· By Matthew Richmond
Best Savoury Snacks UK (2026) – 12 Snacks That Aren’t Just Crisps
Best Savoury Snacks UK (2026) – 12 Snacks That Aren’t Just Crisps
Looking for the best savoury snacks in the UK? If you’re bored of bland crisps, sugary protein bars, and ultra-processed snack food, there’s now a huge wave of better savoury snacks appearing across the UK.
From craft beef jerky and biltong to cheese crisps, olives, and high-protein meat snacks, savoury snacking has become way more interesting in recent years.
In this guide, we rank the best savoury snacks UK based on flavour, ingredients, snackability, originality, and overall quality.
If you’re specifically looking for premium jerky, check out our guide to the best craft jerky UK brands.
Quick Comparison
| Snack | Type | Notable Feature | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punk Jerky | Craft jerky | Grass-fed beef and bold flavours | 9.3 |
| Serious Pig Snacking Cheese | Cheese crisps | Crunchy high-protein snack | 8.7 |
| Ember Snacks | Biltong | Lower sugar meat snack | 8.2 |
| Oloves | Olives | Portable healthy fats | 8.0 |
| The Curators Pork Puffs | Pork snacks | Crisps alternative | 7.9 |
| Cheesies | Cheese crisps | Simple ingredients | 8.1 |
| Billy Franks | Craft jerky | Creative jerky flavours | 8.0 |
| Mr Filbert’s Nuts | Flavoured nuts | Premium nut snacks | 7.8 |
| Serious Pig Snackingham | Cured sausage snack | Pub-snack energy | 7.7 |
| Corn Again | Giant corn snacks | Crunchy savoury texture | 7.5 |
| Popchips BBQ | Popped crisps | Lighter crisp alternative | 7.0 |
| Propercorn Sweet & Salty | Popcorn | Better-for-you snacking | 6.9 |
Scores are based on our opinion and publicly available product information.
Why Savoury Snacks Are Having A Moment
For years, snacking was dominated by:
- crisps
- chocolate
- cereal bars
- sugary “health” snacks
Now people increasingly want:
- higher protein
- less sugar
- stronger flavours
- cleaner ingredients
- snacks that actually feel satisfying
Savoury snacks fit perfectly into that shift.
Especially:
- jerky
- biltong
- olives
- cheese crisps
- pork puffs
- nuts
- cured meats
which all feel:
- more filling
- less sugary
- more adult
- more interesting
than standard snack aisle food.
What Makes A Great Savoury Snack?
The best savoury snacks should have:
- Strong flavour
- Good texture
- Real satiety
- Better ingredients
- Proper crunch or chew
- Snackability
Bad savoury snacks usually:
- taste artificial
- feel empty
- rely too heavily on salt
- become boring after three bites
The best ones make you immediately reach back into the bag.
Snack Reviews
1. Punk Jerky
- Type: Craft jerky
- Best for: Bold flavour and protein snacking
Punk Jerky is one of the most interesting savoury snack brands in the UK right now.
Rather than focusing purely on “gym protein” positioning, the brand leans heavily into:
- flavour
- grass-fed British beef
- craft snack culture
- bold branding
Flavours like:
- Sticky Teriyaki
- Thai Spicy
- Hawaiian Heat
- Naked Jerky
feel much more food-led than standard supermarket jerky.
The chewy texture also makes it more satisfying than crisps or puffed snacks.
Best for:
- savoury snack lovers
- protein snacking
- foodie snacks
- beer snacks
- road trip snacks
2. Serious Pig Snacking Cheese
- Type: Cheese crisps
- Best for: Crunchy high-protein snacking
Serious Pig helped push cheese crisps into the mainstream in the UK.
These work well because they combine:
- crunch
- fat
- protein
- strong cheese flavour
They feel like:
- adult Wotsits
in the best possible way.
Best for:
- crisp replacement
- keto snacking
- beer snacks
- cheese lovers
3. Ember Snacks
- Type: Biltong
- Best for: Cleaner savoury snacking
Ember’s softer biltong texture and lower sugar profile make it feel cleaner and more balanced than heavily sweet jerky.
Compared with crisps or popcorn, it’s:
- more filling
- higher protein
- less processed feeling
Best for:
- healthier snacking
- gym snacks
- lower sugar eating
- high-protein snacking
4. Oloves
- Type: Olives
- Best for: Healthy fats and portability
Oloves are simple but weirdly effective.
They’re:
- salty
- savoury
- portable
- low carb
- relatively clean ingredient-wise
Good option if you want something lighter than jerky or cheese snacks.
Best for:
- desk snacks
- train snacks
- Mediterranean snack vibes
- healthier grazing
5. The Curators Pork Puffs
- Type: Pork snacks
- Best for: Crisps replacement
Pork puffs are basically what happens when pork scratchings become less terrifying.
The Curators versions are:
- lighter
- crispier
- easier to snack on
while still feeling savoury and high-protein.
Best for:
- keto snacking
- pub snacks
- replacing crisps
6. Cheesies
- Type: Cheese crisps
- Best for: Minimal ingredient snacking
Cheesies are freeze-dried cheese snacks with:
- simple ingredients
- low carbs
- crunchy texture
They feel slightly lighter than baked cheese crisps while still delivering proper cheese flavour.
Best for:
- crunchy snacking
- low-carb eating
- clean ingredient fans
7. Billy Franks
- Type: Craft jerky
- Best for: Creative snack flavours
Billy Franks helped make UK jerky less boring.
Flavours like:
- Cheeseburger
- Roast Beef & Mustard
- Sweet Chilli
give it a more playful snack feel than traditional jerky brands.
Best for:
- flavour variety
- first-time jerky eaters
- fun savoury snacking
8. Mr Filbert’s Nuts
- Type: Flavoured nuts
- Best for: Premium nut snacking
Mr Filbert’s offers seasoned nut mixes that feel noticeably more premium than standard supermarket nuts.
Good texture and strong seasoning make them ideal:
- desk snacks
- pub snacks
- sharing snacks
Best for:
- grazing
- healthier snacking
- savoury crunch
9. Serious Pig Snackingham
- Type: Cured sausage snack
- Best for: Pub-snack energy
Snackingham basically feels like:
- fancy pub meat in portable form.
Very savoury, salty, and snackable.
Best for:
- beer snacks
- charcuterie lovers
- pub-food fans
10. Corn Again
- Type: Giant corn snacks
- Best for: Crunch lovers
Giant corn snacks have become increasingly popular as an alternative to crisps.
They’re:
- crunchy
- salty
- aggressively snackable
Best for:
- movie snacks
- beer snacks
- people who love texture
11. Popchips BBQ
- Type: Popped crisps
- Best for: Lighter crisp snacking
Still technically crisps-adjacent, but lighter and less greasy than traditional fried crisps.
Best for:
- casual savoury snacking
- lower-fat crisp cravings
12. Propercorn Sweet & Salty
- Type: Popcorn
- Best for: Light grazing
Propercorn sits more toward the sweet-and-savoury snack category, but still works as a lighter savoury option.
Best for:
- cinema snacks
- lighter grazing
- lower-calorie snacking
Best Savoury Snacks By Situation
| Situation | Best Snack |
|---|---|
| Gym Snack | Punk Jerky |
| Beer Snack | Serious Pig |
| Desk Snack | Oloves |
| Keto Snack | Punk Jerky Naked |
| Crisp Replacement | Cheese crisps |
| Road Trip Snack | Billy Franks |
| Foodie Snack | Punk Jerky |
Savoury Snacks vs Sweet Snacks
| Feature | Savoury Snacks | Sweet Snacks |
|---|---|---|
| Satiety | Higher | Lower |
| Protein | Usually higher | Usually lower |
| Sugar | Lower | Higher |
| Cravings | More filling | More addictive |
| Texture | Crunchy/chewy | Soft/crispy |
Savoury snacks generally feel:
- more satisfying
- less sugary
- more filling
than sweet snack foods.
FAQ
Q: What are the best savoury snacks in the UK?
A: Craft jerky, cheese crisps, olives, pork puffs, and premium nuts are some of the strongest savoury snack options currently available in the UK.
Q: What’s the healthiest savoury snack?
A: High-protein snacks like jerky and biltong, plus olives and nuts, are generally healthier than heavily processed crisps.
Q: What’s a good alternative to crisps?
A: Cheese crisps, pork puffs, jerky, olives, and giant corn snacks all work well as savoury alternatives to crisps.
Q: Are savoury snacks better for weight loss?
A: Often yes, especially higher-protein savoury snacks that feel more filling and contain less sugar.
Q: What’s the best savoury snack for protein?
A: Jerky and biltong are among the highest-protein savoury snack options available.