8 Gluten-Free Snacks That Don't Taste Like Crap

When you're trying to cut gluten from your diet, snacking can be an issue. There's hidden gluten lurking in a lot of stuff (e.g. anything flavored with soy sauce or malt vinegar), and many GF substitutes are dry, tasteless, or just plain weird. Don't worry, we've got you covered. Try these eight snacks that are tasty enough to eat anytime, whether you're following a gluten-free diet or not.

You can kiss those memories of tough, leathery, dried-out jerky goodbye: Chops Jerky is made from beef brisket that's fall-apart tender and delicious. Most of the jerky you'll find in the supermarket is made with soy sauce, but Chops uses gluten-free tamari — all of the flavor, none of the gluten — along with premium beef. There are four flavors to choose from, but we're partial to the Sweet and Spicy, made with brown sugar, cayenne, and jalapeño.

We can never get enough popcorn, but Bjorn Qorn is something extra special. Made from non-GMO corn, it's popped using solar power and seasoned with good-for-you nutritional yeast. Sounds weird? Believe us, it tastes just like white cheddar cheese and contains a high amount of protein and vitamin B, too. You'll be digging into the bottom of the bag to get every last kernel.

Yep, gas station fried pork rinds have gone upscale. There's lots of smoky goodness in these airy, crisp snacks, which would be perfect paired with your favorite beer. Best of all, 4505 Chicharrones are made from pork that's been humanely and sustainably raised without hormones or antibiotics. 

Feel like a kid again with this ice cream-inspired twist on your favorite childhood treat, Smash Crispy. These chewy rice cereal bars are made with organic rice and cane sugar and get a fun upgrade with mini chocolate chips and natural peppermint flavor. Plus, they're individually wrapped — which means you won't be tempted to eat the whole pan (not that we've ever done that).

Made with real aged Parmesan cheese, these crumbly crackers make a great addition to a cheese and charcuterie plate or a satisfying snack to nibble on at home. The Everything flavor includes sesame and poppy seeds, garlic, and onions, but the seasonings don't overpower the cheese. Bonus: If you've been missing out on croutons, ParmCrisps are a tasty GF alternative — just crumble over soups and salads.

RXBars are high in protein and low on ingredients, which is a good thing; you won't find any fillers or chemicals in these energy-packed bars. We're fans of the Chocolate Sea Salt, which reminds us of a dense, chewy flourless brownie. Made with dates, chocolate, and cocoa, it's not too sweet (again, a good thing) and has just the right amount of sea salt to add a hint of savory. The perfect portable guilt- (and gluten-) free dessert.

Pop down a couple of these crunchy beans and you might think, meh, what's the big deal? But you'll eat a couple more… then a few more… and soon enough, you'll be finishing off the whole bag. Maybe it's the nutty flavor, or that satisfying crunch; or maybe it's the salt we're addicted to. In any case, these roasted soybeans from Seapoint Farms are a completely munchable, heart-healthy snack.

Speaking of addictive, you won't be able to stop at just one of these gluten-free pretzels, made with corn and potato starches and white rice flour. While they're not quite like pretzels made with wheat flour, it's all about that buffalo flavoring — hot sauce, vinegar, and garlic. We guarantee you'll be licking your fingers long after the Glutino pretzels are gone.