Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Snacks I Keep Stocked So Unexpected Guests Never Catch Me Off Guard
31
items Someone texts ‘we’re 10 minutes away' and your pantry is just a sad box of stale crackers and a single string cheese. Been there way too many times. This is the lineup I slowly figured out after enough embarrassing fridge-opening moments. Everything ...
Sections
5
Dips and Spreads That Look Like You Tried Hard
Crackers and Chips That Don't Go Stale on You
Cheese and Meat Boards Without the Fancy Price Tag
Sweet Snacks for After the Savory Stuff Runs Out
Drinks That Make It Feel Like a Real Hangout
Dips and Spreads That Look Like You Tried Hard
Nothing says ‘I have my life together’ like pulling out a decent spread in under two minutes. These sit in my pantry for weeks and still come through every single time.
Grab a tub and keep it in the fridge at all times. My neighbor popped by last week and I threw this on a plate with some carrots. She thought I meal prepped. I did not.
Sabra Classic Original Fresh Hummus Dip
Keep this next to a bag of chips and you're covered for literally any drop-in. For anyone who panics when the doorbell rings, this combo buys you time while you figure out the rest.
Tostitos, Chunky Salsa, 15.5 oz Jar, Medium, Ideal for Parties
Pair it with pepper jelly and crackers and people will think you saw it on Pinterest. Took me embarrassingly long to learn this trick. Stock up because it disappears fast once you start.
Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 2 Blocks, for Recipes
These little single-serve cups saved me at a last-minute game night. No browning, no mashing avocados, just peel and dump into a bowl. Perfect if you hate food waste.
WHOLLY Guacamole Minis Paste Classic 12oz 6 pack
Toss a few of these in the fridge for when one or two people show up, not a whole crowd. My coworker stopped by after a run once and I just handed her one with pretzels. Zero effort, full credit.
Marketside Classic Hummus 10 oz Resealable Cup
Switch to this if you've been buying the generic stuff. Ridged chips plus this dip and suddenly your coffee table looks like a tailgate spread. Lasts a while in the fridge too.
Heluva Good! French Onion Dip, 12 oz
Crackers and Chips That Don't Go Stale on You
I used to open a bag of chips two days before guests came and then serve them sad, bendy chips. Never again. These actually hold up in the pantry.
Use these as your base for literally everything. Cheese, dip, peanut butter, whatever you've got. I've had a sleeve sit in my pantry for three weeks and it still snapped clean. Reliable.
RITZ, Crackers, Original, 14 oz, Tasty Snack for Kids
Get the scoops, not the flat ones. They hold salsa and guac without breaking, which means your couch stays clean. For anyone who's scrubbed salsa out of upholstery, you understand.
Tostitos Scoops! Party Size Tortilla Chips, 14.5 oz Bag
Throw a slice of cheese on one of these and it looks like something from a wine bar. They're sturdy enough to handle thick spreads without crumbling into your hand.
Triscuit, Whole Grain Wheat Crackers, 8.5 oz, Vegan Snacks
Snag these if you want something that feels a little fancier without spending fancy money. I put them out at a birthday dinner and two people asked where I got them.
Town House Flatbread Crisps Sea Salt and Olive Oil Oven
Try these if your usual crowd skews a little more health-conscious. They're lighter than regular chips but still salty enough that nobody feels like they're eating cardboard.
LATE JULY, Organic Tortilla Chips, 10.1 oz Bag, Sea Salt
Bring these out with a cheese plate and watch them vanish. My sister-in-law demolished half a box in one visit. They're thin enough to feel snacky but strong enough to hold toppings.
Wheat Thins, Snack Crackers, 14 oz
Cheese and Meat Boards Without the Fancy Price Tag
A cheese board used to stress me out until I realized you don't need a $40 charcuterie kit. You need like four things from the deli aisle and a cutting board.
Slice this into cubes and scatter them on a board. Sharp cheddar works for basically everyone. I stopped buying pre-sliced because cutting it yourself somehow makes it taste more intentional.
Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Yellow Cheddar Cheese
Grab the pre-sliced pack and fold each piece in half on a plate. Takes 30 seconds and people act like you catered the event. Lasts a decent while in the fridge unopened.
Hillshire Snacking Protein Genoa Salami
Toss a few of these in a bowl and let people unwrap their own. Kids love the wax, adults love the cheese. Perfect if you're hosting a mixed-age crowd and don't want to overthink it.
Babybel Original Grab and Go Snack Cheese, 1ct
Swap this in when you want something with a little kick. The pepper crust looks impressive on a board and the flavor is strong enough that you don't need much per person.
Customer reviews for Columbus Peppered Salami
Keep one of these in the fridge as your backup cheese at all times. It's mild enough for picky eaters and slices clean. Wish I'd stopped overthinking cheese choices years ago.
Great Value Cheese Block Colby Monterey Jack 8 oz Mild
Use these when it's just one or two people and you don't want to assemble a whole board. Hand them a pack and you both snack without dirtying a single plate.
Sargento® Balanced Breaks® White Cheddar Cheese
Sweet Snacks for After the Savory Stuff Runs Out
There's always that moment an hour in when someone says ‘do you have anything sweet?’ and you're scrambling. These cover that exact moment without a single trip to the kitchen.
Pour these into a bowl and suddenly it's a party. My friend's kid literally screamed ‘YES’ when I brought them out. For anyone hosting families, this is your insurance policy.
OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, 13.29 oz
Keep a bag in the pantry for when the vibe shifts from chips-and-dip to something more mellow. Drop a few in a small bowl and it looks like you set out a dessert course.
Ghirardelli, Milk Chocolate Squares, with Caramel Filling
Try these for the friend who says ‘oh I’ll just have something light.' They're filling, not messy, and you can hand one over without even getting up from the couch.
Nature Valley, Granola Bars, Oats 'n Honey, 12 Count
These taste way better than they have any right to for the price. I brought them to a book club once as a joke and everyone asked me to bring them again next month. Not joking.
Keebler Fudge Stripes Original Cookies 11.5 oz
Toss a handful of pouches in a basket and let people grab them. Adults pretend they're too old for fruit snacks and then quietly eat three packs. Every single time.
Welch's, Fruit Snacks, 40 Ct, Mixed Fruit Soft Snacks
Dump these into a bowl on the counter and watch them disappear without anyone acknowledging it. The peanut ones last longer because people eat them slower. Science? Maybe. Works though.
M&M's Peanut Milk Chocolate Candy Sharing Size
Drinks That Make It Feel Like a Real Hangout
Handing someone a glass of tap water when they walk in is technically hospitable but barely. These options sit in my pantry or fridge and make guests feel actually welcome.
Keep a case under the counter for anyone who doesn't drink alcohol but still wants something that feels like a drink. The variety pack means you're never stuck guessing flavors.
La Croix Sparkling Water Variety Pack, 12 Fl Oz Cans
Grab a few bottles and chill them. Pour one over ice with a lime wedge and it looks like a cocktail. Perfect for the friend who's doing Dry January or just driving home later.
Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water Glass Bottles, 12 fl oz
Pour this into a pitcher with some ice and mint and people think you squeezed lemons all morning. I did this at a brunch and got three compliments on ‘my’ lemonade. Kept my mouth shut.
Simply Lemonade Bottle, 52 fl oz
Get this if your crowd leans Southern or just loves sweet tea. It tastes close to homemade and saves you 45 minutes of boiling and steeping. Stock it before summer hits.
Customer reviews for Gold Peak Tea Sweet Tea, 59 Fl. Oz.
Get this if your crowd leans Southern or just loves sweet tea. It tastes close to homemade and saves you 45 minutes of boiling and steeping. Stock it before summer hits.
Customer reviews for Gold Peak Tea Sweet Tea, 59 Fl. Oz.
Switch to the mini cans instead of full-size. People drink more varieties, waste less, and your fridge fits more of them. Took me years to figure out that smaller cans are the smarter move.
Coca-Cola, Soft Drink, 10 Pack, Mini Cans 7.5 fl oz
Bring this out when you want the moment to feel a little special. Pop the top and pour it into wine glasses. My kids think it's champagne and my guests think I planned ahead. Win-win.
Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider, 25.4 fl oz, Glass Bottle