17 Movie Night Snacks That are Better Than Popcorn
Social distancing may be keeping us from going to the movies, but most of us are certainly watching a ton of Netflix and Hulu at home. And since the majority of our quarantine-era entertainment centers around the remote control and the kitchen, putting together a cozy movie night with snacks to match seems like a great way to spend a Friday night (or a Wednesday night, let's be honest). Here are our recommendations for perfect movie night snacks.
Not-So-Unhealthy Cheese Fries
Making your own fries may seem daunting, but if you'll save yourself a lot of messy grief by baking them in the oven instead of frying them on the stove. Not to mention, you'll end up with a much healthier version of this loaded classic. Pop these in the oven 20 minutes before movie-time, and you'll be munching on hot cheesy fries just as the opening credits roll around.
Get our recipe for Not-So-Unhealthy Cheese Fries.
Hasselback Kielbasa with Three Dipping Sauces
This is a version of pigs in a blanket without the blanket. No need to wrap a delicious Polish sausage in dough and bake forever in the oven. You'll simply score it and sear it for about 3 minutes on each side, then serve with a selection of sauces. Serve with toothpicks.
Get our recipe for Hasselback Kielbasa with Three Dipping Sauces.
Trail Mix Popcorn
Of course you'll want to include popcorn in your movie night snack lineup. And here's a way to make it more interesting—combine it with chocolate chips, peanuts, and dried fruit, for a more indulgent viewing experience.
Get our recipe for Trail Mix Popcorn.
Dark Chocolate Dipped Bananas
Bananas can easily be dressed up with a dip in dark chocolate, and a sprinkle of coconut flakes, almonds, and flaky salt. Your family won't even realize they're snacking on the same bananas that have been on offer in the fruit basket the whole week.
Get our recipe for Dark Chocolate Dipped Bananas.
Low-Calorie Sliders
One slider recipe isn't enough so we give you two options for completing your movie-night menu: Mushroom Blue Cheese sliders and Chipotle Bacon sliders. Making these is the perfect move when your snacks are doubling as dinner, too.
Get our recipe for Low-Calorie Sliders, Two Ways.
Frozen Lemon Sandwich Cookies
Besides being incredibly delicious, no-bake frozen treats feel like such a cheat. They're usually made with store-bought ingredients and don't require any cooking or baking. Let your freezer do all the work on this sweet nightcap, while you dedicate your time to more pressing things, like deciding on a double feature combo.
Get our recipe for Frozen Lemon Sandwich Cookies.
Steak Nachos
While you're sitting on your couch all evening enjoying Netflix, you need a snack you can binge on guilt-free. Our nacho recipe is lighter and healthier than most, but delivers the same craveable flavors and textures.
Get our recipe for Steak Nachos.
Crunchy Popcorn Chicken with Spicy Chipotle Aioli
This is another lighter version of a movie snack that's so easy to binge on. We make these popcorn chicken bites with a lighter breading and cook them in the air fryer, which eliminates the grease factor completely. Feel free to make these your dinner.
Get our recipe for Crunchy Popcorn Chicken with Spicy Chipotle Aioli.
Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip
You absolutely need a warm gooey dip for an evening in front of the TV. This artichoke dip includes spinach, too, so you're basically eating a salad in your dip. Serve it with whole wheat pita breads or seeded crackers.
Get our recipe for an Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip.
Chunky Guacamole
The only thing better than guac is a chunky guac. Leave some of the avocado roughly mashed for easier scoopability. We recommend trying it with cheese crisps or pork rinds instead of tortilla chips if you want to go lighter on the carbs.
Get our recipe for Cheese Crisps and Chunky Guacamole.
Smoked Paprika Potato Chips
A lazy evening in is the perfect time to experiment with homemade versions of your favorite store-bought snacks. And trust us, you've never known the full potential of a potato chip until you try to hot out the oven.
Get our recipe for Smoked Paprika Potato Chips.
The Ultimate Cheese Straws
With some store-bought puff pastry, these crispy cheese straws come together in no time. Prep ahead and bake once the movie starts for a delightful second act once the popcorn bowl is empty.
Get our recipe for The Ultimate Cheese Straws.
Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Stick to a classic and make a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for your movie night. This recipe makes cookies as delicious as the ones your mom used to make, only with an extra pinch of sea salt, which plays off the chocolaty sweetness in mysterious and magical ways.
Get our recipe for Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Lemon-Pepper Salmon Jerky
You'll want to have this jerky recipe on hand for all your snacking needs. It's a crispy, crunchy, dehydrated version of salmon meat that's high in fat and protein. The trick to making dry fish taste amazing is, of course, spicing it up. This recipe calls for soy sauce, lemon juice, sugar, and spices to make this the most craveable version of jerky you've ever tried.
Get our recipe for Lemon-Pepper Salmon Jerky.
Mexican Hot Dogs
Make some gourmet hot dogs inspired by Mexican flavors and pretend you're at a dine-in movie theater. We won't fault you if you decide to pair them with some avocado margs, too.
Get our recipe for Mexican Hot Dogs.
Crispy Crumb-Topped Mac and Cheese Cups
Use your muffin liners to make individually-portioned mac and cheese bites. This recipe delivers a super creamy sauce by using yogurt as well as cheese. No dry macaroni here!
Get our recipe for Crispy Crumb-Topped Mac and Cheese Cups.
Air Fryer Meatballs
Mini meatballs are a the perfect finger food to munch on while binge-watching a million episodes of that new release on Hulu, especially if you pair them with some homemade aioli sauces.
Get our recipe for Air Fryer Meatballs.
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