The perfect high protein trail mix for salty snack lovers. Made in just a few minutes, this homemade trail mix is bound to become something you won’t leave the house without.
Made with pepperoni sticks, beef jerky, almonds, and peanut butter pretzels, this trail mix is a collection of snacks that are packed with protein and healthy fats. This trail mix will keep you high-energy in between your meals and in any life situation.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy to make. This is a snack that requires minimal preparation. It offers a mix of ingredients you would never think of.
- Customizable. You can customize trail mix components and make them for your food preferences.
- Helps control your weight. As this trail mix is packed with protein, it keeps you full longer and helps you avoid eating unnecessary foods.
- Affordable. Making trail mix yourself is always more affordable than getting it in stores. And if it’s so easy to make, why buy it?
Ingredients needed
Here’s what I like to have in my protein lover’s trail mix.
- Almonds. I like to use slightly salted almonds. You can use unsalted almonds if you are trying to keep your sodium intake at bay.
- Pepperoni sticks. Go for the organic sugar and nitrite-free ones.
- Beef jerky. Just like pepperoni sticks, beef jerky is a good source of protein. Get sugar-free and nitrite-free beef jerky.
- Peanut butter pretzels. Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein and healthy fats. Peanut butter pretzels are the most convenient way to add this nut butter to your trail mix.
- Crackers. Or another dry snack of your choice.
How to make a protein trail mix
Making this protein-packed trail mix will take just a few minutes of your time. All you need to do is to chop the pepperoni sticks and beef jerky into bite-size pieces.
Mix the pepperoni sticks and beef jerky with butter fillet pretzels, crackers, and lightly salted almonds.
Mix all ingredients and put your protein trail mix in a jar or a sealable bag.
Variations
- Use your favorite nuts. All nuts are a good source of healthy fats. If you don’t have almonds or simply don’t like them, use walnuts, pecans, pistachios, peanuts, or cashews.
- Add dried fruits. If you are the type of person that likes to have fruits as a snack, it would be a good idea to add some dried fruits to the trail mix. You can use dried cranberries, apricots, raisins, etc.
- Add seeds. Seeds are another great addition to trail mix. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds will fit perfectly into this protein-packed mix.
- Mix in some popcorn. Salty popcorn would make a good addition to this salty trail mix. Air-popped popcorn is a low-calorie and high-fiber snack that adds a lot of crunch to any trail mix.
Storage instructions
Store trail mix at room temperature in an airtight container, jar, or zip-top bag. All ingredients in this trail mix will maintain their freshness for at least a week.
More salty snacks to try
Frequently asked questions
Protein trail mix is one of the healthiest snacks you can have. It is a good source of protein and healthy fats that provide you with energy and keep you full until it’s time for your next meal.
A trail mix is healthy so long as its components are healthy. For the healthiest trail mix, choose ingredients that are high in protein and healthy fats.
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Protein Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds
- 2 pepperoni sticks
- 1 package beef jerky
- 1 cup peanut butter pretzels
- 1 cup crackers optional
Instructions
- Chop the pepperoni sticks and beef jerky into bite size pieces.
- Mix all the ingredients and put in a ziplock bag or jar to enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
Love the salty twist, I’m a salty person! And whether it’s subway problems or other traffic that is my biggest pet peeve of the city in general. Sucks when you can literally see your destination yet can’t physically get there for hours! Only NY!
I’ve been on such a salty kick this week- hence this trail mix has been polished off gah!
Definitely not just you! Minus the backyard, plus the room of requirements
omg I need to tell you my final Harry Potter book story.
I don’t have any subways to go on adventures on but I do LOVE me some protein..and those pretzels and almonds are my JAM! So this, I need it. Pinned!
Thanks T-Dawg. Your gold-en.
Love that it’s chocolate-free! Perfect for snacking on the go!
I want the salted caramel popcorn minus the salt.
like WHOA! i need this. Love me some jerky and ALMONDS!! Genius man, pure genius
Thanks muffin!
I love everything about this post – especially the fact that you, too, are a wizard. Ok, maybe i’m just a darned muggle, but a girl can have dreams!
I also had an adventure that involved melting one of my treats – just imagine a bag full of what was supposed to be greek yogurt-covered raisins…. yup, i was super unhappy!
Way to reinvent the trailmix-wheel!
omg. If you are a Harry Potter fan, I will actually move to SLC.
Excuse me as I find my floo powder.
uh, why have i never thought to but a jerky type thing in trailmix? brilliant!
I think you need to do zoodle trail mix.
What a great trail mix to keep handy for those 4 hour subway rides. Speaking of that, you should google the song “Charlie and the MTA” by the Kingston Trio. It’s an old campfire song, but it totally describes your summer in New York. Haha! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Jw_v3F_Q0
hahahahaha thanks for a new tune for my ipod! Confession- This trail mix needs water with it too lol.
Peanut butter pretzels are life. I’m trying to reintroduce wheat into my diet and the sad thing is that I’d rather eat 100 peanut butter pretzels before my first slice of bread =l I also weirdly have a bunch of samples of jerky sticks (Fancy Food Show) and dried jerky for instagram. it’s almost like you KNEW i needed a way to combine all of these. and it’s almost like i want wallet molded quest bars all over me right now. preferably the ones without 2 cups of vitafiber.
Naw, I hope the introduction is going well! Don’t get me started on that vitafiber thing…
Yum! I normally need chocolate in my trail mix, but this a great option for summer commuting.
I’ve got an adventure in D.C. coming up this weekend, but other than that I had all my big adventures in May when I was on vacation.
I’m not going to lie, I was jealous of that adventure!
Great idea! Always make my own trail mix but I’ve never added jerky to them – gotta try it
Please do Elizabeth! 🙂
This looks amazing! Adding some jerky would go great with some chili maple almonds! 😛 can you make a chocolate lover’s trail mix?
For sure! add chocolate chips to this and voila 😀
I always carry snacks just because. The thing about NYC is, the subway in the summer might have AC but waiting for it is hotter than outside! So generally if it is going to be less than 4 stops (or less than, say, 3 miles or a 45 min walk) I just hoof it. You’ll get to know which train lines break down the most, which ones have the AC malfunction, and when it’s a better call to walk eventually… 🙂 Enjoy the camping trip meanwhile!
YES!!! I went through 2 drinks just waiting and then…needed to use the rest room while on the train haha! 🙁
Welcome to NY 😛
So normally I turn my nose up at any trail mix that doesn’t have chocolate in it, but I have to say…well done with this one, good sir. I’ll have to remember it for my next epic cross-country car trip. Although maaaaaybe I could throw some M&Ms in there because, you know….chocolate.
YOU. I had you in mind with this. We’d make epic road trip buddies- You buy the jerky and snacks and I eat them 🙂
I would have to say my favorite trail mix add-in is now dried fruit or banana chips. They last forever!
I love banana chips- Yum!