable and enjoyable. For further resources, you can explore specialized carnivore recipe websites like Carnivore.Diet, which offer more ideas for delicious and compliant snacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but you must read the ingredients list carefully. Many commercial beef jerkies contain added sugars, soy sauce, and other non-carnivore ingredients. Look for brands that list only beef and salt.

For those who tolerate dairy, hard, full-fat cheeses like cheddar or parmesan are often considered acceptable snacks because they are low in carbohydrates. However, some strict adherents avoid all dairy.

Plain pork rinds are an excellent choice for a crunchy, airy, and zero-carb snack. You can also make cheese crisps by baking hard cheese until it's crispy.

Portable and shelf-stable options include high-quality beef jerky, meat sticks with simple ingredients, or canned fish like sardines or salmon packed in water.

Yes, bone broth is a soothing and nourishing option. If buying it commercially, ensure there are no non-compliant herbs or spices added. It's often best to make your own at home.

You can cook extra meat at dinner for cold leftovers the next day, hard-boil eggs in advance, or bake cheese into crisps for a crunchy snack.

Many carnivore dieters find that satisfying these urges with naturally rich animal products, like fatty cuts of meat or full-fat dairy (if tolerated), can help curb cravings without breaking the diet.