This quick and easy trail mix recipe is full of protein and only uses 6 ingredients! It’s a healthy, gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free portable snack!
I will find any way to sneak protein into all the food I eat.
Snack time is one of my favorite times of the day. It’s this magical little happy moment in my day where I get to sit down for a few minutes and bask in the bliss that is perfectly portioned little bites of food between meals.
They’re quick to eat, which means they don’t take time out of our busy schedules. Plus, the flavors that you could choose — like Thai curry roasted cashews or homemade paleo protein bars — are ENDLESS.
If you liked these other recipes of mine — healthy ginger snap recipe and mint chocolate cashew cream no-bake bars — then I suspect you will also love this trail mix. You may also very much NEED this trail mix if you’re the type of person who is always on the go and who doesn’t always have the time to sit down and enjoy a much-needed meal. This homemade trail mix recipe is going to save your life!
It is SUPER easy — only six ingredients — so you won’t have to spend hours prepping it the night before.
What goes into a trail mix?
There are a few things that you could mix when trail mix is the end goal. Here are a few of my favorite ingredients:
- Nuts for the CRUNCH.
- Dried fruit for the SWEET.
- Spices for the FLAVOR.
However, none of these really rank high on the “build-my-muscles-all-the-protein” scale that I like my food to have. So I like to add my special ingredient:
BEEF JERKY.
I love the salty, flavorful, PERFECTLY chewy little morsels of tender beef-y bliss that mix and mingle with the sweet, dried cranberries and pears and crunchy pecans that we have going on in this delicious snack concoction.
Make sure to pick an all-natural jerky, with no artificial ingredients and minimal processing. I like Krave beef jerky. The brand uses minimally processed ingredients and all their jerkys have amazing deep flavor.
For other ingredients, you may put in peanuts, walnuts, pistachios — any other nut you prefer can be a substitute for pecans. Pretzels are a good source of carbohydrates. Dark chocolate chips are a healthy choice if you want to add a slight sweetness to this recipe. Banana chips are a great choice if you want to add more fruit.
How to Make a Perfect Trail Mix
Heat
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.
Toss
In a small bowl, toss the pecans with the olive oil. Sprinkle on the rosemary and a pinch of sea salt and toss until evenly coated.
Bake
Spread evenly on the prepared pan and bake until golden brown and “toasted” smelling – about 10-13 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes.
Chop
Once cooled, roughly chop the pecans and place them into a large bowl. Add in the remaining ingredients and toss until evenly mixed.
DEVOUR
Store in baggies, or an air-tight container and DEVOUR!
Can You Make This Recipe Vegan-Friendly?
Yes, you can. The only vegan-unfriendly ingredient here is beef jerky. You may take it out of the recipe or if you want another protein source you can add baked soybeans. A cup of these oven-baked soybeans provides 10 grams of protein, which is great for vegans and is a great substitute for dried meats.
Is trail mix healthy?
Trail mix has been a popular snack that’s both portable, nutritious, and convenient. This snack usually contains nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and more. That said, this recipe has a high amount of protein that comes from nuts, dried fruit, and jerky. This is also a reliable source of good fat, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which pecans, cranberries, and dried pears provide. Hikers eat this as a source of energy while on the trails. Having beef jerky and pecans in this trail mix also makes you feel full for longer periods of time.
How Do You Store Trail Mix?
If you want to store your trail mix for later use you can transfer it to an airtight container or a resealable bag and keep it in a cool dark place, away from direct sunlight. This will keep for about a month. If you store it in the fridge it will last for 45 days. If you want to freeze your trail mix you can do so. Just store it in a freezer-safe container and put it in the freezer. This will keep for up to three months.
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Raw pecans (60g)
- 1/2 tsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp Ground rosemary
- Sea salt
- 1 Bag KRAVE Pink Peppercorn Beef Jerky roughly chopped
- 6 Tbsp Dried pears, diced * (60g)
- 4 Tbsp Dried cranberries, roughly chopped (36g)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.
- In a small bowl, toss the pecans with the olive oil. Sprinkle on the rosemary and a pinch of sea salt and toss until evenly coated.
- Spread evenly on the prepared pan and bake until golden brown and "toasted" smelling - about 10-13 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes.
- Once cooled, roughly chop the pecans and place them into a large bowl. Add in the remaining ingredients and toss until evenly mixed.
- Store in baggies, or an air-tight container and DEVOUR!
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS PER SERVING: SMARTPOINTS: 9 POINTS+: 6. OLD POINTS: 5
(Based on the recipe serving 4 people)
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO TAG @FOODFAITHFIT AND #FOODFAITHFITNESS ON INSTAGRAM! I LOVE SEEING YOUR RECIPE RECREATIONS!
Sam @ SugarSpunRun says
This looks so good, and your pictures are amazing!! <3
Taylor Kiser says
You are too sweet! Thank you!
Julianne says
this is a trail mix I can get down with!
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you!