No-bake oatmeal energy balls are the ULTIMATE easy, 4 ingredient healthy snack recipe. Need a quick snack to satisfy your pre-lunch or pre-dinner cravings? We have all been there!

No need to fret or reach for something unhealthy (both of which I do regularly), when you have these tasty oatmeal energy balls in your fridge! Horray!

These peanut butter chocolate chip energy balls make the perfect in-between-meal snack that will leave you full and energized! Need a post-workout snack? Look no further! This is the best recovery snack you’ll find! These easy, no-bake treats are perfect for any occasion. Trust me, you’ll be looking for excuses to whip up a batch.

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Are No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls Healthy?

The “healthiness” of an item can vary from person to person, but overall these are a very healthy snack alternative!

These no-bake treats are made with whole grains (oatmeal), pack-in some protein (peanut butter), are made with all-natural sweetener (honey), and also have antioxidants (dark chocolate). I’m not a nutritionist, but I do enjoy a healthy treat, and I would call these no-bake balls a SUCCESS!

I also include an optional ingredient: Chia Seeds. They are optional because they don’t really add much to the recipe other than some additional health benefits. Chia seeds don’t really have much of a flavor, but they do have some incredible values. They can help to keep you satiated for longer and have a ton of fiber. Check out more health benefits here from the Mayo Clinic.

Ingredients

I love recipes that I most likely ALWAYS have the ingredients to make! No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls only require 4 pantry staple ingredients (WOOHOO!)! If you need a quick snack recipe for hungry kiddos, post-work-outs, or just because, you have got to try this easy recipe!

Rolled oats
- Rolled oats are like a miracle ingredient–they can do SO much! They are our base in these energy balls.
Peanut butter
- While you can use natural peanut butter, I personally think that the traditional stuff just works better in this recipe.
Honey
- Honey helps to lightly sweeten and bind the energy balls! I have seen and tried using other natural sweeteners like pure maple syrup and agave nectar, but honey just does the best job.
Dark chocolate chips
- Dark chocolate chips add antioxidants to your energy bites and most importantly– they add chocolate. You can use whatever kind of chips you would like.
Chia seeds (optional)
- Chia seeds are optional but add a little more nutritional value to your energy balls.

How to Make No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls

No-bake oatmeal energy balls are incredibly easy to throw together, soon you will be making them all the time! Here is what you do:

Add all the ingredients to one large bowl. Then, mix, mix, mix until all the ingredients are good and combined!
Next, we want to roll out our oatmeal balls into bite-sized pieces. Roll about 1-1/2 inch-sized balls in the palms of your hands until they form balls.
Set the balls in a sealed container in the fridge and let them chill for at least 2-4 hours.
Then, enjoy your healthy snack! (These treats get better as they sit, for the best taste and texture I recommend preparing them a day ahead).

Troubleshooting the Recipe

Need help troubleshooting the recipe? Here are 2 common issues and fixes 🙂

What do I do if the Oatmeal Energy Ball mixture is too sticky and hard to form into balls?

No fear, just lightly wet your hands before attempting to form the balls. It will make a HUGE difference!

What Do I Do If The Mixture is Too Dry and Falling Apart?

Add a scoop (about a tablespoon) more of peanut butter or another tablespoon of honey until the mixture clumps together better. See the note above for ease with rolling out the energy balls.

How to Store Energy Balls

These energy balls are SO great to have around for the week! I love prepping them at the beginning of the week so that they can be in the fridge ready to go when I need them!

Energy balls are best enjoyed chilled, and tend to fall apart as they warm up. You will want to keep them chilled to enjoy.

Variations of Oatmeal Energy Balls

Energy balls are totally versatile, and you can really craft them to fit your needs and tastes. While you might need to tweak the recipe here and there to accommodate new or changed ingredients, here are some suggestions to change up your energy balls.

Add in Dried Fruit
- I love craisins–who doesn’t?! Craisins and other dried fruits like raisins, dried cherries, and dried chopped apricots can make excellent additions to your energy bites.
Add in Coconut
- Coconut is typically pretty love-hate. Some people love it, while others, really can’t stand it! If you love it, feel free to add some shreds in.
Switch Up the Chocolate Chips
- Swap out dark chocolate for milk chocolate, or even white chocolate chips!
Swap Up the Nut Butter
- While above in the ingredients section, I mentioned that traditional peanut butter works best, in my opinion. You can use whatever kind of nut butter you would like. Almond butter, seed butter, natural peanut butter, etc. It will all work, but you might have to adjust the recipe slightly.
Add Cinnamon
- Add some warming spices like cinnamon ( I especially like this in the fall/winter months) to add some more dimension to your no-bake oatmeal energy balls.

Feel free to play around with this recipe and treat it more like a “base.” It really lends well to experimenting.

More Easy Snack Recipes

Need more snack recipes in your life? We’ve got you covered! Whether you are packing a lunch box, need after-school/work snacks, or are hosting a party, we have budget-friendly snacks for all occasions on this blog! Here are some of the best snack recipes for when you need a pick-me-up!