20 Underrated, Delicious Gluten-Free Snacks

"Gluten-free" is a buzzword these days, but first and foremost, what even is gluten? Medical News Today defines it as, "a family of proteins found in grains, including wheat, rye, spelt, and barley." Safe to consume for most people (which is why it's found in the vast majority of our packaged foods), it can be inconvenient, unpleasant, harmful, or downright deadly for people with certain health conditions like Celiac disease. No one wants death by a snack. Thus, it is essential for the food inventors out there to create delicious snacks that gluten-free people won't just survive eating, but love. Maybe they'll even share with their gluten-tolerant friends.

Some snacks just happen to naturally be gluten-free because they involve absolutely no grains by default: cheese sticks, meat sticks, and, um, celery sticks? But plenty of the most well-known options are completely off-limits: Cheez-Its, pretzels, Doritos, and Oreos. Is it sounding kind of sad? Luckily, there are some amazingly good gluten-free snacks already on the market that give the gluten ones a run for their money. Even if you're someone who can eat gluten safely, you might find your new favorite snack on this list, because from chocolate to peanut butter to hot chili pepper, there's something for everyone.

Settle in for a good story. It's a popcorn story, so it's gotta be good, right? Amid a hectic move and with nothing around to eat, brother and sister Jeff and Jen found a bag of mini heirloom popcorn kernels in the back of a cabinet and cooked them up in desperation. The floodgates opened, angels sang, and they knew that heirloom popcorn was the snack of the future. Fueled by their dedication and pure ingredients like non-GMO sunflower oil, real organic cheese, and a happy hue thanks to paprika instead of artificial food dyes, Pipcorn became a Shark Tank success and one of Oprah's favorite snacks.

You can't go wrong with any of the Pipcorn snacks, which have now expanded far beyond popcorn. They all taste great. The best of the bunch, however, has got to be the Spicy Cheddar Popcorn with Tabasco Sauce flavor. If you're a hot sauce, and specifically a tabasco, lover, you'll get your fix with this bag. Seriously spicy, the hot sauce taste is spot-on. These are epic when sprinkled on top of nachos. Yes, it was tested, and, yes, as the kids say, it was fire.

Breakfast time, but make it gluten-free, and make it an all-day option that you can snack on at any time. One of the easiest ways to eschew gluten at breakfast is to go for something oat-based, as long as the oats are certified gluten-free. Hearty, warm oatmeal or overnight oats make great choices, but still seem best suited for breakfast. Granola, meanwhile, comes in a bag that can be stashed anywhere and taken on any trip.

Bob's Red Mill makes delicious oat products, including various forms of tasty granola. One of the company's top achievements is the Maple Sea Salt in the "homestyle" category. The pure joy of a tall stack of buttery, crispy-edged pancakes doused in real maple syrup isn't exactly conducive to snacking. Ever seen someone whip up a few pancakes and break out the maple syrup for a snack, or grab a plate of flapjacks from their work desk drawer during the 3 p.m. slump? Probably not. Also, gluten-free pancakes can be hard to find, and, when found, are somewhat lackluster or even just bad. But a bag of this whole grain, golden-brown, toasted granola full of wholesome seeds and sweetened with liquid gold (plus a little brown sugar) is gluten-free and ready whenever you are. It's homey, delicious, and seriously does it all.

At first glance, you may be skeptical of this vintage-style popcorn mix. Two flavors complementing each other are usually a great idea in a snack, like sour cream and onion, salt and vinegar, or parmesan and garlic. But cheese and caramel? How can that be any good? To be honest, the science is still patchy on this one, and no logical conclusion can be found, but somehow, it's dynamite for the tastebuds. You just have to try it for yourself, and if you're gluten-free, you're welcome at the tasting party too.

A big bag of Cretor's handcrafted, small batch popcorn is an even combination of real, sharp cheddar and silky copper kettle caramel coated popcorn. You can carefully pick out all of one kind and let your friend enjoy the other, go evenly back and forth, methodically make sure you get one of each in every mouthful, or throw caution to the wind and take whatever you get while piling handfuls into your mouth. If you can't choose between sweet or savory, don't. Just have it all!

Dalci is on a mission to make "A Better Brownie" that can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone, with no gluten skulking around to spoil the fun. The company's founder is a health advocate who suffered for years with her own health issues, from chronic pain to gut distress. Struggling to find sweet treats that didn't put her in more pain, she decided that if she wanted a job done right she'd have to do it herself. She founded this company, the name of which is derived from the word "dalchini," meaning cinnamon in Bengali. The products are only made with non-inflammatory ingredients like coconut sugar, avocado oil, almond butter, dark chocolate, and natural flavors.

Dalci brownies currently come in four varieties. There's the classic, decadent dark chocolate brownie that's the gut-friendly, gluten-free version of the ones you'd make at home — and they're better than a box mix. Take things up a notch with the almond butter dark chocolate blondie for a slightly salted, paler version that still has flecks of dark chocolate for good measure. Then go crazy with creativity and give the sunny lemon coconut blondie a try, or taste autumn any time of year with the cozy apple spice blondie. Why does this list not single one flavor out? Well, because there's a variety pack, so you never have to choose just one. Recommendation: Pop them in the microwave until the chocolate is oozing, and devour them piping hot.

Some trail mixes throw in clickbait-y additions like chocolate chips or mini cookies, but the best ones stay cool, calm, and collected by focusing their attention on specific ingredients. Besides, the reason that these snack mixes are so popular is the nutritional punch that comes in even one random handful. The nutrition is usually thanks to the nuts, and that's also a reason that the bags tend to be jackpots for anyone gluten-free. For an elevated mix that lets the nuts shine with inspired flavors, Sahale Snacks could be your new go-to source.

The tangerine vanilla cashew-macadamia mix, in a peach-colored bag that stands out on grocery store shelves, was inspired by nostalgic orange and vanilla ice pops, the classic vintage summertime treat. Sahale put those bright, zesty, yet creamy flavor notes on top of chewy cashews and buttery macadamia nuts. When other brands think small with peanuts and almonds, Sahale chose two of the most rewarding, succulent nuts and showered them with sophisticated Madagascar vanilla, plus sunny tangerine for something truly "Beyond Ordinary." Nothing artificial, no gluten, but lots of innovative flavors makes it a delicious choice when you need a refreshing, wholesome snack.

Many foods get bad raps for bad reasons. Brussels sprouts have historically taken the cake when it comes to negative reputations, but recently, the universe seems to have changed its mind thanks to bacon-laced variations that show just how good the underrated vegetable can be. The same goes for tinned fish, sweet potatoes, and pickles: Now they're the subjects of whole cookbooks, french fries, and hummus flavors, respectively. But you know one food that has yet to be saved from the annals of unwarranted distaste? Cottage cheese.

There are so many reasons to love this tangy dairy snack, especially the single-serve iteration from the classic brand known for sour cream, Daisy. For one thing, a conveniently packaged cup delivers an impressive 14 grams of protein, which is more than some big-name Greek yogurts do. It's naturally gluten-free. And while the texture throws some people off at first bite, give it another try. You might find that the springy clumps of cheese add a textural contrast that Greek yogurt could never accomplish, and the backdrop is much creamier anyway. If you only think of cottage cheese as something that grandmas eat with bland, sad, canned pineapple, well, that admittedly doesn't sound very appealing. This remix, with a real blueberry compote, tastes more like berries and cream or even blueberry cheesecake. When it's this easy, delicious, and nutritious, one can see that it's clearly time to bring back the love for cottage cheese.

Not only are these gluten-free, but they're probiotic powerhouses wrapped up in a delicious dessert-like snack bar. BelliWelli, like Dalci, understands that gluten intolerances often extend far beyond just gluten, or just a stomach ache, and that's why there's the low-Fodmap snack bar. There are a whole host of issues that can plague someone who is gluten-free that causes them to avoid certain other inflammatory foods as well. Dairy-free, vegan, and free from the usual suspects that trigger IBS flare-ups, this snack is full of "probiotics in a brownie instead of a pill." And who doesn't want to take fewer pills?

Now, on to the important stuff, like the real hard-hitting question: Does it taste good? Yes, it does. Breaking away from simple brownies, BelliWelli tries marrying its winning brownie-like formula to a different dessert, the queenly cinnamon roll, all contained in a perfectly wrapped snack bar. Hungry between breakfast and lunch? How about a brunch snack? The cinnamon swirl tastes of spicy cinnamon and pleasant vanilla, plus creamy white chocolate chips that wink to the thick frosting on a breakfast bun. A website reviewer says, "There aren't enough words to describe how amazing it is," so if you thought gluten-free can't be delicious, you're thinking way too small!

While lots of products slip in a "certified gluten-free label" or can call themselves organic (which is all very good!), it's still a bit difficult to find something that's seriously for everyone. But these inclusive, aggressively allergen-free snacks from Every Body Eat were created to "share delicious food with the people we love – regardless of dietary restriction or preference. Every body has a seat at our table." Made in an ultra-allergen-free facility, a bag of these tasty crisps boldly lists every ingredient right on the front: brown rice flour, potato starch, extra virgin olive oil, hemp hearts, sea salt, garlic, onion, and chives.

Crunchy, flaky, and with hints of fruity olive oil coming through, these are perfect with cheese (or vegan cheese), dips, or straight from the bag. The primary recommendation here, though, is your favorite cream cheese spread. That's because the final four ingredients on the list just shout "bagel!" If your nuanced palate gravitates towards a garlic bagel or salt bagel sandwiching an exuberant schmear of chive and onion cream cheese, these crackers are all of the goodness but none of the gluten.

Popcorn is one of those phenomenal snacks for gluten-free individuals. Corn is naturally gluten-free fresh off the cob, and as long as other gluten ingredients aren't added later on, a corn-based snack is a safe snack. There is, however, a lot going on in this particular popcorn, and goodness knows it's delicious, but is it gluten-free? The answer is a resounding yes.

In this indulgent collaboration with Coldstone Creamery, Sweet Chaos takes its already delicious sweet and salty kettle corn popcorn and showers it with cake batter flavored drizzle, plus fun multicolored sprinkles. As it says on the bag, "it's a well-deserved sigh of pure relief — a delightful break in your day or, as we like to say, delightfully disruptive ... we can bring a little sweet to the chaos." While the packaging, messaging, and perfect taste are all light as a feather, the details are seriously reassuring: handmade non-GMO popcorn popped in coconut oil, certified gluten-free, free of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, and no corn syrup in sight.

Don't confuse these with another amazing lady, Jeni of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. Here, Jennie makes a different dessert, and we're focusing on these Organic Coconut Bites with Cacao Nibs and Dark Chocolate. But hey, if you want to eat these coconut bites alongside a pint of the Cold Brew Coconut Cream gluten-free ice cream, you're wise indeed. But that's a full-scale dessert right there. Meanwhile, all by themselves, Jennie's individually wrapped pieces of chewy coconut macaroon-like confections dipped in rich dark chocolate and dotted with more chocolate are an ideal snack at any time.

It's needless to say, at this point, that the snacks are gluten-free. But it might be worth noting that they're also made in a peanut-free facility, non-GMO, USDA organic, and utterly delicious. Sinking your teeth into one of these macaroons is a texture lover's dream. And you can have this decadent experience at work, on a picnic, or in the car since they're conveniently individually wrapped. No fridge necessary! Just be careful if you decide to store the bag on your bedside table. Bedtime snacking is absolutely approved, but you might find bits of coconut shreds on your sheets or streaks of dark chocolate on the pillow the next day. It's probably worth it, though, to finally find some gluten-free snacks you're obsessed with.